Whether you're a runner, into yoga or want to improve your paddleboarding, fitness apps can help you set goals, learn new exercises and receive feedback to help you stay on track. You won't have to go to the gym – all you'll need is whatever you use for your sport and a smartphone. A basic version of many fitness apps is usually offered for free, but even premium versions cost just a few dollars a month.
Try these five fitness apps that are cheaper than your Atlanta gym membership:
Sworkit, available on iOS, Android and web. sworkit.com.
Sworkit lets you choose the type of workout you'd like (cardio, strength training, yoga or stretching) and the amount of time you have. You can select a pre-built workout or create your own. A basic version of Sworkit is available for free, or you can upgrade to a premium version offering features such as no ads and trainer support for $2.99 a month.
Endomondo, available on Android, BlackBerry, iOS and Windows phone. endomondo.com.
Endomondo bills itself as a "trainer in your pocket" and helps you make a plan for running, cycling or other activities and gives you targets to try to hit. Start by taking a fitness assessment, and as you work out, it offers feedback on how you're doing and keeps track of your personal stats, including calories burned. A basic version is free, and a premium version offers training plans and coaching features for $5.99 a month or $29.99 a year.
FitStar, available on Android or iOS. fitstar.com.
Start with a few workouts on FitStar, and provide feedback on whether you found them too challenging, not challenging enough or just right. The app then uses your feedback to create a workout for you and provides your personal stats and history after your workouts. A free version lets you have two sessions a week. A premium version costs $7.99 a month or $39.99 a year and offers unlimited access to all of FitStar Premium's programs.
JEFIT, available on Android and iPhone. jefit.com.
Use one of JEFIT's 60 exercise routines, or use the app's database of more than 1,300 exercises to create your own. You can set goals and manage your stats as you follow your progress. The basic version is free, and a Pro version is available for a one-time payment of $4.99. It's ads-free and offers additional features such as cardio charts. The Elite version is $4.99 a month or $39.99 a year and gives you additional workout routines, training performance insight and more.
PEAR, available for iPhone and Android devices. pearsports.com.
PEAR is an acronym for Performance Enhancing Audio Research, which refers to the way the app reacts to your data in real time and provides interactive audio coaching. Hundreds of varied workouts are available, including running, yoga and paddleboarding. A free version provides five workouts a month, and members can pay $3.99 a month or $29.99 a year to access customized content and premium training plans.
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