Fitness apps can play an essential role in your health journey. From a practical standpoint, these apps allow you to remember what you've done while completing a session and plan the progressions for the next session. Additionally, tracking workouts has the benefit of showing your progress over time – this is perfect for keeping you motivated and demonstrating that your training is paying off. When coupled with other examples of modern health tech, such as a quality fitness tracker, these apps' data can be invaluable for optimising your performance and hitting your goals.
At What's The Best, we are big fans of the benefits that technology can bring to our health, fitness, strength and wellbeing journeys. Below, we've used our expertise to highlight the best fitness apps available today that will deliver the data you need to succeed.
Best fitness apps 2024 at a glance:
Best fitness app: MyFitnessPal
Best AI-powered fitness app: Freeletics
Best free fitness app: Nike Training Club
Best all-in-one fitness app: FitOn PRO Fitness App
Now, grab your running shoes and slide on those lifting straps – it's time to talk fitness apps. Our fitness app choices are varied. Some are designed as an all-in-one solution, where you can log diet and nutrition alongside workouts and plans. Others are more specialised, focussing on one fitness area, such as long-distance running or strength training. But they all have a few things in common – they are all user-friendly and reliable, and many offer users a free tier of functionality and a paid-for tier, which unlocks all the app has to offer. Read on to see the best fitness apps available in 2024.
The best fitness apps
Note that all prices are correct when writing and are subject to change at short notice.
Best fitness app
www.myfitnesspal.com
Sometimes, the hardest part of getting into a workout routine is consistency - not only sticking to your regular exercise regimen but also your diet – MyFitnessPal is a one-stop app essential for creating the ultimate healthy routine.
With an enormous library of workouts, a vast index of calories (where you can even scan barcodes to total up your calorie count as accurately as possible), and an ocean of workout routines that'll test the mettle of even the most experienced of gym-goers – MyFitnessPal is the perfect tool for a healthy lifestyle.
Paired with a cutting-edge Android fitness tracker, along with countless compatible apps for measuring heart rate, step counting, and more - and you'll be on your way to peak fitness.
Pros
- Fantastic array of fitness tracking features
- Easy to use
- Great connectivity between many fitness apps
Cons
- One of the most expensive per month
| Supported devices: | iOS, Android |
| Main features: | Food Nutrition index, meal planning, macro/micronutrient targeting, exercise logging, workout planning |
| Live classes: | No |
- Customer review: "Very pleased with this app in general. The database of foods is impressive and logging each item has made being in a calorie deficit easy."
Best AI-powered fitness app
www.freeletics.com
Freeletics aims to help individuals achieve their fitness goals through high-intensity workouts, such as HIIT. The app offers a range of features, both free and paid. The app has a large active community, too.
The free features include 20 bodyweight HIIT workouts, instructional videos, and audio coaching sessions. The app can use location data to highlight popular workout spots nearby. Though limited in scope, the free version of Freeletics lets you see if you like it before subscribing.
The paid version, Freeletics Coach, unlocks the app's AI-powered personalisation tools, which create training plans on the user's fitness level, goals, and preferences. More exercises are available, including gym routines and cardio workouts, as is basic nutritional guidance, data tracking and statistical feedback increase. Unfortunately, comprehensive dietary support is only available via Freeletics Nutrition, a separate app and subscription, though they can be purchased as a bundle.
Freeletics subscriptions can be paid in three-month or yearly instalments or as a one-time payment for a lifetime membership.
Pros
- Personalised workouts
- It doesn't rely on equipment as it has body weight as well as gym modes
- Large active community
Cons
- All of the good stuff is locked behind a paywall
- If intensity isn't your thing, Freeletics isn't for you
Best free fitness app
Nike's Training Club is the perfect workout assistant and fitness tracker for those looking for the bare essentials. Keep an eye on your workout progress and easily target your weaker areas - all without paying a single penny.
Nike's Training Club is slick and easy to use - with no major performance issues. You might want to invest in a paid-for app for more experienced users or those needing calorie-counting assistance.
Pros
- Completely free fitness app
- Perfect for just the essentials
- Great personal trainers
Cons
- No calorie counting
- Not a massive array of features
| Supported devices: | iOS/Android |
| Main features: | Workout planning, progress tracking, yoga, cardio, HIIT, strength mobility |
| Live classes: | No |
- Customer review: "This is a great exercise app for working out at home. I love the variety of workouts and the different levels of challenge. The personal trainers that I have experienced so far have been great."
