The top 10 fitness apps

From managing our diaries, capturing our lives on camera, to entertaining us on our morning commute, smartphones have taken on many roles. But can they also be our gym partner and personal trainer? We take a look at some fitness apps that might do just that.

There are more than a quarter of a million fitness apps out there vying for our attention. So picking an app that suits your fitness needs and lifestyle can be a workout in itself.

To help you with the heavy lifting, we’ve compiled a list of the workout apps currently topping the Google Health & Fitness chart (at the time of writing) in Australia. We also spoke to personal trainer and former Miss World Australia, Tess Alexander, to get her insights on whether she believes fitness apps can replace the conventional ways of getting fit.

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The 10 most downloaded fitness apps in Australia

1. MyFitnessPal

MyFitnessPal is a food and fitness tracker. The app also offers a range of workout routines to choose from including high-intensity interval training (HIIT), yoga or cardio. You can also link your account to smart wearable device apps and other health and fitness apps such as Apple HealthKit, Garmin, FitBit or Samsung Health. As well as the fitness aspects, the app’s nutrition reports are designed to help you understand your daily food intake better and could help make goals seem more achievable.

Features and uses:

• Track your meals (either manually, by using the inbuilt barcode scanner or by using the meal scan tool) and gain calorie, macro and nutrition insights
• Access to a range of workout videos and routines
• Set weight, nutrition and fitness goals

How much does it cost?

The app is currently free to download and use from both the Apple and Google Play stores, but you can also gain access to more features like guided fitness and nutrition plans and remove ads with a premium subscription. MyFitnessPal offers a one-month free trial of its premium subscription service. Pricing then starts from $29.99/month or $129.99/year.

2. Fitbit

The Fitbit app was designed to accompany the Fitbit wearable. It has become a well-known fitness brand over the years and its app appears to be in the same league in terms of popularity, at least if the Google and Apple Health & Fitness charts are anything to go by. Designed to encompass all parts of your day, the Fitbit app can track your activity, workouts, sleep, nutrition and stress with the help of a Fitbit wearable. If you don’t have a smart wearable device, the app also allows for basic stats to be tracked using ‘MobileTrack’. But it’s not all about step counting — the app also offers video and audio workouts that you can do at home, including HIIT, cardio, strength and yoga.

Features and uses:

• Tracks steps, exercise, food and, if you have a Fitbit wearable, heart rate and sleep
• Video workouts you can do at home
• You don’t need a Fitbit wearable to use the app, but if you have one already, connecting your device can mean receiving more in-depth analysis of your activity
• Connect with friends

How much does it cost?

The app is free to download and use via the Apple and Google Play stores, but users can also subscribe to become a premium member. This offers access to more workouts, personalised health programs and advanced insights into your behaviour and how it affects your health. There’s currently a free 90-day trial of Fitbit Premium. Subscriptions are then priced at $9.99/month or $79.99/year.

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3. Strava: Run, Ride, Hike

The Strava app is part workout tracker, part social network, as the app allows users to track a range of activities, share them to their network and receive praise or ‘kudos’ from friends and followers in return. The app has over 30 different types of activities that you can record, ranging from foot sports (such as running or hiking) to water sports (such as swimming or kayaking) or even yoga or rock climbing. To help you stay inspired and challenged, the app also allows users to share their favourite routes with accompanying photos. The app is also compatible with a number of smart wearable devices such as Wear OS, Samsung, Fitbit and Garmin.

Features and uses:

• Track and analyse stats such as distance, heart rate, speed and calories burnt
• Connect with friends and share your exercises and results
• Local and monthly challenges and leaderboards to put your fitness skills or competitive side to the test
• Live GPS tracking to share with a friend, partner, family or trainer
• View popular routes in your area using the ‘Heatmap’ feature

How much does it cost?

Strava is currently free to download and use from both the Apple and Google Play stores. You can also purchase a Strava subscription which offers more tools and insights, including advanced route planning, a training dashboard and goal setting. Strava currently has a 30-day free trial. Once the trial ends, a subscription can cost you $14.99/month or $99.99/year.

4. Centr, by Chris Hemsworth

With the Centr app you can train, eat and improve your wellbeing with the help of Chris Hemworth and his team of trainers, chefs and meditation experts. In terms of workouts, Centr offers a range of exercise programs that can either be designed for at home or in the gym. The app also offers daily workout videos for activities such as HIIT, boxing, pilates or yoga.

Features and uses:

• Varying levels of workout programs that can range from 3 weeks to 6 weeks
• Daily workout videos, including HIIT, boxing, yoga, strength training, pilates, MMA and more
• Meal plans catering to different dietary needs
• Guided meditations

How much does it cost?

Centr currently offers a free seven-day trial. After that, a subscription is currently $29.99/month, $59.99/quarter and $119.99/year. It’s available on the Apple and Google Play stores.

5. Sweat: Fitness App for Women

Co-founded by personal trainer and fitness influencer Kayla Itsines, Sweat is a fitness app designed specifically for women. The app offers multiple programs, created and hosted by well-known personal trainers and fitness/health influencers, from HIIT and circuit training workouts to yoga and barre. They also have pregnancy-specific and postnatal-specific training and workouts.

Features and uses:

• Workout regimes and programs for both at home and in the gym, including workouts with no equipment
• Planner to schedule your workouts and track your progress
• Meal plans tailored to different dietary requirements
• Connect with the Sweat community

How much does it cost?

