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The Best Workout Apps for 2026

Trim down or bulk up, run faster, or bike farther—no matter how you exercise, our favorite workout apps help you stay committed to physical fitness.

 & Jill Duffy Contributor
 & Gabriela Vatu Contributor
Our Experts
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Working out on your own can be a struggle, or it can be a blast if you find an activity that excites you and motivates you to get up and move.

Here's the good news about workout apps: App stores are saturated with them, which means there's something for everyone at a range of prices. Whether you like to lift weights, join a HIIT class, or get guidance while training for a marathon, you're sure to find something. We've tested and put together a list of the best workout apps across a wide range of activities, so there's bound to be something right for you.


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Buying Guide: The Best Workout Apps for 2026


How Much Should You Pay for a Workout App?

Most of the prices in this article are list prices, and that's not necessarily what you will pay. $25 per month is too high for a workout app. A good rate is between $10 and $15 per month, though it depends on what you get. Automated tracking and full workout videos are features you should look out for.

If an app has a free trial, take it, and cancel the subscription before the trial period ends. Doing that can sometimes trigger a discounted rate.

App makers would love for you to believe that the best discounts for fitness and gym apps happen between November and January, but it's just not true. Deals crop up all year round, and some sales never seem to end.


Are Monthly or Annual Subscriptions Better?

As with many online subscriptions, you can almost always get a better rate if you pay for a year up front—but you shouldn't necessarily do that with workout apps.

Sometimes, app makers put all the best content up front and fill the back half of the workout catalog with a lot of duds. Also, after a few months, you might get tired of the style or switch from indoor to outdoor workouts. Having a month-to-month membership gives you flexibility.


Should You Buy Smart Gym Equipment?

If you're interested in more than just apps, such as at-home workout equipment that includes on-demand classes, check out our top-rated smart exercise equipment. Just be aware that these machines often cost a lot up front and require an additional subscription fee for classes, which can be steep.

About Our Experts

Jill Duffy

Jill Duffy

Contributor

My Experience

I'm an expert in software and work-related issues, and I have been contributing to PCMag since 2011. I launched the column Get Organized in 2012 and ran it through 2024, offering advice on how to manage all the devices, apps, digital photos, email, and other technology that can make you feel overwhelmed. That column turned into the book Get Organized: How to Clean Up Your Messy Digital Life. I was also the first product reviewer at PCMag to test fitness gadgets, including everything from early Fitbits to smart bras.

Currently, I'm passionate about the meaning of work and work culture, and I enjoy writing about how managers and employees can communicate better, with or without software. My most recent book is The Everything Guide to Remote Work. I also love a good workplace drama. 

In addition to writing about work, I cover online education, focusing on learning for personal enrichment and skills development. I have a soft spot for really good language-learning software. Although I grew up speaking only English, some twists and turns in life led me to learn Spanish, Romanian, and a bit of American Sign Language. I've studied at the university level, as well as at the Foreign Service Institute, where US diplomats and ambassadors learn languages.

My writing has also appeared in WIRED, the BBC, Gloria, Refinery29, and Popular Science, among other publications.

Follow me on Mastodon.

The Technology I Use

Squeezing every last bit of usage out of the devices I already own is the only way I can tolerate my personal consumption. In other words, I do not own the latest cutting-edge technology. I buy things that will last and try to take care of them.

My life is organized by Todoist, and my notes live in Joplin. Where would I be without Dashlane as my password manager? Probably locked out of all my many online accounts—I have more than 1,000 of them.

When I share my contact information, it's an excruciatingly long list of phone numbers, messaging apps, and email addresses, because it's essential to stay flexible while also remaining somewhat mysterious.

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Gabriela Vatu

Gabriela Vatu

Contributor

I have been a writer since 2006 when I covered various domains for local publications. In 2012, I started covering technology broadly and I've written thousands of articles since then. I've written social media and cybersecurity news, software and hardware reviews, streaming guides, how-tos, tech deals, and more. I have bylines in numerous publications, including MakeUseOf, Pocket-Lint, Android Police, How to Geek, XDA, Softpedia, as well as here at PCMag. When I'm not working, I like to spend time with my family, read, game, paint, listen to music, and run around after our many pets asking what it is they're chewing on this time.

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