Making time to consistently work out can be hard. You work all day and have responsibilities at home, which means going to the gym can feel like such a chore—especially if you're just winging it with your workouts. Maybe you've tried one, maybe you haven't, but we highly recommend using workout apps to help ease your mental load so you can focus that energy on your fitness instead.
You can find a workout app for any type of fitness activity you enjoy. There are personal training apps, treadmill training apps, weightlifting apps, and general fitness apps, to name just a few. In this article we want to highlight the best workout apps for men specifically. These apps let you take control of your health and help you reach levels of fitness that maybe you haven't before or haven't in a long time. We'll talk about the benefits of each app and why it might be the best for you. Let's dive in.
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The Best Workout Apps for Men - Our Top Picks
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- Best Overall Workout App for Men: Future
- Best Free Workout App for Men: JEFIT
- Best Home Workout App for Men: Alo Moves
- Best Workout App for Men Over 50: Mighty Health
- Best Guided Workout App for Men: Bande
- Best Core Workout App For Men: Freeletics
- Best Men's Workout App for Weight Loss: Tempo Move
- Best Men's Workout and Nutrition App: MyFitnessPal
- Best Men's Workout App for HIIT Workouts: FiiT
Best Overall Workout App for Men - Future
SPECS
- Platform(s): iOS
- Membership: Monthly or annual subscription
The best overall workout app is the app that offers the most customization and accountability— the one most likely to get you to your fitness goals. And for this, we believe Future is the best you’ll find. We love Future because it matches you with a real, certified coach who will check in on you and design workouts specifically for you.
Future takes into consideration your available workout equipment, your available time, and anything else about you that you find relevant to deliver you the most effective plan. It is a little bit more expensive than other apps, but if you’re committed to getting fit, you won’t be disappointed.
What We Like
- Full customization
- 1-on-1 coaching for accountability
- Advanced progress tracking
What We Don’t Like
- Only available on iOS
- No free trial
BUY: Future
Best Free Workout App for Men - JEFIT
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- Platform(s): iOS, Android
- Membership: Free version, or monthly or annual subscription
There aren’t many fully free workout apps that are worth your time, though most apps do offer a free version that gives you access to basic features and workouts. While some apps limit you to a handful of features, JEFIT gives you access to workout plans, stat tracking, and its large community of users.
JEFIT does offer a paid version, but if you’re looking for a fitness app that is free and effective, you’ll have a hard time finding a better app than JEFIT.
What We Like
- Free version with access to a lot of features
- Large community of users
- Paid versions are affordable
What We Don’t Like
- Exercise demonstrations can be tough to find
- Free workouts are not plans for beginners
Best Home Workout App for Men – Alo Moves
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- Platform(s): Website, iOS, Android
- Membership: Monthly or annual subscription
You can think of Alo Moves as a wellness coaching app. The app has everything you need to get healthy in body and mind at home. The workouts are designed and guided by experts who are skilled at teaching good technique through the screen. Plus, if you’re looking for a low-impact fitness activity, they have Yoga classes for strength training.
The best part about Alo Moves is that it is designed to fit busy schedules. There are workouts and meditations that can be completed in a short period of time, so you’ll never feel like you can’t workout, which can lead to discouragement.
What We Like
- Workouts for all types of fitness activities
- Guided by coaches
- Can fit into a busy routine
What We Don’t Like
- Weightlifting workouts are limited
- Can’t integrate third-party music
BUY: Alo Moves
Best Workout App for Men Over 50 - Mighty Health
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- Platform(s): Website, iOS, Android
- Membership: Monthly or annual subscription
Nothing says you can’t train hard over 50, but most people in this group tend to need workouts that are a bit more low-impact and which focus on protecting joints and improving overall health. For this purpose, Mighty Health is a great option to explore.
Mighty Health is a lifestyle app that allows you to log your diet, keep track of your vitamins or other supplements, and find daily workouts to stay in shape. Everything is geared toward improving your health, and there is a great community aspect to keep you motivated.
What We Like
- Lifestyle + Fitness App
- Active community for motivation
- Syncs with FitBit
What We Don’t Like
- No desktop version
- Limited nutrition plans
Best Guided Workout App for Men - Bande
SPECS
- Platform(s): Website, iOS, Android
- Membership: Tiered monthly or annual subscriptions
Bande is unique because it is a platform where you can book live classes with coaches in the fitness discipline of your choice. The app offers tiered memberships, and each includes a certain number of classes you can book per month, but you can also purchase single classes.
Bande doesn’t have classes geared toward weight training, but if you’re looking to lose weight, get flexible, or train in a low-impact environment, then these classes are entertaining and will be effective for reaching your goals.
