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Sometimes, it’s hard for a guy to say he needs a little bit of help and guidance. In the fitness world, this can lead to men doing home workouts without any clear goals, showing little to no progress. As a lifelong competitive athlete who has had a coach my entire career, I’m here to say, it might be time to get a workout plan through one of the best workout apps.

Our team at Garage Gym Reviews has tested over 40 of the best fitness apps on the market, and we have now compiled our top picks for the best workout app for men to help you and the boys achieve real progress in your home gym or commercial gym. And with a team of certified personal trainers, coaches, and competitive athletes, we know what to look for in top training programs.

We considered specific wants or needs that men may have for their workout apps; however, none of these apps are truly gender-specific and can help anyone make progress in the gym.

During our testing process for top workout apps, we rated each app on a scale from 1 to 5 across 14 different categories, with some categories excluded due to the app’s features, according to our fitness equipment testing methodology. A few of the major categories we tested include:

  • Pricing and subscription model
  • App setup and ease of use
  • Equipment demands
  • Accountability and interactive features

So if you’re looking for a way to improve your fitness with a plan, here are some great choices for the best workout apps for men.

Note: We intend the term “men” to include all men, including trans men. However, we recognize that almost all research on this topic has focused on cis men (i.e., men who are not trans). For that reason, when we reference gender-based research and training recommendations, we will clarify by saying “cis men.” We encourage trans and nonbinary people of all genders to check in with a trans-competent nutritionist regarding their supplements and training needs.

The 9 Best Workout Apps for Men 

  • Best Workout App for Men Overall: Caliber
  • Best Workout App for Men for Personal Training: Future
  • Best Workout App for Men for Fitness Classes: iFIT
  • Best Workout App for Men for Variety: Shred App
  • Best Workout App for Men for Minimal Equipment: CENTR
  • Best Running App for Men: Map My Fitness
  • Best Free Workout App for Men: Nike Training Club
  • Best Workout App for Men for Beginners: Aaptiv
  • Best Outdoor Workout App for Men: Strava

Best Workout App for Men Overall: Caliber

Good for: Anyone looking for research-backed strength training programs to build muscle

Best Overall

Caliber Strength Training

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GGR Score: 4.68

Product Highlights

  • Strength training and nutrition app
  • Personalized, data-driven workout programs
  • Expert habit coaching
  • Free and paid versions
  • Private 1:1 coaching available
  • Weekly lessons, metric tracking, nutrition syncing

Pros & Cons

Pros

  • Scientifically-based training plans
  • Individualized coaching for both fitness and nutrition with paid subscriptions is reported to be very thorough
  • Free version offers a library of curated workout plans
  • Reportedly easy-to-use

Cons

  • Personalized macronutrient goals only available with paid versions

Bottom Line

Caliber Strength Training is a fitness coaching program grounded in scientific principles designed to increase strength and improve body composition. The app offers both group and individual training plans which are written and modified by a certified coach based on progress.

Caliber takes our top spot for the best workout app for men overall, as it can help people of all fitness levels and ages. Whether you’re a newbie or a veteran weightlifter, young or old, Caliber can help you achieve your goals.

There are three different tiers available, with different prices, methods of coaching, and programming. The free version of the app features an extensive library of over 500 exercises, with personalized programming made from an algorithm based on an initial assessment. The next tier, at $19 a month, offers a group chat feature for group training, and the Premium option costs $200 or more each month, with access to a one-on-one coach.

Our product tester and certified personal trainer Amanda Capritto gives the value for the Premium plan a 5 out of 5. Although the price is one of the more expensive options for a training app, the monthly cost is still less expensive than in-person coaching with a personal trainer, which can cost $50 or more per hour.

Workout programs from Caliber focus on strength training, and can be customized for the gym equipment you have access to, leading Amanda to rate the equipment needs a 5 out of 5 as well. For the man looking for full-body workouts geared toward building muscle, Caliber can be a great option. You can see our full in-depth look in our Caliber app review.

