While some of them may charge a subscription, they have a free option you can use if you don’t want to commit to a monthly fee. For hybrid athletes combining strength and cardio, Hevy’s recent addition of cardio tracking makes it a solid all-in-one option. Alternatively, use Setgraph for strength and Strava for cardio—each excels in its domain. They won’t communicate with each other, but each does its job well. JEFIT handles the variety of CrossFit workouts reasonably well, with its large exercise database covering both strength movements and metabolic conditioning. The app generates periodized strength programs that adjust based on your progress.

Users say getting support from the developer can be difficult, but they approve of this app for its variety of features, Siri support, and ease of use. The app is free to use with a premium version, which includes a monthly subscription option and a $29.99 Premium Forever purchase. Going premium allows you to share your list with family members and keep a log of what’s in your pantry. If you do the shopping in your household, this is an app definitely worth checking out. Water Tracker is a standalone Apple Watch app that provides detailed hydration logging, including how much you need to drink for the day, as well as history metrics to see your past progress. Just like Apple Fitness, the app also rewards you with achievements to make sure you’re staying on track with your goals.

BodyState: Vitals Tracker

OK, not all models are made for submersion, but if you own one that is, it’s the perfect opportunity to take your workout poolside. Swimming, after all, is considered one of the best full-body cardio exercises and is especially good for people whose joints can’t handle the pounding impact of street running. If part of your workout plan involves taking the plunge, MySwimPro is the app you need to help manage your time in the water. The makers of Future understand this and are looking to bring that kind of individualized attention together with the kind of immediacy offered by the Apple Watch as a platform.

Other popular workout apps we recommend

It’s the biggest and best diet-tracking app around, and MyFitnessPal’s watch app provides the info on how many calories you have left for the day, and breaks them down by protein, carbs and fats. It also tracks your step count and tells you how many calories you’ve earned by pounding the pavements. World class personal trainer software for you to build and assign workout programs for your clients, and track their progress. If you have a wearable you like, the matching app is probably the best one for the nuts and bolts of daily workout tracking. With Home Gym Club Training, you’ll be able to access over a thousand strength-training programs, including over 100 programs created by certified expert coaches.

With a wide variety of apps, it can meet the needs of users for fitness, productivity, learning, and entertainment. The recommended Top 18 Best Apple Watch Apps in this guide cover fitness tracking, productivity tools, music and podcasts, navigation assistants, and fun games. AutoSleep automatically tracks sleep, analyzes sleep quality, and provides smart wake-up alerts without manual input.

What are the best apps for tracking progressive overload?

“I like hypertrophy training by body part, so I have Shred suggest daily workouts—upper body, lower body, full body, or abs,” Schlinger explains. “If I did upper body yesterday, I can choose a ‘custom’ workout and pick a different body part, and it creates a new session. Each exercise shows full instructions and videos.” The app is free to download, though you will need a $4.99 monthly subscription or $29.99 yearly subscription to take advantage of everything after Athlytic’s free trial week. If you want to stay fit, this app is a great choice to help you on the way. While every app on this list is free to download, we made sure to let you know when subscription options and premium tiers are offered.

What Types of Health & Fitness Data Can the Apple Watch Track?

The free version includes over 190 workouts ranging from yoga and mobility to high-intensity strength training. Each workout includes video demonstrations and audio coaching, making it feel like having a personal trainer. The workouts are easy to follow because there are video demonstrations of each exercise, along with the allotted time you should spend on each one. This prevents you from losing track during your workout and mentally prepares you for the next exercise. The app also connects to your Apple Watch to provide health metrics such as your heart rate and logs your activities. CNET experts tested some of the most popular workout apps to see which ones actually offer great workouts.

Version 26.3.1

I had been using it as such so my HR would show up while working out on the main screen on my computer and in Companion on my phone. But I was also using the Apple Workout app to track my workouts as well. It had been letting me use the two apps concurrently and showing the workouts in my phone Activity app under both categories but not doubling my calorie burn or anything. However, for the past month or two, if I try to start a workout in the Workout app, and then go to Companion to get my heart rate recorded there, it closes out the Workout app. I apparently can’t have the Workout app open while the Companion app is open.

Calm – Meditation & Relaxation App for Apple Watch

During a workout, you want to record a set in seconds, not minutes. Apps that require multiple taps or navigation through menus become annoying. This matters if you ever want to switch apps or analyze your data elsewhere.

Is the built-in Apple Fitness app good enough for serious training?

IPhones have many fan favorite workout apps to pick from, which include many on this list like Peloton, Nike Training Club and Strava. Finding your favorite workout app may require a bit of trial and error since you’ll want to see if you’re looking for a personalized experience or are comfortable with a cookie cutter plan. If you have an Apple Watch, the app makes it convenient to access it and view your metrics on the smartwatch during your workouts as well. If you own an iPhone, it’s a no-brainer to sign up for a workout app that is already built into your smartphone and allows you to work out anywhere. It also connects you to friends on the app who can cheer you on or comment on your posts that get uploaded to your Strava feed after your workout. If you prefer to keep your data and running routes private, you can also make those changes through your settings via the app.

Your Training. Any Device.

The app is very easy to use, and Amanda rates it a 5 out of 5 in its ease of use. Amanda tested the app and says, “This is a fun app—very fun if you like CrossFit. Provided by Under Armour, Map My Fitness is easy to set up and sync with other apps and devices, like Garmin, Apple Health, UA connected footwear, MyFitnessPal, and others. The interface is clean and easy to navigate as well, leading Amanda to rate both the setup and ease of use a 5 out of 5. #2 Create a web app — Viewing workouts on a small screen can be difficult, so it would be cool to have a web app where you can view watch workouts, view advanced stats, etc. Although this app isn’t free, you only have to pay a one-time fee instead of shelling out for a monthly or annual subscription.

Each exercise includes video demonstrations and detailed instructions. The app also tracks your strength gains over time, showing which exercises are progressing and which might need adjustment. MyFitnessPal is primarily a nutrition app, but its exercise tracking features make it worth considering if you want an all-in-one solution.

You can decide what you’d like to track each day—like how stressed you are, and whether you did your physical therapy exercises—and rate how much that sore back (or whatever) is bothering you. When I was using it, I found it really encouraging to see that my pain wasn’t always so bad, and that there really were things in my control that madmuscles helped me to feel better. It’s not limited to injuries, either—you can use it to track chronic health issues or even mental health. If you don’t feel the need for an online support system, there are still ways to stay on top of your workouts. Some apps will add calendar reminders or push notifications to help remind you of your workout schedule for the week. Strava also integrates and syncs automatically to major fitness tracker brands popular among cyclists and runners—Garmin, Polar, Wahoo, and FitBit, for example.

Work Up a Sweat at Home With These 7 Expert-Approved Workout Apps

• Whatever the case, the fitness market shows no signs of slowing.
• It allows you to track your own strength training workouts with their library of exercises, each with written and visual instructions.
• Paper workout logs have their charm, but they’re easy to lose, hard to analyze, and impossible to back up.
• You can also connect with your coach via the chat in the app if you ever have questions about your training or want to chat with other members on your team.
• Offline functionality is non-negotiable if you train in gyms with poor cell service.
• You can see how much time was spent on individual body parts or muscle groups and get a picture of progress over time as you make gains.

Strava supports multiple sports such as running, cycling, and swimming, and accurately tracks GPS routes, heart rate, pace, distance, elevation, and calories burned. With Apple Watch integration, workouts can be started directly from your wrist and automatically synced to your phone or the cloud. Unique features like live segment challenges and Beacon location sharing add competitiveness and safety, while community interaction makes training more engaging.