5 of Our Favorite Fitness Apps

In honor of your New Year’s resolution to work out more frequently in 2019, you’ve decided to join a gym. Well, so have millions of other Americans — in fact, traffic at gyms jumps 40 percent from December to January, which means you’ll probably be spending more time waiting around for the machine you’d like to use than actually sweating. Plus, nearly 50 percent of Americans end up ditching their gym memberships by the end of January, so it’s quite possible you’ll end up wasting a lot of money if you don’t stick with this commitment.

But what if this commitment could be less expensive and more convenient, thereby increasing your chances of success? Great news: You can get in a killer workout from the comfort of your own home, without having to sit in traffic, without being crammed into small rooms with sweaty people and without signing your life away on a dotted line. That’s the beauty of subscriptions to fitness apps — they are usually a month-to-month commitment, available 24/7 to match your schedule and provide an impressive variety that will keep you on your toes and challenged when you’re ready for more.

We tested countless options, but here are our five favorites, organized by personality type:

Aaptiv: For Those Who Get Bored Easily

You love all the choices available on Netflix, right? Well, then you also might like the workout app that’s been dubbed the “Netflix of fitness.” Aaptiv offers members unlimited, on-demand access to more than 2,500 audio-guided workouts and structured programs across a wide variety of activities, including running, strength training, yoga, indoor cycling, meditation, boxing and more. It’s literally impossible to get bored, and more than 40 new classes are being added weekly. Plus, every Aaptiv class combines the guiding voice of an expert Aaptiv trainer with motivating music by top artists in every genre.

Trainiac: For Those Who Need 1:1 Attention

Ever wish you could just keep a personal trainer in your pocket? Well, now you can. Trainiac has built a network of trusted, experienced, certified personal trainers and health coaches in an app that bridges the gap between meeting with a personal trainer at the gym and using an app that only gives you direction from an automated or previously recorded trainer. How? Whether you have a modest home gym in your garage, a few spare feet in your living room (with no equipment) or you’re crammed into a small hotel room, Trainiac connects you with a certified personal trainer in real time to help you create individualized plans that work best for your lifestyle needs and constraints. Its format keeps you moving and holds you accountable (via real-time video, text and audio messaging), offers fitness tips, form correction, nutrition advice and overall support and encouragement, and helps you hit your fitness goals.

My Fitness by Jillian Michaels: For Those Who Want a No-Nonsense Workout

You know her from The Biggest Loser, and now she’s bringing an array of workouts right to your living room. Whether you’re a yogi or runner, beginner or advanced, or are a new mother or pregnant, My Fitness by Jillian Michaels helps anyone who wants to get in shape and change their nutritional habits. You don’t need any equipment (though there are moves you can intensify by using dumbbells and medicine balls), and you can choose from custom workout plans based on your specific fitness level and goals. There are also customizable meal plans to follow throughout the training period regardless of dietary restrictions, and you’ll have access to more than 550 unique exercises with an high-definition video to help you perfect your form. You can try seven-minute daily circuits for free or buy the app to unlock premium workouts.

Brooke Burke Body: For Those Who Are Short on Time

You may think that fitness model, TV personality and mother-of-four Brooke Burke works out for hours on end each day — but that’s not the case. She uses uber-efficient and targeted fitness routines to obtain her incredible results, and now you can, too. Her Brook Burke Body app offers hundreds of workouts for every muscle group, and the best part is most of them are between five to 30 minutes in length. (Though you can stack them if you’d like a longer sweat session.) Burke changes her scenery often because she believes in escapism, so you’ll feel like you’re living her jet-set lifestyle as she shoots on the coast or in the desert. Plus, she works out with you instead of taping one set of each move and then looping them together to simulate a real-time workout. This means you’ll occasionally see her wobble when she loses her balance or get out of breath when she starts to fatigue. Burke is right there with you every step of the way, creating a shared journey.

Tip Yourself: For Those Who Are Money Motivated

So technically, this isn’t a fitness app, but it’s an app that provides excellent incentive to use a fitness app. You tip restaurant staff and your hairdresser for good service, right? Then it’s time to start tipping yourself for a job well-done. Each time you work out, you can use the free Tip Yourself app to put $1 (or any amount you choose) in your Tip Jar (from your verified checking account). After you’ve met whatever milestone or goal you’ve set for yourself, you can use that Tip Jar money to treat yourself to something you deserve — like a massage to sooth your aching muscles or a beach vacation so you can show off your new teeny bikini. It’s never been more rewarding to stay in shape, and you’ll be surprised how quickly the money adds up!