The Best Workout Apps for Women in 2026: Tried and Tested

During a workout, if you’re wearing one of the best Apple Watches, you’ll be able to see stats from your watch on the screen. When it first launched, you had to have a Watch to use Fitness Plus, but Apple removed the restriction in 2022. Why you can trust Tom’s GuideOur writers and editors spend hours analyzing and reviewing products, services, and apps to help find what’s best for you. Get full access to premium articles, exclusive features and a growing list of member rewards.

Best Workout App for Pregnancy: Down Dog

“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. There’s no personal coaching involved with this app, though I do enjoy the coach-guided runs. Essentially, you select a goal-oriented coach-guided run, integrate your personal playlist, and listen to the coach’s instructions.

How We Tested and Selected the Best Workout Apps

Hevy is our choice for the best free weightlifting app, as it provides not only basic workout tracking with simple features but also an expansive community in the app. You can post and share workouts, as well as like and comment on other users’ training progress. Furthermore, this free workout app contains an expansive exercise library with videos and directions on each movement. There is a premium version, but even at $3 a month, Hevy earns a 5 out of 5 for its affordable pricing. Runna (acquired by Strava in 2025) is focused entirely on structured run training.

Best Real Health Coach

  • Our tester shared that the AI even adjusted her workout in real time after she rated her perceived exertion at 10 during her second of three sets.
  • If you’re on a family plan, you can share access to Apple Fitness Plus with up to five family members.
  • GGR Senior Staff Writer Caine Wilkes, OLY, CNC, USAW-L1, rates Hevy a 4 out of 5 for workout variety, noting that you can add or create your own routines and custom exercises.
  • There are currently thousands of workout classes, with around 30 more added weekly.
  • We started with our own experience with various online workout programs, creating a list of plans our team members have personally used in the past.
  • This accessibility provides accountability while offering flexibility better than scheduled in-person sessions.

In addition to our personal experience and expertise, here are the main factors we used to evaluate each workout app. However, for strength workouts, Centr is an excellent option, especially as you can filter classes by the equipment you have at hand. If you enjoy the sessions and programs, you’ll find it easier to make them part of your routine and progress towards your targets.

Who has the best workout program on YouTube?

fitness apps with instructional workouts

Our tester praised TR[Ai]NER’s workout design and customization features, stating, “The program is very specific to my needs. When selecting the best one for you, consider if it offers the necessary tools to help you reach your goals, such as weight loss, building muscle or simply becoming more active. Make sure that the app you choose offers multiple levels of expertise so that as you get fitter, you can challenge yourself and move on to the next level. The biggest things you’ll want to think about before starting a fitness program are your current fitness level, a realistic and balanced program pace and equipment you have access to. These will all factor into what you’ll see the most success with as you start. Remember you can always increase your frequency, time spent per workout, adjust based on your progress or if you feel you’ve started too heavy and add new equipment as possible.

fitness apps with instructional workouts

Lack of personalization

Every exercise includes clear instructions, targeted muscle groups, and fitness app service reviews difficulty ratings. This educational approach helps beginners build confidence while learning correct technique from day one. Most programs (BetterMe, Pvolve, Obé, Daily Burn) offer plenty of bodyweight or minimal-equipment workouts. A rising star in 2025, SHRED uses AI to adapt workouts for strength, cardio, or mobility.

Best Overall – Alpha Progression

“It seems more like an advanced workout programming app with a built-in lifting journal, which is very cool,” our tester adds. The best workout app will be the one that offers you the right tools to achieve your goals and fits your lifestyle. Our best overall pick is EvolveYou, since it has the widest variety of workouts to choose from, allows you track progress and is highly customizable. Before beginning your workout, you can set up your playlist (through Spotify or Apple Music) and select the equipment you have available. Based on your equipment selection, the app will recommend a routine that you can follow. I found this particularly helpful since most workout apps have fixed routines, and often you don’t have the right equipment to complete them.

Strong Workout Tracker Gym Log

Zwift uses game features to make indoor cycling and running more fun, but the app has a history of crashing and isn’t great on small phone screens. Future is an outstanding app in nearly every category, but the only real drawback is the cost, as it’s certainly not cheap. Typically, we like to see some sort of free trial, especially for a service with such an expensive cost. Those who join without our code won’t receive the free month, so we docked a couple of points for the trial period. Compared to most other apps, Fitbod is very reasonably priced, though the trial is a little short.

Whether you’re looking to build strength, improve mobility, or boost your cardiovascular health, there’s a workout tracker for you. With so many apps to choose from, however, it can be difficult to determine which platform is the best fit for your home screen. Do you want an app that’s specific to your training interests, or one that caters to a variety of disciplines?

After completing a quick assessment, Caliber offers access to the three versions of the app. There’s no trial, but the free version allows you to get basic features forever, earning it a 5 out of 5 for the category. This free version can be a great place to begin, too, as Caliber provides a substantial library for each exercise with in-depth directions and videos on how to perform each movement. GGR expert product tester Anthony O’Reilly, CPT, CNC tested Shred extensively, awarding it at least a 4 out of 5 in nine categories. This speaks volumes about how well-rounded this platform is, as you get top-notch instruction, a user-friendly interface, and ample workout variety.

Because the programs we tested are 100% online, it’s important that the platform is easy to use and doesn’t take away from the workout experience. For an app to earn a 1-star rating, the interface is confusing, there are no filters for specific needs, and it generally feels chaotic. Nobody wants to pay for something they may not like, so fitness apps with free trials earn higher points than those without. In fact, apps with no trial periods earned a 1-star rating in this category.

This may come in the form of push notifications or scheduling reminders for your workouts. It might also mean community forums or coach check-ins, depending on the app. If you participate in Down Dog’s prenatal yoga sessions, you’ll select what trimester you’re in so that app will deliver sessions appropriately per trimester. There are even specific yoga workouts specific to pelvic floor and labor prep.

Best For Yoga: YogaRenew

Nike Training Club and Apple Fitness+ (with trial) offer high-quality free content. A score of 3 means the app is priced fairly based on its features and functionality (typically around $35 or less). Apps that cost less than $10 per month, or offer a one-time purchase option, earn higher scores.

The 11 Best Workout Apps for Women of 2026

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. One of the newer safety features on the Strava app is called the Beacon, which lets you share your location in real time with an emergency contact. You’ll also want to figure out whether the app’s classes require you to have certain pieces of equipment on hand, like dumbbells or a yoga mat. Make sure you either have these items, or you have the budget to purchase them.

The Best Workout Apps for Women in 2026: Tried and Tested