With so many incredible health-focused apps out there, it’s easier than ever to live your best life. Fitness apps geared for women provide focused guidance, tracking, and other functionality that helps you get in shape without ever whipping out your credit card to pay for a gym membership. Whether you specialize in kettlebell exercises or you’re more of a yoga girl, here are five fab fitness apps women should try.
Fitstar Personal Trainer
Available for both iOS and Android platform, this personal training app comprises hundreds of workouts in a range of disciplines. With routine lengths as short as seven minutes or as long as an hour, you can fit in a workout no matter how much time you have available. In addition, this app seamlessly syncs with workout information provided by your Fitbit and recommends complementary routines accordingly. The intuitive platform and easy to follow video workouts are appropriate for newbies without boring fitness pros. Fitstar Personal Trainer is free to download, but requires a $7 monthly membership (still way cheaper than an in-person trainer!).
Couch to 5K
If you’ve always thought you wouldn’t be able to run unless someone was chasing you, think again. This free app for iOS and Android guides you in the Couch to 5K program, a series of workouts designed to make anyone into a runner. Because it starts slow and gradually builds to the point where you’re able to run an entire 5K, this app is ideal even for the fitness-challenged among us. Standout features include the ability to customize your program for outdoor or treadmill running, an enthusiastic personal trainer who keeps you on your toes, and the active user forums where you can connect with others who share your fitness goals.
Pocket Yoga
For just a $2.99 one-time download, Pocket Yoga (available for iOS and Android), provides you with 27 full yoga classes right in the palm of your hand–literally. The calming, serene voiceover provides step by step instructions on when you need to move and breathe, coupled with relaxing music and illustrative diagrams that help you get the poses just right in the absence of a physical teacher. You can also preview the list of poses for each workout if you want to get some practice before embarking on the full session. Best of all, you can choose a picturesque setting of choice for each workout, with options like a vast desert or a gorgeous mountaintop.
Keelo
For those who prefer a high-intensity workout, Keelo’s got you covered. This iOS app is designed for those who are ready to take their fitness game to the next level. It’s packed with features, including a daily customized workout plan that eliminates the guessing game, tracking of your workouts and progress toward goals, and instructional videos. If you opt to pay extra for the premium version of the app, you can even video chat with your very own coach to ask questions and get feedback on your performance.
Sworkit
Not only is this iOS app completely free, it also received higher marks than any other program in a University of Florida study that researched how closely fitness apps adhere to training guidelines from the American College of Sports Medicine. Users can choose the type of workout they want to do, including strength, cardio, yoga, or stretching, and the length of time they have to do it, ranging from five minutes to an hour, to get a series of customized moves. Those who opt for the $4.99 a month premium version can customize even further by choosing the number of reps, areas of the body to focus on, and specific exercises to avoid.