13 Best Free Workout Apps for Beginners, According to Experts [2024]

If you’re reading this, you’ve likely just made the best decision of your life: beginning your fitness journey. Now, you’re looking for guidance on where to start. Fortunately, there’s never been a better or easier time to get started at the gym, thanks to smartphones and fitness apps.

The right workout app should act like a personal trainer in your pocket. It should provide a program tailored to your fitness goals, track your progress, motivate you, keep workouts engaging, and flatten your fitness learning curve. Ideally, you’ll also be able to test the app without committing to an expensive membership.

There are lots of free options available that fit this criteria (without spending an arm and leg on hiring a personal trainer). We’ve curated this list of the best free workout apps for beginners that will help you achieve your specific fitness goals while making your exercises exciting, intuitive, and fun.

13 Best Free Workout Apps for Beginners

1. Flex AI - Best Overall for Beginners
2. 7 Minute Workout - Best for Short Workouts
3. Nike Run Club - Best for Cardio Community
4. FitOn - Best for At-Home Workout Variety
5. Sweat App - Best for Women 
6. ClassPass - Best for Personal Trainer Access
7. Caliber - Best for Personalized Coaching
8. AllTrails - Best for Outdoor Exercise
9. MyFitnessPal - Best for Nutrition
10. Home Workout by Leap Health - Best for No Equipment Workouts
11. JEFIT - Best for Bodybuilding
12. Centr - Best for Celebrity Workouts
13. iFIT - Best for Interactive Workouts

As we evaluated the best fitness apps, we prioritized those that offer a superior experience for the beginner. You’ve done the hard part of committing to your fitness goals, so we want to help you find the right app to make the journey as seamless as possible.

We spoke with a panel of certified personal trainers, sports scientists, coaches, and nutritional experts to determine that the best free workout apps should include:

• Ability to log and track your workouts
• Accessibility so you can work out anywhere, any time
• A wide variety of differentiated and quality workouts
• Customizable workout plans
• Resources for beginners, such as tutorials or access to a virtual trainer
• Video and voice guidance for workouts
• Access to a community to stay engaged and motivated
• Compatibility with different smartphones or smart devices
• Free version and access to premium features

Free Workout App Comparison Chart

App	Programs	Community Access	Free Version
Flex Fitness	Weight lifting, cardio, HIIT	✅	✅
7 Minute Workout	HIIT, no equipment		✅
Nike Run Club	Cardio	✅
FitOn	Yoga, barre, pilates, cardio, HIIT	✅	✅
Sweat App	Yoga, barre, pilates, cardio, HIIT, postnatal	✅
ClassPass	Yoga, barre, pilates, gym classes	✅
Caliber	Weight lifting	✅	✅
AllTrails	Hiking, running	✅	✅
MyFitnessPal	Cardio, strength training, running, circuit training, boot camp challenge	✅	✅
Home Workout by Leap Health	No equipment	✅	✅
JEFIT	Weight lifting	✅	✅
Centr	Strength, HIIT, muscle-building, Pilates, yoga, combat	✅
iFIT	HIIT, cardio, strength training, yoga, and cycling	✅

1. Flex AI 

Best free workout app overall

Flex is the best overall fitness app for free, fun, and simple workout planning and tracking. We designed the fitness tracker to automatically set the pace and difficulty of your workouts based on your performance and track your progress.

As Andrew White, NASM-certified personal trainer and co-founder of Garage Gym Pro, noted, “Flex Fitness stands out with our “excellent personalized workout plans.” We offer hundreds of workouts and programs designed by personal trainers that are suitable for all fitness goals, from weight lifting for building muscle or cardio to HIIT programs for losing weight.

You can even view your friends’ training and compete alongside the entire Flex community while maintaining your workout streaks and charts to monitor your progress and personal records.

Our free fitness coach will lead you through your workout step by step, telling you which exercises to do, how to do them, and how long to rest for optimal results. Flex also offers a custom plan builder so you can modify or build your fitness program.

