A quick look at the best personal training apps
- Best for live classes: Obé Fitness
- Best for running: MapMyRun
- Best for yoga: Alo Moves
- Best for personal coaching: Future
- Best for free workouts: Nike Training Club
Working out at home is a convenient and cost-effective alternative to going to the gym.
However, planning your workouts can be challenging, even for the biggest fitness buffs. That’s where personal training apps come in handy, as they make it easy to enjoy high quality workouts almost anywhere.
How we chose these apps
The apps featured in this article were selected based on the following criteria:
- Availability: Most apps are available on both iPhone and Android devices.
- Features: Apps include a range of features, such as activity tracking, community support, and personal coaching.
- Variety: Apps offer a wide selection of workouts with varying levels of difficulty, types of exercises, and durations.
- Hands-on experience: We reached out to some of our Healthline colleagues to learn about their experiences trying several of these apps.
- Price: Apps provide a good value for the cost.
- Vetting: The apps on our list have been vetted to ensure that they align with Healthline’s brand integrity standards and approach to well-being. You can read more about our vetting process.
Here are 5 of the best personal trainer apps.
Healthline’s picks for the best personal training apps
Best for live classes
Obé Fitness
- Price: $24.99 per month or $169.99 per year
- Free trial: 7 days
With up to 20 live classes per day and more than 7,000 streaming on-demand classes to choose from, Obé Fitness is a great option to help you meet your fitness goals.
The app includes a wide selection of different types of workout classes, including high intensity interval training (HIIT), strength training, cardio, and yoga.
Using the app, you can also start a workout party to exercise with your friends and stay motivated.
Obé Fitness offers a free 7-day trial for new users. Afterward, a subscription costs $24.99 per month or $169.99 per year.
What our tester says
I loved the energy of Obé’s classes. The instructors and music were great, and I especially enjoyed the dance and HIIT classes. Plus, I was able to finish my workout in 20–28 minutes, which was super convenient since I tend to exercise in the mornings before my son wakes up.
However, it’s also worth noting that Obé is relatively expensive compared with some other similar streaming services and doesn’t connect with smart workout equipment.
To learn more about Obé, check out this full review.
— Healthline Nutrition and Fitness Market Editor Kelli McGrane, MS, RD
Pros
- large selection of live and on-demand workouts
- offers many different types of classes
- enables you to workout with your friends
Cons
- subscription required to access classes
- doesn’t include individual guidance or support from a personal trainer
Best for running
MapMyRun
- Price: free ($5.99 per month or $29.99 per year for premium membership)
- Free trial: basic version is free to use
MapMyRun is a training app developed specifically for runners. It not only lets you log your daily workouts but also track your stats and set weekly activity goals. It also offers audio coaching, so you can receive feedback about your pace, distance, and more during your workouts.
Plus, you can create your own route and plan the logistics of your run using detailed information about the distance and terrain. Alternatively, you can search for popular running routes in specific cities or locations.
In addition to running, MapMyRun allows you to log more than 600 other types of activities, including hiking, kayaking, horseback riding, biking, swimming, and skating.
MapMyRun is free but offers a premium membership with additional features for $5.99 per month or $29.99 per year.
Pros
- free to use
- allows you to log more than 600 activities
- provides details on popular running routes
Cons
- more useful for running rather than other activities
- doesn’t offer classes
Best for yoga
Alo Moves
- Price: $20 per month or $199 per year
- Free trial: 14 days
Alo Moves is a workout app that features thousands of streaming fitness classes for Pilates, strength training, barre, HIIT, and more.
In particular, it offers several types of yoga classes, in addition to sessions on mindfulness skills like meditation and breathwork.
You can filter classes by the difficulty level and intensity, as well as specific positions or goals, such as backbends, inversions, flexibility, arm balances, and mobility.
Additionally, you can choose individual classes, follow along with a series, or select classes taught by a particular instructor.
After a 14-day free trial, Alo Moves costs $20 per month or $199 per year.
Pros
- offers streaming classes for many types of activities
- includes classes for specific skills and goals
Cons
- doesn’t include individual guidance from a coach or trainer
- no community support available
- more expensive than similar programs
Best for personal coaching
Future
- Price: $149 per month
- Free trial: none, risk-free trial for 30 days
Future is an app that pairs users with a personal coach based on their fitness goals and preferences.
After an initial video call, your coach will create a custom training plan and provide one-on-one support to help you stay motivated.
Depending on your needs and what equipment you have, your training plan with Future may include a combination of strength training, cardio, outdoor workouts, and more.
The app also provides detailed audio and video guidance to help you master new workout moves.
Future costs $149 per month and offers a risk-free 30-day trial. You’ll also need an Apple Watch to access all of the app’s features and provide your coach with more detailed feedback about your workouts.
What our tester says
I was skeptical at first about how an at-home virtual personal trainer was going to motivate me, but I’ve definitely seen positive changes in my fitness habits.
I also really loved that I could get plenty of guidance to make sure I’m doing each exercise correctly. I was able to record a video of myself and send it to my personal trainer for feedback. Plus, it was easy to talk with my trainer if I needed to ask for a workout modification or if I had a question about an exercise.
