If you’re based in London, you can also sign up for their free, weekly workout classes and run club that takes place at the Regent’s Street Store. Depending on your needs, you may not need the presence of an online coach in your app. For this reason, many of the best workout apps vary on the level of coaching or instruction you get. The bare minimum should be a library of exercises to let you know how to perform movements in your own workout. Others can have as much guidance as pre-recorded workout videos with coaching cues, or a one-on-one coach who will program and give you technique tips. Weightlifting apps are geared towards strong lifts and helping athletes achieve new one-rep maxes.
Best workout app overall
Plus, fewer people using the machine every day can inevitably cut down on the overall wear and tear, leading to better workouts on more reliable equipment. With the help of an all-in-one trainer or a power rack (with the right accessories), one person can knock out a 45-minute bodybuilding circuit workout while the other can work toward a deadlift or squat PR. Coop, who extensively tested the Bells of Steel Cable Tower, called it “a home gym owner’s dream product.” I asked him why, and he listed that it’s affordable, extremely versatile, and highly customizable.
Follow Us
Before committing to anything, make sure you have access to all of the equipment required for the app you wish to use. When I worked as a full-time personal trainer, the gym I worked at charged $70 for 60-minute one-on-one sessions. If you were to work with a personal trainer once a week, it would cost you $280 per month, or $3,360 per year. To earn 3 out of 5 stars, an app should have programs you can join that give you a structured workout schedule, but they are not coached programs or group programs (you just follow it on your own terms). Maybe you get push notifications, or there’s a feature where you can integrate the workout app with your online calendar, but no human support or interaction. The best scores were given to apps that offered a large percentage of their workouts with minimal equipment, or ways to adjust your planned exercises to accommodate different equipment availability.
# ASSISTED BODYWEIGHT SQUAT
The space you’ll need https://ventmagazines.co.uk/best-strength-training-apps-for-garage-gyms-in-2026/ for a home gym depends on both the brand and type of home gym. The Bells of Steel All-in-One Home Gym, for example, measures nearly 5 feet across, 4.5 feet deep, and more than 6.5 feet high. Though these setups have the most expansive training options, they require a lot of extra space, so always be sure to measure your floor plan before making a purchase. You should determine where you want to put your home gym before purchasing anything. I’m obviously partial to putting equipment in my garage, but you’ll need to decide what room or space is best for you.
Nike offers a free strength-based training app that reduces the barrier of entry for weight-based workouts at home or in a commercial gym. A free training program may have the power to free your mind of any woes about designing an effective workout for yourself and worry about more pressing matters (like what you’re going to have for dinner). While we think this is the best overall workout app, it’s really meant for athletes who want to follow pre-made programs rather than those who simply want an app to track their existing workouts. It’s good, but it’s a little limiting for those who want to make their own training plan. The app supports various training goals including general fitness, strength training, muscle tone, bodybuilding, and Olympic weightlifting.
Hevy is a free workout tracker for iOS and Android. Build routines and track progress with friends.
The Xtreme 2 SE touts over 70 exercises in the space of one machine and has 210 pounds of resistance, which can be upgraded to 410 pounds of resistance for stronger lifters. With that much coming from one machine, it gets a 4-out-of-5 score for its versatility. If you’re looking for a versatile home gym option that’s built tough, the REP Ares 2.0 is our top choice. First is the fact that this is really geared toward people who either already have a REP PR-4000 or PR-5000 power rack, or are looking to buy the Ares and a rack all at once. When taken together, the Ares 2.0 allows for everything, from bodybuilding-focused isolation training to meat-and-potatoes powerlifting options, all in a durable package that earns a 5 out of 5 for versatility.
Support from the Sweat Community
The app focuses exclusively on logging barbell and dumbbell workouts quickly with minimal friction. The strength programs leave something to be desired, so if you want to focus on lifting, we recommend going elsewhere. But this app is great for beginner cardio and general fitness workouts that will keep you moving forward toward your goals. We love this app for beginner strength training workouts—there are a ton of options, the movements are approachable, and you can easily do them at home if you’re not ready to hit the weight room at your local Y. You likely have some Nike gear that you rock at the gym—so it might feel right to work out with the Swoosh, too.
