Tracking your fitness and nutrition progress can be so overwhelming. You may feel excited to start your journey to better health, but it can all seem tedious and confusing after a few weeks of tracking calories, macros, and workouts. That's where the best fitness and nutrition apps come in. These helpful tools can bring structure and organization to your health routine, making it easier to find success and stay on track. In this article, we’ll explore the best fitness and nutrition apps, including their features, benefits, how to hit your macros, and how to choose the right one for your health goals. We’ll also introduce you to Cal AI's solution.
This calorie tracker will help you achieve faster, more innovative, and more efficient fitness and nutrition progress that drives accurate, lasting results for your overall health and well-being.
Fitness and nutrition apps help you achieve health goals. They offer the following:
These apps assist people with:
Do they work? The answer is yes, at least for some people. Apps are beneficial to health because they offer convenience and structure. When choosing the best nutrition and fitness app, look for features that enhance your experience.
The few mass-market app evaluations have generally been positive. A 2018 study in Nature examined data collected by one of the best-selling apps over 18 months. Of the nearly 36,000 participants included in the analysis, 78 percent reported a decrease in body weight when they used the app for an average of 9 months.
While the weight each individual lost varied from modest to dramatic, the results are compelling. But this does not mean diet apps are a silver bullet. One 2017 US survey of 1,600 people showed that those who had downloaded health apps reported being in “good or excellent health.” In other words, people who stand to benefit from health apps aren’t downloading them.
Look for an app with a free trial version. Increased stress and frustration from lousy design or buggy technology can make you give up. Give it a 3-day road test before starting in earnest. The app should be easy to start up and reliable. Choose an app that lets you set goals and monitor your progress. Setting small, achievable goals will give you more moments of success. Look for an app that gives you progress reports over time for maximum motivation.
You should be able to track your weight and what you eat, but you may not need to track every bite. According to research, the most successful dieters are likely to be those who most frequently record what they have for dinner (not calorie counts), when they exercise, and their weight when using an app.
Don’t give up if it feels overwhelming. Just keeping track of weight helps fight the yo-yo effect. A good app will teach you about nutrition and the benefits of healthy eating and encourage regular exercise. Sharing your goals with others is a proven method for success. Look for an app with a social support area to connect with others or, at best, one-to-one expert consultation. A good app will provide real-time personalized feedback when you input information and send reminders to stay on track.
Choose an app that's tailored to the individual. They can be customized to your skill and fitness level. If you have an underlying health condition, use an app that considers this. Taste and culture are just as important, if an app made in California doesn’t have information on the foods you eat in Norfolk, it may not be beneficial. A good app will sync with other health and fitness apps you have, such as wearable activity monitoring devices. Anything that eases the tracking process will lead to long-term use.
Cal AI transforms calorie tracking with cutting-edge AI technology. Just snap a photo of your meal, and we'll do the rest.
Our app combines your phone's depth sensor with advanced AI models to:
With 90% accuracy on visible foods and multiple tracking options like:
We've made nutrition tracking effortless. Whether you're scanning a full meal or a quick snack, Cal AI
Our AI learns from your feedback to improve accuracy. It includes personalized insights and smart reminders to keep you on track. Cal AI makes achieving your fitness goals simpler than ever.
Track your calories with your camera using Cal AI's calorie tracker today!
I've been actively using the Peloton app for years, and it's continually a favorite among our testers. The app has, hands down, some of the best fitness instructors in the industry. It's easy to navigate and one of the most user-friendly fitness apps I have seen – why is that important? Within seconds, you can find any class that meets your needs with the app's handy filters.
"I love the app because it is easy to navigate and filter through the workouts to get exactly what you are looking for, from the type of running workout, the length of time and even the instructor you prefer," a tester said. Another huge standout is the massive selection of quality classes and the variety. You'll find everything from:
"My favorite part is the individual instructors guiding you through with uplifting motivation, conversation, and the best music every step of the way," one person said. Others were wowed by the feeling that they were right in the studio. New classes are added on a regular basis so you never have to take the same class twice.
