Ladder

Here are the workout apps I’d actually recommend in 2026—not just obscure “best app” list fillers, but brands with real user bases, strong app-store presence, and enough staying power that people genuinely use them.

Quick picks

My top recommendations

1. Nike Training Club — best free all-around workout app

If you want a no-brainer starting point, start here. Nike Training Club has guided strength, HIIT, yoga, Pilates, mobility, core, home workouts, gym workouts, and multi-week programs; Nike’s App Store listing emphasizes beginner-to-advanced programming, bodyweight options, conditioning, recovery, and trainer-led video workouts. (apps.apple.com) Tom’s Guide’s 2026 testing also notes that Nike Training Club is now completely free with no paid version, which makes it one of the easiest recommendations. (tomsguide.com)
Best for: beginners, home workouts, bodyweight training, general fitness.
Downside: less ideal if you want detailed barbell progression or deep workout logging.

2. Apple Fitness+ — best if you use iPhone / Apple Watch

Apple Fitness+ is polished, easy to stick with, and great for people who like video-led workouts: strength, HIIT, cycling, treadmill, rowing, yoga, Pilates, dance, core, meditation, and more. Apple lists the current U.S. price as $9.99/month or $79.99/year after a 1-month free trial. (apple.com)
Best for: Apple Watch users, families, people who want high-quality classes at home.
Downside: less compelling if you’re not in the Apple ecosystem.

3. Peloton App — best premium class library and motivation

Peloton is still one of the biggest names in at-home fitness. It is not just bikes anymore: the app covers strength, cycling, treadmill, rowing, yoga, meditation, stretching, walking, outdoor running, and bootcamp-style training. Peloton reported 5.5 million members and 503,000 paid app subscriptions in Q4 FY2026, so this is clearly a product people still use at scale. (onepeloton.gcs-web.com) Peloton also has multiple app/equipment membership tiers, including app memberships and Strength+, with price changes previously announced for App One, App+, and All-Access tiers. (investor.onepeloton.com)
Best for: class energy, instructors, cardio + strength variety, Peloton bike/tread/row owners.
Downside: more expensive than Nike or Apple; some features make most sense if you use Peloton hardware.

4. Strava — best for runners, cyclists, and outdoor athletes

Strava is the default social fitness app for many runners and cyclists. It is excellent for GPS tracking, segments, routes, leaderboards, clubs, progress tracking, and seeing what friends are doing. Strava says it has over 200 million users in 185 countries, which is the strongest “people actually use this” signal on the list. (business.strava.com)
Best for: running, cycling, walking, hiking, endurance training, social motivation.
Downside: not a great standalone strength-training app; many advanced stats and route tools are subscription-gated.

5. Fitbod — best for strength plans that adapt to you

Fitbod is a strong pick if you want the app to generate lifting workouts based on your goals, available equipment, recovery, and training history. Fitbod’s own FAQ lists current website pricing at $15.99/month or $95.99/year and describes subscriptions as unlocking personalized workout recommendations, tracking, and progress insights. (fitbod.me)
Best for: gym strength training, hypertrophy, progressive overload, people who want a plan without hiring a trainer.
Downside: subscription cost is higher than simple gym loggers; experienced lifters may prefer building their own programs.

6. Hevy — best modern gym logger with social features

Hevy is one of the best gym logging apps if you want to track sets, reps, PRs, routines, muscle distribution, and workout history without a bloated interface. Hevy’s help center says the free version offers “a ton” of tracking features, while Pro unlocks more; its pricing page emphasizes premade workout plans, rep/weight memory, PR tracking, monthly stats, and progression tools. (help.hevyapp.com)
Best for: people who already know their lifts and want easy tracking.
Downside: less of a “tell me exactly what to do” app than Fitbod or Ladder.

7. Strong — best simple, no-nonsense lifting tracker

Strong is the classic gym-log app: routines, exercise history, Apple Watch logging, personal records, one-rep-max estimates, total volume, and progress stats. Its App Store listing calls out routine creation, Apple Watch support, detailed exercise instructions, animated videos, advanced statistics, PRs, progression, and 1RM calculations. (apps.apple.com)
Best for: lifters who want a clean workout notebook on their phone.
Downside: not as social as Hevy and not as programmatic as Fitbod.

8. FitOn — best free/low-cost class alternative

FitOn is a good pick if you want free guided workouts but prefer a more class-like feel than Nike. FitOn says its workouts are 100% free, with FitOn PRO adding premium features on top. (help.fitonapp.com) FitOn also says it has 15 million+ members/users, so it has real adoption. (fitonapp.com)
Best for: at-home workouts, beginners, classes, quick sessions, budget-conscious users.
Downside: upsells exist; serious lifters may outgrow it.

9. Ladder — best premium structured strength coaching

Ladder is for people who want a plan and a coach-like experience rather than random workouts. Its site describes progressive strength training with coaches, teams, video demonstrations, in-ear coaching, precise pacing, weekly workouts, and integration with Spotify/Apple Music. (joinladder.com)
Best for: people who want “show up and follow the plan” strength training.
Downside: more niche and more subscription-oriented than Nike, Hevy, or Strong.

