These Are The Workout Apps 'Women's Health' Editors And Trainers Actually Use (2024)

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Price: $12.99 per month

Alo Moves lets you cycle through yoga styles, from Vinyasa to Ashtanga, Hatha, and restorative yoga, no studio required. Roll out your mat and maybe grab a yoga block and you're set to sweat or zen out. Plus, it features other fitness modalities, too, including Pilates and HIIT. This way, you can cross-train without switching up apps.

Pros love how easy it is to find exactly the session you want and need. "Classes can be chosen by instructor, style, difficulty, intensity, and duration," says Jane Hanisch, an ACSM-certified exercise physiologist. Additionally, the app offers weekly or monthly series to help you stay on track. If you're not sure about paying monthly, you can take two weeks to test run all of its amazing features for free.

Pros:

• Has yoga, mindfulness, strength, and skills classes
• You can download videos to watch offline

Cons:

• Users report glitching in the save workout feature

Expert review: "A great feature of this app is that it contains classes on developing skills (handstands, floating), mindfulness, and fitness," says Hanisch. "All workouts can be done with just a yoga mat or chair."

Available on iOS

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Price: Free, $12.99 per month, or $24 per month

Even if you don’t have the famous stationary bike, treadmill, or rower, you can still tap into Peloton’s wildly popular exercise programs, which include free weight strength sessions, yoga flows, and marathon training. Expect the same charismatic, high-energy instructors that teach from the bike, with mood-boosting playlists and fast-paced, non-boring workouts to boot.

All the classes are available to stream on your phone, tablet, laptop, and TV apps. You'll also be able to track your activity outside of what your Peloton workouts for a more in-depth analysis of your progress. With the paid version, you can expect unlimited access to workouts, real-time metrics with a cadence monitor, and special classes with themes and special guests.

Pros:

• Marathon-worthy running training programs
• Classes start at just 10 minutes long
• Smart watch compatible app

Cons:

• Enhanced experience with equipment

Editor review: "I love it for HIIT and strength workouts when I'm wanting to switch up my workout or have someone guide me and am not sure what the heck to do," says WH associate news editor Currie Engel. "I tried the marathon training program and loved that the Peloton app builds in warm ups, cooldowns, and runner's strength training. I knew I would be getting the best of the best."

Available on Android and iOS

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Price: Free

Simple can be so effective, and that's exactly what makes the Seconds app and its programmable intervals one of the best. It can serve as a countdown tracker, or you can use it as a stopwatch to track your laps. Its easy-to-use interface allows you to label the kind of workout and exercises you're doing to any given number of sets.

It also speaks when you're on a new interval and warns you when a new one is coming up. This makes it the perfect app for anyone who loves HIIT or circuit training. When you find a timer set up you like, you can simply save it and go back to it whenever you'd like.

Pros:

• Can color-code the intervals
• Music will still run during the timer

Cons:

• Doesn't provide actual moves

Editor review: "When I was struggling to find a new routine in the spring of 2021, this app played a huge part in making that happen," says managing editor Laura McLaughlin. "I set the length of the intervals, and decided what order I was going to work in—and it made the experience feel just very, very doable."

Available on Android and iOS

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Price: $14.99 per month or $89.99 per year

Love Women's Health workouts? Well now you can find workouts programmed by some of our fave trainers all in one place, along with routines from Men's Health, Prevention, and Runner's World. Find exactly what you're looking for in the catalog of over 100 workouts, including bodyweight routines, strength training with weights, HIIT, yoga, meditation, dance cardio, and barre.

The wide variety of workouts make it a great option for anyone looking to share the app with a friend or partner. Plus, there are new programs added every month, so you'll never grow bored. And unlike many other apps, each course contains anywhere from four to 64 videos, giving you more control over how much time you'd like to invest.

Pros:

• New programs added each month to help you reach your goals
• Fitness styles are science-backed

Cons:

• Sometimes the airdrop feature doesn't work, a reviewer wrote

Rave review: "There is a workout available for every mood, time allotment, and capability," says WH contributor Emily Shiffer. "Practically every workout could be done in a small space and with minimal equipment. I was really happy with every single routine I did and felt that each one was worth my time."

Available on Android and iOS

Get The App

Price: Between $29.99 and $44.99 per month

This app is the perfect solution for anyone looking to work with a personal trainer who doesn't have the time or access to one IRL. Watch videos that demonstrate correct form for every exercise, and keep track of other important elements of your progress such as sleep and nutrition.

Your coach will plan out exactly which workouts you need to do on each day. You can focus on anything from bodybuilding and HIIT training to functional strength training and cardio. This app is going to give you the accountability partner you didn't know you needed.