Apple Fitness+ stands out for its engaging and energetic instructors, incredible workout video production quality, and vast variety of content for all fitness levels. You'll find everything from HIIT workouts to core and yoga sessions.
What I love most about this app is that there are always two to four trainers per class to show exercise modifications that suit all fitness levels (this also gives a very team-like atmosphere to the workouts).
Previously, the service was exclusive to Apple Watch users, but the brand has since expanded access to anyone with a compatible iPhone, Apple TV, or iPad. You will get the most out of this platform by tracking metrics through an Apple Watch. "I loved that this service tracked and displayed your pulse throughout the whole workout and gave you feedback about how your rate recovered after the workout," one tester said.
The app, which is geared toward wellness and women's fitness, features over 3,000 classes, including barre, Pilates, yoga, HIIT, meditation, quick ab workouts, and more. Emily Sferra and Bianca Wise are my go-to instructors on the app.
Alo Moves is not as easy to navigate as other apps. Still, the platform makes up for that with workouts filmed in stunning locations and seasoned instructors who keep the workouts interesting and never dull, testers especially like being able to find energizing and motivating workouts for all fitness levels.
Another perk: You can download workouts to your phone to practice yoga outside, even without Wi-Fi connection.
I love that the Sweat app is designed specifically for women by women. Sessions are led by female fitness professionals considered some of the best in the industry. Kayla Itsines's High-Intensity Zero Equipment sessions feature high-intensity circuit training suitable for all levels and an excellent option for beginners looking to transform fitness. The post-pregnancy program from Kelsey Wells is another standout on this app. The community is vast, the content is practical and user-friendly, and our testers found the app and instructors very motivating.
I appreciate that you can preview each workout before starting, and most exercises are easy to follow. After each set, you must interact with the screen, but you'll already have your phone handy.
Centr is not for the faint of heart. Chris Hemsworth and his hand-selected health professionals created this comprehensive fitness and wellness app. Not only does the app deliver effective workouts ranging from HIIT to strength and Pilates, but the program is complete with:
This will help you achieve your wellness goals. It's an excellent choice for anyone seeking a lifestyle change. "I liked the approach with this app and having a section for workout, meditation, and food recipes," one tester says.
I also appreciate that many specialized programs, like the 13-week muscle-building program Centr Power, help you build strength and stay motivated. Plus, they sell all the necessary equipment to outfit an incredible home gym setup.
Most fitness apps don't offer much personalization, but you'll get the best of both worlds with Future, which combines personal training with the convenience of working out at home on your schedule. Start by matching with a human trainer based on your goals and fitness level, and you'll train all month for the price of what one personal training session would typically cost at a high-end gym.
Although you initially have a live call, you won't physically see your trainer during every session. Instead, you can interact with them via the app's messaging platform to share feedback or request adjustments to your fitness program.
The program still feels very customized to your goals, and I like that they emphasize tracking your progress so you can see real improvements and stay accountable. "I love how personalized it is! I've had multiple calls with my trainer and chat with her every day. We've gotten to know each other, and I just love the human component of the app. She also designs great workouts for when I've traveled and beyond," a tester said.
The Nike Training Club app was one of the first workout apps I tried in college to stay consistent with exercise. My main draw was that it was (and still is) free. The app delivers good classes with an intuitive interface that lets you browse routines by:
It even has valuable nutrition and wellness tips. Our testers loved the range of workouts and noted that programs were suited for varying fitness levels, including those for workout novices and more advanced athletes.
"There were different programs for different ability levels, which is great for everyone!" one tester says. I also appreciate that classes are efficient and easy to follow. The app offers high-intensity workouts for small spaces, making it an excellent choice for anyone seeking apartment-friendly fitness.
Remember that since the free app is free, the class library is smaller than other platforms (there are over 600+ workouts, which is a nice number, but not comparable to apps with thousands of classes). Another tester shares, "This service was very easy to use and perfect for quick at-home workouts."
