The 11 Best Free Workout Apps Tested by Experts 2025

Once your goals are set, confirm your selection, and the app will begin tracking your progress. With the device on your wrist, it can monitor your physical activity across an array of supported workouts. There are the basics, such as walking, cycling, hiking, and rowing, but also dedicated sports, like baseball, basketball, tennis, pickleball, hockey, and golf. For each workout, the watch records the time, distance, calories burned, and other data to monitor your progress. Using its own built-in motion sensors, the iPhone will track your physical activity throughout the day and any workouts performed via supported third-party apps.

Strong app for Apple Watch

There are over 80 workouts to choose from on your Apple Watch, though you may only see a dozen or so at first glance. These hugely varied workouts cover everything from archery to yoga and each of them is configured to measure your energy output as accurately as possible. In certain cases you won’t be able to set a distance to aim for – the Apple Watch can’t tell how far you’ve gone on the rowing or elliptical machine for obvious reasons. Train your body and mind with weekly workouts and meditations for everyone. It’s about helping you stay active and making every minute of movement count. MacRumors attracts a broad audience of both consumers and professionals interested in the latest technologies and products.

Do smartwatches require a monthly subscription?

These virtual programs don’t typically query or include space for varying chronic mobility issues or chronic pain. Designed by prenatal and postnatal exercise specialist Brooke Cates and taught by other experts, Studio Bloom classes help expecting and new parents perform workouts safely during and after pregnancy. You can browse the 250-plus workouts by body part, equipment needed, or desired class length (5 to 30 minutes) to get started. You can also stream the videos on demand or download them for sweat sessions on the go. Healthline tester Anne Arntson originally paired the Peloton app with an Echelon Smart Connect bike to get in on the spin classes she was missing during the height of the pandemic. As she began testing some of the app’s other classes, she realized how much she enjoyed the range of class types and lengths available.

Which is the best smartwatch brand?

Still, the amount of workouts you get with this app may still be worth it. 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. This is the only place to access Foundations of Strength, a free program created by Team GGR, and Full Body Pump, a pro plan led by Lindsay Scheele, CPT, the lead reviewer at Garage Gym Reviews Everything. Looking for the best workout apps can be tough, especially if you’re looking for a free app. One of the most frustrating things about browsing an app store on your Android device or iPhone is that almost every workout app says they’re free, but with in-app purchases.

The pizza-slice-style menu is clear and logical, but if you’ve been used to Wear OS, not swiping left and right on the screen to see different titles takes a little adjustment. Functionally, there aren’t any obvious differences, but the Tag Heuer app’s design is slicker and faster on iOS. The Calibre E5 is a middle ground between a luxury analog watch and a smartwatch, far more so https://resident.com/resource-guide/2025/03/18/mad-muscles-review-transparent-pricing-real-fitness-results-in-20255 than a Galaxy Watch or a Pixel Watch. Not everyone will “get” that, but those who do will look at the Calibre E5 with envious eyes. The smartwatch’s case is also available in steel or rose gold PVD, and with a choice of metal, leather, and fabric straps. There are also two special editions, one with sports brand New Balance and a special Tag Heuer Golf edition.

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• With its multi-exercise mode recording, the ring tracks various activities, ensuring you get detailed insights into your workouts.
• The free version does have one major limitation if you’re trying to get off the beaten path, though.
• They must select the notification and then tap Accept to accept your invitation.
• For a more comprehensive analysis of your fitness journey, ensure that your Apple Watch syncs with your iPhone.
• Next, open the Fitness app on your phone and tap Continue at the Welcome screen.
• With the launch of the Samsung Galaxy Watch 8, it’s now easy to find the Galaxy Watch 7 on sale for a sizable discount, and when it comes to sleep tracking insights, the Watch 7 is a match with the Watch 8.

Although the Calibre E5 is compatible with both Android and iOS, it does seem like the smartwatch is best suited to use with an iPhone. This is considerably more expensive than almost all other smartwatches available. The Samsung Galaxy Watch 8 starts at $349, and the Apple Watch Series 11 starts at $399.

Also known as Map My Run, the best free workout app for runners goes to Map My Fitness, with its expansive GPS tracking and other free features. “You’re really getting a lot for the price,” Amanda says, rating the level of instruction a 5 out of 5. This leaves fitness tracking and the heart rate sensor, leaving it behind the competition. The Garmin Forerunner 265 is the best smartwatch for runners of all experience levels. It has a bright and colorful screen that’s easy to see in daylight, accurate GPS tracking, advanced training metrics, detailed workout insights and helpful recovery tips. Available in two case sizes, the Forerunner 265 is also pretty darn sporty-looking and plenty comfy.

If you pick any but the https://www.verywellfit.com/the-components-of-fitness-4154074 open option, you will then have to set this metric (adjust the number using the Digital Crown dial, or by tapping the plus and minus buttons), and finally tap Start. You can challenge an Apple Watch-wearing friend to a workout competition. Tap the plus (+) button, then select the desired person from your contacts list and hit Send. They can accept the invitation by opening the Fitness app and tapping Accept next to your name. After the person accepts, their name appears on the Sharing screen.

Trying to find an excellent watch-based lifting and strength training app? Check out these third-party options!

The Tag Heuer Connected Calibre E5 is a desirable entry point into Tag Heuer ownership, and provided the “smart” side isn’t your prime reason to buy it, you’ll probably really enjoy it. Otherwise, a non-smart Tag Heuer or “ordinary” smartwatch will be the more sensible purchase. The Calibre E5’s menu system is entered using the two pushers and then navigated by the touchscreen and rotating crown.

Workouts: For However You’re Feeling

The device also offers access to Garmin’s wide range of training metrics, which help you not only plan workouts but also calculate recovery time. In conclusion, the Apple Watch Workout app is a powerful tool for tracking your fitness goals, monitoring your progress, and staying motivated to achieve your full potential. By setting up the app, selecting the right workout type, tracking your progress, and staying motivated, you can make the most of your exercise routine and reach your fitness goals more effectively. Fitness+ integrates seamlessly with the Health app and Apple Watch to track your progress, from calories burned to heart rate, in real time. Think of it as a personal trainer, gym, and meditation studio all in one, accessible from your Apple devices. When choosing a plan, you can easily filter the programs based on your training goals, experience level, desired number of days per week, and equipment access.

Watches

While the free version is extensive, if you’re going on some deep country trails, it may be worth it to upgrade. At only $35.99 per year, the monthly price works out to only $2.99, so even the paid plan earns a 5 out of 5 for value. Marc Saltzman is is a prolific tech expert and freelance journalist for more than 25 publications.

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Tap the View All Step Metrics button to see the count and distance. Tap the Pause Rings button if you wish to pause the activity recording. When you’re ready to get back to tracking, tap the Resume Rings button to resume. Tap Change Goals if you wish to modify the number of calories you want to burn each day. At the next screen, change the number of minutes you aim to exercise each day and then tap Change Exercise Goal. There’s no need for an Apple Watch to record your workouts when an iPhone can act as your personal fitness tracker.

Track activity history

To begin your fitness journey with the Apple Watch, locate and tap the Workout app on your device. The app is represented by a distinctive green icon with an image of a running figure. If you need extra motivation to close your ring each day, swipe down to the Trends section on the Summary screen. After you’ve generated 180 days worth of activity, you’ll start receiving notifications about is mad muscles legit your trends. The goal is to see how you fare over the long haul so you can be proud of the progress you’ve made or strive to do better.