It’s free to download on Apple and Google Play, but you’ll need to have an active subscription to use any of the app’s services. You can currently get a free seven-day trial. After that, plans are $19.99/month or $119.94/year.

6. AllTrails: Hike, Bike & Run

AllTrails focuses on nature and the outdoors, allowing you to plan, record and share your outdoor activities and exercises. The app caters to a range of outdoor activities such as hiking, mountain biking, trail running, backpacking and rock climbing. Through the app, you can find trails in your area verified by experts and even narrow your search by wheelchair-friendly, stroller-friendly or pet-friendly trails for example.

Features and uses:

• Search and discover expert-verified trails in your area
• Plan your route by getting in-depth trail information, community reviews, conditions (for example elevation changes) and GPS driving directions
• Track planned routes or chart your own routes
• Downloadable offline maps of trail routes with AllTrails+

How much does it cost?

AllTrails is free to download and use on Apple and Google Play. You can also sign up to AllTrails+ for an ad-free experience and additional features such as more map details, downloadable offline maps, satellite weather in real-time and location-sharing feature called Lifeline. AllTrails+ currently offers a free seven-day trial, after that it’s $29.99/year.

7. BetterMe: Health Coaching

The counterpart to BetterMe’s Mental Health meditation app, BetterMe: Health Coaching is a fitness and meal planning app with an emphasis on a holistic approach. The app offers workout programs, meal planning and progress tracking including water intake and step count. The brand has its own smart wearable that allows users to receive personalised recommendations based on the data tracked.

Features and uses:

• Overall fitness and health tracking
• A range of workout programs for different levels and settings
• Meal and nutritional planning with options like intermittent fasting, vegan and keto
• Personalised recommendations when using BetterMe’s fitness tracker

How much does it cost?

BetterMe: Health Coaching is free to download on Apple and Google Play but requires a paid subscription to use their services. Subscription options include $30.99 for a 12-week plan, $85.99 for six months with a 7-day free trial included, or $234.99 for lifetime access.

8. Muscle Booster Workout Planner

Muscle Booster Workout Planner tailors to men seeking to build strength and feel healthy. Muscle Booster says its smart training algorithm assists in finding a tailored exercise plan (a combination of cardio; strength; recovery; and low-intensity steady state, or LISS)  for men based on their goals and personal data.

Features and uses:

• Weekly updates to your workout plan and meal recommendations
• Access to a library of varying workouts and exercises for the gym or at home

How much does it cost?

Muscle Booster is free to download but a subscription is required in order to use the service. Subscriptions of $14.99/month, $27.27/three months and $36.38/year are available. The app is available via the Apple and Google Play stores.

9. FitCoach: Fitness Coach & Diet

FitCoach states they’re for those who want to start a new activity lifestyle, build healthy habits, lose weight and get fit without the gym. The app includes workout and exercise routines such as yoga, pilates and HIIT, progress tracking, meal plans and recipes.

Features and uses:

• Workout and exercise routines specifically for at-home setting
• Meal planning and recipes
• Progress tracking and step counter

How much does it cost?

FitCoach is free to download but a subscription is required in order to use the service. There’s a one-month trial subscription cost of $2.99, but subsequent months will cost $33.99/month or you can pay $37.99/three months or $45.99/year. The app is available via the Apple and Google Play stores.

10. Yoga-Go: Yoga for Weight Loss

Yoga-Go is a yoga-specific fitness app for at-home use but also includes other exercises such as pilates. The app offers workouts built by professionals with three difficulty levels. You can track your progress as well as take up challenges and share your progress with your friends.

Features and uses:

• Access to a library of yoga exercises and video routines
• Personalised workout programs based on your goals and preferences
• Share results with others in the community

How much does it cost?

Although free to download on Apple and Google Play, Yoga-Go requires a subscription to use their services. The subscription costs available are $12.99/month, $24.24/three months and $36.38/year.

What does a personal trainer think about fitness apps?

With so many fitness apps available, getting fit might seem as easy as clicking a button, but is it a stretch to think they are the solution to our workout woes?

Personal trainer and nutrition consultant, Tess Alexander, who is also a former Miss World Australia, said the apps can be very helpful, but warned users to first develop a sound foundation in safe movement.

“Form is so important, as we need to protect people from injury,” she said.

“You need to make sure you’re using and activating the right muscle groups, which isn’t necessarily something you can achieve via an app.

“I think that having a fitness app can be great once you’ve got a level of fitness and the right understanding when it comes to activating the right muscles.”

It has also been reported recently that some fitness tracking services may intensify problematic behaviours in vulnerable users, with the Butterfly Foundation, an organisation supporting people with eating disorders, warning that fitness trackers can be problematic in some cases.

It’s also important to consider whether an app will be able to deliver a workout or nutritional plan that is suited to your specific fitness, health and lifestyle needs, Miss Alexander explained.

“Everybody is different, so it’s really hard to have a one-size-fits-all application,” she said.

“It’s hard to create a generic protocol equally suited to a 50-year-old, an 18-year-old, or someone who has a thyroid disorder or a person who has osteoporosis and therefore needs extra help when it comes to their bones.

“I think that a fitness program that comes in the form of a generic app should only be supplementary to seeing a healthcare or fitness professional.”

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This article was originally published in November 2019 and has been updated, with earlier reporting by Lydia Hart.

Cover image source: Ground Picture/Shutterstock.com