A "gym app" can mean three quite different things: a plan that tells you what to do, a guided session that talks you through it in real time, or a log that tracks what you actually did. Most people need at least two of these at once, and no single app nails all three. Here is how Nike Training Club, Freeletics, Hevy, Fitbod and Apple Fitness+ split the job in 2026, and where Fitcoin fits for set logging, heart rate, GPS runs and cycles, plus rewards.
Fitcoin is our product, and we are upfront that it is not a video plan provider like Nike Training Club or Apple Fitness+. It does log sets and reps, show workout heart rate, and include GPS runs and cycles, while also syncing sessions from Apple Health and Google Health Connect into a daily FitScore with rewards. Keep that split in mind as you read.
The best gym workout apps at a glance
- Nike Training Club, best free guided gym plans
- Freeletics, best for equipment-light gym floor training
- Hevy, best for logging your own lifting sessions
- Fitbod, best for a session designed around your equipment
- Apple Fitness+, best instructor-led gym and studio-style workouts
- Peloton App, best for class-style strength and cardio variety
- Fitcoin, best for logging, runs, cycles and rewards
Plan, guidance, or tracking: pick what you actually need
If you do not know what to do at the gym, you need a plan app, something like Nike Training Club or Freeletics that hands you a structured programme with video demonstrations. If you know roughly what to do but want someone talking you through pace and form, you need a guided app, like Apple Fitness+ or the Peloton App. If you already know your programme and just need it recorded properly, you need a tracking app, like Hevy or Fitbod.
None of these solve the fourth problem, which is whether you actually feel motivated to keep showing up once the novelty wears off. That is a separate layer, and it is the one apps that reward you for working out are built to address. For a broader comparison of tracking apps beyond the gym floor, see our guide to the best workout tracker apps.
1. Nike Training Club: best free guided gym plans
Nike Training Club is free and covers a wide range of structured programmes with video-led guidance, from strength and endurance to mobility and short conditioning circuits. It suits gym-goers who want a plan handed to them rather than designing their own, and it works well for both gym floor sessions and home training when you cannot get to a gym.
Best for: anyone who wants free, structured, video-guided gym programming without a subscription.
Potential catch: it is a programme app, not a detailed set-by-set logger for heavy barbell lifting.
2. Freeletics: best for equipment-light gym floor training
Freeletics builds programmes around bodyweight and minimal-equipment training, with an AI-adjusted coach that adapts your plan as you progress. It is a strong option for gym-goers who train functionally, mix in HIIT-style circuits, or do not always have access to a full rack of equipment.
Freeletics typically offers a free tier with a paid subscription unlocking the full programme catalogue and personalised coaching, so check current pricing before assuming what is included.
Best for: functional, bodyweight-heavy gym training with adaptive coaching.
Potential catch: less suited to dedicated barbell strength programming than a lifting-specific app.
3. Hevy: best for logging your own lifting sessions
Once you have your own routine, Hevy is the strongest free option for actually recording it: unlimited routines, a large exercise library, PR tracking, a plate calculator and volume graphs, all without an immediate paywall.
Best for: gym-goers who already know their programme and want it logged properly.
Potential catch: it does not design a gym plan for you the way Nike Training Club or Freeletics do.
4. Fitbod: best for a session designed around your equipment
Fitbod generates each gym session based on the equipment you tell it you have access to, your training history and estimated muscle recovery. That makes it a good fit for gym-goers who travel between different gyms or want the exercise selection decided for them each visit.
Best for: people who want the gym session built for them rather than picking every exercise.
Potential catch: full functionality generally requires a paid subscription after a free trial; check current pricing.
5. Apple Fitness+: best instructor-led gym and studio-style workouts
Apple Fitness+ delivers professionally produced, instructor-led video workouts across strength, HIIT, core and more, with on-screen metrics synced from an Apple Watch. For gym-goers who want the feel of a class without leaving the gym floor or their living room, it is one of the most polished options available.
Best for: people who want structured, coached workouts with real-time metrics.
Potential catch: it is a paid subscription and works best with an Apple Watch, so check current pricing and device requirements.
6. Peloton App: best for class-style strength and cardio variety
The Peloton App (separate from owning Peloton hardware) offers a large library of instructor-led classes covering strength, cardio, yoga and more, which suits gym-goers who like variety and class energy over a fixed programme.
Best for: gym-goers who want class-style variety and instructor motivation.
Potential catch: it is a subscription product, and the experience is strongest if you also use Peloton hardware.
7. Fitcoin: best for logging, runs, cycles and rewards
Fitcoin is our product, and it deliberately does not compete with Nike Training Club or Apple Fitness+ on video plans. It does compete on the gym floor log: sets, reps, weight, RPE, routines and a muscle map on strength-style workouts, plus heart rate averages, zones and post-workout recovery from Apple Health or Google Health Connect. You can also start GPS runs and cycles in Fitcoin, or pull in completed gym sessions, lifting and classes recorded by other apps.