Price:

Free, with Premium available at $9.99/month or $59.99/year

Features:

Intuitive charts and streaks to view progress and keep you motivated

Automatically change your exercise difficulty to adjust as you progress

Personal guidance for exercises with in-app tutorials

Customizable workout plans

Access to compete with and share progress with the community

2. 7 Minute Workout 

Best for Short Workouts

According to Piotr Lewandowski, exercise scientist and physiotherapist at Sports Physiotherapy Online, The 7 Minute Workout app is “perfect for those short on time,” offering “quick, no-frills workouts that you can do anywhere with minimal equipment.”

As the name suggests, the app offers daily workouts that generally can be completed in under ten minutes. The workouts offer a good mix of cardio and some body-part-specific exercises (arms, legs, abs, etc.) that you can do at home.

However, as you progress through programs like the 30-Day Challenge, the time investment can ramp up to around 30 minutes per workout. We’ve also found that the iPhone app offers more features than Android (such as music connectivity).

Price:

Free, with pro versions available between $3.99-$49.99

Features

Google Fit support

HIIT-focused exercises and programs

Voice guidance

Adjustable circuit and rest time

Music connectivity with the Apple app

3. Nike Run Club 

Best for Cardio Community

If you want to focus on cardio, the Nike Run Club offers several features to help you get started and stay motivated. 

The Nike Run Club offers free coaching and programs to help you build up to certain milestones, such as the 10k program. There are various guided runs, such as speed runs, recovery runs, and long-distance runs, that make getting into running accessible and fun. You’ll also join a large community of fellow runners.

The app does have some limitations. It does not offer customized training plans and doesn’t tailor progress to the user. There are also occasional issues with accurately tracking speed, distance, and location on runs.

Price:

Free

Features:

Run tracker to store runs and measure progress

Training plans and guided runs

Unique run challenges

Large community access and interactivity

4. FitOn

Best for At-Home Workout Variety

FitOn offers a huge library of free, at-home exercise videos for all fitness levels. Depending on your interests, they have a variety of programs to suit you, including yoga, pilates, HIIT, dance, barre, cardio, meditation, and weighted or bodyweight exercises.

We like the FitOn app’s beginner-friendly and community features. For example, you can connect with and message your friends directly on the app or find a celebrity trainer you like (like Gabrielle Union). They also provide a library of additional articles on how to take care of yourself mentally and physically and meal-planning tips.

According to Sergii Putsov, Certified Personal Trainer and Head of Sport Science at Torokhtiy Weightlifting, “FitOn is a great fitness app for beginners because it offers a wide variety of workouts for free…This versatility is especially useful for beginners who want to try various workouts before committing to one routine. Another key benefit of FitOn is its emphasis on community and motivation.”

Price:

Free, FitOn Pro version available via in-app purchase between $19.99-$39.99 annually

Features:

Cardio, strength, HIIT, dance, yoga, pilates, barre workouts available

Personalized workout programs

Meal planning and recipes

In-app messaging with friends or workout buddies

Leaderboard, streaks, and progress tracking you can share with friends

5. Sweat App

Best for Women 

The Sweat App was designed by women for women and offers access to a large women-only fitness community to stay connected and motivated. Their “sweaty selfie” feature is a unique way for members to share and stay engaged with friends.

Workouts can be done at home or in the gym, ranging from beginner to advanced, and can suit any lifestyle or workout preference. For example, if you are in a rush or busy, you may like their express workouts. They also offer a suite of fitness programs for pregnancy and postnatal.

The only catch is payment is required after a relatively short 7-day free trial, which starts at $24.99 per month.

Price:

Free trial period, requires active subscription beginning at $24.99/month or $134.99/year

Features:

Access to a large community

Exercises include descriptions and video demonstrations

Workout results tracking

Planner to schedule your workouts

Education section with fitness, nutrition, and wellbeing material

6. ClassPass

Best for Personal Trainer Access 

If you’re looking to experiment and want an in-person coaching experience, ClassPass is a unique fitness app that allows you to book classes, studios, gyms, salons, and spas in your area. However, if you’re on a budget, you may want to find another alternative on this list.

The app doesn’t offer workout programs, but you can sign up for a free trial and use credits to test different workouts like yoga, barre, pilates, and gym visits. After your trial, you will need to sign up for a certain amount of credits per month, ranging from $55-$199/month.