10. Caliber — best free strength-training sleeper pick

Caliber is worth trying if you want a free strength-training app with workout plans, tracking, coaching upsells, and educational content. Caliber’s site positions it as a free gym tracker and fitness app with strength-balance metrics and coach video tips, and its Google Play listing describes it as a science-based strength app combining resistance training, cardio, nutrition, and habits. (caliberstrong.com)
Best for: beginners to intermediate lifters who want a free strength app.
Downside: less mainstream than Nike, Apple, Peloton, Strava, or Fitbod.

What I’d personally choose

• If you’re just starting: Nike Training Club + Strava for walks/runs.
• If you have an Apple Watch: Apple Fitness+ + Strong or Hevy for gym logging.
• If you lift seriously: Fitbod if you want programming; Hevy or Strong if you already have a program.
• If you need motivation: Peloton or Ladder.
• If you want free: Nike Training Club, FitOn, or Caliber.

If I had to name the top 5 brands most people should consider first, I’d say: Nike Training Club, Apple Fitness+, Peloton, Strava, and Fitbod.

The "best" workout app depends on your goals, budget, and what kind of exercise you enjoy. But these are the top apps people actually use, based on downloads, subscriptions, and reviews.

🏆 Best Overall All-In-One

• Peloton (iOS/Android, Web, TV)
  Not just cycling — it has strength, running, yoga, Pilates, and outdoor classes. Great production quality, huge community, and works even without Peloton equipment.
  Paid subscription (~$12.99/mo), 30-day free trial.

• Nike Training Club (iOS/Android)
  The free version is genuinely generous — many full workouts with no subscription. Perfect for bodyweight, dumbbell, HIIT, and mobility workouts.
  Free + optional premium.

• Apple Fitness+ (iOS, Apple Watch required)
  Best if you already own an Apple Watch. Integrates your heart rate and activity rings into guided workouts across 12 workout types.
  Included with Apple One or $9.99/mo.

💪 Best for Strength Training

• Caliber (iOS/Android)
  A structured strength training program with video demos, coaching, and progress tracking. The free version is excellent; the paid version includes a real online coach.
  Free / Coaching ~$49/mo.

• Strong (iOS/Android)
  Simply the best workout tracker for lifters. Log sets, reps, and weights easily, then see progress over time.
  Free / Pro ~$4.99/mo.

• Ladder (iOS/Android)
  Elite strength and conditioning programs designed by pro coaches. High-intensity, progressive, and very polished.
  7-day free trial, ~$29.99/mo.

👟 Best for Running & Outdoor Fitness

• Strava (iOS/Android, wearables)
  The go-to app for runners, cyclists, and hikers. Tracks routes, paces, and connects you with friends. The social feed is addictive and motivating.
  Free / Premium ~$11.99/mo.

• Nike Run Club (iOS/Android)
  Free guided audio runs, personalized coaching plans, and accurate GPS tracking. Great for beginner to intermediate runners.
  Free.

• AllTrails (iOS/Android)
  Not a workout app per se, but the best for finding hiking and walking trails near you with photos, difficulty ratings, and offline maps.
  Free / Pro ~$29.99/yr.

🧘 Best for Yoga, Pilates & Stretching

• Down Dog (iOS/Android, Web)
  Highly customizable — pick your yoga style, level, duration, and even soundtrack. Every session is generated fresh, so you never do the same class twice.
  Free trial, then ~$7.99/mo. (Often 70% off for students.)

• FitOn (iOS/Android, Web)
  Tons of yoga, Pilates, stretching, HIIT, and dance workouts. Streams with celebrity trainers. Formerly had a huge free library; now a freemium model.
  Free / Pro ~$49.99/yr.

👥 Best for Classes & Group Fitness

• Obé Fitness (iOS/Android, TV)
  Live and on-demand classes in strength, dance, barre, yoga, and HIIT. Bright, stylish, and energetic with a strong sense of community.
  Free trial, then ~$29.99/mo.

• BODi (Beachbody On Demand) (iOS/Android, Web, TV)
  Home of 80 Day Obsession, Insanity, P90X, and 21 Day Fix. Hundreds of full workout programs with nutrition guides.
  Annual plans around $198/year.

• Xponential+ (iOS/Android)
  Gives you access to classes from Club Pilates, Pure Barre, StretchLab, CycleBar, Rumble, and more — basically a mega-gym app.
  ~$99.99/mo for all brands, or single-brand plans cheaper.

🍎 Best for Weight Loss & Nutrition Tracking

• MyFitnessPal (iOS/Android)
  Still the most-used calorie/macro tracker. Massive food database and barcode scanner. Syncs with most fitness apps.
  Free / Premium ~$17.99/mo.

• Lose It! (iOS/Android, Web)
  More user-friendly than MyFitnessPal for many people. Great at setting weight loss goals and logging calories quickly.
  Free / Premium ~$39.99/yr.

• Noom (iOS/Android)
  Combines calorie tracking with psychology-based coaching. Great for habit change, but pricey.
  Trial period, then ~$49/mo.

Quick Recommendation:

• Want variety + hype? → Peloton
• Want free, quality bodyweight workouts? → Nike Training Club
• Want to lift seriously? → Strong or Caliber
• Want to start running? → Nike Run Club + Strava
• Want something budget-friendly? → FitOn or Nike Training Club
• Have an Apple Watch? → Apple Fitness+

Most of these apps offer a free trial, so try 2–3 and see which one actually makes you want to move.