- Pick the app by how you like to train
- If you have 10 to 20 minutes
- If you lift weights
- If you run or cycle
- If you want calm as well as movement
- Do you need a smartwatch?
- Free or premium?
- Questions to ask before you pay for anything
- Working out while you travel
- Making the habit stick
- Frequently asked questions
The best workout app is the one that matches how you like to train. Nike Training Club and Apple Fitness+ suit guided home workouts, Fitbod and Strong suit weight training, Strava and Runna suit runners, and Down Dog suits yoga.
When you run a business, exercise is usually the first thing to go. The gym is a drive away, classes clash with calls, and by the evening you're done. A good workout app removes most of those excuses. It tells you exactly what to do, for as long as you've got, wherever you are. The best one for you depends less on features and more on the kind of exercise you'll keep doing.
If you have a health condition or an injury, or you're pregnant, check with your GP or doctor before starting a new exercise plan.
Pick the app by how you like to train
| App | Style | Best for | Worth knowing |
|---|---|---|---|
| Nike Training Club | Guided workouts and programmes | Variety at home with little kit | Large free library of workouts |
| Apple Fitness+ | Video classes with Apple Watch stats | iPhone and Apple Watch users | Strength, HIIT, yoga, pilates and more |
| Peloton App | Classes from Peloton instructors | People who like an instructor to follow | Works without Peloton equipment |
| Fitbod | Strength plans that adjust as you go | Gym-goers who want a plan | Builds sessions around your kit |
| Strong | Simple strength logging | People who already know what to lift | Fast to log sets and see progress |
| Hevy | Strength logging with a social feed | Lifters who like to share progress | Popular with gym communities |
| Strava | Running and cycling tracking | Runners and cyclists | Clubs and challenges keep you going |
| Runna | Running plans | Training for a first 5K or a marathon | Plans adapt to your pace |
| Down Dog | Yoga and other home sessions | Calm, flexible routines | Sessions change each time |
Apps update their features and plans regularly, so check what's included in the version you download.
If you have 10 to 20 minutes
Short sessions are the most realistic for busy weeks. Nike Training Club and Apple Fitness+ both offer quick workouts you can do in a hotel room or between meetings. Pair one with a mat and a couple of dumbbells and you've got a home gym that takes up a corner. If you want a structured short session to start with, my boxing workout for beginners takes 20 minutes and needs no equipment.
If you lift weights
Logging apps are where strength training gets easier. Fitbod writes the session for you based on what you did last time, which suits people who don't want to plan. Strong and Hevy suit people who already have a programme and want to log sets fast. The real value is seeing your numbers go up, which keeps you coming back.
If you run or cycle
Strava is the habit-builder here, because clubs, routes and friends' activities give you a reason to get out. Runna suits anyone with a goal race, as it builds a plan around your current pace. In the UK, the NHS Couch to 5K app is a gentle, free starting point for complete beginners.
If you want calm as well as movement
Yoga and pilates apps help with stiffness from long days at a desk. Down Dog creates a new session each time, so it doesn't get stale. If stress is part of the picture, a meditation app can sit alongside your workouts, and I compare the options in my guide to the best meditation apps for stress at work.
Do you need a smartwatch?
You don't, but it helps. A watch or fitness band records your heart rate, counts reps on some apps and nudges you to move when you've been sitting too long. Apple Fitness+ is built around the Apple Watch, while Strava, Runna and most strength apps work with a range of watches from Garmin, Fitbit, Samsung and others. If you're just starting, your phone is enough. Add a watch later if you find you like seeing the numbers.
Free or premium?
Most of these apps have a free version or a trial. The free tiers are often good enough for a few months, and they're the right place to start, because the best app is the one you're still opening in week six. Upgrade when you've used an app consistently and you can name the feature you're missing, such as a training plan, offline downloads or more classes. Don't pay for a year up front on day one. That's the most common way people end up with a subscription they've stopped using.
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Questions to ask before you pay for anything
- Will I use it at home, at the gym or outdoors?
- Does it work with my watch or phone?
- Is there a free version or trial long enough to build a habit?
- Can I download sessions to use without a signal?
- Does it offer plans for my level, not just advanced athletes?
Working out while you travel
Business trips are where routines usually fall apart. Download a few sessions before you leave so you're not relying on hotel wifi, and pick ones that need no equipment. Bodyweight circuits, yoga and a short run from the hotel door all work. A resistance band weighs almost nothing and adds variety. Even two short sessions on a three-day trip keep the habit alive, which matters more than any single workout.
Making the habit stick
Put workouts in your calendar like client meetings. Lay your kit out the night before. Start with three short sessions a week rather than an ambitious daily plan, then build. And move during the day too. Standing for some calls helps, as I cover in my guide to standing desk benefits, but it doesn't replace a real workout.
Make a workout app? See how to get it featured on this list.
Frequently asked questions
What's the best workout app?
It depends on how you train. Nike Training Club and Apple Fitness+ suit guided home workouts, Fitbod, Strong and Hevy suit weight training, Strava and Runna suit runners, and Down Dog suits yoga.
Is there a good free workout app?
Nike Training Club has a large free library, Strava has a free tier, and in the UK the NHS Couch to 5K app is free. Check what each free version includes before you upgrade.
Which workout app is best for beginners?
Beginners usually do well with guided apps such as Nike Training Club or Apple Fitness+, or a structured plan such as Couch to 5K. Start with short sessions a few times a week.
Can I get fit using only a workout app at home?
Many people do, especially with a mat and a couple of dumbbells. The key is following a plan consistently. If you have a health condition or injury, check with a doctor first.