ClassPass has some community and interactive features you may enjoy. You can invite friends to class and earn rewards or connect with friends on the app. The app also rewards you with badges to celebrate fitness milestones that you can share with your friends.

Price:

One-month free trial, monthly credit plans range from $55/month (26 credits), $89/month (43 credits), $159/month (80 credits), $199/month (100 credits)

Features:

Access top-rated fitness studios, gyms, salons, and spas

Curated recommendations for studios, gyms, etc.

Rewards program

Connectivity with friends on app

7. Caliber

Best for Personalized Coaching

If building strength is your #1 goal, Caliber is a strength-training-focused app that provides tailored programs, coaching, nutrition, and tracking to help you reach your goals. 

The free version offers personalized training plans based on your experience level and video-led exercise tutorials, in addition to connective capabilities with other health apps like Apple Health or wearables like the Apple Watch.

We’re fans of their group features, which let you share your personal records with friends. Their Strength Score is a neat feature, too, which tracks your strength progress compared to your potential.

The premium option will match you with a licensed coach who will provide one-on-one instruction and support.

Price:

Free, premium version available at $72/year

Features:

Personalized training plans

Community sharing

Strength assessments

Video tutorials

Wearable connectivity

8. AllTrails

Best for Outdoor Exercise

Maybe working out at home or in the gym isn’t your thing, or you prefer to explore the great outdoors. If so, the AllTrails app is our best app for outdoor running, cycling, biking, and hiking.

AllTrails offers access to over 450,000 trails around the world by location, interest, and skill level. The free version includes in-depth trail information like reviews, conditions, and even directions. You can also save your favorite trails or share your adventures with friends on other social media. 

Price:

Free, with AllTrails+ available at $35.99/year

Features:

Huge library of trails worldwide that include reviews, skill levels, and directions

Community sharing and inspiration

Connectivity with Apple Health

Live route planner with details like air quality, pollen, light pollution

9. MyFitnessPal

Best for Weight Loss

Diet and exercise are two critical components of weight loss. MyFitnessPal stands out for its food and nutrition tracking capabilities to help you nail your eating habits. 

Matt Rogers, Certified Personal Trainer at Tropical Oasis, noted that MyFitnessPal is “an excellent one-stop app for people who want to track both their workouts and their diet … It’s very user-friendly, which is what makes it so great for beginners.” 

MyFitnessPal’s food log makes it easy to track what you’re eating while providing nutritional and caloric information. The app also customizes meal plans based on your goals (weight loss, weight gain, weight maintenance, nutrition, etc.) and offers hundreds of healthy, goal-focused recipes.

However, we would recommend using another app for workout programs, as the app has a limited library of about 50 workout routines. 

Price:

Free version, premium plans start at $19.99/month or $79.99/year

Features:

Calorie tracker and food journal

Hundreds of goal-focused healthy recipes

Caloric information for over 14 million foods

Customized meal plans based on your goals

10. Home Workout by Leap Health

Best for No Equipment Workouts

If you’re not ready to start going to the gym or lifting weights, Home Workouts lets you build up your fitness at home with no equipment required.

The app offers over 500 daily workout routines by muscle group, personalized plans for your goals, and a fitness tracker that will automatically record your progress. While suitable for all fitness levels, workouts cater to beginners as they only take a few minutes.

Home Workout also includes video guides for workouts, Apple Health integration, reminders for training sessions, weight and calorie tracking, and you can share your progress with friends for accountability and inspiration.

Price:

Free, with unlimited premium access for $39.99/year

Features:

Hundreds of daily, no-equipment workout routines

Social sharing

Fitness tracking

Apple Health integration

11. JEFIT

Best for Bodybuilding

We recommend JEFIT if you’re new to bodybuilding and aesthetic workouts. JEFIT has workout programs with over 1400 weight training exercises and helpful video demonstrations of proper form for newbies.

The app also offers solid customizability of workout plans depending on your goals, tools to help with logging, tracking, and planning your workouts, and the ability to connect with friends and share your workouts together.

One particularly cool feature is their workout routine database, which includes community-created and shared daily routines and fitness plans.

