Best Fitness Apps of 2026: 6 Workout Apps Compared
The short answer: Nike Training Club is our top pick for most people because it is completely free, runs on iPhone and Android, and has more than 200 workouts covering strength, endurance, yoga and mobility.23 Apple Fitness+ is the best paid option if you have an iPhone, and Fitbod is the best if you mainly want to lift weights.616
At a glance
| # | Service | Best for | Price | Free option | Score /10 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Nike Training Club | Getting started for free | Free2 | Yes, everything is free2 | 8.8 |
| 2 | Apple Fitness+ | iPhone and Apple Watch owners | $79.99 a year or $9.99 a month6 | No; one month free for new subscribers6 | 7.2 |
| 3 | Peloton App | Instructor-led classes without the bike | App One $129 a year; App+ $28910 | No; free trial only13 | 6.9 |
| 4 | Fitbod | Lifting weights with a plan that adapts | $95.99 a year or $15.99 a month14 | No; 7-day trial15 | 6.7 |
| 5 | Strava | Runners and cyclists | $79.99 a year; family $139.99 for four17 | Yes: records activities, feed and clubs19 | 5.7 |
| 6 | Ladder | Coach-led strength programs | $29.99 a month21 | No; 7-day trial without a card21 | 5.2 |
The U.S. guidelines for adults are at least 150 minutes of moderate activity a week, such as brisk walking, plus muscle-strengthening work for all major muscle groups on at least two days.1 A good fitness app makes the second part, which most people skip, easy to start and easy to keep doing.
We compared six popular apps on value, variety, how well they cover strength training, how easy they are to start on the devices you already own, and whether there is a useful free option.
The 6 fitness apps, ranked
Nike Training Club
Best for getting started for free
8.8/10
Nike made its former premium programs free for all Nike Members, so there is nothing to pay for.2 It has more than 200 workouts across strength, endurance, yoga and mobility, from 5 to 50 minutes long.3
- Tom’s Guide lists it as the best free workout app, available on iPhone and Android with no ads.4
Pros
- Completely free, with no ads
- Short sessions that fit a busy day
Cons
- Videos stop if you lock your phone screen5
- Less suited to heavy lifting and tracking progress
Apple Fitness+
Best for iPhone and Apple Watch owners
7.2/10
The widest range of polished video classes here, from HIIT, strength and Pilates to treadmill, cycling, rowing, dance and meditation.7 One subscription can be shared with up to five family members.9
- Needs only an iPhone; an Apple Watch is optional but adds live metrics such as calories.7
- Runs on iPhone, iPad and Apple TV only.8
Pros
- Huge variety of classes
- Family sharing makes it cheap per person
Cons
- Apple devices only: no Android or web
- No free tier
Peloton App
Best for instructor-led classes without the bike
6.9/10
Peloton’s famous instructors without the hardware: you don’t need a Peloton bike or treadmill for the app.10 App One covers strength, cardio, Pilates, yoga, outdoor running and stretching, but only three equipment cardio classes a month; App+ removes that limit.11
- A strength-only app, Strength+, costs $9.99 a month.12
Pros
- Motivating instructors and a deep class library
- Works on any phone, no equipment needed
Cons
- Dropped its free tier in 202413
- App+ is the most expensive app here per year
Fitbod
Best for lifting weights with a plan that adapts
6.7/10
Builds a personalized strength workout each day from your goals, level and the equipment you have, and adjusts as you get stronger.14 Garage Gym Reviews named it the best AI weightlifting app.16
Pros
- Excellent for progressive strength training
- Works with whatever equipment you have
Cons
- Little beyond strength
- The trial requires choosing a paid plan, which renews unless you cancel15
Strava
Best for runners and cyclists
5.7/10
The social network for outdoor cardio. The free tier records GPS activities and lets you join clubs; the subscription adds goals, training-load insights, suggested routes and offline maps.1918
Pros
- Useful free tier
- The community keeps many people consistent
Ladder
Best for coach-led strength programs
5.2/10
A weekly strength plan led by a coach, with in-ear coaching, video demos, progress tracking and a coach-led team for accountability.21
Pros
- Structured, progressive strength training
- Team accountability
Cons
- The most expensive app here on monthly billing
- Narrow focus on strength
How we ranked them
We rated each service from 1 (poor) to 5 (excellent) on 5 criteria, weighted by how much each matters for physical wealth. The score is the weighted average, scaled to 10. Ratings come from each company’s own published prices and features and from the independent reviews in the sources list, checked on October 3, 2026.
