Working out at home has always been something many people have sought after, but the cost of buying equipment often keeps it out of reach. Ten years ago, it was circuit training DVDs in your basement. Today it’s high end virtual reality workout apps like Mirror. Thankfully, many free workout apps make it possible to get in a good workout in the comfort of your own home.
You don’t have to spend a fortune or pay for an expensive monthly gym membership to get in shape. You can get the workout you want at home for less than you think.
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Best Free Workout Apps
If you’re looking for workouts to do at home without breaking the bank, it’s possible. Whether you’re looking for the best workout apps for men or best workout apps for women, you have plenty of options.
Here are the best free workout apps that help you stay healthy and active, without stepping outside your door.
1. Nike Run Club
Are you a runner? If so, Nike Run Club is one of the best workout apps you need to add on your phone. The app is free to download and use. It’s also available on both iOS and Android phones.
Nike Run Club tracks all of your runs, which enables it to provide better guidance and custom distance challenges.
It also has a “coach” built into the app that allows you to get help in reaching your goals. So, if you’re looking to become a better runner, this workout app can help.
Some other features that Nike Run Club offers include:
- The ability to customize playlists that fit your runs
- Audio guided runs with Nike coaches and athletes
- Global challenges, so you can run with friends or family
- Trophies and badges to celebrate your achievements and keep you motivated
- Coaching plans custom-designed for you
The app is free to use, and it doesn’t require any in-app purchases for these functions to work.
You get free coaching and can run with the best of them without spending any money.
2. Map My Run
The Map My Run app, created by the brand Under Armour, works similarly to Nike Run Club. The app has similar features and starts for free, but there are a few differences worth considering.
Map My Run does have a premium option. Because of that, not every feature comes on the free plan.
However, if you purchase a qualifying Under Armour product, you can receive the paid version of the app for free for one year.
Otherwise, the paid plan is $29.99 a year, or $5.99 a month.
The free plan includes:
- The ‘log a workout’ feature
- Workout routines created to mix in with your runs
- Routes that you can customize to fit your duration of a run
- The ability to track your goals
- The ability to share goals and runs with friends
If you upgrade, the premium plan includes:
- The ability to track your run in real time
- The ability to track your nutrition through My Fitness Pal and connect it to the app
- Removal of ads in the app
- Training plans customized to your current fitness level
- Heart rate zones
- Mobile coaching
As you can see, the free plan offers quite a bit. But if you want the accountability and extras, like no ads, the premium plan is still affordable at only $29.99 a year.
The app is available on both iOS and Android phones.
3. Yoga for Beginners
Calling all yogis and aspiring yogis. Yoga for Beginners is one of the best free workout apps for those that love the peaceful and balancing act of yoga.
The app is terrific for those looking to get into yoga, but you won’t be bored if you’ve been practicing for a while.
The app is available for both iOS and Android phones. Sign up is easy and only takes about three minutes to start.
The app offers some good at-home workouts, and the best part is many of the routines are 20 minutes or less.
So, if you find yourself being busy in your day to day life, you can still find the time to get a quick work out in and not feel guilty.
It has routines for both morning and nighttime, reducing pain in certain areas, and more.
Some features for the app include:
- Multiple handcrafted workouts for beginners that are easy and quick to start
- The ability to choose the type and time of your workout
- The ability to track your workouts, as well as your weight and calorie limit if you’re trying to lose weight
- Step by step instructions to learn how to do the yoga poses correctly
The app also has a few intermediate and advanced routines, so as you grow, you can try those out as well. This is also great if you’re not a beginner but looking to shake up your workouts.
4. Simply Yoga
Looking for an app that doesn’t require Wi-Fi? Enter Simply Yoga. The app has 20, 40, and 60-minute workouts, so you’re bound to find something that fits your needs.
Unlike Yoga for Beginners, this app is more for intermediate and expert level yogis.
You can modify some poses, but if you have bad knees or other joints and muscles that aren’t in the best shape, this app may not be the best to start with.
The app is free to get, but the free version is pretty limited and only includes one workout for each time frame.
The premium version, while $14.99, does include the ability to access workout plans for women and men that fully supplement the free version.
The premium feature also includes:
- The ability to stream yoga workouts
- The option to customize your own workout
- No ads
Overall, the app has excellent videos to start with on the free plan, so you don’t need the premium plan to get a good workout in. The app is available on iOS and Android phones.
5. 7 Minute Workout
One of my favorite free exercise apps to use is 7 Minute Workout. I use this app, and it’s been a fantastic addition in my search for good at-home workouts.
The app is simple to use and is perfect for anyone looking to fit in quick workouts in their day. As a busy mom and business owner, I don’t have many hours to spend in the gym.
But I can dedicate seven minutes a few times a day to this app, and I do.
This is the workout app to use if you need to get yourself in a routine, don’t have much time to exercise, or want to replace unhealthy habits with healthier options.
While the app doesn’t have many extras added, it does have:
- 30 customized workouts to choose from – arms, legs, core
- The ability to track weight loss
- The option to upgrade to the premium version for more seven-minute workouts
- Progress tracker, so you can see your achievements
The app is available on both iOS and Android phones.
6. Map My Fitness
Map My Fitness is the “extended” version of Map My Run. Unlike Map My Run, Map My Fitness contains all sorts of workouts.
The app also pays you to exercise as it pays out points you can use to redeem for various rewards.
You can use the app to track any of the following activities:
- Biking
- Hiking
- Running
- Walking
The features are the same as Map My Run, except they also give you the option to track if the workout was a hike or bike ride or walk.
You can also pair it with apps that pay you to walk to earn extra spending money for your activities. Read our guide on other ways to earn money walking to identify additional opportunities.