Pros:

• Personalized workout plans
• Also tracks your sleep and nutrition

Cons:

• Must select one program at a time

Expert review: "It creates customized programming for your specific needs with a real trainer," says Lauren Kanski, a certified personal trainer and WH advisor who leads the kettlebell program Body and Bell on the app. "It’s like having a trainer with you everywhere you go. I coach through it and would never be a part of something I didn’t love for my own clients!"

Available on iOS

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Price: Free

Meet your new fave run buddy—especially if you're looking to keep tabs on your weekly mileage. "I like being able to set a mile or time goal, or just run and see how many miles I can get," says Judine St. Gerard, a certified personal trainer. The app lets you know once you've hit each mile with your average pace to keep you on track and motivated too.

"It's also pretty encouraging if you're trying to be consistent with running," adds Gerard. "For example, at the end of your run it will congratulate you on something—maybe you've run the longest you've ever run, or maybe you ran three times this week."

Not to mention you can also access dozens of guided runs, earn completion badges, start or join community challenges, and engage with your fellow runners through leaderboards.

Pros:

• Helpful for training for races
• Easy to connect with other runners

Cons:

• You can't map out your running path in advance

Editor review: "The Nike Run Club app completely transformed my relationship with running," says WH editorial assistant Sabrina Talbert. "I used to barely be able to run a mile, but the guided runs offer amazing coaching that helped me complete my first half marathon. They also have distance-based running plans and fun challenges that keep me in touch with my running community while I train."

Available on Android and iOS

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Price: Free, Coach subscription $94.99

Ideal for fitting in a quick sweat, this app offers bodyweight workouts from five to 30 minutes long—and if you pay for a digital coach (starting at $2.40/week), you also get a personalized training plan with nutrition advice.

Most of the workouts on this app won't require any equipment, so no worries on being underprepared. The AI trainer will customize your experience based on the apps holistic approach to fitness. Meanwhile, the free version gives you access to 20 HIIT workouts, 20 audio sessions, and 25 additional exercises.

Pros:

• Works at the gym and at home
• Gives nutrition and well-being support too

Cons:

• Might give extended rest breaks between sets

Expert review: “The workouts are perfect for traveling with no equipment and no access to a gym,” says Kirsten Beverley-Waters, trainer, yoga instructor, and founder of Thryve, which offers wellness retreats around the country.

Available on Android and iOS

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Price: $22 per month or $240 per year

If you're a Pilates girl or want to be, this is your app. There are thousands of videos available for all levels, all styles, and all kinds of equipment needs including an extensive library of zero-equipment Pilates workouts and beginner Pilates workouts. (No need to have a reformer for sizzling sessions.) It's great to use if you're in a hotel room and don't have access to a machine or mat.

You'll be able to learn from over 20o of some of the best coaches who represent over 40 different schools, offering you a wide variety of teaching styles. You can also expect new weekly videos without any ads. If you don't want to jump straight into a payment plan, you can start off with a 15-day free trial to feel things out.

Pros:

• No ads
• Variety of different kinds of Pilates

Cons:

• Not a lot of body diversity representation in the videos

Expert review: "They have the broadest spectrum of Pilates styles from New York, Classical, West Coast, Santa Fe, and Contemporary, or fitness-focused Pilates," says Juliet Kaska, a certified personal trainer.

Available on Android and iOS

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Price: $24.99 per month or $169.99 per year

Live-stream multiple classes every day—from yoga to sculpt, Pilates, strength, HIIT, boxing, and dance cardio. You get real-time shoutouts from the energetic instructors, and you can easily string a few of these five to 60-minute workouts together to get a longer session if that’s what you’re after. It’s like being in-person for a class, but from the comfort of your living room.

"This app caters to women and even gets specific about workouts for hormonal phases throughout the month," says Jordan Farrell, a certified personal trainer. "This is great especially for those who like to choose their workout programming based off of their moods versus following a specific program each week." She adds that the challenges will help with building and sustaining better movement habits.

Pros:

• Easily lists what equipment you need for each video
• Can choose a workout based on music genre

Cons:

• Might be technical issues with Apple AirPlay, a reviewer wrote

Rave review: "I joined in August 2021, and it is my favorite fitness app yet! I love that none of the instructors talk about food or dieting, the focus is solely on exercise and movement and feeling good."

Available on Android and iOS

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Price: Free or $2.50 per month for Premium or $8.33 per month for Elite

Exploring the great outdoors year-round has never been easier or safer than with this adventure-ready app. OnX Backcountry provides users with everything they need to have a safe and successful wilderness adventure. It has over a thousand detailed trail routes that shows the difficulty level, milage, and elevation gain of each.