PriceFree version; $19 per month (Pro); $200+ per month (Premium) 
Free trial periodFree-forever version
Type of trainingStrength training
Equipment requirementsBodyweight, home gym, or commercial gym options

Best Workout App for Men for Personal Training: Future

Good for: Anyone wanting personalized programs with the guidance of a certified coach or trainer

Best for Personal Training

Future

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Pros & Cons

Pros

  • Incredible user interface; very well designed and intuitive
  • Choose your own coach based on your personal preferences and goals
  • Lots of variety in your workouts

Cons

  • $199 per month membership cost
  • No real-time coaching from your trainer

Bottom Line

If you’re interested in an online personal trainer that can take all the guesswork out of programming and keep you on track and motivated, Future is a solid choice for you. Originally only available on the iPhone, Future is now available on both Apple and Android devices and connects you to a personal coach who will program workouts based on your fitness goals and experience.

At $199 per month—and with no free version or free trial—this is one of the more expensive workout apps to use. However, you also get a lot more from the app than most other competitors, leading GGR’s head of content and certified personal trainer Kate Meier to rate the value a 4 out of 5. 

“Although the price is comparable to a CrossFit gym membership with access to tons of gym equipment and coaching, I think it’s a really good value for virtual training,” says Kate on the value of the app.

Woman doing barbell rows with an online personal trainer in her living room

She also enjoys the encouragement from her coach, rating the accountability of Future a 5 out of 5. Kate says about her coach, “She would check in with me almost every day to see how I was feeling, how the workout went, or ask why I hadn’t done the workout yet. This was a big motivator for me; I think I only missed one planned workout in my first four weeks, and that was due to illness.”

Kate says this may be best for generic weight training, but may not appeal to those training for specific goals. She explains, “In-person training is usually best for someone preparing for a weightlifting meet or CrossFit competition. But for the average person looking for muscle building or weight loss programs, it’s fantastic.”

RELATED: Best Weight Loss Program for Men

You can read more of our thoughts on this coaching platform in our Future app review.

Price$199/month
Free trial periodNo, but you can get 62% off your first month
Type of trainingStrength and conditioning
Equipment requirementsCustomizable to your needs

Best Workout App for Men for Fitness Classes: iFIT

Good for: People looking for expert-guided workouts with exceptional cues

Best for Fitness Classes

iFIT

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GGR Score: 4.2

Product Highlights

  • Over 16,000 live and on-demand classes
  • More than 60 types of workouts
  • Immersive experience
  • Classes filmed worldwide
  • Live races and events
  • World-class trainers
  • Syncs with Nordictrack and ProForm equipment

Pros & Cons

Pros

  • At-home training
  • World-class coaches
  • Immersive training experience
  • Vast library of workouts
  • Record and track workout metrics
  • Individual and family memberships available
  • Free trial

Cons

  • Pricey for some
  • No true path for progression

Bottom Line

iFIT offers fitness lovers versatility with machine-based classes and classes that do not require anything more than a towel or mat. Anyone looking for a home-exercise program will be hard pressed to find a more technology forward, expansive and inclusive platform than iFIT.

Looking for an app with a group class feel? Check out iFIT, our pick for the best workout app for men for fitness classes. Considered a good alternative to the Peloton app, it offers connectivity to many of the best cardio machines out on the market today. The app works perfectly fine without the connection, too.

The iFIT app offers much more than simply cardio workouts, though; it also offers strength classes, HIIT, yoga, and pilates classes through on-demand classes and workout videos. The app did offer live classes, although they were discontinued earlier this year (live races are still a function, though).

View of touchscreen display NordicTrack AirGlide

Our product tester Caroline Lubinsky, CF-L1 says the amount of expert-guided classes and workouts can feel like an overload of info at first. “The home screen has a lot of information at first. It kind of makes me want to look everywhere at once; it’s a little overwhelming.”

Each class or workout features an expert trainer who guides you through workouts, keeping you motivated and also giving insightful cues during your workout. The coaching won’t be in real-time though, so you won’t get immediate feedback like you would in some of the best personal training apps. Feel free to take a deeper look at this app in our iFIT reviews.

Price$15/month (individual); $39/month (family plan) 
Free trial period30 days
Type of trainingCardio, strength training, yoga, pilates
Equipment requirementsiFIT-enabled cardio machine, dumbbells, resistance bands, exercise mat

Best Workout App for Men for Variety: Shred App

Good for: Anyone looking for access to a variety of fitness classes in their area

Best for Variety

Shred App

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GGR Score: 4.28

Product Highlights

  • AI-powered fitness trainer
  • Suitable for home and commercial gyms
  • Able to integrate AppleHealth for easy data tracking
  • Available on iPhone and Android

Pros & Cons

Pros

  • Customized based on your fitness history and goals
  • Connects to AppleHealth
  • Can sync your playlist with workout classes
  • Military, first responder, and teacher discounts
  • Good for home and commercial gyms

Cons

  • Glitchy

Bottom Line

The Shred app is an AI-powered virtual trainer that can be used to customize workouts in your home or commercial gym.