Aaptive is a simple to use app that received high scores in categories like app setup, ease of use, and accountability, but it only received average rankings for interactive features and progressive overload. It’s a very impressive app, but only meant for a specific style of training, so we give it 3 out of 5 stars for the workout variety. The Nike Training Club app received high scores for most categories, though it earned average rankings in a few select areas like equipment demands and progressive overload.
Best weight lifting tracker app
From x planks to b-stance deadlifts, and everything in between, this is really useful for beginners and those who want extra guidance. For more info, check out our detailed Alpha Progression review, that outlines what it’s like using the app on a daily basis and the results we got. Alpha Progression uses research-backed algorithms to automatically adjust training variables based on performance metrics and recovery indicators.
Giant Lifting Garage Gym 2.0 With Lat/Low Row Review ( : Versatility on a Budget
Berg Movement also features detailed technique breakdowns with multiple camera angles and clear cues. This attention to instructional quality helps you understand not just what to do, but why you’re doing it and how to execute it properly. You might discover, for example, that limited hip mobility is contributing to your lower back pain, or that shoulder restrictions are affecting your bench press. Once identified, you can target these areas with appropriate mobility work. ATG is perfect for athletes looking to maximize performance, anyone dealing with chronic joint pain, post-surgery recovery, or simply those who want to bulletproof their body for long-term athletic pursuits.
StrongLifts 5×5 focuses on a simple yet effective program that centers on compound lifts, making it a great choice for beginners looking to develop strength quickly. Walk 1, 2, 3, or 4+ miles at a steady 15-minute mile pace for fat-burning—or challenge yourself with a 12-minute mile for extra intensity. Since I have re-started back all the coaches have been encouraging and providing me exercise modifications.
- The difference is that Strong users tend to care more about data export and granular control, while Hevy users tend to engage with the social feed as a motivation mechanism.
- The bent-over barbell row works many of the antagonists of the bench press exercise, and is useful for evening out the strength and muscle balance across your upper body.
- He has over five years experience in fitness tech, including time spent as the Buyer’s Guide Editor and Staff Writer at technology publication MakeUseOf.
- This information is the raw material your app uses to provide insights and guide your progression.
- If the Tonal is too expensive for your liking, the Echelon Strength Home is a more affordable smart home gym that offers up to 110 pounds of digital resistance per arm.
- “Plus, there’s analytics, including an anatomy chart that’s heat-mapped based on volume, so you can add any neglected muscle groups to your routine.” He rates the ease of use a 5 out of 5.
Other Interactive Features
For pure tracking with no budget, Hevy’s free tier edges out most competitors on interface cleanliness and social integration. If you only need to log sets and reps and see basic progress lines, you may never need to upgrade. User consensus from the r/PlanetFitnessMembers community consistently recommends Caliber for beginners specifically because it functions as a free personal trainer (per Caliber’s official app listing, Google Play, 2026).
Bowflex Xtreme 2 SE Home Gym Review ( : How Does This Stack Up Against Modern Functional Trainers?
The Functional Strength classes are a great way of working on your movement patterns if you’re a complete beginner, and the Pilates, core, and tone classes were all engaging. There are also handy features like Strava Beacon, which are designed to keep you safe, by allowing your friends or family members to track your live location on a run. However, if you use a non-Apple fitness tracker, you may be a bit limited for now. For example, I wasn’t able to connect my best Garmin watch to the SWEAT app. There’s free and paid options, but you get plenty of value if you do decide to pay, and you can access a free trial if you’re unconvinced. During testing, we found the instructor-led workouts to be engaging and motivating, and also enjoyed the whiteboard workouts, which show you the entire workout so you can follow at your own pace.
A 5-out-of-5 score was given to machines lacking in plastic and that used high-quality materials, like 11-gauge steel or aluminum pulleys. If the Major Fitness B17 is out of your price range, consider the $1,900 Bells of Steel All-in-One Home Gym. Though it’s lacking the features of the B17, it offers solid value and a 300-pound cable capacity. The plate-loaded version of this cable tower is priced competitively, especially compared to other home gym machines. Some may balk at the nearly $550 price tag, and we understand that, but if you have the budget for it, we think it’s well worth it and give the value a 4 out of 5.