Committing to a fitness regimen is self-care in its purest form. As much as many of us have a love-hate relationship with exercise, keeping fit is a tried-and-true way to nourish the wellbeing of both your mind and body, and it’s with that philosophy that we trudge to the gym, day after day.
In our hyper-connected digital age, the gym or fitness studio is no longer the only place where exercise happens. A myriad of fitness applications are available on mobile platforms to make working out accessible to all, everywhere. By subscribing to a fitness application of your choice, a few taps are all it takes to have regimens customised for your needs, or workout selections broad enough to suit your environment, wherever you may be in the world.
With a virtual gym and personal trainer in your pocket and at your fingertips, fitness applications are steadily becoming the default way most of us stay accountable to our fitness routines (read: no more using travel as a way to slack off on exercise).
If you’re spoilt for choice, we’ve listed our favourite workout apps that bring the gym to you. From strength training to yoga, there’s one for every physical pursuit.
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1 /5
Nike’s dedicated fitness application is entirely free and has remained a favourite on app store rankings for good reason. Combining multiweek programmes with more than 180 individual regimens that can be done in half an hour or less, Nike+ Training Club is a powerhouse that anyone, from beginners to novices, will appreciate. The app hosts different genres of exercise within too, ranging from high-intensity interval training, yoga, mobility work, to strength and resistance, all enacted by the sportswear brand’s Master Trainers. If you’re someone who likes variety and versatility, this app is a must.
Available on iOS and Android.
2 /5
For those keen on building your physique and strength through compound lifts, Stronglifts is the app to have. It custom-designs a workout plan for you, featuring three exercises per session, with each following a 5-by-5 rep scheme, totalling 45 minutes, just three times a week. If these numbers boggle your mind, we’ll keep it simple — Stronglifts is all about short, effective workouts that give you serious gains.
Available on iOS and Android.
3 /5
Having defined abs is a fitness goal anyone can relate to, and Core360 is an app-based programme that makes that goal a reality. Created by personal trainer and physique competitor, Sara May Garcia Perez, Core360 is structured around video exercises that build your core strength as a means to be fit overall (and trust that Garcia knows about the importance of building your core, given her killer abs). Don’t have the assumption that it’s all sit-ups and crunches though, as the exercises do span a wide array of target areas and not just your abdomen. The programme follows a paid model, but it’s one of the most affordable around.
Available on the Motify App, downloadable on iOS or Android.
4 /5
Yoga has become a ticket to more than just mindfulness and mobility — it is a proven way to keep fit as well. Take the yoga studio wherever you go with Asana Rebel, an application with programmes that combine various forms of yoga with bodyweight exercises to help you achieve your goals. With workouts that range from 10 minutes and more, Asana Rebel is easy enough to fit into your day-to-day grind, as long as you have a mat in tow.
Available on iOS and Android.
5 /5
Freeletics is a callisthenics-based training app with workouts that cater to your fitness goals, whether it be losing weight, gaining muscle, and more. There are over 1,000 workouts to choose from, ranging from 10 minutes to half an hour. Each targets specific parts of the body, so you can choose your focus for the day. Those who prefer a fixed programme can opt to pay for the personal trainer function in the app, where an AI coach tailor-makes a regimen for you to adhere to. As Europe’s most popular fitness app, Freeletics signals the future of mobile personal training.
Available on iOS and Android.
Beatrice Bowers
Features Editor
Beatrice Bowers writes about beauty, drinks, and other nice things. When not bound to her keyboard, she moonlights as a Niffler for novels and can be found en route to bankruptcy at your nearest bookstore. Don't tell her boss.
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