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Self-led workouts have increased in popularity recently and virtual training options have risen to the occasion. The beauty of virtual workouts is being able to stay active anywhere, anytime. The best personal training apps give you the benefits of a personal trainer but are more flexible with your schedule—simply pull out your smart device whenever you like and tap on the app of your choice to get your sweat on. Most apps work with the equipment and space you have available to you, although you can get more bang for your buck if you have a few key pieces of gear that work in tight spaces.
Best Personal Training Apps - Our Top Picks
- Best Overall: Future
- Best Free: Noom
- Best for Running: Joggo
- Best for Weight Training: Future
- Best for HIIT: Caliber
- Best for Weight Loss: Joggo
- Best for Home Workouts: Caliber
- Best for Yoga: Alo Moves
- Best for Beginners: CoPilot
It can be hard to find which fitness app fits your needs, so we consulted with our ACTIVE expert panel and selected apps with excellent user experience, personalization, and a variety of training types to help you wade through the options. Studies have even shown that the most successful fitness-based apps are those that meet the previously mentioned criteria and go the extra mile for convenience and efficiency.(1)
Whether you're smashing PRs in your home gym, running along the trails, downward dogging under the stars, or power planking in your bonus room, these personal training apps will keep you motivated along your fitness journey.
Why Trust Us?
ACTIVE.com’s editorial team relies on the knowledge and experience of fitness and wellness experts including competitive athletes, coaches, physical therapists, nutritionists, and certified trainers. This helps us ensure the products we feature are of the highest standard. Collectively, the team has spent countless hours researching equipment, gear, and recovery tools in order to create the most accurate, authentic content for our readers. Customer satisfaction is also a key part of our review process, which is why we only feature products that are highly rated.
Best Overall Personal Training App - Future
SPECS
- Price: $199/month
- Free version: No
- iOS rating: 4.9
- Android rating: 4
- Personalization: 1-on-1 coaching, in-app messaging, metrics tracking, blog
Why We Picked It
The Future personal training app is based on human connection, with fitness pros bringing their expert knowledge right to your phone and pushing you to be your best. Future's text-based platform sets this app apart from others on the market. The app's co-founder and CTO Justin Santamaria is no stranger to cutting-edge communications, as he was a lead engineer at Apple and created the text bubbles we have on our phones.
By syncing your workouts via an Apple Watch, your trainer can monitor your physical activity and track your progress. What makes this such a great overall training app is the personalization. Digital trainers aren't the same as in-person training sessions, but the one-on-one time you get with trainer check-ins combined with the weekly workouts makes this pretty darn close to having a personal trainer in your back pocket.
Once you sign up you're paired with a coach who best fits your needs and personality. You'll connect with your coach via FaceTime to discuss your fitness level and goals, and your trainer will get to work crafting your plan. From there you can check in with your coach to ensure your progress and share photos and videos of your workouts to get advice on your form or make adjustments to your plan.
Read our in-depth Future review.
What We Like
- Price-point is fair for the tailored programming and customized support you receive from the pro coaches
- You won't need extra equipment or a gym membership to do the workouts since your coach factors in what you have access to
- Not only do you receive a workout built just for you, but you can send videos of your form and leave feedback about the workout to discuss with your coach.
- Variety is proven to help you stay motivated, and the real-life trainers on this app ensure you won't get bored with workouts(2)
What We Don't Like
- Trainers aren't watching you live so they can't correct your form or help you troubleshoot an exercise in real time
- If you want a community of fellow members to help push you along, this probably isn't a good fit since the "social" aspect is just your 1-on-1 sessions and motivating messages from your coach
- You're at the mercy of a good WiFi connection for your workout
Best Free Personal Training App - Noom
SPECS
- Price: $70/month (discounts for multiple month sign-ups)
- Free version: 14-day free trial
- iOS rating: 4.7
- Android rating: 4.2
- Personalization: 1-on-1 coaching, support groups, daily lessons, tracking tools and calculators
Why We Picked It
Regular exercise and physical activity are just one component of your fitness journey, but the element that can often be overlooked when making a change is the importance of a well-balanced, healthy diet. When weight loss is the goal, simply restricting calories may work in the short-term, but often can't help you maintain those early results.(3) Changing your approach to healthy eating, and food in general, could be the key to unlocking a sustainable lifestyle change, which is where Noom comes in.