The simple interface allows you to customize your maps with waypoints that can be sent to family and friends for added safety. You can also scan around for campsites, fishing points, and disc golf courses. Additional avalanche safety layers up the ante for winter exploration, too. If you hit the trails regularly, this app is definitely for you.

Pros:

• Has 3D maps and backcountry ski guidebooks
• Allows you to save maps to your device for off-line viewing

Cons:

• No indoor workout options

Editor review: "It's so easy to find and share the best routes with OnX," says WH fitness editor Jennifer Nied. "I put it to the test with a week of mountain hikes, and the elevation gain details meant no surprises in the wild. It also simplifies planning more complex routes for splitboarding safely, so I can spend more time exploring instead of scouting trails and calculating slope angles online."

Available on Android and iOS

Get The App

Price: $14.99 per month or $99.99 per year

With this fitness app, you get audio-guided workouts, meaning there's no need to look at your phone—just listen up. The trainer will give clear directions on anything from strength and yoga to running, cycling, and stair climbing (to name a few). It's another great option for those who don't mind AI-created plans.

There are thousands of on-demand workouts that show simple demonstrations for people of all levels. The progress tracker will give you stats such as the amount of time you've spent on different levels of activity, how many workouts you've completed, and how many calories you've burned. You can also join team challenges and earn completion badges.

Pros:

• Works for the gym, home, or outside
• Can optimize your workout by choosing duration, trainer, and music

Cons:

• Workouts and music timing may be off
  

Expert review: “It’s great for when I need motivation and inspiration while working out,” says Kara Tremel, an instructor at Uplift Studios and Physique57.

Available on Android and iOS

Get The App

Price: Free

So maybe you're a runner, but you also love a good strength training sesh. If you'd rather have an app that does it all rather than something more specific, this may be a good fit for you. Whether you want a strength-focused workout or a cardio-focused interval set, you can find an awesome option on this app.

Nike Training Club helps you stay organized by scheduling your workouts and sending you reminders beforehand. It serves as a hub for wellness that contains courses on yoga, total-body fitness classes, endurance training, mediations, and more. It's a great choice from beginners and advanced athletes alike.

Pros:

• Many different types of workouts, from strength-training to yoga
• Gives guidance on nutrition, wellness, and sleep, too

Cons:

• Mixed reviews on the video format, per a reviewer

Expert review: “The Nike training app has workouts for all durations. So, when I want to get in a quick workout, I use it to keep things fresh,” says Noam Tamir, certified trainer and owner of TS Fitness in NYC. “I like that they have warmups for all the workouts.”

Available on Android and iOS

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Price: Free (optional upgrades: $19/month group training or $200/month personal training)

If you love to get into the science of your training, you'll love the Caliber app. It allows you to select exercises that target specific areas of your body. You can also customize you routine based on the equipment you have, and make the most of bodyweight exercises as well. As you begin using the app, it'll track your progress with "scores."

The personal trainer option, which requires payment, is tailored based on a quick questionnaire about your goals and fitness level. "You can build your programming on your own or choose to work with an expert trainer for one on one coaching," says Farrell. "The app is user friendly and has educational sessions as well."

Pros:

• Personalized workout plans
• Workout tutorials available

Cons:

• Slightly difficult interface

Rave review: "There are a plethora of workouts on the app complete with descriptions, demonstrations, and a way to accurately track your progress. I have been using caliber for two months now, and I am already seeing progress in my body composition."

Available on iOS and Android

There are a few categories to consider before subscribing to the first workout app you see.

• Type of workout: Look for apps that are "geared toward what you have and what your goals are" (i.e., equipment and what you want to achieve), says Atlanta-based trainer Brittany Spencer, a certified personal trainer. Whether you'll get there through lifting, cross-training, Pilates, or running, download the app that will focus on and lead you with clear directions.
• Duration: Apps have a wide range of class durations, which is awesome. The best allow you to easily filter and find the exact time you have to sweat. (Busier day? Go for a 10-minute cardio class. Slow day? Take an hour for HIIT.) "Nothing is more frustrating than having to keep starting and stopping your workout," Spencer says, if you keep getting interrupted during a busy day.
• Equipment: Think of where you like to work out most, whether it's from home, at the gym, or outdoors, and choose the app that will curate workouts based on one or all of those locations. "Whatever type of resources that you have—whether it's home workouts or at the gym—you want to make sure that you're picking an app that that works well with what you have," she says.
• Community: Community is huge for Spencer and her clients, so she recommends picking an app with community forums or leaderboards, and also places to have chats or leave feedback.
• Price: Whether you're just dipping your toe into the workout pool and don't want another subscription fee, or you're an active exerciser who commits to most workouts, choose whatever will fit into your budget. Keep in mind that a paid app may give you an "extra boost of accountability," says Spencer.