“There’s not much here that I couldn’t already see in my Apple Health app,” our tester said. Now, to track your daily caloric intake, Noom does require you to log each meal. While this level of involvement may not suit everyone’s needs, our tester said that this process was easy given the simple user interface. We also liked that it increased accountability, giving this category a 3.5 out of 5, as some apps have more involved accountability measures. Having a personal trainer at your disposal can be great for staying diligent in your training, nutrition, and wellness journeys.
As the machine vibrates, it transmits energy to your body, forcing your muscles to contract and relax dozens of times each second. Matt’s a keen runner, ex-kickboxer, not averse to the odd yoga flow, and insists everyone should stretch every morning. When he’s not training or writing about health and fitness, he can be found reading doorstop-thick fantasy books with lots of fictional maps in them. We really lauded its rest-tracking, and the interface is a joy to use. If you find yourself stalling, the AI will recommend ‘plateau breaker’ exercises to help you push past it. Unfortunately, its annual subscription is very expensive when paired with some of its contemporaries, which will make it prohibitive to some.
BetterMe is a nutrition and fitness app with a key focus on improving users’ relationships with food, fitness, and their bodies, and it boasts a workout library in addition to calorie and macro-tracking. That said, it is one of the poorer-quality apps we have reviewed in terms of its functionality. MacroFactor is our #1 recommended macro-tracking app, which applies equally to weight gain and weight loss goals.
Low Energy, Bloating, and Brain Fog? Your Gut Health Could Be the Reason…
The instructors (including the app’s founder, Megan Roup) use inclusive language in every class, adhering to all fitness levels. Roup pulls from her professional dance background, adding new choreography to every class, and instructs in an engaging way that makes even non-dancers (it’s me, hi) come back for more. While some classes require Peloton equipment, many strength, yoga, and mobility workouts can be done with minimal gear, making the app useful even without owning a bike or treadmill. As soon as I tested Kristin McGee’s workouts I understood why she has a cult following.
Essential Features for Effective Workouts
All of the food data and advice given has been backed by the USDA and UCCS, so you can be sure that you are following genuine nutritional advice. The exercises are categorized according to muscle group, making finding exactly what you want easy. In addition to individual exercises, you can choose from over 75 pre-made workout routines. The Fitness and Bodybuilding app is simple but effective, making it one of the best weightlifting apps for iPhone and Android.
Why is progress tracking important in bodybuilding?
Adding comments and exercises, editing routines, filtering, and navigating through the workout log is a breeze with the integrated calendar feature. The database currently has over 1300 variations and demos that you could choose from. Create a workout plan, watch the instruction videos, workout, and log results. JEFIT’s expansive exercise library and robust community engagement have breathed new life into workout routines. A lot of websites will give you a list of “the X best bodybuilding apps”. But these lists often focus on secondary characteristics (in my opinion).
The app was also quite disappointing in terms of an inaccurate food database and the ability to log foods in ounces, so we don’t recommend it even just for macro-tracking. Not only are macro targets set for fitness apps compatible with apple watch each meal, but users must also check whether they hit the targets for each meal or were over or under. MyFitnessPal is one of the oldest and longest-standing nutrition apps on the market today. The app has tried to adapt to keep pace with trends like the keto diet, but its functionality is now behind a paywall, meaning that there are other apps with the same or better functionality at a lower cost.
Progression
This AI-powered strength training app curates workouts for you based on your initial fitness levels and daily readiness. The more you log your data, the more your algorithm learns in an effort to keep you progressing through PRs. While the workout library isn’t as dense as some other apps, the app is high quality and you can personalize your training programs when creating fitness goals. Thanks to a wide variety of periodized regimens as well as live and on-demand fitness classes led by certified personal trainers without any cost of entry. The Nike Training Club caters mostly to strength-based training, but also has sessions for bodyweight training, yoga, pilates, and mobility work.
Can the personal trainer certification be completed online?