7. Daily Workouts Fitness Trainer
The activities in this free workout app are all performed by certified trainers, and each video is between five and 30 minutes long. So, Daily Workouts Fitness Trainer is a great app for those who need a quick workout.
This app is also great because it allows you to choose easy at-home workouts that target certain areas, like your legs, core, back, or arms.
I like how the app allows you to pick a workout based on what you need that day. Their search feature allows you to choose:
- The duration of the workout
- What body part (if any) you want to work on
- Your exercise level
From there, it will list all workouts that fit your criteria.
The app is free and is available on both iOS and Android phones.
8. SworkIt
The SworkIt app is great for both adults and kids. Yep, that’s right; this app even has kid workouts.
If you have active children and want to give them something to do to get their extra energy out, this app is a great tool to keep them busy at home.
The app boasts over 400 workouts. You can also:
- Build your own workout
- Choose your workout plans based on your goals and activity level
- Get support from certified trainers
If you want to create your own exercise program, SworkIt is one of the best workout plan apps.
The app is free to start, but it also has a premium option. This plan grants you access to all of the workouts, support from the certified trainers, and immediate access to all future content.
It’s $59.99 a year or $9 a month.
However, the free portion of the app is great to start with and has tons of workouts to select.
9. Aaptiv
The Aaptiv app is not free, but it does have a free trial. For 30 days, you can try out the app’s workouts and plans.
This app is the one for you if you want to take your workouts seriously.
Just a few of the workouts that the app has are:
- Elliptical training
- Strength training
- Treadmill workouts
- Yoga
- Outdoor running
The app adds 30 new classes every week. Certified personal trainers teach each class, and they all work out to upbeat and fun music to keep it interesting.
The app is available on iOS and Android phones, and after the trial, the cost is $14.99 a month or $99 for the year. Students receive 50 percent off both plans.
10. FitOn
If you want high-quality workouts, FitOn is one of the top free fitness apps to use if you want to exercise at home. FitOn also includes workouts from some of the best celebrity trainers.
The app isn’t just one of the best free fitness apps, either. It also has great posts and guides on nutrition and wellness. It’s more of an overall health app, but the workouts are a notable feature.
The app includes workouts for just about everyone, and you can find workouts like:
- HIIT routines
- Strength workouts
- Dance, Barre, Yoga, and Pilates
- Pre and Post-Natal workouts for expecting and new moms
The app is available on iOS and Android phones, and many people have said they can also use their iPads and smart TVs to connect to their phones.
11. 8fit Workouts
8fit Workouts is an app that integrates both workouts and a meal planner to help you live your healthiest life. Many of the workouts are less than 15 minutes, which means more time to focus on your day.
The only con to this app is that while it’s free, many of the workouts and plans do require a purchase.
While this may be a con to some people, the free portion of the app still has over ten different workouts to try.
The premium version includes their meal plans, and almost all of the recipes take under 30 minutes and don’t require a ton of ingredients.
The premium version of the app is $60 a year, or $5 a month.
12. J&J Official 7 Minute Workout
The J&J Official 7 Minute Workout is the only app on our list that’s only available on iOS devices. This app, unlike the 7 Minute Workout app, also only has one-seven minute workout.
Chris Jordan, Director of Exercise Physiology at the Johnson & Johnson Human Performance Institute, designed this app.
He created it primarily as a science-based workout to target the muscles most people need to work out regularly. It is a full-body workout, but again, the only workout available on the app.
The cool thing about the app is that it tracks your progress and how you feel about each workout. It’s a great app if you’re brand new to working out and just need to get moving.
The app is free and simple to use.
13. Daily Butt Workout
The Daily Butt Workout app contains all workouts for your butt. No, seriously, it’s just for your butt and legs.
So, if you’re looking to gain a booty or build your glutes, this is the app for you. The app has five to ten-minute workouts that all target your lower body.
You can also customize and modify the workouts based on your strength level. The app is available for both iOS and Android phones.
Other Healthy Options
Free workout apps are terrific to use if you also want to lose weight. Losing weight is rarely easy, but there are several resources available to help you along the way.
Nutrisystem has an app that allows you to track the meals you eat, including the Nutrisystem entrees and meals. The app helps you monitor your health in other ways, including:
- Activity tracker
- Daily challenges
- Weight tracker
If you want to join Nutrisystem, they’re currently offering 50 percent off all meal plans, including shakes.
If you’re serious about joining, read our Nutrisystem review to learn how Frugal Rules founder John Schmoll lost 100 pounds on the plan.
HealthyWage is an awesome fitness app to use if you need a challenge on your fat loss journey. The app has you “bet” money on yourself, and if you reach your goal, you earn that money back and then some.
If you don’t reach your goal, the money moves into the pot and goes to someone who did. If you’re serious about weight loss and need added motivation, HealthyWage is an excellent way to get paid to lose weight.
Read our guide on ways to get paid to lose weight to learn more.
Bottom Line
Whether you’re new or experienced in working out, any of the above free workout apps provide good workouts to do at home and get fit, especially when you pair them with diet plans, like alternatives to Nutrisystem to lose weight.
You may believe that you need an expensive gym membership or spend a lot on a personal trainer. That’s rarely the case. You can accomplish much of the same at home, through free or affordable, exercise apps.
Find a platform that works for you and get active. With commitment and regular activity, you can become fit and not spend a small fortune.
What are your favorite free workout plan apps? How do you find easy at-home workouts? What have you been doing to stay active during the quarantine?
Kim Suazo has been a freelance writer and business owner for over four years. When she's not writing for Frugal Rules, you can find her on other publications like Chime, Discovery, and Due. She also owns her own websites The Entrepremomer and Part-Time Profit, where she teaches overworked moms how to streamline their new businesses so they can scale without a team.
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