Known for its intense strength training circuits, Shred curates an efficient exercise experience using workouts designed by trainers and AI. It's a top pick for Schlinger, too, who likes that the app starts by giving you a quiz to help you understand what you're trying to get out of it.
"I like hypertrophy training by body part, so I have Shred set up to suggest a workout I should do each day, upper body, lower body, full body, or abs. Say I did upper body yesterday, I can choose 'custom' workout and pick a different body part instead, and it will make it a new workout (each workout shows you the entire workout in writing and videos for each move). Another big bonus with this app is that you can choose workouts for the gym or home, which tailors the moves based on the equipment you'll have access to, though the app can sometimes be glitchy. "I also like that the app has a 'cardio training' section," Schlinger adds. “Shred creates a running workout with different speed intervals based on your exercise duration. It’s a great way to vary my running routine."
Whether you’re a dedicated yogi or a downward dog beginner, Glo’s 8,000 classes (and counting!) make it the ultimate pick for practitioners at every level. Download the app, grab your yoga mat, and take a quiz to get personalized recommendations, then search for and follow your favorite teachers. I love that you can download sessions later, perfect when you won't access Wi-Fi. You can enjoy live classes with other Glo members, and you can search based on:
Testers also appreciate that the app offers meditation content.
If yoga and barre are not your thing, Strava is a workout app for runners, cyclists, and hikers. My marathon-running sister introduced me to the app, which any serious runner in your life likely uses. It tracks essential stats (like speed, pace, elevation, and more) to improve your performance over time.
Plus, it offers monthly challenges and competitions to help keep you on your toes. You'll also be able to connect with the Strava community, your contacts, and your Facebook friends. Subscribing gives you access to detailed analyses of your performance and safety features that share your location with designated contacts. At the same time, you run, but there are no follow-along fitness classes on this platform.
Ladder is the solution you've been looking for for anyone who gets bored with their training programs quickly. A roster of impressive and inspirational coaches adds new plans weekly—the experts in their library range from kettlebell experts to Pilates instructors to running coaches. Select from a library of weight training programs and track your routines.
Then, connect with other users through Ladder Teams, the app's social component. Compatible with home or gym use, Ladder workout plans are meant to be utilized wherever you're sweating. The best thing about Ladder is the community-building aspect. You can engage with other Ladder users to help spur you on to greater PRs and loftier goals without trying to make awkward small talk at your gym.
If you feel tight after high-octane workouts like CrossFit, check out this app for a good stretch. The daily guided routines are designed to improve your body's range of motion and increase body awareness. Pliability isn't just an app; you can stream its content on your computer. iPhone users can access all of the content natively on their device. The library is impressive, but it's strictly mobility and recovery.
Having a wide range of movement is key to getting the most from your workouts and maintaining proper form, whether you're a runner training for your first 5k or an experienced lifter trying to add depth to your Bulgarian split squats.
Advanced lifters looking for an app made for pushing accurate weight will love the Juggernaut AI. Its in-depth insights and workout plans are great for maximizing strength training and reaching new goals.
Choose your desired weekly training days, input your maximum lifts, and indicate if you’re preparing for a competition. Once you do this, Juggernaut’s AI-powered app will generate a personalized program. Log your repetitions and weights from each workout, and Juggernaut AI will have you hammer out new PRs quickly.
Fitbit (owned by Google) is an excellent Apple Fitness alternative if you don't have an iPhone or Apple Watch (though you can use it if you do, too). In addition to activity tracking, the app offers:
These are great features if you want to be healthier overall. Like Apple Fitness, it has badges for achievements, which I loved since I don't want to compete against anyone except myself. It also offers daily readiness scores if you use it with a Fitbit wearable.
Speaking of wearables, if you don't use a Fitbit wearable device, you can only track your steps in the app. I don't recommend using only the app on your phone because it's inaccurate: during a treadmill workout, it told me I was walking at a 62-minute/mile pace when I was walking at a 17-minute/mile pace. The Fitbit app offers two tracking options: live tracking and manual tracking. The live monitoring performed alright regarding accuracy and metrics, but the app alone only gives you four options:
With a Fitbit device, you can track various other workouts live. The manual tracking feature was a bit more robust, with a long searchable list of activities to choose from, as long as you're okay with manually entering your workout information. Like Apple Fitness, it's not the most granular regarding strength training metrics.
