The best workout apps: Top picks for runners, lifters, and beginners

If you're looking for a workout app that doesn't charge an arm and a leg to access different workouts, Map My Fitness by Under Armour is the best choice. It's a "freemium" app, which means some features are free to access while others require a monthly subscription. Thankfully, if you don't want to worry about paying for anything, you can access over 800 different exercises to build custom routines as well as join the huge social community to find accountability buddies and other fitness enthusiasts. 

You can also integrate other apps like Apple Health to track steps and heart rate or even connect Under Armour smart shoes to sync jogging distances and times in order to see your progress. If you want access to premium features like audio coaching and live location tracking, you can either pay $6 per month or $30 per year. A subscription allows you to create personalized fitness plans to reach your weight and exercise goals and stay motivated.

Whether you regularly run marathons or are just looking for a way to make your morning jog a bit more fun, the Conqueror Virtual Challenge is a great workout app for runners. I came across this app in 2020 when I was looking for a way to stay safely active when my regular gym closed down for COVID. While I was skeptical at first, I quickly came around. There are 37 different virtual races to choose from which are based on real-world locations, ranging from the 20-mile (32km) Angkor Wat in Cambodia to the 2485-mile (4000km) Pacific Crest Trail through the Cascade and Sierra Nevada mountain ranges in the United States. There is also a dedicated challenge for runners who want to set custom distance goals for the entire year. 

The cool part of using The Conqueror for running is that for every checkpoint you reach during your "race," you get virtual postcards that show points of interest along your route. The Conqueror will also plant a tree and prevent plastic bottles from reaching the ocean for every 20 percent of your challenge that you complete, so you can get fit and help the environment at the same time. For location-based challenges, you can set time limits for completing the race in order to suit your level of fitness. It's perfect for folks just starting out with jogging or race training, since it allows you to work up to bigger chunks of trail. You can even set up teams for each challenge, and each person takes a leg of the journey, making the heftier challenges like the Appalachian Trail or St. Francis Way much easier to complete. 

Each challenge costs $29.95 for entry and to cover the cost of the fancy medal they send your way when you've completed the race. If you want a T-shirt as well as a medal, each race will cost $59.95 to enter. You can enter as many challenges as you like at once, and each activity you log will count towards the completion of all of them.

As a former bodybuilder/physique competitor and current Olympic/powerlifter, TrainHeroic is the absolute best workout app I've come across for weightlifting. It's another freemium app where free users can build their own routines and track overall progress while subscription users get access to things like readiness tracking (which tracks your energy levels, sleep quality, and overall soreness), exercise leaderboards, and individual coaching. 

If you prefer coaching, you can either choose a set program (which is a one-time purchase) that you can add to your in-app calendar whenever you want or an ongoing program (with a matching monthly payment). Each exercise has a video tutorial or text description attached so you can safely follow along with your workout and do movements that you may not be familiar with. And if you don't want to get super bulky, you can find programs that are more focused on toning and weight maintenance. You can even find specific programs, like Body by Daddy, for creating a more masculine or feminine silhouette if you're trans masculine/feminine, or non-binary.

TrainHeroic automatically calculates your one-rep and working max percentages based on your inputs, eliminating the frustration of trying to do math on-the-fly. If you choose a coaching program, you'll also get access to that program's community so you can compare techniques, ask questions, and hype each other up. The subscription price varies by program, but most ongoing coaching sessions are around $30/month while one-time programs are often even cheaper. The app also has a timer function so you can track how long your workouts take as well as ensure that you properly rest between heavy sets. 

When Nike launched their Training Club app in 2009, it cost $14.99 per month (or $119.99 per year). But when the COVID-19 pandemic hit, Nike made the app completely free to help folks stay healthy and on track as gyms and training centers closed. The app remains completely free at the time of writing. With almost 500 different workout classes ranging from 5 to 30 minutes long along with live Q & A sessions with Nike trainers, workout livestreams, and celebrity workouts like Hottie Bootcamp with Megan Thee Stallion, there are lots of ways the app helps you get and stay motivated. 

You can add workouts to your in-app calendar as often as you like, creating a fitness routine that fits your schedule and abilities. And the Nike Training Camp app will give you expert tips on mindfulness, how to de-stress, and even nutrition and meal prep for ways to keep your mind focused and your body healthy. You can connect the app to your Apple Watch, the Apple Health app, and even Apple Music for more ways to track your progress and for listening to your workout playlist while training videos play. You can also screen mirror your workouts to your TV or computer if you need a bigger screen to better follow along with instructions. 

Seven is a workout app that's perfect for anyone who doesn't have a lot of gym equipment at home as well as folks who are just starting out on their fitness journey. It uses a combination of achievements and daily streak tallies to help you build healthy habits and stick to a routine. The best part is that you don't need any gym equipment to perform the over 200 exercises available within the app (though a yoga mat wouldn't hurt for some of the floor routines). 

By focusing on bodyweight exercises, beginners and seasoned athletes alike can train almost anywhere. And each workout only takes 7 minutes, so even if you have a packed schedule between work, kids, and errands, you can still squeeze in some exercise. It even has a few "silent" workouts which are tailored to folks who live in apartments where typical exercises could bother neighbors. 

You can create custom workouts or follow along with one of 12 different training styles to tone muscle, build strength, or manage your weight. The Seven app has a large community of users, so you can find accountability buddies or compete on public leaderboards for the top spot in your particular workout. In addition to Seven, the developers over at Perigee also created Cycles for tracking menstrual cycles and Halo for mindfulness and meditation. You can use any of the three apps in tandem for a full body and mind health overhaul.