Noom is a nutrition-based app program that uses psychology to reframe your relationship with food and diet for an unhealthy habit overhaul. When using the app, you'll be paired with a nutrition coach to guide you through your transformation and help keep you on track toward your goals. Noom places foods into three categories based on their caloric density: orange, yellow, and green. These categories help you balance your meals without feeling the restrictions of a rigid weight-loss diet. You'll also have access to features like food logs, nutrition calculators, and fitness trackers for your exercise routines, such as a step counter. The app—and your coach—can help prompt you to make adjustments as needed to help you progress.
Noom offers a 14-day free trial to get you started on their program. Afterward, you'll have the option to sign up for their auto-renewing subscription with discounts for longer durations. The average Noom user tends to sign-up for the four-month plan, which costs $169 upfront, which works out to about $42.25 per month, much less than the $70 fee when paying month-to-month.
Read our in-depth Noom review.
What We Like
- 14-day free trial
- 1-on-1 guidance from a nutrition coach and support groups
- Personalized meal plans and recipes
- Helpful tracking tools and calculators
What We Don’t Like
- Can be expensive after free trial
- More focused on nutrition than exercise/training
Best Personal Training App for Running - Joggo
SPECS
- Price: Varies depending on subscription length/add-ons; estimated $33-60 for 2 months
- Free version: No
- iOS rating: 4.4
- Android rating: 4.1
- Personalization: Customized training and meal plan, weight loss tracker, running tracker, audio guidance, daily tips
Why We Picked It
Runners everywhere will rejoice at how easy the Joggo app makes tracking basic running metrics like GPS, distance, and speed on all your free runs. Joggo also has a treadmill mode for the days when you feel like running at home or the gym. As for a personalized program, Joggo works with elite trainers and fitness experts to craft a meal plan to fit your goals, preferences, and schedule, as well as create no-equipment running workouts to help you stay on track and motivated.
Joggo can be incorporated into your regular runs through customized cardio workouts and audio guidance via the app. Described as "listen-while-you-run," the audio component leads you through your warm-up, run, and cool-down. Joggo is also committed to motivation through educational content with daily tips and articles on subjects like injury prevention and breathing techniques.
What We Like
- Personalized nutrition and training plans
- Audio guidance for workouts
- Educational content and daily tips
- GPS tracking, distance, speed, and activity history
What We Don’t Like
- Personal training isn't 1-on-1
- No free trial
Best Personal Training App for Weight Training - Future
SPECS
- Price: $199/month
- Free version: No
- iOS rating: 4.9
- Android rating: 4
- Personalization: 1-on-1 coaching, in-app messaging, metrics tracking, blog
Why We Picked It
In addition to being a great overall personal training app, it's especially helpful with weight-training workouts. Trainers will create workouts based on your weights at home, or they can help you navigate the—often intimidating—weight section of your gym.
Having a personal trainer guide you through the ins-and-outs of weight training helps to ensure you're maximizing each exercise by doing the correct number of reps with the ideal weight for your body and goals. You'll also avoid potential injury and gain more confidence in your weight-training abilities. Best of all, Future trainers offer modifications and tweak your weight-training plan based on your progress.
What We Like
- Tailored programming and customized support you receive from the pro coaches for a decent price
- No extra equipment or a gym membership needed
- Customized workouts, with ability to get feedback from coach on form and progress
- Variety of workouts
What We Don't Like
- Trainers aren't watching you live so they can't correct your form in real time
- No community aspect aside from coach
Best Personal Training App for HIIT - Caliber
SPECS
- Price: $217/month ($7/day for first 3 months)
- Free version: Yes, but no coaching option on free version
- iOS rating: 4.9
- Android rating: 4.7
- Personalization: 1-on-1 coaching, video calls and in-app messaging, fitness lessons and dashboard
Why We Picked It
High-intensity interval training (HIIT) has many benefits for cardiovascular (and overall) health.(4) HIIT is also more accessible to those without a home gym or gym membership as it often requires little to no extra equipment to participate and often can be done in as little as 20 minutes. That said, HIIT is not a stroll in the park. You should expect much more sweat and strain when training at this high an intensity. Having a committed coach, like those provided by Caliber, to help power you through your toughest workouts may be the key to your progress.
