Are you ready to crush your fitness goals in the New Year? If so, it might be smart to equip your phone with a fitness app that is suitable for your needs, goals, and experience level. Regardless of your favorite type of exercise or activity level, there is something for everyone in this list of top fitness apps that help you get in shape.
NOTE: For best results, your fitness plan should be consistent. Don’t download every app on this list, because that will overwhelm you. Just pick one or two apps (one for training and one for nutrition would be smart), follow the routine as instructed, and stick with what you’re doing for at least six to eight weeks before changing to another fitness plan.
Wanna improve your endurance and/or prepare for a race? Check out Couch to 5K.
What Is It? A nine-week plan for people who are just taking up running. Workouts occur three times per week; last 30-40 minutes each; and include walking + jogging / warm-up + cool-down. Features include custom motivational tips to help you stay encouraged, easy-to-use workout logs to track your progress, and a built-in music player so you can jam to your favorite playlists.
Who Should Use It? Beginners who don’t have a gym membership, enjoy jogging, and/or would like to prepare for a race.
Where Can I Get It? Android / iPhone
Would you like to stretch it out anytime and anywhere? Try new poses with Pocket Yoga.
What Is It? A self-guided yoga practice that you can customize to fit your schedule and experience level. Features include detailed voice and visual instructions that guide you through every pose, 150 illustrated pose images including correct posture and positioning, and a workout log that tracks your progress to encourage consistency.
Who Should Use It? People who would like to try yoga but are intimidated by a class setting; people interested in improving flexibility, balance, and stability; people who would like a quick home workout that could help them relieve stress and improve their sleep.
Where Can I Get It? Android / iPhone
Does the possibility of winning a bet motivate you? Put your money where your mouth is on GymPact.
What Is It? A bet-driven app where you can make money if you commit to your workouts and others don’t. But the reverse is also true: skip too many workouts and you might have to pay up.
Who Should Use It? If the thought of losing a bet is a strong motivator and/or you’re a closet gambler, this might be for you.
Where Can I Get It? Android / iPhone
Note: Reviews of the recent update of GymPact are quite negative as compared to reviews of previous versions. Consider this your heads-up just in case that makes you want to wait until they release an update correcting some bugs.
Would you like to geek out over data related to your runs? Track your results and improve your performance with RunKeeper.
What Is It? A workout-tracking program that offers detailed stats about things like pace, distance, time, and calories burned. Features include detailed fitness plans to help you achieve a variety of goals (lose weight, improve endurance, run a race, etc.); real-time audio coaching to keep you encouraged; and built-in social sharing tools (so you can brag about those workouts with ease).
Who Should Use It? People who are super interested in running, jogging, biking, hiking or walking and would like to geek out over performance stats about their personal bests.
Where Can I Get It? Android / iPhone
Confused about what to buy in the grocery store? Make better decisions with an assist from Fooducate.
What Is It? A database of nutritional information for about 200,000+ unique products. Scan the barcode of any item and receive instant access to the ingredients used, nutrition facts, and healthier alternatives. Features include fitness, progress and food tracking tools and grocery shopping lists.
Who Should Use It? People who would like to make better decisions in the grocery store.
Where Can I Get It? Android / iPhone
Need some music to get motivated? Get moving with Fit Radio.
What Is It? A free music-streaming service that provides non-stop, high-energy, workout music to keep you motivated while you exercise.
Who Should Use It? People who are moved to train with more feeling if music is playing and/or people who have listened to their existing workout playlist a million times and would like to add fun to their daily routine.
Where Can I Get It? Android / iPhone
Want to become ridiculously good at push-ups? Crank up your upper body strength with Push Ups Pro.
What Is It? Input your age and body status to receive a training plan customized for you. Workouts include six levels of exercises friendly for any fitness level.
Who Should Use It? People who would like to build a stronger upper body; people who would like to become able to do an impressive amount of push-ups; people who train at home and need support to stay consistent.
Where Can I Get It? Android / Not available on iPhone, but you can find a similar app from Runtastic here.
Have a hard time keeping up with your intake? Simplify your nutrition tracking with MyFitnessPal.
What Is It? A ridiculously massive food database (3,000,000 foods!) that helps you track your diet. Features include a barcode scanner (useful when grocery shopping), exercise logs, support community where you can connect with friends, and charts, graphs and reports detailing your progress.
Who Should Use It? People who are going to count calories even though I tell them not to.
Where Can I Get It? Android / iPhone
Want to get in shape without using any equipment? Achieve your fitness goals with an assist from Workout Trainer.
What Is It? Fitness training app that comes equipped with thousands of free workouts designed for a wide variety of fitness goals, experience levels, and personal preferences. Features include a virtual fitness consultation to personalize and improve your experience; instructional photos, videos, and audio cues that illustrate every exercise; online support community; and a built-in music player.
Who Should Use It? People who work out at home and would like to add variety to their training.
Where Can I Get It? Android / iPhone
Does turning fitness into a video game sound like fun? Level up with Fitocracy.
What Is It? An RPG (role playing game)-like app that allows you to earn points and level up during your fitness journey. New friends and accountability buddies will cheer you on in an online social community that’s like Facebook but for fitness.
Who Should Use It? If reading the above sentence caused a nerdgasm, you’d probably like it.
Where Can I Get It? Android / iPhone
Is walking your exercise of choice? Make every step count with MapMyWalk.
What Is It? A simple progress-tracking app that keeps up with your route, time, distance, pace, and calories burned in real-time.
Who Should Use It? People who would like to find new routes to walk or challenge themselves to beat previous best times.
Where Can I Get It? Android / iPhone
In a constant state of fight-or-flight? Manage your stress with Breathe2Relax.
What Is It? A portable stress management tool that will help you improve your mood. Features include breathing exercises that will help you reduce stress; audio instructions to guide you; and background music to help you relax.
Who Should Use It? People who want to free themselves from stress and anxiety.
Where Can I Get It? Android / iPhone
Do you feel groggy before the day is half done? Connect the dots between your habits and your energy with Juice.
What Is It? A fun and easy-to-use energy tracker that encourages positive habit change. Choose to track things like your sleep, exercise, nutrition, mood, relationships, stress, work/life balance, energy level, and more. You can also set reminders to encourage consistency.
Who Should Use It? Ambitious folks who want to improve the Big Picture of their health and wellness.
Where Can I Get It? Android / iPhone
Note: According to some negative reviews, this app could have bugs on certain types of phones. I’d encourage you to scan the reviews to make sure yours isn’t one of them before downloading.
Have a hard time getting a good night’s sleep? Improve the quality of your Zzzs with Sleepbot.
What Is It? A smart alarm that gently wakes you during your lightest sleep. You can also record audio and movement while you snooze, resulting in guidance that will help you wake up better every morning.
Who Should Use It? People who would like to wake up feeling refreshed and ready for the day.
Where Can I Get It? Android / iPhone
Are there any top fitness apps that you think should be a part of this list? If so, feel free to name them in the comments. What’s your favorite health or fitness app and why?
