Tracking Apps Review

The latest version of the Charge series continues a tradition of accurate activity tracking, but many of the new additions require Google integration. Always check export options before committing to an app long-term. Your workout data is valuable, and you should be able to take it with you. Nike Training Club deserves mention for people wanting guided cardio workouts. The HIIT and endurance sessions are well-designed, and having video demonstrations removes uncertainty about proper form. For gym-based cardio (treadmill, rowing, cycling), Strava works but feels less essential.

How much should I expect to pay for a good workout tracker?

Do you just want to get moving more often, or are there specific fitness milestones you want to hit (like running a certain speed or lifting a certain amount of weight)? Some apps let you personalize your goals or even connect with a personal trainer to help you meet them. If you’re interested in more than just apps, such as at-home workout equipment that includes on-demand classes, check out our ultimate fitness tech guide.

An easy way to decide if you should get a fitness tracker is by identifying a few key metrics you’d like to measure. We’ve spoken with Michael J. Joyner, M.D., a human-physiology researcher at the Mayo Clinic, to get his opinion on fitness trackers. “If your goal is to finish a 10K, then the distance you can run without stopping is more relevant than your respiration rate,” Dr. Joyner told MH. “You have to ask yourself how collecting more granular data is going to help you achieve your goals.” In addition to its outwardly masculine look and durable design, the technology here is super simple to navigate, which can’t be said for all fitness trackers.

MyFitnessPal – Best for Combining Nutrition and Exercise

It uses sensors in a user’s activity tracker or mobile to record fitness activities. It will mark your speed, pace, route, elevation, etc., and show you real-time stats of your running, walking, and riding events. Peloton offers a month’s free trial for their app, which is a fantastic amount of time to really test its different features (there are cycling and strength training workouts on there too). CNET experts tested some of the most popular workout apps to see which ones actually offer great workouts. These are the apps that stood out for their usability, personalization and ability to help you stay consistent and reach your fitness goals in 2026. Some are completely free or offer a free trial, and some require a monthly subscription.

Fitness Tracking Apps for Specific Needs

We also appreciate the body composition reader—in just a few seconds, the Galaxy Watch 8 works to tell you your vitals, and even provides a body fat estimate. These stats are prone to inaccuracy (few home devices can accurately track body fat), but we give props to Samsung for trying to push metrics to another level. Most fitness trackers carry a hefty price tag, so if you’re in the market but not looking to sell out on this particular accessory, the Suunto Race S is the best value you’ll find.

Sometimes, the app displays videos of a trainer performing exercises with a voice-over that provides tips and counts down the time. While some of Nike’s on-demand workout videos are short, others last up to 60 minutes. If you want more structure in your routine, consider joining programs that include multiple weekly workouts, typically divided into several stages. As an added motivation, you can work toward achieving the various goals the app sets out. You also get access to healthy recipes and tips on nutrition and exercise. FitOn (available on Android, iOS, various media streaming devices, and the web) offers free, on-demand, video-based workouts led by trainers.

Best workout apps compared

MyFitnessPal is not just an app; it’s a lifeline for those looking to take control of their health. Its unique ability to combine nutrition tracking, calorie management, and fitness goals into one intuitive platform has made it a favorite among millions worldwide. But beyond the numbers, the app fosters a supportive community where users share their journeys, struggles, and successes, turning fitness from a solitary grind into a shared experience. We’ve compiled a list of the best fitness tracker apps based on user ratings, features, downloads, and expert reviews, ensuring these apps are your ultimate workout companions. You can individually log each exercise and overall workouts and maintain those records for as long as you want in the free plan. In this, you can add specific goals for your fitness journey, like hitting certain sets, reps, or weights for any exercise and when you plan to reach that.

James Clear’s Workout Tracker (Web): How to Log Exercises in a Book or Notepad App

The social aspect is either a major selling point or completely irrelevant depending on your personality. If you prefer to train solo and focus on your own progress, these features add unnecessary complexity. Setgraph and Strong both have excellent rest timers with notifications. Setgraph’s Smart Plates feature is particularly good—it shows exactly which plates to load for any target weight.