- If you enjoy the sessions and programs, you’ll find it easier to make them part of your routine and progress towards your targets.
- You can use apps to set goals, track your progress, and stay motivated.
- The program contains only 5 exercises which are divided into two sessions, including squat, deadlift, bench press, overhead press, and bent-over row.
- However, ClassPass also has a database of workout videos that are completely free to users; you don’t even need to be on a subscription plan.
- JEFIT has established itself as a go-to platform for serious lifters, making it one of the best workout apps for muscle gain due to its sheer depth of data tracking and community features.
- Fitness Buddy claims it will “revolutionize your training regimen” and help you “be the best you”- and we must agree!
Monitoring metrics such as body weight enables you to track your progress for the purpose of meeting your goals. Self-monitoring is also said to increase awareness, self-efficacy, and accountability, which are all considered important aspects of success in any behavioral change program. Use our calorie-intake calculator to determine your daily caloric needs based on your height, weight, age and activity level. In addition to determining the calories needed to maintain weight, use this as a calorie burner calculator and figure out how many calories you need to burn in order to drop pounds.
Tracking Progress and Personalizing Workouts
Below are the essential factors you need to consider when deciding on the best bodybuilding apps for your needs. Upon upgrading to premium, we were pleasantly surprised to receive genuine support from a certified coach, offering guidance on both exercise routines and dietary choices. Besides JEFIT, Sworkit is on the list of a few popular free fitness apps that you can use safely and effectively, respecting the guidelines of the ACSM (American College of Sports Medicine) [1]. JEFIT’s expansive exercise library, coupled with its robust community engagement, has breathed new life into their workout routines. Strong is ideal for tracking workouts across multiple devices with detailed metrics. The free version has limitations, but the subscription unlocks powerful features.
Apple Watch Series 10 vs. Series 9
She reports working with her coach and using the app is easy, and she appreciates the fact that there are demonstration videos for every exercise assigned to your program. While the Caliber app earns the nod on our best workout app for men, women can also achieve great results since it offers something for everyone. There is a robust free-forever version and two paid options that grant you access to either group coaching ($19 per month) or a fully customized one-on-one coaching program (starting at $200 per month). In December 2025, we reviewed our list of the best workout apps and made a few changes based on our latest testing. The Shred App still earns our top recommendation, but we swapped out picks that didn’t hold up in terms of cost, user experience, and workout variety. New additions—like Fitbod—stood out for their high scores in these categories.
How We Tested the Best Bodybuilding Apps
We’ve tried these apps ourselves to see if they’re easy to use, fun, and worth the money you need to pay in subscription fees. However, for strength workouts, Centr is an excellent option, especially as you can filter classes by the equipment you have at hand. As a BodyPump fan, I would watch the classes on my TV, and send my heart rate soaring without leaving my living room. These classes do require you to have a decent amount of equipment at home, however. I don’t have an exercise bar, but I used a set of the best adjustable dumbbells and still got a great workout.
The app has loads of on-demand classes you can try, including yoga, Barre, and mobility, as well as different challenges to join to keep you motivated. Once you’ve chosen your program, you check in once a month to keep track of your progress. According to our tester, the videos are “amazing and super easy to follow,” and fresh workouts are added every day. It’s truly a fantastic resource for anyone looking to elevate their training ecosystem.
Best for run coaching
Trim down or bulk up, run faster, or bike farther—however you exercise, our favorite workout apps help you stay committed to physical fitness. The experts at Total Shape found that Strong app takes the top spot for Android and iOS users alike. Its user-friendly interface, comprehensive exercise library, and detailed workout plans make it a standout choice.
When he’s not writing, you’ll find him running the trails at Griffith Park or trying to catch every new movie in IMAX at the local movie theater. You can challenge yourself by picking routes that athletes near you have curated, then compete head-to-head with them. The app is a pretty great deal at just $14.99/month, but if you want the best value, buy a year for just $89.99, which will save you 50% compared to paying month-to-month.