Overall, I really appreciated having this level of one-on-one support and guidance. You can read more about my experience trying Future in this in-depth review.
— Healthline SEO Associate Jenny Lau
Pros
- includes unlimited access to a personal coach for motivation and support
- workout plan can include a variety of activities, such as yoga, cardio, or strength training
Cons
- expensive
- membership required
- only available for iPhone users
- Apple Watch needed to access all features
Best for free workouts
Nike Training Club
- Price: free
- Free trial: N/A
Nike Training Club is a free fitness app that offers unlimited access to a variety of on-demand workouts, including HIIT classes, yoga, and quick classes that are 20 minutes or less.
It also provides a variety of expert tips, live streams from Nike trainers, and additional resources on topics like nutrition, meditation, and recovery.
Plus, the app syncs with Apple Health to record heart rate data and allows you to log daily workouts to keep tabs on your progress.
The app is completely free to use and available on both iPhone and Android devices.
What our testers say
I think Nike Training Club is a good option for beginners or for people who want some guidance while they try something new without having to pay for a personal trainer. I found it to be a really useful tool for learning different styles of exercise when gyms were closed due to the pandemic.
— Healthline Market Editor Melissa Lee
I wear an Apple Watch, so I was able to sync it with the app. I loved that I could easily mark my reps on my watch to proceed to the next exercise and that the watch would vibrate to let me know when I’d finished a timed exercise.
— Healthline SEO Associate Taylor Morelli
Pros
- free to use
- includes variety of on-demand workout classes
- offers additional health and wellness resources
Cons
- doesn’t offer individual support from personal trainer
- live classes only available in select countries
Get started with Nike Training Club
How do these apps compare?
–
Price
Types of classes
Other features
• $24.99 per month or $169.99 per year
• Pilates
• cardio boxing
• HIIT
• yoga
• barre
• strength training
• dance
• cycling
• live classes
• community support
• workouts with friends
• free version available
• $5.99 per month or $29.99 per year for premium version
• running
• 600+ other activities
• detailed performance tracking
• community challenges
• device syncing
$20 per month or $199 per year
• yoga
• strength training
• barre
• Pilates
• meditation
• HIIT
• classes for specific skills
• daily recommendations
$149 per month
• custom workout plan based on your needs and preferences
• support from personal trainer through app and video calls
• video and audio guided workouts
free
• cardio
• HIIT
• yoga
• core exercises
• stretching
• Pilates
• strength training
• live
streams from Nike trainers available in some countries
• additional health and wellness resources
• activity tracking
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How to choose the best personal training app
There are a few criteria to consider when selecting a personal training app that fits your needs.
Dr. Carly McMullen, PT, DPT, advises keeping the following factors in mind: the types of workouts you enjoy, how often you want to exercise, the quality of the app, and your budget.
Types of workouts
First, be sure to find a program that offers options for your favorite types of physical activity, such as running, biking, or strength training. If you prefer experimenting with different workouts or trying new things, look for an app with a variety of workouts.
Consistency
“The most important thing about finding a fitness routine is identifying something that you’ll actually do. Consistency is always king when it comes to exercise,” McMullen said.
“If it doesn’t fit your time, budget, and preferences, you probably won’t do it,” McMullen added.
Quality
McMullen also suggests spending some time reading about the background, programs, and instructors of each fitness app you’re interested in.
“Do they have a resource that details their fitness methodology? Do they have fitness experts on staff with legitimate fitness certifications? Digging into the company itself can go a long way toward making sure whoever is creating the content you’re using is legitimate,” McMullen said.
Subscription fees and extra features
Price is another key consideration. Although many programs are free, some require subscriptions or require paid memberships for full access.
You may also want to decide whether you want any other features. For instance, some apps offer community support, personal coaching, nutrition tracking, or custom workout plans, which may be included or available for an additional fee.
Frequently asked questions about personal training apps
Are personal training apps worth it?
“Fitness apps can absolutely be an excellent medium for exercise,” McMullen said. “While it may not be as personalized as seeing a live trainer, if it meets your time and budget constraints, it will get you consistency.”
McMullen adds that it’s important to research the app you’re considering to make sure the instructors have legitimate fitness certifications and that it offers workouts you find appealing.
Is online training as effective as in-class training?
According to McMullen, an app can certainly be as effective as in-class training, but as with any fitness program, consistency is very important.
“Effectiveness is an elusive measurement because it’s specific to individual goals, but consistency is always the biggest contributor to success,” McMullen explained.
It’s also worth noting that you may need to work around an injury or movement limitation from time to time, which may be harder to do with an app.
Physical trainers can help you plan for these situations and adjust your workouts in real time, whereas an app may not provide as many options for workout modifications. McMullen suggests searching for apps that can help you adapt the workouts to your physical needs.
Is there a 100% free workout app?
Nike Training Club is a free workout app that is available on iPhone and Android devices. Several apps, like MapMyRun, offer free versions with an optional subscription to access premium features. Many apps offer a free trial to help you get a sense of whether you enjoy the classes they offer.
The bottom line
Numerous personal training apps let you amp up your workout wherever you are.
The apps above offer a range of activities, including yoga, strength training, HIIT, Pilates, and cardio.
When picking an app, be sure to consider the price, types of workouts available, and any additional features.