Price:

Free, with in-app purchases ranging from $6.99 - $69.99

Features:

• Wear OS Integration
• 1400+ Exercises & 850+ training routines
• 12M+ gym users in the JEFIT community for bodybuilding support and workout motivation

12. Centr

Best for Celebrity Workouts 

Chris Hemsworth, Hollywood’s Thor, helped develop the Centr app along with a team of experts. While you can work out like an ancient god, the app acts like a 24/7 virtual fitness coach tailored to your goals and experience, including meal planning and daily workout programs.

Centr has various workout programs ranging from strength, HIIT, muscle-building, Pilates, yoga, boxing, and even MMA. The meal plan is also customized based on your preferences, whether vegetarian or carnivore.

Rounding out the mind/body connection, they also include a library of mental health resources, guided meditation, and sleep visualizations.

Price:

7 days free, with 1-, 3-, and 12-month memberships ranging from $19.99-$119.99

Features:

Diverse workouts including strength, HIIT, muscle-building, Pilates, yoga, boxing, and MMA

Holistic wellness with guided meditations and sleep visualizations

Customized meal plans

Compatible with Apple Watch

13. iFIT

Best for Interactive Workouts

iFIT is a Peloton competitor that can be synced with NordicTrack treadmills and exercise bikes, but the app can be used with or without the machinery. 

Where iFit stands out is its impressive video library of immersive, guided workouts led by world-class trainers. You can find anything from cardio to HIIT to yoga and much more. It also includes special workouts for women and men, challenges, and various workout plans, from 7-minute daily workouts to 30-day workout programs.

The virtual training can transport you across the world from the comfort of your home. Afterward, their activity trackers let you view your workout metrics, workout history, and progress over time.

Price:

Free 30-day trial, with individual and family options ranging from $14.99-$39.99 per month or $143.99-$394.99 per year

Features:

Thousands of guided workouts, including  HIIT, cardio, abs, strength training, yoga, and cycling

More than 100 personal trainers, including Olympians and professional athletes

Activity and progress tracking

Global, immersive workouts

How to Choose the Right Workout App

With so many great fitness apps available for free, there are a few common features that experts recommend beginners look for.

Sean Klein, Certified Personal Trainer and founder of Programme noted that “beginners should prioritize apps that offer personalization and progress tracking” and should “look for flexible scheduling options, so the app fits into your lifestyle, not the other way around.”

Apps that offer guided plans and customization are also helpful for beginners. As Piotr Lewandowski recommends, guided plans let you “choose a workout plan based on your goals” and “make it easier to get started without feeling lost.” Customization lets you “tweak workouts to fit your needs, whether that’s adjusting the difficulty or swapping out exercises.”

Sergii Putsov also recommends looking for workout apps that offer video tutorials and community support. Apps with video tutorials and clear instructions for each exercise are “critical to ensuring proper form and reducing the risk of injury,” while an app that provides community support can help “keep users accountable and engaged, encouraging workout streaks or challenges.”

Kick-Start Your Health Goals with Flex Fitness

There’s no “wrong” place to start your fitness journey, but the best free workout apps for beginners will help you achieve your goals faster.

With Flex Fitness, you’ll get a customized workout plan tailored just for you, along with access to a team of experts and a supportive, engaged community. Most importantly, we’ll help keep you motivated and have fun along the way. 

Download the app for free today to kick-start your progress and achieve your health goals this year.

FAQ

Are free workout apps actually free?

The Nike Running Club is completely free, while Flex AI, FitOn, AllTrails, and the 7 Minute Workout apps offer free versions, in addition to paid plans.

Are paid fitness apps worth it for beginners?

Free versions often provide enough features for beginners. Once you’ve found a fitness app that you like, upgrading is beneficial to unlock more in-depth guidance or advanced features such as access to community forums, video feedback to improve form and technique, and nutrition guidance.

What’s the best automated workout app?

Flex AI is the best all-around automated workout app that will generate a workout plan, provide detailed instructions on how to perform each exercise, and track your progress.

Do free workout apps have hidden costs?

While costs are not “hidden,” some free workout apps begin as a free trial membership and later require a paid subscription for continued use. If you’re required to enter payment information to download an app, you’ll likely be charged after the free trial period. Other free workout apps may offer in-app purchases to unlock premium features.