Caliber is a science-based online coaching platform that pairs you with an experienced trainer to help keep you motivated and on track toward your goals. Caliber coaches want to make the most of your time and customize workouts and meal plans that will get you your results efficiently without all the guesswork. Caliber can also keep you engaged in your training with competitive dashboards that turn progress into a game and informative lessons to empower you to make more informed health decisions. If incorporating more HIIT into your routine is your objective, Caliber is an excellent choice to get you there.
What We Like
- 1-on-1 coaching with programs tailored to your needs
- Science-and-tech-based approach
- 24/7 access
- Interactive dashboard and educational content
What We Don’t Like
- Can be expensive after first 3 months
- Customer support is only available through email
Best Personal Training App for Weight Loss - Joggo
SPECS
- Price: Varies depending on subscription length/add-ons; estimated $33-60 for 2 months
- Free version: No
- iOS rating: 4.4
- Android rating: 4.1
- Personalization: Customized training and meal plan, weight loss tracker, running tracker, audio guidance, daily tips
Why We Picked It
Cardio isn't the be-all-end-all of weight loss, but regular running of three miles or more (in addition to a change in diet) has been shown to help reduce fat mass among beginner runners.(5) If you're considering taking up a new running routine for your transformation goals, we recommend you try our pick for the next personal training app for weight loss, Joggo.
Joggo offers users personalized running workouts and nutrition plans put together by elite trainers that can cater to your dietary needs and objectives. There are also several features included in the app, such as audio guidance to lead you through the entirety of your run and trackers to compile your running metrics. The most valuable tech this app offers for the goal-oriented is the weight loss tracker that helps to keep an accurate account of your progress. Last but not least, Joggo offers daily tips and educational content for motivation and direction.
What We Like
- Personalized nutrition and training plans
- Weight loss and running tracker
- Audio guidance for workouts
- Educational content and daily tips
What We Don’t Like
- Personal training isn't 1-on-1
- No free trial
Best Personal Training App for Home Workouts - Caliber
SPECS
- Price: $217/month ($7/day for first 3 months)
- Free version: Yes, but no coaching option on free version
- iOS rating: 4.9
- Android rating: 4.7
- Personalization: 1-on-1 coaching, video calls and in-app messaging, fitness lessons and dashboard
Why We Picked It
When you train from home, odds are you may not have access to the same amount of equipment as a commercial gym. You may also not have as much free space to utilize for your workout. Caliber coaches work with you to generate a program that satisfies your requirements while supplying you with workout variety, which can help keep you motivated to train.(2)
Additionally, Caliber goes the extra mile with its science-based approach to fitness that helps determine that your workout program and meal plan is the most efficient. Caliber can also keep you engaged in your training regimen through competitive dashboards that turn progress into a game and access to educational health and fitness lessons.
What We Like
- 1-on-1 coaching with programs tailored to your needs
- Science-and-tech-based approach
- Interactive dashboard and educational content
- 24/7 access
What We Don’t Like
- Can be expensive after first 3 months
- Customer support is only available through email
Best Personal Training App for Yoga - Alo Moves
SPECS
- Price: $20/month subscription, $199/year
- Free version: 14-day free trial
- iOS rating: 4.9
- Android rating: 4.2
- Personalization: Unlimited yoga, mindfulness, and skills classes, personalized recommendations, daily meditations and affirmations, offline downloads
Why We Picked It
Created by the Alo company—an LA-based clothing brand that began in 2007—Alo Yoga® studios have grown into a streaming service offering on-demand yoga, meditation, and fitness classes. Fun fact: "Alo" stands for "air, land, and ocean."
Although the app offers four workout categories to choose from (fitness, mindfulness, yoga, and skills training), the yoga portion makes this virtual training platform really shine. Filter the classes based on styles—such as restorative, vinyasa, Hatha, ashtanga, or prenatal—duration, difficulty, and instructor.
