Long gone are the days of rushing to a public gym, heaving sweaty dumbbells up and down, and waiting for equipment to free up. Welcome to the 21st century, where the most intense and effective workouts are being done at home.
Technology has a lot to do with this.
The range of fitness apps currently available on both iOS and Android means keeping a consistent exercise routine is now easier than ever.
A recent survey of 1,000 Americans found 65% of women, and 35% of men suffer from gym anxiety. Working out at home is the obvious and most effective solution to that problem.
Say goodbye to monthly fees and sweaty drives home from the gym. Here are the 11 best fitness apps for a thrilling home workout!
The 11 Best Fitness Apps
#1 Nike+ Training Club
iOS Stars: 4.8/5 Ratings: 133.4K total
Android Stars: 4.6/5 | Ratings: 259.3K total
Free to download and use, with in-app purchases
Nike + Training Club is a one-stop destination for a thrilling home workout. Nike’s exercise app lives up to its elite reputation. A study published in the Journal of Medical Internet Research ranked Nike+ Training Club app is one of the few exercise apps that meet the standards for physical activity set by the American College of Sports Medicine (ACSM).
App users can look forward to Nike’s professional trainers, and top-tier athletes such as Christiano Ronaldo, Kyrie Irving, and Serena Williams sharing their recommended workouts and tips. These are tailored to each user’s goals and progress, of course.
Motivated beginners should also stay optimistic. Nike created this app for every level of athlete in mind, from beginners through to seasoned exercisers. This app helps athletes climb to greatness, regardless of their starting ability.
Nike’s various 185+ free workouts provide a variety of workout styles for anybody looking for a challenge. This includes high-intensity strength, endurance, mobility, and yoga workouts.
Summary: Get fit with power, endurance and yoga mobility exercises, using both your own bodyweight and various fitness equipment. Every drill features Nike Master trainers providing personal recommendations. Also works with your Apple watch.
#2 Johnson & Johnson 7-Minute Workout App
iOS Stars: 4.7/5 | Ratings: 2.6K total
Android Stars: 4.4/5 | Ratings: 10.6K total
Free to download.
What is the 7-minute workout exactly? A full-body workout, consisting of 12 high-intensity strength and aerobic (cardio) bodyweight exercises.
Each exercise takes 30 seconds. Done right after another, with a (recommended) maximum of 10 seconds rest between exercises. While doing each exercise, you’re expected to maintain an intensity of 8/10 according to the ACSM guidelines.
The 7-minute workout has been gaining popularity amongst time-conscious individuals because it aims to compact all of the intensity of a full-blown workout into 7 mere minutes. However, if it’s your only source of exercise then it’s recommended to be done 2-3 times per day, preferably one after the other. This will ensure that you’re getting a good dose of exercise because let’s be honest, 7 minutes worth of physical activity is never enough, no matter how good the specific exercises are.
A warning to beginners: Elsbeth Vaino, strength and conditioning specialist says, “It is a good, quick option for an individual who is already really fit, and has other physical activity planned”. It can, however, be dangerous for people whose bodies are not prepared for such high-intensity exercise. As such, always consult your doctor before beginning a new exercise regiment.
Summary: High-intensity full body workouts, from 7-30 minutes long. Featuring 22 pre-made customizable workout plans changing in intensity with over 70 workout tutorial videos.
#3 Daily Yoga
iOS Stars: 4.8/5 | Ratings: 45.7K total
Android Stars: 4.4/5 | Ratings: 88K total
Free to download with ads and in-app purchases. ‘Pro’ version costs between $3.33 – $9.99 / month, or a one-time cost of $199.
Daily Yoga has guided exercises from renowned yoga instructors, including Dashama Konah, who is the real deal. She’s traveled all over the world to master yoga, including in places like India, Israel, and Costa Rica. She provides instruction on a number of highly effective forms of yoga, including Thai Yoga and Prana Flow.
Unless you can balance on one foot, while using your left elbow, to scratch the back of your left ear lobe, don’t underestimate the intensity of power yoga. Through consistent use, you can learn to Master Full Splits, Shoulder Stands and other advanced yoga poses.
On top of learning flashy poses, Daily Yoga schedules a variety of plans: Weight control, body sculpting, strength, and flexibility among others. Mental fitness is a key focus of the app too. Users can access guided meditations and classes to improve confidence, focus and inner shine! If you’re just looking to get more relaxed or efficient, there are some nice, peaceful tunes on there too.
Summary: If you’re focused on weight loss, sleep health, relaxation and improving your daily yoga quality, then this app could be just what you’re after. It provides instructions on beginner to advanced Yoga, and includes meditations for yoga, Pilates, and asanas. Use it to get both physical and mental health benefits.
#4 Gixo
iOS Stars: 4.8/5 | Ratings: 1.5K total
Android Stars:4.3 /5 | Ratings: 0.1K total
Monthly subscription costs $19.99/month or $179.99/year.