Best all-in-one fitness app
fitonapp.com
Offering a huge amount of value and features for such a low price, the FitOn PRO fitness app is easily one of the best methods of tracking your calories, planning your workout routines and motivating yourself on the fitness market.
Compatible with an array of fitness and health trackers, as well as countless devices from iOS, Android and more. Gain absolute mastery over your health, fitness and wellness with this meticulously thought out app - with everything from stress management to exercise management with life-long conditions such as diabetes.
FitOn is also packed with value at £64.99 per year - you cannot argue with such an excellent price. Plus, it's usually on sale.
Pros
- One of the most streamlined fitness apps ever made
- Easy to access
- Packed with fitness and health features
Cons
- The best requires that you pay
| Supported devices: | iOS, Android |
| Main features: | Celebrity fitness, nutrition tracking, stress guidance, cardio, HIIT, strength, yoga, meditation |
| Live classes: | Yes |
- Customer review: "I very much appreciate the wide range of exercises encompassing age, mobility, and need. They add new content frequently, and the programs and daily reminders are very helpful"
Best fitness tracker integrated app
www.fitbit.com
Fitbit has been dominating the running watch market for years now, with each generation introducing a new technological innovation at a fraction of the price of its competition.
While there is plenty to explore and utilise in your daily workout routine with Fitbit's basic premium fitness tracking app, there's no doubt that Fitbit's Premium service is more than a worthwhile investment into a much wider and in-depth insight into your fitness journey.
Monitor blood pressure, stress, sleep, heart rate and more - with detailed and accurate data collection just to see precisely how much progress you've been making. Unlock many features that will revolutionise your workout experience and keep you pushing yourself to your very limits.
Pros
- Excellent Fitbit-integrated features
- Perfect for total body monitoring
- Personalised fitness advice and guidance
Cons
- No dietary guidance
| Supported devices: | iOS, Android |
| Main features: | Readiness score, stress management, wellness report, skin temperature monitoring, guided wellbeing sessions, blood glucose monitoring |
| Live classes: | No |
- Customer review: "I love Fitbit, I've been a user for several years. I love absolutely all the features from calorie counting to exercise tracking to monitoring."
Best personalised fitness app
centr.com
Perfect for pairing up with your Garmin watch - Chris Hemsworth's fitness app, Centr, is designed to be used by everyone from the most experienced users to the earliest beginners.
A comprehensive fitness app with every kind of support you could imagine for your diet, health, mental well-being and strength training. Get support from industry-leading health professionals and celebrity fitness enthusiasts (including the legendary Chris Hemsworth himself) throughout your fitness journey from gym newbie to bodybuilder.
Experience live classes, weekly personalised classes, delicious, affordable recipes and a lot more for less than £10 per month; it's a steal.
Pros
- Incredibly well-designed app
- Fantastic motivational classes
- Perfect for any fitness level
Cons
- Mixed reception from users on live trainers
| Supported devices: | iOS/Android |
| Main features: | Diet advice and meal planning, progress tracking, wearable integration, core training, HIIT, beginner training, muscle building |
| Live classes: | Yes |
- Customer review: "Rarely ever glitches and just great workouts. This app and the programs and meal planning are very well done."
What's the best fitness app?
Picking the best fitness app for you isn't easy. Some fitness apps have excellent dieting apps, others have great live classes and wearable integration - but what matters is the best fitness app that works for you.
We've listed a handful of top-tier fitness apps, perfect for a variety of exercise fanatics to use and enjoy - each and everyone having their niche.
Will my fitness app work with my fitness tracker?
Apps such as Centr, MyFitnessPal, and Fitbit will work with both Apple and Android wearables, making them perfect for keeping track on your steps, your exercise progress, and your calories burned whilst exercising.
Are fitness trackers accurate?
There's some debate among fitness professionals as to whether fitness trackers are accurate - especially when it comes to calorie and step tracking; they say with new and improved technologies, better wearables and better apps, fitness trackers are more accurate than ever.
What fitness app should I use with my Apple Watch?
There are hundreds of fitness apps to choose from that will work perfectly well with your Apple Watch - from Centr to MyFitnessPal. Apple even has its own fitness and wellbeing app that's perfect for keeping a good track on exercise progress - you've got plenty of choices for your daily exercise monitoring.
Ryan Houghton is a tech writer and reviewer for What's The Best, specialising in PCs and gaming. He is a keen PC gamer and an avid reader.
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