The user-friendly platform welcomes you with a personalized quiz to tee up some recommended classes, which is a good starting point so you don't feel overwhelmed by the offerings.
Read our in-depth Alo Moves App review.
What We Like
- The "daily recommendations" feature serves up 3 new classes per day
- You can download a class and follow offline
- Classes are helpful to boost motivation and help you maintain your form
- Free 2-week trial
What We Don't Like
- Doesn't track workouts, so you'll have to use your own fitness tracking device
- Alo instructors don't follow-up or check-in with you between classes
Best Personal Training App for Beginners - CoPilot
SPECS
- Price: $99/month
- Free version: 14-day free trial
- iOS rating: 4.9
- Android rating: 4.9
- Personalization: 1-on-1 coaching and check-ins, customized workouts, metrics tracking, device integration, tutorial videos
Why We Picked It
This one-on-one coaching personal training app pairs you with a pro coach dedicated to help fitness beginners achieve realistic and sustainable lifestyle goals. If you're a training newbie in search of a plan, simply schedule your welcome meeting with your trainer to discuss your current workout situation and what you hope to get out of the experience. Your trainer will create a workout planner consisting of exercises to target specific areas (upper body, lower body, push/pull, etc.)
Using an Apple Watch for your workouts makes it easier for your coach to guide you through each exercise and keeps tabs on your stats, although it's not required. You can still have a satisfying training session with just an iPhone or Android device. Once your workout is complete you'll see a summary from your coach and get a chance to discuss how the workout went, such as what you liked, what you'd change, and what you didn't understand. After several workouts, your trainer can make adjustments to help you get the most out of each exercise and see results.
What We Like
- Beginner-friendly
- Metrics are logged for easy review
- Easy to view demos can guide you with voice prompts
- Your trainer makes adjustments based on your workout summary and feedback
What We Don't Like
- Sometimes the app can lag, leading to miscounts in reps
- Some issues with in-app messaging
How We Chose the Best Personal Training Apps
As health and wellness experts, we selected the best personal training apps based on criteria that we consider to be the most informative when looking at all the available options, including cost, ease of use, and personalization. We ultimately chose apps that we would (or have) used ourselves or would feel confident recommending to a client or friend.
How to Find the Best Personal Training App for You
Before you toggle over to the app store, take a few minutes to reflect on what you're looking for in a fitness training app. Here are a few things to consider:
Interests and Goals
Many of the personal training apps on the market can be customized to fit your interests, with options for cycling, running, strength training, bodyweight conditioning, yoga, and more. Some are more specialized, focusing on one main area or activity. Think about what your goals are and how you plan to use the app when deciding which one will be best for you.
Fitness Level
It helps to know yourself and your capabilities and be honest with where you are in your fitness journey. (That doesn't mean you can't stretch a little beyond your comfort zone!) Some of the apps are designed to meet you where you are while others are meant to push you to the max.
Price Point
Free is always nice, but in order to receive the full benefits of the digital coaches you may need to spend a little for memberships or premium access.
Tracking and Planning
Logging your measurements and tracking your progress can help you identify patterns and give you a little extra push. Meal plans and online nutritional coaching can help you stay on track. Knowing what type of tracking you are likely to use can help you decide which personal training app will work best for you.
Accountability and Community
A little accountability goes a long way. But how do you want that served up? You may want a trainer who can work with you in real-time, or you may prefer to exchange messages on your own time. If you get by with a little help from your friends, a fitness community can rally behind you if you start to lose your mojo.
Why You Should Buy/Download a Personal Training App
Accountability can be a powerful motivator. Simply having someone else show up for you and encourage you to step outside your comfort zone can make a huge impact on your fitness outcomes.
Accessibility and structure are also key reasons to download a personal training app. If you have fewer barriers between you and your workout, and you build time into your day that you know will work for your schedule, you'll have more success at maintaining your commitment to healthy habits.
If a workout is personalized to your needs, goals, and interests, it will become something you look forward to instead of another to-do on your list. Find an app that has classes you will enjoy, so you'll be more likely to jump into your cardio core dance class than hit snooze.
