9 Best Apple Watch Fitness Apps of 2024
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The Apple Watch has some great built-in fitness and workout apps, but there are some even better options on the App Store. We’re sharing our favorite Apple Watch fitness apps for you to try.
What We Like
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Gentle but effective program that teaches you how to run.
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Works on a treadmill as well as outside.
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Different motivational coaches to listen to.
What We Don’t Like
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Only offers basic statistics on Apple Watch.
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Not much use after 9 weeks.
Few people can go from no running to comfortably running a 5k race. Couch to 5K is a great app for teaching you how to go from a walk to an actual jog and run. Over 9 weeks, users are taught how to increase their distance and pace slowly but surely so they can progress enough to complete a full 5k run.
The app costs $4.99 and includes 4 different motivational virtual coaches, graphs that highlight your progress, and stats such as distance and pace.
If you’ve never run before, this is the ideal way to start out before moving onto more independent running apps.
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What We Like
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Variety of exercises for experienced users.
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Fun rewards that unlock over time.
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Entertaining twist on a familiar format.
What We Don’t Like
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Some of the humor doesn’t always land.
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More exercises cost $1.99 to unlock.
Carrot Fit keeps things lighthearted yet challenging for experienced gym-goers. It offers a “7 minutes in hell” routine, in which users get 30 seconds for each of the app’s 12 exercises with a 10-second rest break between each set. Aimed at those who already exercise, it taunts users through sarcastic messages and a sly sense of humor.
Underneath the cynical surface, it’s a great way to get into interval training for a reasonable $4.99. Its various methods of tracking your progress are a great form of encouragement in the long term.
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What We Like
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Track reps and sets easily.
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Look back to see how much progress you’ve made.
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Supports hundreds of different exercises.
What We Don’t Like
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Need to know the names of your exercises beforehand.
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Designed for experienced gym users.
Gymaholic is one of our favorite ways to track workouts and sets on your Apple Watch. It’s possible to track over 360 different exercises from squats to HIIT workouts, bodyweight training, and almost every other form of exercise you might perform at the gym.
Simply enter all your workout details in the app, and Gymaholic reports back on the amount of weights you’ve lifted, calories you’ve burned, and average heart rate throughout.
The basic app is free with a premium version that offers all features for $45 per year.
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What We Like
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A personal trainer on your Apple Watch.
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Mixture of beginner exercises and tougher workouts available.
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Focuses on completing exercises safely.
What We Don’t Like
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Expensive subscription plan.
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Watch app is a little basic.
Keelo is a substantial strength HIIT workout plan for those who want to get stronger faster. It’s free to download and try, but you’ll need to pay the $107.99 annual premium subscription fee to get the most out of it.
Keelo offers daily full-body workouts that combine strength, conditioning training, and cardio exercises so that no part of your body is left behind.
Each program is personalized based on your workout history, so it’s like having a personal trainer on your Apple Watch. The app also tracks reps completed and timings, so you know exactly what to do next and when.
Keelo isn’t cheap, but as a replacement for a personal trainer, it’s hard to fault.
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What We Like
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Advanced features for serious runners.
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Connects to MyFitnessPal and other health and fitness apps.
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Easy to create routes to follow.
What We Don’t Like
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Needs a subscription to unlock some of the best features.
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Sometimes complicated to sync other devices with it.
MapMyRun is a useful companion for the avid runner. Besides tracking the usual stats like distance, duration, pace, and heart rate, it also offers detailed breakdowns such as split times and how many miles your running shoes may have left in them.
Upgrade to the MVP Premium package for $5.99 per month or $29.99 per year, and you gain heart rate zone analysis designed to determine when you’re working your hardest, as well as specialist training plans for help in achieving your goals. Live Tracking is a useful safety feature too, allowing friends to see exactly where you are on your run.
For the dedicated runner, MapMyRun is a feature-rich option. It also tracks over 600 other activities for added convenience.
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What We Like
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See exactly how many calories you have ‘spare’ for the day.
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Simple interface that’s easy to use.
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Syncs with many other apps.
What We Don’t Like
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Apple Watch version is pretty basic.
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Premium subscription needed to make the most of it.
MyFitnessPal isn’t just about how many steps you take each day; it’s also about the food you consume as you go about your day. While the bulk of useful information is only available on the iPhone app, the Apple Watch version quickly shows you how many calories you have left to burn in the day, how many steps you’ve walked, and what nutrients you need to eat more or less in a day.
The app also logs all the exercises you’ve performed, as well as syncs with other apps and devices, so it’s a good way of creating a well-rounded fitness and workout routine for your body and lifestyle.
The app is free to download with a premium subscription unlocking all features for $49.99 per year.
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What We Like
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Easy to create your own routines.
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Lots of ways to track your body’s improvements.
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Simple interface.
What We Don’t Like
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Not the prettiest of apps.
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You need to pay $5 to get everything.
GymBook is aimed at those who know roughly what they’re doing at the gym but could use a helping hand. Its Apple Watch app provides easy ways to enter the exercises you’ve completed along with details on sets, reps, and how much you’ve lifted. The accompanying iPhone app fills in the details by showing users how to complete the workout safely.
It’s easy enough to devise your own workout, so it’s ideal for those who know what they’re doing and want a simple way to track their performance. A one-off payment of $4.99 unlocks the full wealth of statistics, as well as being able to track body measurements and changes.
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What We Like
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Simple exercises to learn.
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Easy to create your own workout routine.
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Fits into any daily routine.
What We Don’t Like
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Basic descriptions on the Apple Watch.
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Limited instruction on how to avoid injury.
Streaks Workout is the perfect Apple Watch fitness app for working out at home, without the need for lots of free time or expensive gym memberships. The app includes 30 equipment-free exercises with four different workout lengths including 6-, 12-, 18-, and 30-minute durations.
Users can choose exactly which exercises they want to complete, devising their own personalized workout plans. It’s all done on the Apple Watch with more extensive statistics available on your iPhone.
The app costs $3.99 with no additional in-app purchases required.
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What We Like
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Hassle-free and very easy to use.
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Tracks every stat imaginable.
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Social features so you can compete with friends.
What We Don’t Like
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No free customizable training plans.
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Need to pay for all the app’s features.
Strava is one of the simplest exercise apps out there. Primarily a running app, it tracks stats like distance, pace, speed, elevation gained, average heart rate, and calories burned. In addition to running, Strava can track activities like swimming, gym workouts, rock climbing, surfing, and yoga.
Upgrade to Strava Premium for $59.99 per year and gain customizable training and workout plans, along with live feedback, so you can achieve your goals faster.
Strava is a great one-stop solution for all your workout needs, with advanced analysis over the standard Apple Watch Workouts app.
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