Too often, we’ve found that some apps recommend equipment that we either don’t own or is being hogged by someone at the gym. Shred App takes care of that problem by helping you design or find workout programs built around the equipment you have access to, and also comes with options for bodyweight workouts. Beyond that, there are various yoga and mobility classes on the app, along with programs specifically designed for rowing machines

RELATED: At-Home Bodyweight Workouts

The variety helps the app earn a 5 out of 5 on equipment demands. You can also skip a circuit or movement if you’re waiting for someone to be done with a certain machine. “You can either select what type of equipment you have access to or just pick a class based on what type of workout you’re looking to do,” he says. “This way, you’re not scrambling to find something in the middle of your class.”

The instruction also picks up a 5 out of 5. “The instructors were motivating and talked throughout the class, but not so much that their voice got annoying while I was sweating and out of breath,” Anthony says. The trainer-led classes allow you to record your workouts, which will allow an AI algorithm to track and rate your performance.

It also allows you to track your workout statistic and sync with your AppleWatch.

Price$9.99 per month when paid annually
Free trial period7 days
Type of trainingStrength training, bodyweight, cardio, yoga, mobility
Equipment requirementsDependent on the program; mostly dumbbells, kettlebells, bodyweight, and bands

Best Workout App for Men with Minimal Equipment: CENTR

Good for: Those with little equipment who are looking for solid programming to build strength

Best with Minimal Equipment

Centr Fitness App

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GGR Score: 3.9

Product Highlights

  • Fitness, nutrition, and mental health app
  • Vast library of workouts and programs
  • Healthy recipe database
  • Track both workouts and recipes
  • Meditations guided by Chris Hemsworth

Pros & Cons

Pros

  • Affordable monthly price
  • More than just workouts
  • Ultra thorough instruction using text and photos
  • Private Facebook community
  • Easy-to-use app

Cons

  • No interactive coaching
  • No suited for beginners

Bottom Line

CENTR Fitness app is everything you need in one place: workout library, nutritious recipes, and mental health resources. The app is also easy-to-use well organized so you can keep track of your workouts and recipes. It’s also pretty affordable with all three billing options under $30 per month. You can pay monthly, quarterly, or annually.

If you’re still building out your garage gym, you may not have all the home gym essentials at your house yet. If you’re still a little limited in your equipment, a great strength training app for you is Centr. 

GGR social media manager Brittany Combs tested the app for our Centr review and notes the majority of the workouts keep the equipment limited to kettlebells, dumbbells, or other free weights. Even more, Brittany says you can filter the equipment you have or don’t have to find a program that works for you.

It also contains workouts for people who want to do pilates, yoga, HIIT, functional training, and even meditation. Overall, we rate the equipment demands a 4 out of 5.

RELATED: Best Pilates App

A woman is holding up her phone to use the Centr app

Like many workout apps, Centr allows you to personalize your experience based on your fitness level. Regardless of how long you’ve been training, Brittany and fellow tester Anthony O’Reilly say you’ll be getting a 5 out of 5 instruction from the trainers.

“It’s very thorough,” says O’Reilly, a certified personal trainer. “It spells out just about everything through text, photos, and video instructions.” Brittany is a fan of the workouts led by the app’s founder, Chris Hemsworth. “Who doesn’t want to feel like Thor himself is talking right at you?” she says.

You don’t need Thor’s hammer, or a big budget to be worthy of Centr. Subscriptions start at $7.50 per month and can go as high as $29.99, which is still cheaper than most commercial gym memberships. You’re also getting recipe ideas and a workout tracker, so it provides much more value than simply helping you workout.