Personal Training Apps FAQs
What is the best personal training app?
"Best" is a subjective term. A power yoga session may be the perfect fit for you but may not be right for your marathon-training neighbor. Plus, your needs will evolve over time as your circumstances and commitments shift. Focus more on what fits best with your current goals and fitness level and give yourself some room to adjust along the way.
Are there free personal training apps?
Pricing structures can vary depending on the fitness platform and customization options within each app. Some apps may be free to download but require a monthly or annual membership to access workouts, while others offer free access or pay-as-you-go sessions. Free is always nice if the app offers tools that work for you, but paying for an app or membership can also be a great motivator to actually stick with it if you don't like wasting money on services you don't use.
What app do personal trainers use with their clients?
Personal trainers utilize a variety of apps to work with clients. Future, CoPilot, and Caliber are trainer-based apps where certified personal trainers work directly with clients to build workout plans and achieve personalized goals.
How do I know if a personal trainer on an app is certified?
The majority of personal training apps have accompanying websites that will list their trainers along with their credentials. If this information isn't available on the site or in the app, you should feel confident asking your trainer about their certifications before deciding to work with them.
Our Final Takeaway
The best personal training app will include training variety to keep you engaged, motivation for the hard days when working out feels impossible, a meal plan you can stick with, or all of the above. The one thing that the majority of personal trainers will tell you is that consistency is key when it comes to progress. A personal training app that can hold you accountable could be the solution if you're a beginner or a seasoned athlete who needs a change of pace. We hope that one of the apps on our list can help you take the next step toward accomplishing your training goals.
Our Experts
- Alexandra Ginos, MBA, RD, CSP, nutritionist and fitness expert
- Roger Lockridge, 20 year fitness industry expert
- Ali Nolan, marathon runner
- David J. Sautter, NASM CPT, FNS, PES; ACE SES, personal trainer and fitness expert
- Cory Kessler, CPT, FNC, health and wellness writer
- Daniel Preiato, RD, CSCS, sports nutrition expert
- Erin Chancer, CNC, expert health and wellness writer
- Katie Simpson, CPT, health and wellness writer
- Dr. Jacob Wilson, PhD, CSCS*D, training expert
- Lindsay Boyers, functional nutritionist
- Elspeth Huyett, cycling expert
- Gaby McPherson, nutrition expert
- Krisitne Golden, triathlete
- Lindsey Cooke, CNT, nutrition therapist
- Karla Tafra, nutritionist and yoga instructor
- Rachael Gonzalez, health and wellness writer
- Sosha Lewis, certified sleep coach, health and wellness writer, CrossFit veteran
- Frieda Johnson, expert health and wellness editor
References
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- Baz-Valle E, Schoenfeld BJ, Torres-Unda J, Santos-Concejero J, Balsalobre-Fernández C. The effects of exercise variation in muscle thickness, maximal strength and motivation in resistance trained men. PLoS One. 2019 Dec 27;14(12):e0226989. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0226989. PMID: 31881066; PMCID: PMC6934277.
- Kim JY. Optimal Diet Strategies for Weight Loss and Weight Loss Maintenance. J Obes Metab Syndr. 2021 Mar 30;30(1):20-31. doi: 10.7570/jomes20065. PMID: 33107442; PMCID: PMC8017325.
- Ito S. High-intensity interval training for health benefits and care of cardiac diseases - The key to an efficient exercise protocol. World J Cardiol. 2019 Jul 26;11(7):171-188. doi: 10.4330/wjc.v11.i7.171. PMID: 31565193; PMCID: PMC6763680.
- Nielsen RO, Videbaek S, Hansen M, Parner ET, Rasmussen S, Langberg H. Does running with or without diet changes reduce fat mass in novice runners? A 1-year prospective study. J Sports Med Phys Fitness. 2016 Jan-Feb;56(1-2):105-13. Epub 2015 Mar 13. PMID: 25766050.
About the Author
For the past 13 years, Erin Chancer has worked in digital publishing in the fitness and sports nutrition field. Erin has experience writing and editing workout-based, human interest, and advertorial stories within the fitness industry.
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