The best workout apps for exercising at home

Fitness studios have emerged as the stylish alternative to a traditional gym. The ClassPass app is your ticket to one of the largest digital workout varieties and some of the most hype on-screen trainers. It's especially handy if your area doesn't offer the uniqueness and specificity that ClassPass does, from aqua cycling to the famous spin classes.

Subscriptions work a little differently at ClassPass. Instead of a monthly rate that covers unlimited access to as many live or on-demand workouts as you want, you'll pay a fee based on how many credits (which pay for courses) you may take that month. 

Even people to detest exercise know what Peloton is. Workouts available on the Peloton app go far past biking, so the Peloton bike itself isn't technically required. But with so many Peloton die-hards praising the app as one of the best cardio workouts out there, the cycling aspect deserves a spotlight.

Unfortunately, the all-access membership isn't free with the bike — you'll have to cough up an extra $39 per month. But it's worth it: Peloton is community-based and offers the chance to ride with other members. Classes are fun to follow along, lead by instructors who are famously upbeat. Real-time metrics liked heart rate, resistance, cadence, and output are super helpful.

Running might not seem like something you need an app for, but the Nike Run Club app takes your running routine to the next level. Through it you're able to track your runs, get coaching that adapts to you, and connect with your runner friends. NRC shows you your pace, location, distance, elevation, heart rate, and mile splits.

The app features guided runs and tons of motivational tactics, like cheers from friends and words of encouragement from professional athletes. It also has curated Apple Music and Spotify playlists to keep you pumped up on your runs. Plus, you get personalized coaching that adapts with your goals and fitness level as you progress.

Jillian Michaels' fitness app isn't your mother's collection of early-2000s Shred DVDs (though those are included with a subscription). The aura is less threatening than apps that revolve around getting ripped, offering customization by time, specific muscle groups, and difficulty.

Following the plan nixes the need to input every food item for nutrition tracking and can be altered for diet preferences, weight loss or muscle gain, number of mouths being fed, and more.

Mirror is like having a personal trainer in your home with you. The super smart screen designed to look like a full-length mirror has a sleek design and doesn't take up too much space. Mirror offers more than 20 genres of workouts with classes ranging from 15 to 60 minutes and beginner to expert levels. It's basically a super personalized and diverse fitness studio that happens to be located in your house.

There are more than 10,000 on-demand classes and more than 70 weekly live classes. During live classes you get real-time feedback and personal shoutouts throughout the session. A Mirror subscription includes unlimited access for up to six users, so the whole family can work out together. And yes, Mirror is a real full-length mirror when it's off.

Mirror requires special equipment that is separate from the price of a membership.

The Sweat app combines intense workouts with female empowerment. There are five trainers who focus on exercises like low-intensity cardio, HIIT, weight training, bodybuilding, vinyasa yoga, and more.

Workouts are designed as a program and the intensity level increases with each week, encouraging you to get stronger. The app also features weekly meal plans and grocery shopping lists. Plus, Sweat has a forum where you can connect with other women using the platform.

With Aaptiv, you're able to really focus on your body and its movements. The platform is audio based, so there's no video for you to follow along. That means you don't have to crane your neck to pay attention to a screen while also trying to make sure you're doing the workout correctly.

Aaptiv workouts can be done anywhere — at home, at the gym, outside on a ridiculously sunny day — because all you need is your phone and some headphones. With a membership you get access to more than 2,500 guided workouts, with more than 40 new classes added each week. Each exercise has curated music to get you properly pumped.

Tonal is the ideal in-home solution for people who like the range of machines at the gym, but don't like sharing them. Instead of taking up a bunch of space in your garage or basement, Tonal provides everything in a compact touchscreen display (plus a few extra items).

Accessories like handles, a bench, and bar are sold separately, and the bundle of six items costs $495 in addition to the steep base price. You don't have to get the accessories bundle to still get a satisfying workout, but Tonal is definitely a product for those who have a little extra spending room.

Tonal requires special equipment that is separate from the price of a membership.

Obé Fitness is designed for beginners, pros, and anyone who tends to stray from the typical exercises you'd do in a gym. Classes range from dance HIIT, cardio boxing, pilates, and barre, and can be taken live or through a pre-recorded, on-demand option. Each is typically 28 minutes long, but there are also 10-minute express classes for squeezing in a quick sweat during your lunch break.

You don't need any equipment, but if you want to push it to the next level, Obé recommends grabbing some resistance bands, ankle weights, or sliders.

Not being into HIIT with high-intensity Peloton or The Mirror instructors does not! mean! you're not an exercise person. Lower-impact toning sessions like Pvolve's pilates-barre hybrid might be more up your alley.

The Pvolve approach invites your mind to get a workout too, teaching better form, more mindful exercises, and sculpting without inevitable swamp ass or soreness. Workouts can be customized by time and the optional equipment kits, or try the "No equipment" series.

Fitbod learns about you the more you use the app and uses an algorithm to build custom workouts based on your strength-training ability, past workouts, and available gym equipment. Each day you get a personalized fitness plan to help you get stronger.

Fitbod workouts focus on all your muscle groups, so you don't miss any in your training, and each session is individualized and designed to be well balanced. Fitbod is free to try, but if you want to unlock unlimited logged workouts, you'll have to subscribe and become and Elite member for either $9.99 per month or $59.99 per year.

Maybe yoga is your go-to form of exercise. We recommend checking out Bulldog Yoga Online — especially if standard yoga studios intimidate you. Bulldog flips the switch on traditional yoga and teaches it in layman's terms and sets sessions to fun playlists. It's definitely a more active type of yoga than you might typically see.

Bulldog focuses on power yoga and its streaming classes vary in intensity with options for a slower flow, quick-moving and intense flow, and a fast flow that incorporates resistance bands for extra cardio and strength building. You'll get a full-body workout and work on muscle strength and endurance while losing weight.

If you want a combination of virtual and in-person training, Find Your Trainer is great. To start, you take a short quiz and FYT matches you with the best trainer for your goals. Then you book your training session virtually or in person and build a plan with them. 

In-person sessions happen at your home, so you get the one-on-one attention and help you need without the intimidation of a gym. This service is ideal for people who want more than just workout videos to follow along with.

Pricing is by session rather than by month, so you only pay when you use the service. Sessions never expire, so you can use them whenever you want. Pricing starts at $29 per session — though some trainers cost more than $100 per session — so this is a pricier option than typical online workout programs.

Boxing is great cardio workout to shake things up — and a hell of a stress reliever. Instead of your average punching bag, Fight Camp uses smart sensors to track your workout and show you your punch count and rate. For a little competition, you can link up with friends on the FightCamp app and see how your scores compare.

Workouts can be customized (down to the specific trainer who gets you pumped), so you can keep your switch up your swings whenever one routine gets old.

Fight Camp requires special equipment that is separate from the price of a membership.