Price$29.99 monthly, $59.99 for 3 months, or $89.99 yearly
Free trial period7 days
Type of trainingStrength training, HIIT, yoga
Equipment requirementsBodyweight, home gym, and commercial gym options

Best Running App for Men: Map My Fitness

Good for: Guys looking for a running app with lots of tracking features for their runs

Best Running App

Map My Fitness by Under Armour

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GGR Score: 4.2

Product Highlights

  • Fitness app with GPS
  • Tracks routes, distances, pace, etc. 
  • Select from 600+ activities like including running, cycling, yoga, etc. 
  • Large community of athletes
  • MVP version offers training plans and coaching tips
  • Premium features include live tracking and audio coaching

Pros & Cons

Pros

  • GPS integration
  • Great community aspect
  • MVP version is affordable
  • Lots of options with free version
  • Integrates with most trackers and wearable
  • Plan and track your own routes

Cons

  • Requires MVP subscription to unlock some features

Bottom Line

Map My Fitness is a well-established and widely-used fitness tool that allows you to choose from a huge variety of workouts with some really notable features. Whether you're working out in a gym or looking for a route to run, Map My Fitness has got you covered.

If you’re looking for the best running app, our favorite is Map My Fitness. Created by Under Armour, Map My Fitness has a robust GPS tracking system and several free features, with a premium subscription that helps with accountability. Our product tester and long-time Strava user Amanda Capritto even likes this app, saying, “I would switch to Map My Fitness from Strava if I didn’t already have a Strava account with a lot of history logged already.”

Amanda rates the app setup and its ease of use a 5 out of 5 since it syncs up to other apps and devices easily—Garmin, Apple Watch, UA-connected footwear, My Fitness Pal, heart rate monitors, and more.

MapMyFitness app screenshot

Although it’s a running app, the app still provides a good amount of instruction with its premium plan, as it’ll track tons of running metrics, from heart rate analyses and power output to running cadence and more. Amanda rates the instruction a 5 out of 5, saying, “You get a lot for the price—all for under $6 a month.”

In the free version, there’s not a lot to hold you accountable for your workouts aside from notifications. The premium subscription offers plans you can join, which Amanda says, “Being able to create and join plans in the premium version helps a lot with keeping you accountable to your workouts.” She rates the accountability a 4 out of 5.

The GPS works well enough, with Amanda rating the GPS accuracy a 3 out of 5. It seems to be accurate within about a tenth of a mile.

Price$5.99/month or $29.99/year
Free trial period15-day trial with some free-forever features
Type of trainingRunning
Equipment requirementsNone

Best Free Workout App for Men: Nike Training Club

Good for: Fitness enthusiasts needing a budget-friendly option with great value

Best Free Workout App

Nike Training Club

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GGR Score: 4.1

Product Highlights

  • Completely free
  • Massive library of on-demand workouts and live classes
  • More than 10 workout categories
  • App is easy to use
  • No individualized programming

Pros & Cons

Pros

  • Completely free to use
  • Previously premium/paid content is available for free
  • More than 10 workout categories
  • Most workouts taught my certified trainers and instructors

Cons

  • Audio controls can be finicky
  • Sometimes hard to see on-screen metrics like reps and time

Bottom Line

Nike Training Club is a free fitness app with a robust workout library that includes one-off workouts as well as periodized programs led by certified instructors.

When we talk about value in a product, we want to make sure it’s worth its price. In the case of Nike Training Club, it has killer value, as the online training program is 100% free and has been since 2020.

Unlike other apps that have a free version with partial features, Nike Training Club gives you access to the entire app for free. With an account, you’ll have access to a database of workouts led by certified trainers on Nike’s team. Workouts span from strength training, high-intensity interval training, and functional fitness, to yoga, pilates, and mobility training.

The app is easy to navigate, and you can search for new workouts with filters on equipment needed, workout length, and fitness level. Our tester Amanda Capritto, CPT, CNC, CES, CF-L1, rates the ease of use of the app as a 5 out of 5. Workouts and live classes can be streamed, and the instruction is pretty good, leading Amanda to rate it a 4 out of 5.

One thing you won’t get is the real-time feedback of a personal coach, as this app only offers the ability to stream workouts. Also, Amanda rates the accountability a 3.5 out of 5, saying, “This is your basic fitness app. You can download it on your phone, but no one is going to make you use it. It does send notifications if you enable them, and you can join programs or challenges.”

For someone whose budget is free, this is an excellent choice for a variety of strength, mobility, and HIIT workouts.