- Value (30%). What it costs per year for what you get, including family sharing.
- Workout variety (20%). The range of training styles: strength, cardio, yoga, mobility and more.
- Strength training (20%). How well it covers the two days a week of muscle strengthening the guidelines call for.
- Ease of starting (15%). Which phones and devices it runs on, and whether you need special equipment.
- Free option (15%). Whether there is a lasting free tier, not just a trial.
| Service | Value | Variety | Strength | Ease | Free | Score /10 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Nike Training Club | 5 | 4 | 3 | 5 | 5 | 8.8 |
| Apple Fitness+ | 4 | 5 | 4 | 2 | 2 | 7.2 |
| Peloton App | 3 | 5 | 4 | 4 | 1 | 6.9 |
| Fitbod | 4 | 2 | 5 | 4 | 1 | 6.7 |
| Strava | 3 | 2 | 1 | 5 | 4 | 5.7 |
| Ladder | 2 | 2 | 5 | 3 | 1 | 5.2 |
Do you need a paid app?
No. Walking briskly for 30 minutes on five days covers the cardio guideline, and a free app like Nike Training Club covers the two strength days.1 Pay when a feature will genuinely keep you going: a coach’s plan, a class format you enjoy, or a community. If you use a health savings account, Fitbod says its subscription may be reimbursable with a letter of medical necessity.14
How to choose
- New to exercise or on a budget? Nike Training Club.
- Have an iPhone and a household to share with? Apple Fitness+.
- Want to get stronger in a gym? Fitbod, or Ladder if you want a coach.
- Run or ride outdoors? Strava’s free tier, plus a strength app.
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Common questions
What is the best fitness app in 2026?
In our comparison, Nike Training Club ranks first because it is completely free, works on iPhone and Android, and has more than 200 workouts across strength, endurance, yoga and mobility. Apple Fitness+ ranks second as the best paid option for iPhone owners.
Is there a good free workout app?
Yes. Nike Training Club is completely free, with more than 200 workouts from 5 to 50 minutes. Strava's free tier records runs and rides, though it does not include guided workouts.
How much exercise do adults need each week?
The U.S. guidelines call for at least 150 minutes of moderate activity a week, such as brisk walking, plus muscle-strengthening activity for all major muscle groups on at least two days a week.
Do I need equipment to use a fitness app?
No. Nike Training Club, Apple Fitness+ and the Peloton App all include bodyweight workouts. Strength apps such as Fitbod adapt to whatever equipment you have, from none to a full gym.
Is Apple Fitness+ available on Android?
No. Apple Fitness+ works only on iPhone, iPad and Apple TV. Android users can try Nike Training Club, the Peloton App or Fitbod instead.
Sources
- Adult Activity: An Overview — Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
- Nike Training Club App — Nike
- The Best Free Workouts on the Nike Training Club App — Nike
- The best workout apps for at-home training — Tom’s Guide
- Nike Training Club Review (2026) — Garage Gym Reviews
- Apple Fitness+ — Apple
- How to use Apple Fitness+ — Apple Support
- Devices you can use with Apple Fitness+ — Apple Support
- How to subscribe to Apple Fitness+ — Apple Support
- Choose Your Peloton App Fitness Membership — Peloton
- Peloton Membership: Understanding Your App Membership — Peloton
- Peloton Strength+ app — Peloton
- Peloton quietly drops unlimited free app membership — CNBC, 2024
- FAQs — Fitbod
- How to Subscribe to Fitbod — Fitbod
- Best Weightlifting Apps (2026) — Garage Gym Reviews
- Strava Subscription — Strava
- What Features Are Included in a Strava Subscription? — Strava
- Strava Fitness App Review (2026) — Garage Gym Reviews
- Strava review: Still the best training app for runners and cyclists, but it’s getting expensive — TechRadar
- Ladder Pricing — Ladder
This guide is for informational and educational purposes only. It is not financial, medical, legal, or tax advice, and it is not a recommendation to buy any product. Prices and features change; confirm them with the provider before you sign up.
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