We all know MyFitnessPal — it’s the OG fitness app. But if you’re looking for something a little more robust, without all the ads and that doesn’t require a paid subscription to actually be useful, take a look at some of these fitness apps that will change your life.
1. 8Fit
8Fit is like a MyFitnessPal-type app on steroids, with all of the good stuff and none of the bad. You put in your fitness goals, like building muscle mass or losing weight, and then it gives you on-demand workouts and diet guidance based on that goal. A goal can be as specific or vague as you need it to be, and then you’ll see even further recommendations, based on that specificity.
Even with the free version, you get a lot of options and resources, like recommended workout videos, meal plan creation, recipes, shopping lists, and the ability to log what you eat.
If you go with a paid version ($80/year), you get customized, pre-made meal plans, versus standard meal plans based on your goals, as well as shopping lists for those meal plans, but most casual dieters and those looking to improve their fitness won’t need that level of extra personalization.
2. Freeletics Body Weight
This free app is a great option for those who need exercise ideas in a snap, but who don’t want to go to the gym or who don’t have home exercise equipment beyond some basics, like a yoga mat or a few free weights (or not even those!).
The app gives you hundreds of workouts to choose from, ranging in the amount of time needed to complete them and intensity, and they all simply use your current body weight as the only tool you need to work out.
3. The Johnson & Johnson Official 7 Minute Workout App
This free app is built for those who have very limited time, and who struggle to fit a workout into their busy day. The app offers workouts at varying intensity levels, but the key is to fit that workout into seven minutes, without the need for any equipment. You can squeeze the daily workouts into your everyday childcare or cleaning routine, and instantly start feeling fitter, without any huge commitment.
If you want to keep it simple, you can just use the daily workouts as they appear on the app, but if you want to personalize things a bit, you can create custom workout blends, combine workouts with your favorite music, and more.
4. Healthy Out
If you have a busy lifestyle, chances are, you grab dinner to go from a favorite restaurant more than a few times per month. But you can still make choices based on your fitness and wellness goals, thanks to Healthy Out.
This free app for iOS and Android helps you choose the best food options at your favorite restaurants, based on your particular health goals, whether that be gluten-free, fat-free, heart-healthy, etc. The app will also tell you recommendations for certain menu items that might make that item healthier, i.e., leave off the cheese.
5. Mindshift
Just like nutrition is an important part of your fitness goals, so is mental health. Not taking care of your mental health can lead to weight gain and weight loss, as well as to poor eating and exercising habits.
While many mental health apps come with pricey subscription fees, Mindshift is a free app that attempts to help users better learn to deal with stress and anxiety, through reframing methods.
6. 30 Day Squat Challenge
Don’t feel motivated to workout unless there’s a challenge involved? Go with the 30 Day Squat Challenge free app, which challenges you to build up your strength overtime, with varying workouts that all center around squatting.
7. Map My Fitness
Free, with a few paid upgrades, Map My Fitness is a great option for those who like to see all the data possible regarding their workouts — whether those workouts are “standard” or not. After all, you’re getting in some activity when you vacuum the entire house, as well as when you walk the dog or chase after the kids at the park, and that activity should be counted toward your goals!
Map My Fitness helps you do just that, as well as see data on calories burned and time spent over a length of time doing certain activities. The upgrade allows you to see extra data, like heart rate.