PriceFree
Free trial periodFree forever
Type of trainingStrength training, yoga, pilates, mobility
Equipment requirementsBodyweight and minimal home gym setup

Best Workout App for Men for Beginners: Aaptiv

Good for: Beginners looking for an easy-to-use app to begin their fitness journey

Best for Beginners

Aaptiv

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GGR Score: 4.14

Product Highlights

  • Audio-guided workout app
  • Over 2,500 workouts 
  • New workouts each week

Pros & Cons

Pros

  • Audio-based classes
  • Thousands of workouts
  • New classes each week
  • Goal-based programs
  • Free trial for annual plan

Cons

  • Fewer coaches than competitors
  • No information on nutrition
  • Must sign up for annual plan to get the free trial

Bottom Line

Aaptiv is a great option for people looking for an alternative to video-based workout programs.

With a seven-day trial and affordable rate, Aaptiv is a great fitness app for anyone beginning to regularly work out, or for people curious about workout apps. In addition, the app provides workouts for you, so people new to working out won’t be guessing at what to do each day.

Expert product tester and certified personal trainer Amanda Capritto says the app is easy to use and navigate, which is extremely helpful for beginners. She rates the ease of use a 5 out of 5 because of how easy it is to search for workouts through a multitude of filters: workout mode of training, length, muscle groups used, fitness level, and equipment.

Although there is plenty of instruction within the app, Aaptiv won’t hold your hand through the workout. Instead, exercises within workouts have short audio and visual instructions, and workouts can be completed at your own pace. The lack of a coach-led workout might deter some people from using this app, Amanda suggests.

Still, there is plenty to learn from the exercise instructions, and Amanda notes that the programming team members responsible for workouts are clearly knowledgeable, programming some contralateral work in a workout. “This is something only a knowledgeable and experienced trainer would likely program,” Amanda says, rating the instruction as a whole a 4 out of 5.

With a variety of training types and workouts ranging from bodyweight exercises to using functional trainers, the app and its workouts can meet you where you’re at. For a beginner using Aaptiv, you can start from wherever you are, making it very accessible.

Price$14.99
Free trial period7 days
Type of trainingStrength training, cardio, yoga, pilates, mobility
Equipment requirementsBodyweight or home gym setup

Best Outdoor Workout App for Men: Strava

Good for: Those wanting an app for traveling and experiencing the great outdoors

Best Outdoor Workout App

Strava App

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GGR Score: 4.1

Product Highlights

  • Activity tracking app: track over 30 sports 
  • Turns phone into a running/cycling computer 
  • Free and subscription options 

Pros & Cons

Pros

  • Tracks variety of workouts
  • Beacon live tracking available on free tier
  • Provides lots of data
  • Compatible with thousands of devices

Cons

  • Many fan-favorite features behind paywall
  • Some users wished the auto-pause feature was more sensitive
  • Have to visit website on desktop to use some features like adding a new pair of shoes

Bottom Line

Strava’s tracking app allows you to track 30 different sports and, with a subscription, provides a wide variety of statistics to analyze your workouts.

If you’re looking for an app that’ll feed your urge for the outdoors, Strava is a great suggestion. Not only is it a running app, but it can also be used for trails, cycling, and even water sports like kayaking. If you’re looking for a cycling app that can keep up with you in the outdoors, this is the app for you.

The GPS tracker is pretty accurate from what product tester and certified personal trainer Amanda Capritto says, rating the accuracy a 4.5 out of 5. She explains, “Sometimes buildings might impede the GPS signal when I’m cycling through downtown Miami, but other than that, it does a great job.”

There is a free version as well as a premium version. Both will provide decent tracking stats, but Amanda suggests that any statistics lovers should go with the premium version for the best breakdowns of your routes. Also, the app easily connects with major fitness trackers as well.

Screenshots of the Strava app

One of the biggest differentiating factors of Strava from other running and cycling apps is its social network aspect. It has a social media presence on the app. “You can follow people on Strava just like you could on Instagram or Twitter,” Amanda adds.

One word of advice is that the app does reveal a lot of information on your location while using the GPS tracker. You may want to consider the risks before using a GPS tracking app like Strava.

Check out our Strava fitness app review for more information.

Price$11.99/month or $79.99/year
Free trial periodFree version
Type of trainingRunning, walking, cycling, water sports
Equipment requirementsShoes or bicycle

Other Workout Apps for Men We Researched

Here are a few other workout apps that we researched and tested, but they didn’t quite hit the mark to make our final list.