Gixo offers a unique platform to anyone that likes the idea of following along to a live workout. Thanks to Gixo, any type of workout you like can be done any time at home, rain, hail or shine. Yep, this app will have you sweating buckets in your living room (if you so choose). Hope you have a fresh pair of towels handy!
Personal trainers offer live classes for running, high interval, and a unique Tabata workouts. This app also comes with a rich community that includes monthly training events and fundraisers seeking to give back to communities across the globe.
The Tabata workouts are intense. For instance, a burpee Tabata workout of 20 seconds of burpees (video) with only 10 seconds of rest will have you questioning how you ever thought you were in any kind of shape to begin with. Since you’re working at maximum capacity, the difficulty on increases the further you get into the Tabata. It’s a true uphill battle.
Summary: Gixo allows you to personalize your workout experiences by engaging you in live and/or pre-recorded group fitness sessions with certified trainers. Thus, making exercising a social activity even though there’s no one else around. There’s a broad range of classes to suit any preference: Cardio, strength, core, glutes, HIIT, and more.
#5 Daily Workouts Fitness Trainer
iOS Stars: 4.7/5 | Ratings: 15.5K total
Android Stars: 4.4/5 | Ratings: 136.5K total
Free version has adds and limited capability and content. Pro version costs $28.99.
Not needing to drive to the gym makes daily exercise much easier, and exercising daily is a sure-fire way to make a habit of working out. And, while frequent and consistent exercise can propel you towards your fitness goals, too much of it can lead to overtraining. This is true even for the most elite athletes. That is, unless it’s done properly.
Daily Workout Fitness Trainer solves this issue. This free app offers you a personal trainer whenever you want, wherever you are. You can choose from 5 – 10 minute targeted workouts or 30 minute full-body workouts, all of which are demonstrated by a personal trainer. If you want a great, time-effective exercise routine, then go with the full-body workouts. But, if you find that working out sore muscles leads to a less than thrilling workout, then choose the targeted workouts and give your previously trained muscles time to recover.
Each workout has a video showing steps behind each exercise, thus helping you workout with maximum effectiveness.
Summary: Daily Workouts offers over 100 unique exercises, and includes free 5-30-minute daily workout plans. Exercises focus on strengthening major muscle groups and getting a toned body, while videos and timers make it simple for beginners to follow along.
#6 Asana Rebel
iOS Stars: 4.5/5 | Ratings: 7.3K total
Android Stars: 4.2/5 | Ratings: 15.3K total
Free to download, with in-app purchases.
If you want to do some Yoga clap your feet! Just a joke, of course – at least until trying the Asana Rebel: Fitness Yoga app. “Asana” often refers to any of the yogic postures or movements, but is traditionally used to describe the seated posture used during meditation. Don’t expect to do too much sitting with this app though.
Asana Rebel focuses on the more active aspects of Yoga. As such, it’s not recommended for beginners looking for a breezy bit of exercise.
Whether you’re looking to burn fat, build strength, get more flexible, or improve your balance and focus, Asana Rebel has something you’ll find useful.
Fitness and Yoga experts worked together to design 100+ workouts to help improve your body’s functioning in the spiritual manner of Yoga.
Summary: Fast pace fitness yoga with 5-minute power workouts. Balanced, by soul moving meditations during downtime. Asana Rebel consists of daily challenges, thrilling quizzes, and inspiring articles. Use it to improve both physical and mental fitness.
#7 Bodyweight Fitness
iOS Stars: 4.8 /5 | Ratings: .9K total
Android Stars: 4.7 /5 | Ratings: 5.4K total
Free. Has a ‘pro’ version that is purely for those who feel like being generous and donating to the developers.
Bodyweight Fitness requires zero equipment and is an excellent tool to help you master the simple but effective form of training that is calisthenics. Use your own body to build itself, while staying agile and flexible.
This app provides a thrilling home workout through challenging bodyweight exercises, progressions, and complete workouts. Don’t let the ‘challenging’ part put you off though. There are modified versions of exercises in case they’re beyond your current level of ability. For example, if you struggle to do regular push-ups, then you can start with wall push-ups or incline push-ups.
This allows you to keep the thrill going, instead of taking a break, which is a plus for beginners who don’t mind a bit of hard work.
The app also features elite progress tracking features. You can log your workouts and include whatever information you like: Number of sets & reps, time spent working out, the workouts you struggled with, etc. This allows you to analyze your training and ensure you’re constantly progressively overloading.
Summary: Use Bodyweight Fitness to build strength through calisthenic exercises and workouts. You don’t need an internet connection to use the app either – all the videos are available as high definition mp4s.
#8 Freeletics
iOS Stars: 4.6/5 | Ratings: 11.7K total
Android Stars: 4.5/5 | Ratings: 155.8K total.
Free to download and use, with in-app purchases
Join 36 million users from over 160 different countries in using this award-winning “App of the Day” on the Apple Store, in the Health and Fitness category (where it beat out 320,000 other apps).
