The Top Fitness Apps to Kickstart Your Health Goals in 2025
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With more than 97,000 fitness apps out there, according to the Health Works Collective, we're not lacking in options. Much of this can be credited to the Covid-19 pandemic, which turbocharged the rise of virtual fitness and at-home workouts. From virtual personal trainers to live yoga classes, each app claims to be the one that will transform your exercise routine. Add to that a sea of subscription models, performance metrics, and extra wellness features, and it's nearly impossible to know where to focus your energy. How do you know which fitness apps are worth your time?
If you, too, are overstimulated, we've rounded up a list of standout apps that cater to all fitness goals. Whether you're looking for structured workout programs, real-time feedback, or a bit of inspiration for the new year, we've done the heavy lifting to bring you the apps worth downloading. For more recommendations, read our buying guides to the Best Fitness Trackers, Best Treadmills, and Best Therabody Tools for Recovery. Also, check out our How to Work Out From Home and Everything You Need for Your Yoga Practice guides for more tips.
Updated January 2025: We added Peloton Strength+, Nike Run Club, Nike Training Club, Smash Your Fitness, Supernatural, and FitXR. We also checked links and prices.
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- Photograph: Peloton
The Best App
PelotonI tried so many workout apps during the pandemic, but I, like everyone else, am now helplessly addicted to the Peloton app. Many WIRED staffers use the app in conjunction with Peloton's branded (and pricey) bike or treadmill. But as long as you have a smartphone or tablet, you can use the app with any spin bike, treadmill, or no equipment at all.
For $13 per month for the Peloton App One, you get strength, yoga, outdoor running, and gym workouts; for $24 per month for the Peloton App+, you get access to the equipment workouts (exercise bike, treadmill, and rower) as well as the Strength+ app (more on this below. The on-demand or live workouts have varying lengths and intensities, from 10-minute meditations to long outdoor runs, in addition to rides. You can load the app on a variety of devices—I have mine on my phone and Roku TV. The standout features are the sheer charisma of Peloton's instructors and the idiosyncrasy of workouts. (Britpop run? Country music strength training? Yes, please.) It's got a great subscriber base too. If you're wasting away from a lack of human connection, it's incredibly easy to text friends and family in different cities to show up in the same class.
- Screenshots courtesy of Boutayna Chokrane
Best Running App
Nike Run ClubI got into running in 2020 during the lockdown when it felt like my only excuse to escape the confines of my apartment. If I didn’t go out for a run, I might have just run through a wall. As someone who had never identified as a runner and has the attention span of a squirrel, the Nike Run Club’s guided runs kept me going. A coach pops in and out of your workout, offering tips, updates, or just a well-timed distraction. Sometimes, the commentary is a bit of a vibe crusher—especially when I’m bumping Brat—but you can toggle that audio feature off and do your own thing.
I’m a huge fan of the running app’s training programs, too. They cater to all fitness levels, so whether you’re a newbie like I was or chasing a personal best, there’s a program for everyone. Recently, I tried the 14-week half-marathon training program just to see if I could do it. If you’re more of a treadmill runner, the app has options for indoor runs as well. Bonus: Nike Run Club is compatible with the Apple Watch, making it easy to track and control from my wrist. —Boutayna Chokrane
- Screenshots courtesy of Boutayna Chokrane
Best Free Workout App
Nike Training ClubI downloaded the Nike Training Club around the same time I started using Nike Run Club, and it quickly became my go-to for guided warm-ups. But this app offers so much more than just pre-run stretches. It’s packed with a variety of workout plans across categories like HIIT, strength training, yoga, pilates, and even mindset exercises focused on breathwork and meditation. Looking back at my activity history, it’s clear I love the quick morning routines and stretches. Like the Nike Run Club, this app also offers structured programs for every muscle group and goal—including specialized plans during pregnancy and postpartum recovery. You can choose from bodyweight-only exercises or sessions that require equipment, offering the flexibility to work out at home or in the gym. —Boutayna Chokrane
- Courtesy of Peloton
Best for Weightlifting
Peloton Strength+There are a ton of strength training apps available. Most of them are designed for use in your home, and I've tried many of them, including FitOn and Workout for Women. However, I've found Peloton's independent Strength+ app to be the most flexible and enjoyable to use, as it's made specifically to be used in a gym. After all, that's where all the equipment is.
You can listen to your own podcasts or music while you work out. First, choose one of Peloton's programs, or use the workout generator to pick the length, intensity, and types of equipment that you want to use. It's easy to switch or skip exercises if you don't feel really feel like deadlifting right now or the equipment is being used, and your audio automatically pauses when you need to hear timers or instructions. You're not stuck pausing, fast-forwarded, or rewinding videos on YouTube. The only downside is that it's currently only available on iOS.