Fiit: As the top-rated fitness app in the UK, Fiit provides expert-led workouts and a wide selection of 10-, 25-, 40-, and 60-minute workouts. However, quite a few customer reviews talk about a clunky interface—particularly with the Android version of the app.

Freeletics: Providing a free library of workouts, Freeletics might be a good choice for a fitness lover looking for a free workout app. However, our product tester Megan Capritto notes that there is little instruction on how to perform movements during a workout, just an animation. Furthermore, there’s no audio instruction either, leading her to have to look back at her phone multiple times during an exercise to know if she was performing an exercise right or not.

Train Hard: This app is designed by former CrossFit champion, Jason Khalipa and offers a no-nonsense approach to training. While it’s a solid app, it’s not for the faint of heart with tons of EMOMs, AMRAPs, and HIIT combined with classic compound movements with low repetitions for strength. While it’s an effective way to train, it’s not for the recreational lifter. We have details about our training experience in our Train Hard App review.

Jefit: Jefit has an expansive library of over 1,400 exercises, great for learning new movements and exercises. However, some of the workout tracking features are hidden behind their Elite subscription plan. For example, workouts log each exercise in alphabetical order instead of order of completion. Little things like this aren’t usually a premium feature.

Screenshots of the Jefit app

How We Picked and Tested the Best Workout Apps for Men

The team at Garage Gym Reviews has developed a testing methodology for each piece of gym equipment we try out. For apps, we test across 14 different categories, although not every category pertains to every app. For example, a workout tracker won’t need a rating for GPS accuracy, and a running app doesn’t need a score for how it adheres to progressive overload.

Man performing chest-supported rows with the REP QuickDraw adjustable dumbbells

Here are some of the aspects tested for the best workout apps for men:

  • App setup: Apps shouldn’t take forever to get you set up for your first workout, so high-rating apps usually set you up an account and have a short assessment before letting you take advantage of the app’s features.
  • Ease of use: The best fitness apps should have a clean and easy-to-use interface. To score high here, users should be able to navigate the app easily, finding workouts and other features without much trouble.
  • Instruction: Workout apps should at a minimum display how-to instructions and videos on exercises in workouts, but apps receive extra points for exceptional coaching cues or personal coaching.
  • Equipment demands: The best apps will have an option for everyone, despite lacking equipment. Scoring high in this category means the fitness app’s equipment demands mold to what you have available, or there are minimal equipment requirements—or none at all.
  • Accountability: Apps have some features that help you stay accountable. Bare minimum requirements are to have push notifications as reminders, but some apps go above and beyond with integration with calendars or the presence of a one-on-one coach.
  • Interactive features: Not all apps have interactive features, but it’s helpful in keeping people motivated and engaged. Social media and online communities are one way to stay engaged, but apps can also feature badges and reward users for consistent use.
  • Pricing and value: Prices can vary in workout apps, from being completely free to costing $200 or more each month. The best scoring prices typically were under $15 a month, but even expensive workout apps can have great value if they have features that match the cost.

Benefits of Workout Apps for Men

Let’s look at some of the reasons why workout apps could help us guys out.

Convenience

Workout apps can help save you time and money. They save you time by giving you access to your workouts anywhere: at home, in a gym, or while traveling. Many apps have the flexibility to allow for adjustments based on the equipment available, so it’s easy to get a workout anywhere and can cut down on time commuting to a gym.

Man mid-deadlift using Titan Open Trap Bar

Fitness can also be expensive, between the cost of a gym membership and a personal trainer. Personal trainers can cost anywhere from $50 to $150 for just a one-hour session. While workout apps can be pricey in some instances, most will cost far less than the cost of in-person training.

Expert Programming

The workouts provided in the best workout apps are made by experts: certified personal trainers and professional coaches. Some apps use algorithms, but these algorithms are backed by research and created again by top experts in the field.

RELATED: What Is a Personal Trainer?

Getting programming from a certified personal trainer can help take a lot of the guesswork out of your programming, so you can be assured that you’re making progress with your workout plan.

Online Support

Either with an online coach or a fitness community, many workout apps provide access to online support. Some use social media to encourage and support other athletes, while other apps will connect you with a coach who will help keep you on track for your program.