Freeletics truly replaces the need to go to the gym. It employs hundreds of high-intensity bodyweight exercises combined into unique workouts to provide one of the most gruelling at home exercise experiences we’ve ever encountered.
When getting started, provide some initial information on your current level of ability and the goals you want to achieve, and the app will create an exercise program customized to you. The premium version also includes a digital tracker and coach function to help keep you motivated.
Freeletics is extremely responsive and will work within your schedule and availability. Book 2-5 targeted sessions per week, and adjust the daily workouts to your needs.
They’ve also built a huge community around this app, which is great for staying motivated by allowing you to connect with other users, share your progress, and even train together.
Summary: Shed pounds, get strong or simply improve your fitness with the Freeletics app. The virtual coach and tracker can be a nice touch, but is not necessary. Help personalize 10-30-minute workout plans. Workout anywhere, using bodyweight exercises to gain fitness results in several weeks.
#9 Sworkit Fitness
iOS: Stars: 4.5/5 | Ratings: 1.7K total
Android:Stars: 4.5/5 | Ratings: 110.6K total
Premium plans cost USD$7.50 – 14.99 per month. No Free option.
A recent study by University of Florida researchers examined the extent to which 30 popular fitness apps measured up against the ACSM’s guidelines for physical activity. Sworkit scored the highest across all three categories assessed: Aerobic exercise, strength or resistance, and flexibility.
Sworkit means ‘simply work it’. The mission of this app is to help you get clear about your goals, and then put a plan in place to make healthy living a habit. It does this through guided workout videos that are designed and demonstrated by certified personal trainers. There are over 50 pre-made guided workouts, or you can create your own custom Sworkit workout by mixing and matching the exercises that best suit you.
The possibilities are almost endless. You can choose a high difficulty workout with a shorter time, or vice versa, depending on your preferences and current level of ability. Do a 2-minute workout just to get yourself moving, or take on a full 60-minute workout.
Summary: Sworkit is an incredibly smart and adaptable fitness app. It’s one of the few customizable options currently on the market that actually provides well-rounded and effective workouts that can help you achieve a healthy weight and fitness level.
#10 C25K® 5K Trainer
iOS Stars: 4.7/5 | Ratings: 2.1K total
Android Stars: 4.6/5 | Ratings: 49.3K total
Free to download, with in-app purchases.
Are you on the couch right now? Scrolling for the one app that’s thrilling enough to motivate you off the couch? Consider C25K® trainer from Zen Labs Fitness. Short for Couch to 5k, this app aims to take you from couch potato to 5k distance runner in 8 weeks. All it takes is 30 minutes a day for 3 days a week.
Making that kind of progress in such a short amount of time may be daunting. Luckily the C25K® app has your back when it comes to staying motivated. The app is compatible with popular music players such as Apple and Spotify, so users can bump their favourite workout tunes while running or let the Zen Power Playlist curate the tunes for you.
Another motivational tool the C25K® app provides is audio coaches. They alert you when to run or walk, and should give the boost you need if you’re struggling to run down that final stretch.
Summary: Couch to 5k is intent on transforming slackers into 5-kilometer runners. The workout plans are tailored to prevent new runners from giving up, while still turning them into 5k runners in 8 weeks.
#11 Daily Burn
iOS Stars: 4.8/5 | Ratings: 5.5K total
Android Stars: 4.0/5 | Ratings: 3.4K total
Free 30-day trial. $14.95 / month for Basic version after that, or 19.95 / month for Premium version.
Daily Burn is similar to a number of the apps above in that it’s comprised of on-demand video workouts, including beginner yoga, high-intensity cardio and strength training. There are over 150 workouts in total that are suitable for people at any level of ability.
One of it’s main draw-cards, however, is Daily Burn 365, which are live recorded, 30-minute full-body workouts designed specifically for beginner exercisers by certified personal trainers. Watch live at 9.00am ET every day, or on-demand for the following 24 hours.
Another of the better, unique features of Daily Burn is the range of programs it offers. These are collections of workouts designed and recorded by personal trainers (even the odd celebrity such as The Biggest Loser’s Bob Harper) for various purposes, including losing weight, getting toned, building strength, and metabolic conditioning.
Programs vary in length from 1 week – 3 months, with some incorporate different kinds of equipment. They’re perfect for those looking for ready-made structure in their exercise training
Summary: The Daily Burn app has similarities to many of the others, but also some key differences that make it unique. Its 365 live workouts and ready-made programs help provide consistency and structure, which is so important to successful exercise routines.
Well, there you have it: The 11 Best Fitness Apps for a Thrilling Home Workout.
Irrespective of your starting level of ability, mobile device, and budget, one of these apps will help you get your sweat on at home.
If you found the article useful, why not share it with your friends and family on social media?
As always, all the best with your home workouts. Remember: When it comes to our health and fitness, we can make the effort or make excuses, but we can’t make both.
THFF (The Home Fit Freak)
