Expert-Tested: The Best Workout Apps 2026

Plus, Muscle Booster promotes progressive overload effectively by having you master each prescribed exercise prior to moving onto more challenging movements or rep ranges. One area where iFIT falls flat is in its accountability—or, lack thereof. While our tester didn’t find it too detrimental to the overall experience, she did specifically mention that the app might not be great for people who need an extra nudge to stay on track. Another key feature of the app is the “Follow Trainer” function that automatically adjusts your machine’s speed, incline, and decline based on the trainer leading your class.

7. MacroFactor, Noom, Cal AI

Again, make sure the tracking and logging functions match the needs of your fitness goals. FitOn is a great service for people just dipping their toes into the fitness world, mainly because it’s free and gives you access to tons of guided workout videos, still all for free. While the premium option can give you special features like premium music options to spice up your playlist, personalized meal plans, and offline downloads to workouts, the bulk of the app is free.

Netclues Offerings

Rather, we find it better suited for people who have been training for at least six months because it lacks some of the human coaching and motivational tools that gym novices may want. We also like that the app allows you to create three programs for free; some of which can last up to eight weeks. You can essentially get a six-month-long training program without spending a dime. The app will only ask you to upgrade to a paid plan once you’re ready to start a fourth program, so we rated it at 5 out of 5 for its free trial. “Everything the app suggests makes sense, as long you’re honest and logical about your goals. The more information you give it, the better a program it will create for you,” our tester adds.

Approach 1: Data-Driven Tracking (Nutrola, MyFitnessPal, Lose It!)

It requires consistent logging to work its magic, but the insights are worth it. Calorie tracking creates the deficit; workouts protect lean muscle and increase your daily burn. Together they work better than either alone, which is why all-in-one apps tend to outperform single-purpose ones.

Are there any workout apps that don’t require a subscription?

If you’re looking for an app to help you lose weight that tracks your food and can provide pre-made meal plans for you to follow, FatSecret is a great option. Kate was very impressed by the meal plans provided in the premium version. These plans are perfect for those who wish to lose weight but are unsure of what to eat each day. FatSecret, as the name implies, is a good app for managing calorie intake for anyone currently focusing on weight loss goals—although registered dietitian Perry Nix isn’t a fan of the name. “It’s a weight loss app, so the name implies that being overweight is shameful, which I simply don’t stand for,” says Perry.

The free tier now focuses on basic food logging and macro tracking. Sergey Oreshko is the CEO and Co-Founder of MyNetDiary, which he founded in 2005. He has led the development of MyNetDiary’s nutrition tracking platform for nearly two decades, overseeing the creation of its staff-verified food database of 2M+ foods and 108 nutrients. Sergey writes about nutrition technology, food database methodology, and the intersection of AI and dietary tracking. Knowing which essential tools remain free in each app can save you from an unpleasant surprise three days into your new healthy eating plan. Nutrify Tracker is a free app that helps you track your nutrition and fitness goals by allowing you to easily document your daily calorie intake through photo logging.

Best Weight Loss Programs in 2026, According to Dietitians

Caliber Strength Training is a fitness coaching program grounded in scientific principles designed to increase strength and improve body composition. The app offers both group and individual training plans which are written and modified by a certified coach based on progress. A keto app tracks the basic metrics that are crucial for maintaining a keto diet.

Furthermore, they have a Smart Label Scanner that instantly scans your nutrition label and automatically populates the nutrition information in the app for you – no more manual entries! These features and benefits are unheard of on other free apps, making this both the best free and premium app on the market. I know it can be hard to weed through all of the fitness apps out there.

You filter out the workouts by the equipment you have as well as skills. The app is very easy to use, and Amanda rates it a 5 out of 5 in its ease of use. Our tester, Megan Capritto (GGR senior staff writer Amanda Capritto’s sister) tried out ClassPass and found the setup and ease of use both quick and simple, rating both a 5 out of 5. “After setup, the user experience was very simple,” Megan says. “All the icons are listed at the bottom and they are super easy to navigate.” To search local classes, you just use the search icon, and the videos are in another section.