PUSH is not for people who want to freestyle it. If you like to decide whether it's leg day based on how you felt when you rolled out of bed, you probably won't like this fitness tracker. That's because PUSH uses AI to generate a strength training program for you, based on the science of progressive overload.
You can also manually create a program, but the app isn't intended to record one-off workouts; it's geared toward moving you through a program of weight-bearing exercises.
The onboarding experience for this fitness tracker is slick. It walks you through questions about your strength training experience, which muscle groups you'd like to focus on, and more. Then, it creates a personalized program for you to follow. When it came time for my first AI-generated workout, the experience continued to shine.
PUSH made it intuitive to start a workout and follow along as the app pushed me through the program it had created. It even cued me when it was time to take a break between sets was time.
The app also incorporates predictive analytics throughout. For example, it showed me roughly how many sets I thought it would take to see progress (or as the app puts it, enter the "growth zone"). That's a great way to make training feel more rewarding and sustainable, rather than a never-ending slog.
I'm not the most competitive person, but I have run the occasional low-stakes 5K and run regularly. Having tried all the go-to running apps before, I was excited to test Runna because it's a relatively new addition to the running app scene.
First, the good: Runna is an excellent choice if you're actively training for a race. It offers structured training plans customized to your goals, including strength training, which many runners don't do enough of. I also loved Runna's unique twist on social sharing: you can find and join community groups based on upcoming races. The calendar sync feature is great for busy folks struggling to stay on top of a training plan.
Now, the not-so-good: using Runna ad hoc wasn't the best experience. Starting a standalone run (or "free run," as the app calls it) was a bit confusing, and the tracking wasn't very accurate. The app allowed me to edit my run at the end manually, but that only works if you know your speed from running on a treadmill.
I tested the app again using it on my Apple Watch, and the free run functionality was still super basic. It warned me that tracking via my watch wasn't recommended.
8fit brings together on-demand workouts and meal planning. It's one of the best workout apps for people who like a lot of guidance and instruction. The app creates a personalized program for your diet and exercise based on your goal. You tell 8fit your fitness goal, then work out to videos in the app, log what you eat, and create meal plans using recipes and shopping lists.
The free version gives you access to only some workouts, which require you to look at and tap the screen often. That's not great. You can also track your weight and activities with the free app. The Pro version is better and unlocks personalized meals, shopping lists, calorie logging, instructions on what foods to exclude from your diet, weekly classes you can join, and additional workouts.
Aaptiv specializes in audio-based workouts led by trainers, meaning you don't have to keep your eyes or fingers on a screen to exercise. A trainer tells you what to do with music in the background. You can choose from one of the app's music styles or connect to your Spotify account. The app suggests workouts that will suit you based on the information you provide, such as what type of exercise you like:
Blogilates officially called Body by Blogilates in the Apple App Store and Google Play is hands down one of the best free workout apps. There is a paid service tier, but it's more nice-to-have than necessary. We like that you can access the workouts without creating an account, which protects your privacy.
Blogilates contains video workouts with the ever-peppy Cassey Ho, who sweats and suffers alongside you through her challenging routines. The workouts lean toward pilates moves and calisthenics, though you can also find exercises that include weights and some cardio. You can sign up for challenges and try to complete a series of workouts over several days, find healthy recipes, and more, all for free. While free content is abundant, and Blogilates is one of the best free workout apps, you can pay for a subscription if you love the app and want to get a little more out of it.
Cal AI transforms calorie tracking with cutting-edge AI technology. Just snap a photo of your meal and we’ll do the rest. Our app combines your phone's depth sensor with advanced AI models to:
With 90% accuracy on visible foods and multiple tracking options, we've made nutrition tracking effortless. Whether scanning a full meal or a quick snack, Cal AI gives you accurate nutritional information in under 15 seconds.