Steps and sessions combine into a daily FitScore. FitScore, alongside Sleep, Recovery and Energy tracking and daily coaching, feeds challenges, clubs and weekly Leagues, and unlocks Fitcoin rewards you spend on brand discounts and free items. There is no cash payout, and Health-synced work can count in the background.
Best for: gym-goers who want set logging, cardio tracking and rewards without a separate stack of apps.
Potential catch: no guided video plans. If you need an instructor or a written programme, keep one of the apps above alongside Fitcoin.
Quick comparison
| App | Main job | Free tier | Rewards effort? | Platform |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Nike Training Club | Guided plans | Yes, fully free | No | iOS & Android |
| Freeletics | Adaptive bodyweight plans | Typically limited free | No | iOS & Android |
| Hevy | Lifting log | Yes, generous free tier | No | iOS & Android |
| Fitbod | Equipment-based session builder | Typically free trial only | No | iOS & Android |
| Apple Fitness+ | Instructor-led classes | Paid subscription | No | iOS (Apple Watch) |
| Peloton App | Class-style variety | Typically limited free | No | iOS & Android |
| Fitcoin | Sets, HR, runs, cycles & rewards | Yes, fully free | Yes, brand discounts & free items | iOS & Android |
Free tiers and subscription pricing for third-party apps change. Treat this as a directional guide checked against public app listings in 2026, not a live price quote.
How to actually pick one (or two)
If you are new to the gym and do not know where to start, begin with a plan app like Nike Training Club or Freeletics, and read our practical guide to going to the gym for the first time before your first session. If you already know your programme and just need it logged, go straight to Hevy or Fitbod.
Whichever combination you land on, Fitcoin can be the logger and rewards layer for free: sets and reps in the gym, GPS runs and cycles, FitScore, Leagues and marketplace rewards, with optional plan apps alongside. If the goal is specifically to make training pay something back, our round-up of ways to get paid to go to the gym goes deeper on that angle.
Frequently asked questions
What is the best gym app overall?
It depends what you need most. Hevy is the best choice for a deep lifting log and library. Fitbod is the best choice if you want the app to design each session for you. Nike Training Club and Freeletics suit bodyweight and equipment-light gym floor work. Apple Fitness+ suits people who want an instructor guiding every rep. Fitcoin is the best choice when you want set logging, workout heart rate, GPS runs and cycles, and rewards in one free app, with a plan app alongside only if you still need guidance.
Is there a free gym workout app?
Nike Training Club is free. Freeletics and Adidas Training typically offer a free tier with a paid subscription for full plans. Hevy has a genuinely usable free tier for logging. Apple Fitness+ is a paid subscription, though new Apple hardware sometimes includes a trial period, so check current terms. Fitcoin is free to download with no subscription required.
What is the best gym app for beginners?
Nike Training Club and Freeletics are strong starting points because they include guided beginner programmes with video demonstrations, so you are not left guessing at form. If your goal is specifically barbell lifting, StrongLifts 5x5 or Boostcamp are more direct beginner routes into weight training.
Does Fitcoin replace a gym workout app?
Not for plans or guided classes. Fitcoin does not ship Nike-style video programmes. It does log sets, reps and weight on strength-style workouts, shows workout heart rate, and includes built-in GPS runs and cycles. It also reads completed sessions from Apple Health or Google Health Connect, then turns steps and workouts into a FitScore with Sleep, Recovery and Energy tracking and rewards. Pair it with a plan app if you still need the workout written for you.
Which gym app has the best motivation features?
Apple Fitness+ and Peloton App lean on instructor energy and live-style classes. Freeletics and Nike Training Club use structured programmes and streaks. Fitcoin adds set logging, GPS runs and cycles, plus challenges, clubs and Leagues and brand rewards for consistency, alone or on top of a plan app.
Method and sources: Written August 9, 2026 and corrected the same day against Fitcoin's shipping product (set logging, workout heart rate, GPS runs and cycles, FitScore, Sleep, Recovery, Energy, challenges, clubs and Leagues). Third-party details from public app store listings and marketing pages for Nike Training Club, Freeletics, Hevy, Fitbod, Apple Fitness+ and the Peloton App. Free tiers and subscription pricing for third-party apps change regularly, so re-check current App Store or Play Store listings before relying on a specific figure. Fitcoin inclusion is ownership-disclosed.
Related reading: best apps to track gym progress, best weight lifting apps, what is FitScore, going to the gym for the first time, get paid to go to the gym.
About the author: Harris Khan is the co-founder of Fitcoin. He studied at Loughborough University and has more than 15 years of personal experience across strength training, bodybuilding, Muay Thai and general fitness.