• Sometimes when flicking through the touchscreen, we pressed too hard, causing the Inspire 3 to activate a mode we didn’t want or bring up another screen that we had to swipe out of.
• Stall out or plateau and it’ll serve up plateau-breaker exercises.
• Users can go freeform or download and follow popular running routes.
• NTC also integrates well with other fitness apps like Google Fit and some nutrition apps.
• As technology continues to improve, these apps will only get smarter, making it easier for users to reach their fitness potential.
• It’s water-resistant to 164 feet and can last up to five days on a charge.

I’m not the most competitive person, but I have run the occasional low-stakes 5K, and I do run regularly. Having tried all the go-to running apps before, I was really excited to test Runna because it’s a relatively new addition to the running app scene. My husband, who’s an avid cyclist, mentioned that Strava also connects directly with bike computers and indoor road bike trainers like Zwift. Because I don’t bike enough to have that fancy schmancy equipment, I didn’t test either of these features—though I can see why they would be a huge plus for cyclists. If your chosen app lacks native import, export CSV and keep it as an archival record.

The integration is generally less robust than Apple Health, but it works for basic activity tracking. Similarly, apps that require extensive setup before you can log your first workout create unnecessary friction. The best app for beginners is one you’ll actually use, which means it needs to be approachable from day one.

Are Fitness Tracking Apps Secure With My Personal Data?

While they may not track your heart rate or your sleep, they work perfectly fine as a fitness tracker. Furthermore, the fitness tracker app has a full range of focused exercises that target your abs, triceps, shoulders, and other body parts. Users can stream the app onto a television using Apple TV, Chromecast, or an HDMI cable. Also, this exercise tracker app allows you to keep an eye on your fitness activities and record other activities like running, spinning, playing basketball, etc. Google Fit is an excellent workout tracker app developed by Google.

How to choose one of the best fitness apps

Despite coming with five removable eartip covers of different sizes, the AirPods Pro 3 earbuds often move around and can feel loose during runs. And in a few of our test workouts, the earbuds’ data didn’t transfer to Apple Health. It also has a strong battery life; it’s advertised as lasting 10 days, and during our most recent test, in 2025, it lasted 8.5 days, including near-daily recorded workouts and auto-detected activity. Fitness trackers can give you a better idea of how you move your body throughout the day.

Sleep Cycle

After testing it out for a couple of weeks, I believe it’s a lot more useful than the Apple Health app, which comes pre-installed on most devices from the brand. Like to share your achievements with friends or need a bit of external workout motivation? Other features include warm-up and stretching routines, progress reports, customizable workout https://www.trustpilot.com/review/madmuscles.com reminders, and charts. Jessica is passionate about testing fitness gear and tech, using her reviews to help readers make informed buying decisions.

DailyBean – simplest journal

Once on route, the app offers turn-by-turn navigation every step of the way with a complete picture of your route on finishing. If you go off route on your journey accidentally, the app will buzz and tell you how to get back on track. Alternatively, you can record your route via the simple quick-start ‘Navigate’ option on the home screen. However, if you struggle with workout motivation then an app like Strava may be a better fit for you.

If you’re the type of person who considers a light jog to be 10 miles, the Garmin Vivosmart 5 is likely your soulmate. Garmin is a legendary name in the fitness world and they’ve packed their pro-level tech into a band that’s so lightweight that I often forget that I’m wearing it. The Galaxy Watch 8 also delivers the features you expect in high-end smartwatches. That means accurate dual-frequency GPS specs and voice navigation. Nailing these (as Samsung does) is extra-critical in 2026, partly because the Galaxy Watch 8 has some new competition for Android users (namely, from Google’s Pixel Watch). While the Garmin Fēnix 8 has the capabilities to track pretty much any metric you want tracked, the charging experience fell a bit short for Thorp.