What We Like
- Variety of live classes
- Effective low-impact and HIIT workouts
- Flexible scheduling
What We Don’t Like
- No weight training
- Classes can seem marketed toward women
Best Core Workout App for Men - Freeletics
SPECS
- Platform(s): Website, iOS, Android
- Membership: Monthly or annual subscription
If you’re looking to get a six-pack, then you’ve probably discovered that doing sit-ups at the end of your workout isn’t going to get the job done. A comprehensive core workout program is a good part of any workout program, but Freeletics takes it a step further and teaches you how to target your core from multiple angles.
Freeletics is a personal training app, but the coaches are artificial intelligence. The app offers a fair amount of customization based on your answers to a survey, but you can still access individual workouts, all of which can be done with minimal equipment.
What We Like
- Core-specific programs
- Clear exercise demos included in the workout
- Minimal equipment required
What We Don’t Like
- Limited customization compared to other apps
- Repetitive
Best Men’s Workout App for Weight Loss - Tempo Move
SPECS
- Platform(s): iOS
- Membership: Monthly membership + one-time fee for technology
If you’re looking to lose weight, then HIIT (high-intensity interval training) is one of the most effective and efficient types of training you can do. That’s because with HIIT, you don’t need to hit the gym for hours at a time to burn a lot of calories. And the best app for these workouts is Tempo Move.
Tempo Move is both a technology and an app. You have to pay up front for the equipment, but what you get is real-time feedback on your form and intensity with every workout. It also syncs with Apple Watch and Bluetooth health monitors to give you a full picture of your progress.
What We Like
- Real-time feedback and stat tracking
- Syncs with a lot of other tech
- Shows a leaderboard to bring out your competitiveness
What We Don’t Like
- Expensive one-time fee for the technology
- Requires a TV to use
BUY: Tempo Move
Best Men’s Workout and Nutrition App - MyFitnessPal
SPECS
- Platform(s): Website, iOS, Android
- Membership: Free version, or monthly or annual subscription
You’ve probably heard of MyFitnessPal if you’ve ever tried a food tracking app because it is one of the largest, most popular apps for that purpose. But what most people don’t know is that MyFitnessPal also has a library of workouts to go along with the nutrition tracking.
These workouts are mostly general fitness workouts that people of all fitness levels can complete, and they’re not very customized. But if you’re looking for a combination app, then there is none better one than MyFitnessPal.
What We Like
- Easy-to-use workout and nutrition tools
- One of the biggest online communities
- Nutrition and workout plans in one place
What We Don’t Like
- Basic workouts
- Limited access in the free version
BUY: MyFitnessPal
Best Men’s Workout App for HIIT - FiiT
SPECS
- Platform(s): iOS, Android
- Membership: Tiered monthly or annual subscriptions
HIIT is very effective for weight loss, but it’s also a great way to increase your cardio health and overall fitness. If you’re looking to use HIIT more in your workout plan, then FiiT is our top pick for you.
With a FiiT membership, you get access to their workout library containing over 100 workouts—and their workout library is growing every day. The app offers workouts for any level of experience and for any level of intensity, so whether you’re new to HIIT or a veteran, there will definitely be something for you.
What We Like
- One of the biggest workout libraries
- Instructor-led workouts
- Accommodates all fitness levels
What We Don’t Like
- You need equipment for some workouts
- The calorie tracker is not accurate
BUY: FiiT
How to Choose the Best Workout App for Men
Membership
Workout apps have different types of membership, and knowing what you’re willing to budget for will help you decide which app is best for you. For example, apps like Future are fully customizable, which makes them a little more expensive. There are also tiered apps like Peloton and Bande that allow you to choose how much access you want.
Just remember that you typically get what you pay for with workout apps, so the cheaper ones may have more generic workouts that could get boring over time.
Equipment
Take inventory of the fitness equipment you have available before you choose a workout app. If you have a commercial gym membership, then you probably won’t have a problem doing the workouts on any app.
If you work out at home, then you should consider apps that let you customize your workouts or input your equipment before designing your workout plan.
Fitness Goals
Your fitness goals should be the deciding factor in choosing a workout app. Although most workout apps offer a variety of plans to help you achieve your individual goals, each app also tends to have its own specialty. With that said, some apps, like Future, offer a completely personalized experience.
FAQs About Workout Apps for Men
How do I start working out?
There are many ways to start an exercise program. If you want to work out, you can get a gym membership, download a personal training app or a workout app, or just go for a walk. The key is to start small. Get your body moving and progress from there.
Do workout apps actually work?
Workout apps won’t do the work for you, but they can be a great way to stay organized, track your progress, and get access to an existing program so you’re not just in the gym wasting your time trying to decide what to do next.
What is the best app for building muscle?
A lot of workout apps have programs for building muscle. If your primary goal is to add size and strength, we recommend Future. This app customizes everything to your goals and you get to interact with a real coach.
About the Author
Cory is a certified personal trainer and fitness nutrition coach. After spending six years as an educator and coach, Cory joined the ACTIVE team as a staff writer turning his passion for education toward helping ACTIVE readers live their best, healthiest lives.
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