If you’re feeling the glow of your 2020 fitness goals dimming, this one’s for you. Getting to the gym can be hard, expensive, and take a lot of time out of your day. But working out at home? It provides you with the benefits of a much more flexible schedule, less of a time commitment, and more variety in type of workout (so you’re not hating yourself for signing up for that $100+/month barre membership when you now hate barre).
One of my 2020 goals was to find a workout that I really love and actually enjoy doing (reaching for the stars, I know). Fitness apps allow you to try out different workouts and find the one that works for you, without the commitment of paying for a membership to a specific studio or gym. Here are nine fitness apps that are totally worth it:
$27/month or $199/year, use code TEGMONTH and get your first month free
Obe Fitness is basically a boutique fitness studio in your pocket. Filled with dozens of different kinds of workouts — from barre to HIIT cardio to kickboxing to yoga — there’s something for everyone. A typical class runs 28 minutes, but they also have an entire library of “express” workouts for 10 minutes and under. And trust us: the express classes are legit; you’ll be done with your workout in less time than it takes to make breakfast, but you’ll feel sore for days.
Free, $9.99/month or $59.99/year for premium membership
Sworkit is easy to navigate and has a ton of different workout options. You can browse by type of workout, and then set your workout length based on how many circuits of the workout you want to do. The app then guides you through each step of the workout, and keeps track of your progress in your weekly workout goals.
$19.99/month or $119.94/year
You know this one. Created by Insta-famous Australian fitness guru Kayla Itsines, the Sweat app originated as the seemingly impossible (trust me, I tried) Bikini Body Guide, aka BBG, which was in the form of PDFs (were we living in the dark ages?!). The workout plan has gotten an upgrade in its app form with different options for different goals, including a “beginner” BBG. People — and their millions of #BBG progress pics — swear by this workout regimen.
Free
This is an all-time favorite of mine. Think of it as the free version of the Sweat app. It has lots of seven-minute workouts (with the idea that you would do multiple circuits of them) as well as longer ones. There are tons of workout categories to choose from like trending, fat loss, beginner, and even “no jumping.” It also keeps track of how often you’re using the app to help you reach your goals.
Free
Nike Training Club asks you questions about yourself when you sign up so that it can cater your experience directly to you. It has a variety of workouts, and you can browse by muscle group, workout type, or equipment you have available.
7-day free trial, then $12.99/month or $99.99/year
Another Instagram-famous brand, Tone It Up was founded by two fitness influencers, Karena Dawn and Katrina Scott. You’ve probably seen their workout and nutrition products in Target, but did you know they have an app too? Think of it as a personal trainer in your pocket. This is one of the best apps for all around wellness, because it’s catered specifically to you, and features meal plans and recipes in addition to a wide-variety of live or on-demand workout videos.
$10/month or $40/year
Love yoga but don’t want to pay the insanely high prices for a studio membership? Daily Yoga is an awesome option, because you can pay just $40 for the whole year (the price of one class at some places!). Their website says that it’s used and loved by 50 million people around the world, so they must be doing something right. It’s also great because there are tons of class options for all skill levels and goals, and it keeps track of your progress with personal data. There’s also a community feature, so you can get some advice on how to nail that warrior pose.
Free, $4.99/month for pro membership
You’ve probably heard of this one — it might even be one of the most popular workout apps out there. It’s a training program for extreme beginners when it comes to running (it starts with only 60 seconds of running at a time) that focuses on building your endurance so that you could run a 5K at the end of the eighth week. If you don’t have access to a treadmill, you can totally do this program outside as well!
One-month free trial, memberships starting at $15/month
I know, I know … I said these apps could make your life easier by working out at home. However, I also said that they can help you find a workout you really love. I’ve been wanting to try ClassPass for a while now, and everyone I know that has used it absolutely loves it. It allows you the flexibility of booking classes at tons of different studios or workout time at gyms, which is perfect for those of us with a fear of commitment!