The Best Weight Loss Tracker App in 2026 (That Actually Tracks the Right Things)

If you’ll need to manually enter all meals instead of, say, scanning a barcode or choosing from a preset roster of dishes, odds are that this practice will grow tiresome over time. Available features also earn a 4 out of 5 given the app’s available recipe library and activity tracking capabilities. That said, the activity tracker does not provide an elevated level of instruction. If you’d prefer a weight loss app with available coaching for resistance training, we recommend subscribing to services like Future. Rather than calling for monthly membership fees to unlock specific features for keeping tabs on calorie intake and daily activities, a majority of MyFitnessPal’s features are free to users from the start. Studies report that positive habit building can be key to weight loss and weight management.

These apps don’t just focus on calories; they also offer visual charts, personalized macro goals, and live nutrition analysis, putting the power of your health and fitness journey in your hands. Just take a photo of your plate, and the AI will recognize the food items and calculate their calorie content. You can also scan barcodes for packaged meals or say, “Hey, Carb Manager” to log meals by voice. Each method is fast, flexible, and designed to remove the friction of daily tracking. The app boasts an extensive database of over 1 million foods and 50,000 keto recipes. It also offers smart shopping recommendations for picky eaters, weight and activity tracking, and integration with fitness apps and wearables.

Smart scales measure various body composition metrics, such as body fat percentage, muscle mass, and water weight, and track your results in an app, serving as useful health and fitness companions. We’ve been testing smart scales for more than a decade, in our actual homes, using our own bodies. That said, we also have three other options on this list, each a strong pick in its own way. Due to the growing popularity of such tendencies as flexible dieting, ketogenic diet, and high-protein weight loss programs, the need for detailed food macro tracker apps has appeared.

Key Things to Consider When Selecting an Effective Weight Loss Program

If you’re looking for an app that takes the guesswork out of your training, TR[Ai]NER by Element 26 is worth considering. This AI-powered workout app offers programs you can customize based on your preferences, equipment access, and personal goals. Available modules include a four-week dumbbell muscle build program, a four-week metcon/HIIT program, and a six-week full gym strength gain program, among others. We looked for apps that utilized the best technology to create a user-friendly interface offering personalized and accurate goal setting, tracking, and reports.

What is an AI calorie tracker?

Typically 500 calories per day for roughly one pound of loss per week. Yazio is a German-based app that has quietly built one of the better free experiences in this space. The free version includes calorie tracking, an intermittent fasting timer, and basic progress reports. The interface is modern and the barcode scanner works well in both North American and European markets. Most apps give you a static calorie number based on a formula. MacroFactor recalculates your targets weekly based on your actual weight trend data and food intake.

• For example, removing an entire food group can lead to very low intakes of important nutrients like fiber or healthy fats.
• “I like hypertrophy training by body part, so I have Shred suggest daily workouts—upper body, lower body, full body, or abs,” Schlinger explains.
• For our testing we focused on the food tracking features, which can be used via the app’s calorie-intake calculator.
• In terms of the accountability, I was always pleased with the Lose It!
• While the free version is extensive, if you’re going on some deep country trails, it may be worth it to upgrade.
• We suggest trying a few apps to see which you like the most, and which you’re most likely to stick with, and purchasing a year upfront to get the best savings.

Our Thoughts on Simple

As a general rule, the more robust the database, the more likely you’re going to get accurate information since you don’t have to manually input things yourself. But we did experiment with inputting some of our favorite recipes to see if harna reviews the nutrition facts would match up—if not, the app lost a point. There’s also a really detailed quiz when you first sign up so the app can understand your wellness goals and help you accurately track your progress to get there. MyFitnessPal is one of the most recognizable fitness apps in the game, and it still remains one of the best free options you can get. All this is available in the free version, but you will have to upgrade to the paid app for additional tracking for things like fasting times.