To combat this condition, a new fitness movement is in motion that has thankfully caught the eye of many an earthling. This has created a surge in online searches for fitness apps and searches like “best fitness apps 2018” are trending worldwide.
Listed below are the top 10 fitness apps and trackers in the online market –
1. Google Fit
In the world of android fitness apps, the parent company’s app has to be the best, doesn’t it? It is an expertly serviceable app and one of the best ones that are free. Google fit fitness tracker allows you to track your fitness activities using two activity goals. These activity goals – “Heart Points” and “Move Minutes” have been developed by Google in collaboration with the World Health Organization. Move Minutes rewards small changes you make to your lifestyle to become healthier, like taking the stairs instead of an elevator, while Heart Points are one minute of moderately intense activity. Heart points increase with the intensity of the activity.
The app also features customized tips on personalized goals. The app supports fitness-tracking wearable like the Xiaomi Mi Bands or OS Smart Watches and integrates other health apps MyFitnessPal, Strava, and others to provide a complete fitness solution in one place.
2. MyFitnessPal
MyFitnessPal is one of the most popular fitness apps on the Android platform simply because it does almost everything –
Tracks macro and micronutrients
The barcode scanner shows the exact amount of calories and nutrient content of any packaged food
Generates a customized diet chart based on the user’s activity and eating habits
Workout timers and step counters help in precise energy expenditure during a workout
Shows recipes for delicious and healthy meals
Has the option of maintaining a food diary that tracks your calorie intake overtime
It is compatible with over 50 other apps to give the user an integrated fitness experience
Although it is a bit expensive at $9.99USD per month, the kind of flexibility and resources it offers to users is unparallel in the market.
3. Sworkit
A lack of time is the primary excuse for not being able to focus on fitness. Although many apps in the market claim to show a crash-course style fitness video to cover the time shortage, few get it right like Sworkit. Now it is irrelevant whether you have a fitness-trainer suggested 50 minutes, or 10 minutes before you start your boring morning routine of getting ready to work, Sworkit has you covered. You only need to specify the time you have for your workout and the app will show you a similarly-timed video endorsed by sports scientists to help you in your quest of fat burn, muscle build-up, or just remaining fit. It is available on both iOS and Android platforms and has also been voted as one of the best fitness apps for iPhone.
4. Nike+ Run Club
The world’s premier sports brand is promoting fitness through motivation and fun activities seem like poetic justice. Nike is doing exactly that through its Nike+ Run Club app. As the name suggests, this app is all about running and burning calories in the process. It tracks your runs via GPS and even provides new runners with audio-guided runs compiled by track and field experts. For the more experienced runners, this app provides personalized coaching plans to suit their daily regime.
The app’s motivational tactics include these features –
Specially compiled playlists on Spotify
Weekly running challenges
Friendly running leaderboards that have runners from all over the world competing against each other’s top performance scores
5. Fitbod
Fitbod is one of the top free app results for the search term “best workout apps bodybuilding” on the iOS platform.Using its patented artificial intelligence algorithm, Fitbod learns your workout routine and helps you to push the limits of your weightlifting capacity in subsequent workouts. When you are in the gym, it guides you step-by-step by telling you which set to start with and how many reps have to be done in each. Fitbod acts as a personal trainer sans the physical pushing and shoving without which some people cannot go through their workout.
The app is free on the iOS platform but it does contain in-app purchases to unlock more premium and customizable content.
6. Keelo
Would you choose an easy-going 1-hour workout or a high-intensity 20-minute workout? The answer to this question depends on various factors like time in hand, body goal, target muscle, and other factors. The Keelo app is for those who are short on time and want maximum results in minimum time. This app gives users fast-paced HIIT workout ranging from 7 to 20 minutes. The workouts shown are based on previous workouts and they aim to hit every muscle group in the body so that maximum efficiency can be achieved. Along with workouts that require the use of weights, Keelo also provides free-hand workouts that are perfect for those really short but intense home workouts.
It is a free app on both iOS and Android platforms
7. Blogilates
As the name suggests, this app is primarily a blog on Pilates by the renowned fitness enthusiast Cassey Ho. It also contains links to her Youtube channel. Cassey provides workouts on demand, provides users with basic and advanced stretching exercises along with body positivity pep talks.
Her exercises are mostly for women (some of them are titled “Cocktail Dress Series” and “Bikini Blaster”). However, her other workouts are general and can be done by everyonewith the help of comfortable clothing, and a mat. The app also contains healthy food recipes, a workout calendar, and a store that sells clothing that combines athletics and leisure (Athleisure).
Most of the content on the app is free except for the workout calendar which is a mere $0.99USD per month.
8. RockMyRun
RockMyRun is a fitness music app that sets the rhythm for your running laps or workouts. The specialty of this app is that you can set the music beats to your footsteps while you are running or set a tempo that matches your workout rhythm. This can be done by connecting the app to any heart rate monitor, which in turn adjusts the music’s tempo to your heartbeats. Research claims this maximizes running and workout efficiency as our body functions more effectively if there is a rhythm involved. The app is mostly free on both IOS and Android platforms except for a $2.99USD membership for Rockstar Premium. This premium membership allows you to set the tempo of the music to your desired beats and unlocks more musical genres including Classical.
9. Stronglifts 5×5
This is a weight training app that focuses on the old-school weightlifting method of 5×5 (5 sets of increasing weights x 5 reps) so that your weightlifting capacity is pushed to the ultimate limit when you reach the end of the 5th set. The workout routines are very specific and are designed to be done 3 times a week for 45 minutes each. The app has tracking features andgraphs to monitor your progress through the week and beyond. It can also be paired with an OS watch to enhance its tracking features. The app, in general, is free but its paid features are worth subscribing. The subscription fee is $9.99USD per month and is subsidized to $19.99USD annually. The annual subscription of this app has become a bestseller in recent times.
10. FitNotes
FitNotes is a tracking app that even works offline and does not require any kind of subscription to get started. It is mentioned in the app that FitNotes is just like paper, but better. This holds because there are no flashy graphics or animated movements, just simple tracking of your fitness activities that include weight and resistance training. The user interface is simple for the effective management of statistics. The premium version is only for developers to add newer and more effective features.
When it comes to fitness in the form of weightlifting and running, these apps are the best in providing workout routines, plans, meals, and motivation and track your progress effectively.