- Photograph: iFit
If You Miss Travel
iFitIt's unfortunate that so many fitness apps require proprietary equipment. But if you've got the itch to travel, I recommend iFit, which partners with NordicTrack, ProForm, and FreeMotion equipment. You get world-class athletic instructors with jaw-dropping natural scenery from all over the world for workouts that are both stunning and entertaining. I may not be able to ride a pump track with Ashleigh McIvor in real life, even if there wasn't a pandemic. But on iFit's platform, I laughed out loud from the exhilaration of flying behind her as the bike tilted up and down. I loved it so much, in fact, that my own mother bought the treadmill and has been enjoying her own global walks at home.
- Courtesy of Apple
If You Own an Apple Watch
Apple Fitness+Speaking of proprietary equipment: If you want to subscribe to Apple's subscription service, Fitness+, you will first need an iPhone that's capable of updating to the latest OS. If you want to watch classes on your TV, you'll need an Apple TV, although you can also watch them on your iPad. Then, if you want to see your metrics on your wrist as you work out, you need an Apple Watch. That's a lot of equipment to start using what initially seems like an affordable fitness service ($10 per month).
However, Fitness+ has added a lot of content over the years, which includes Artist Spotlights, a series of classes featuring the music from the likes of Usher and Beyonce, which is a welcome relief if you've noticed that the music in your Peloton classes just sucks. Fitness+ features workouts that support a truly insane number of sports, like snow season. If you already own one or more of the above devices, you can bundle Fitness+ in with your Apple One subscription (with the Premier plan, you get extra storage as well as News+ and Apple Arcade, and you can share your plan with up to five other people.) It seamlessly integrates across all your devices, and closing your Apple Watch exercise rings is still one of the easiest and most addictive motivational games I've used. I also really like the outdoor workouts, called Time to Walk and Time to Run, where celebrities can accompany you on your outdoor excursions (I've also heard these referred to as "podcasts", but oh well).
- Photograph: Strava
For Runners and Cyclists
StravaOne of the most unquestionably popular apps for the "aerobically inclined" is Strava, which combines GPS tracking and an immensely popular social media platform for runners and cyclists. Strava is compatible with almost every fitness tracker I've tried too. Even multiple privacy issues have not stopped almost every runner and cyclist I know from using it. It's so popular it's spawned its own art form.
If you like riding, running, or exploring, Strava has a ton of neat features that will let you get outside and get some fresh air. There's a free version, but subscribing ($8 per month) gives you access to premium features like competing in segments on your routes, building your own heat maps, and accessing advanced training tools, in addition to letting you draw GPS-tracked penises all over your neighborhood for your friends' entertainment. Do you need new shoes? Don't forget to check out our guide to the Best Running Gear.
- Courtesy of Smash Your Fitness
Best for Gaming Cyclists
Smash Your FitnessIf you're a cyclist, you probably have a trainer set up for what WIRED writer Robbie Gonzalez once called "human hamster-wheeling.” If you find Zwift boring, you might want to consider a new cycling game called Smash Your Fitness. Cyclists strap on a “Smashometer,” a small, rechargeable ankle device that transmits leg speed to the game via Bluetooth, or directly to your smart trainer via Bluetooth or ANT+.
You cycle through a sci-fi universe that feels like you're suspended in space, while riding on a track akin to a revolving strand of DNA or a natural world that’s a compelling virtual facsimile of Europe or the Southwest. You can pedal with friends remotely or join paced group rides led by virtual ride leaders. A hunky AI coach can also spit out a workout program after feeding him some basic data. Pre-made workouts can be as short as five minutes or as long as several hours.
There are a lot of moving parts with Smash that a cyclist like me who just wants to get some quick exercise might not want or need. For example, cyclists have the option to “steer” the bike using their phone or keyboard. When this feature is turned on, there’s a risk of crashing, which I did at least 10 times in one ride. Throughout a month of testing I found that the app isn't quite easy to use. I never could sync it with my Zwift Hub smart trainer. The company promises that connectivity bugs will soon be worked out, but until then it’s up to the Smashometer to carry the ride. Also, the companion app is still waiting for approval from Apple and the Google Play Store.—Steph Pearson
- Courtesy of Meta
Best for VR
Supernatural VRI have tried a number of dedicated virtual reality workout apps. (Nothing gets me sweatier than competing with my friends in Beat Saber). I also very much like FitXR, which recently added a game format called Seasons that's designed to jumpstart your workout routine over three months with unlockable challenges and experiences. (The Slam challenge, however, where you chase balls around your real-life room, nearly made me tumble into a lamp.)
My favorite VR workout app is Supernatural, which is available with a $10 per month subscription in the Meta Quest store. (You will also need a Meta Quest headset.) Supernatural offers three kinds of workouts—Box, Flow, and Meditation—in an immersive virtual environment that looks like Iceland, or the Alps. Flow is a pretty absorbing workout, as you duck and slide and swing your bats across your body to smash little balls, all while listening to Muse or Lady Gaga. Supernatural also started adding celebrity coaches; Jane Fonda recently launched a four-part workout series with her friend Ludacris. (Supernatural's words, not mine.) If you've ever thought, “Hey, I would like to work out with Jane Fonda while listening to hip-hop from the 2000s,” I would like to be your friend, and you can friend me on the Meta Quest so we can do a Team Workout together.