What to Look for in Workout Apps for Men

As I said before, there aren’t too many apps that are gender-specific for men. With that said, marketing for men and male-identifying people is on the rise, and just because a fitness app’s logo has camo and chains doesn’t necessarily mean it’s the right workout app for you. Here are some factors to consider when browsing the app store for a fitness app ideal for you.

Level of Instruction

Nathan FaceTiming with his coach from Future

One of the first things to consider when looking for a workout app is the level of instruction you’re looking for. Instruction can be simple, with a how-to video on performing exercises, or it can be a coach leading a streamed workout with cues throughout the video. Furthermore, you can use an app to connect with your own personal coach, who can keep you accountable and help you stay on track.

The amount of instruction you want or need will vary from person to person, so think about the type and amount of instruction or guidance you need for your workout program.

Programming Principles

Strength training programs should follow the concept of progressive overload, which keeps you incrementally adding weights to exercises with occasional deload periods—with the long-term goal of building strength. If you’re looking for a good weight training program, you should make sure that the program follows those basic guidelines.

An image of how to squat heavier

Type of Training

What type of training interests you? Lots of fitness apps provide a good variety of workouts, while others may focus on strength training or running workouts. Consider the types of workouts you’re going to want to do before diving into a workout app blindly.

Equipment Demands

Depending on your home gym setup, you might have plenty of equipment options, or be very limited in those options. Be mindful of the equipment you have access to, and select a workout app that has workouts for that equipment.

Best Workout App for Men: FAQs

What is the best gym workout app for men?

There are a variety of workout apps available for men. The best one for any person will depend on the type of training they’re interested in, as well as their fitness level and goals. Here are our top picks for the best workout apps for men:

Best Workout App for Men Overall: Caliber
Best Workout App for Men for Personal Training: Future
Best Workout App for Men for Fitness Classes: iFIT
Best Workout App for Men for Variety: Shred App
Best Workout App for Men for Minimal Equipment: CENTR
Best Running App for Men: Map My Fitness
Best Free Workout App for Men: Nike Training Club
Best Workout App for Men for Beginners: Aaptiv
Best Outdoor Workout App for Men: Strava

What app should I use to workout?

If you’re looking for a good workout app, you’ll want one with an easy-to-use interface. You’ll also need to make sure the app fits your interests and fitness goals. Here are some of our favorite picks for the best workout apps:

-Best Workout App Overall: Caliber
-Best Personal TrainingWorkout App: Future
-Best Workout App for Variety: iFIT
-Best Free Workout App: Nike Training Club
-Best Strength Training Workout App: CENTR
-Best Powerlifting Workout App: JuggernautAI
-Best Workout for Beginners: Aaptiv
-Best Progression Workout App: Ladder
-Best Workout App for Runners: Map My Fitness
-Best Workout App for Data Tracking: Beyond the Whiteboard
-Best Workout App for Yoga: Down Dog 
-Best Workout App Instructors: Peloton 

How many days a week should I workout?

The amount of workouts you can get in a week will vary depending on your schedule outside of the gym, as well as your fitness level, but a good workout split is four workouts per week, with three days of rest split across the week. Workouts should alternate between muscle groups as well to prevent overtraining.

Further reading

Jefferson Squat: An Old-School Squat For New-School Gains Cover Image
Jefferson Squat: An Old-School Squat For New-School Gains

A certified strength coach breaks down the benefits, best alternatives, the do’s and don’ts, and everything in between of the old-school Jefferson squat. Read more

Plant-Based Protein Powder Benefits Cover Image
Plant-Based Protein Powder Benefits

Considering a vegan diet? There are many plant-based protein powder benefits, such as ease of digestion, lowered environmental impact, and more! Read more

Best Food Subscription Boxes (2024): 10 Top Picks for Less Time at the Grocery Store Cover Image
Best Food Subscription Boxes (2024): 10 Top Picks for Less Time at the Grocery Store

Looking for the best food subscription box for yourself or as a gift for a loved one? With firsthand testing and dietitian input, we recommend 10 top options. Read more

Do You Really Need 10,000 Steps a Day?  Cover Image
Do You Really Need 10,000 Steps a Day? 

You have probably heard that you should get in 10,000 steps a day, but evidence suggests otherwise. Read more