Best fitness app 2025: Get fit with just a smartphone
MyFitnessPal is a dominant force in the fitness world, renowned for its unparalleled nutrition tracking capabilities that seamlessly integrate with workout data. While many apps focus solely on the exercise component, MyFitnessPal understands that achieving body composition goals like muscle gain or fat loss depends heavily on diet. It’s one of the best apps for tracking exercise goals specifically because it bridges the gap between the calories you burn in the gym and the fuel you consume.
Ziff Davis Logo
These apps suit users who want to log workouts manually without extra features like AI coaching. Paid apps like Strong and Fitbod provide advanced tools—progress charts, warm-up calculators, and unlimited routines—for those willing to invest. A 2025 Lifehacker article suggests free apps are sufficient for basic tracking, while paid versions enhance motivation and planning. For lifters who crave data-driven guidance without the hassle of manual planning, Fitbod stands out as one of the best apps for tracking exercise goals related to strength and hypertrophy. Its core function is an intelligent algorithm that generates personalized strength workouts based on your available equipment, past performance, and muscle recovery status.
Garmin and Fitbit integrations have broken intermittently since early 2025. Users get bounced between MFP support and device manufacturers with no fix in sight. Your Android phone can essentially be a “Google pedometer” with the Google Fit app. Some devices come with the app pre-installed, but everyone can download it from the Play Store. Next, enter your information to make sure the Health app tracking is accurate.
healthy recipes
- Strava is popular among runners and cyclists thanks to its detailed activity maps, leaderboards, and clubs.
- If you regularly take on challenges that take you beyond the phone network, this is the fitness tracker you need.
- While the core platform is free with a Garmin device, the ecosystem offers an optional Connect+ subscription tier that introduces AI-driven insights for enhanced training guidance.
- With no built-in GPS you’ll also need your phone to track runs and rides.
- There are a ton of free workouts and features for you to use, so you don’t get bored.
- But the lackluster wearable connectivity is a significant drawback—especially if you do most of your training outside.
The user interface is a little clunky, but easy enough to acclimate to. But, if those factors aren’t deal-breakers for you, then the SE is a tremendous amount of smartwatch for the cash. The 40mm model is also the smallest Apple Watch currently on offer, for folks who prefer a diminutive design. There’s a huge is centr app worth it amount you can do with Strava and if there’s anything specific we haven’t covered here, it’s probably available in the app. Here are BikeRadar’s top tips to get the most out of Strava. Be sure to check that you’ve made the same privacy settings selections for your other cycling apps too.
Fitbit App
I’m currently using Coopah to train for my second marathon, and I’ve been really impressed by how the app takes my goals and recent running mileage into account. Instead of throwing you into intense paces right from the start, it eases you in while still focusing on every aspect of improving your performance. From speed sessions and tempo runs to long runs, easy miles, and even strength and yoga sessions for mobility, Coopah covers all the bases to help you become a stronger, well-rounded runner.
Best for Nutrition Tracking: MyFitnessPal
It’s best to talk with your doctor about whether or not you need weight loss medication. That monthly rate makes you more likely to keep the weight off long term. The NHLBI suggests starting with 5–10% of your current weight. Why you can trust Tom’s GuideOur writers and editors spend hours analyzing and reviewing products, services, and apps to help find what’s best for you.
Best Fitness Apps for Women and Specialized Needs
It features a gorgeous layout and interface, intuitive plan building, and great workout tracking. If you’re an outdoors person, especially runs and rides, Strava is the perfect app for you. In 2025, there are so many fitness apps out there that knowing where to start can be really daunting. That’s why we test fitness apps and collate our picks to help you make the right decision. There’s a point where training becomes frustrating, especially when fitness tracking is involved. You feel like you put in the work and deserve progress, but the numbers on the app say otherwise.
Ready to try something that won’t redesign itself out from under you? Here’s how the top MyFitnessPal alternatives break down by what they do best. Just make sure to carry your phone with you, and steps will automatically be counted and shown in Google Fit. Tap “Allow” to give Google Fit permission to access your physical activity. You’ll see your daily steps listed at the top of the screen in the “Favorites” section by default. First, open the Health app and tap “Continue” to accept the terms and get started.
We measured heart rate during a bike ride, using a Polar H10 chest strap as our reference heart rate monitor. For the power pulse, the average difference between three measurements was just 0.51%, with the largest deviation being one beat per minute. Create content and publish based on live signals, so every post is timely, relevant and built to perform. To join Apple Fitness Plus, you can try it out for free for up to three months and then have the option to pay month-to-month, $10 or $80 for the year. If you’re on a family plan, you can share access to Apple Fitness Plus with up to five family members.
best fitness tracking apps you can use for free
The most data-hungry apps in the study were Fitbit (24 data types), Strava (21 data types), and Nike Training Club (20 data types, including sensitive information). It logs sets in three taps, shows volume graphs and personal records without a paywall, and syncs with Apple Watch. Its social feed — where you can follow friends and see their workouts — adds a layer of accountability that most apps ignore entirely. Some people thrive with personalized, AI-made workout or diet plans. Others benefit from social apps like Strava where challenges and “kudos” from friends keep you motivated.
While everyone’s situation is different, Future makes the most sense if you have a specific goal, such as meeting your time qualification standard for a race like the Boston Marathon. Gymverse also offers really great wearable connectivity; when I tested it with my Apple Watch, I could start, track, and end workouts on my watch rather than needing to open the app on my phone. And if that’s not enough, Gymverse offers calorie tracking when paired with a wearable, which is a nice addition and helps you get a better view of your overall fitness. As someone who’s tried almost every workout under the sun, I wanted to create a best-of list that you can actually trust. For this list, I evaluated over 25 different fitness apps, from running apps to weightlifting logbooks to all-around activity trackers.
Choose your plan
Strong and Hevy collect account data but limit third-party sharing. Strava’s GPS tracking is central to its value proposition, so location sharing is essentially unavoidable. According to the Mayo Clinic, regular exercise during perimenopause may help reduce hot flashes, improve mood, and support bone density — all areas Menovation’s workout library directly addresses. Research published by the NIH suggests that resistance training is particularly beneficial for women during this life stage, helping preserve muscle mass that naturally declines with hormonal changes. This aligns with broader principles of muscle building for women, which emphasize consistent resistance training. Apps were disqualified if they required a paid subscription just to log a workout, had no Android version, or had App Store ratings below 4.0.
Fitbit Air
People motivated by health and fitness over appearance were also less likely to drop out, although the authors said more study is needed. The National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute (NHLBI) puts “setting the right goals” at the top of the list of steps for getting to a healthy weight. And multiple research studies show that setting goals for weight loss helps you succeed in losing weight. Research also shows people motivated by health and fitness over appearance were more likely to keep up with weight loss efforts over time. Dan Bracaglia is the Tom’s Guide editorial lead for all things smartwatches, fitness trackers and outdoor gear. In the past year alone, Dan has assessed major product releases from the likes of Apple, Garmin, Google, Samsung, Polar and many others.
How much do fitness and workout apps cost?
There are guided fitness animations for warm-ups across seven workouts, AI running plans and offline mapping, route guidance and off-course alerts. Garmin’s turbo-charged tracker successfully strikes the balance between fitness-tracking firepower, simple style, twenty-four-seven wearability and smart features. At just 36g, it’s light, compact and comfortable with a vibrant 1.2-inch AMOLED display.