- Photograph: Obe Fitness
A Beautiful Live Service
Obé FitnessThe Obé Fitness app offers a modern take on old-school workout videos. Once you've chosen one of the three categories—Sweat, Define, and Flow—one of Obé's coaches guides you through the workout. The coaches are energetic, lively, and encouraging and the music is on point, but one of the most noticeable differences is the background setting. Instead of the usual studio setup, the coach is framed by blank walls of varying colors. The hues on the walls change throughout the workout, creating a lively and dynamic feel to every session. It’s almost enough to distract you from how hard you’re working. —Billy Brown
- Photograph: Six to Start
For Adrenaline Junkies
Zombies, Run!If you've ever thought to yourself, "The only way I'd start running is if I had to flee for my life," you can now start practicing. Zombies, Run! is an award-winning audio survival game that's secretly a fitness tool. Once you connect your headphones and start your workout, an audio guide narrates your journey. In an apocalyptic, zombified world, it's your job to scavenge resources for your ragtag band of human survivors and evade death.
The app is free, but you can pay for the Abel Runner's Club version to access all eight seasons and features. In addition to heart-pounding audio storylines and narrated adventures, there are also virtual races, stat tracking, GPS-enabled maps, and the ability to connect with your Apple Watch or Google Pixel Watch. I have no doubt it's effective—I burned at least 5 to 10 calories just listening in fear to the YouTube trailer.
- Photograph: Crossrope Jump Ropes
For Indoor Aerobics
CrossRopeIf you live in a region where you simply don't have the ability to go on miles-long jaunts and don't have the room to store a lot of equipment, you might want to consider getting a Crossrope. CrossFit is the branded fitness regimen-slash-workout philosophy that combines weightlifting, gymnastics, and other disciplines, and jumping rope is an essential part of the workouts (it's also just fun).
Once you have your Crossrope, subscribe to the app. The free version offers the 10 latest workouts, along with beginner tutorials and a beginner challenge. The paid version offers access to all workouts, along with challenges, workout filtering options, and a jump rope counting mode. There are also tutorials on how to do more complicated steps like boxer step jumps or double-unders, if you'd like to post a before-and-after montage to TikTok.
Photograph: Yoga with KassandraThe Best for Yoga
Yoga with KassandraMy personal favorite online yogi is Yoga with Adriene's Adriene Mishler, and not just because we have the same name and own the same breed of dog. But in WIRED's offices, I'm outnumbered by fans of Yoga with Kassandra. It all comes down to personal taste—I'd say Adriene is more chatty and casual, and Kassandra more efficient and business-like.
There are plenty of online yoga instructors to try if neither personality quite gels with you. If Adriene cooing that a pose is "yummy" makes you cringe, you can also give Jessamyn Stanley or Yoga with Tim a shot. I also enjoy Cosmic Kids Yoga with my children on weekend afternoons. For more tips, check out our story on Everything You Need for Your Yoga Practice.
- Photograph: Yoqi
Moving Meditation
YoqiQigong is the ancient Chinese practice of using breath control and body movements to gather life energy (known as qi) and redistribute it around your body and back into the earth. It's also a great way to start your day on an energetic upbeat. Qigong exercises are done in a standing posture, and the gentle activities slot somewhere between Tai Chi movements and your favorite standing yoga poses.
I picked up a daily qigong practice thanks to a series of videos by Marisa Cranfill of Yoqi.com. Her company's name says it all: Cranfill designs routines that are a combination of yoga and qigong, with equal emphasis on breathing, balance, meditation, and Chinese medicine. Also, the integration of yoga elements makes for an easier onboarding experience for those who are well-versed in yoga but new to qigong.
There are a bunch of free videos on Yoqi's YouTube channel, including a 30-minute video for first-timers. Start there. Once you're up to speed, a $15 subscription earns you unlimited video views on the company's website. Cranfill also has some fun audio meditations you can download for $15 to $30 each. —Michael Calore
- Photograph: Dance Church
The Best Dance Workout
Dance ChurchIf you miss walking into a club, getting your heart pumping, and thrashing your arms wildly around with a bunch of sweaty, ecstatic strangers, then Dance Church might be for you. The online platform offers crazy dance sessions led by real-life dancers, with a variety of bodies, dance styles, and (I have to say it) wonderful apparel. The company does lead live class in-person that are pay as you go, but a $19 per month on-demand subscription gets you continuous access to both live and on-demand dance sessions. This is a good option if you're fitting in exercise sessions with small children who think it's the height of both fitness and entertainment to jump up and down on the couch beside you.
Courtesy of Pushkin IndustriesFor Everyone Else
PodcastsThe real workout hero app is a podcast app. If you're disinclined to do literally anything else, just grab a pair of wireless workout buds and meander around your block for a half-hour of fresh air and sunlight. If you're not sure what to listen to, we have many, many podcast suggestions here. And don't forget to check out the new episodes of WIRED's flagship podcast, Uncanny Valley!
