10 Best Free Workout Apps in 2026 (Free Tiers Verified October 2026)

Most "free" workout apps in 2026 aren't really free. They let you look at exercises, then lock routine creation, history or the features you actually need behind a paywall — and the goalposts move. Since we first published this list in May 2026, one app on it dropped its free tier entirely and another stopped being maintained. So we re-checked every app in October 2026.

Every app below passes three filters: it builds or stores the workout for you, it tracks what you did (sets, reps, weight — or, for video apps, completed sessions), and the free tier is genuinely usable for months — not a 7-day trial wearing a "free" badge. Prices and limits are quoted from each publisher's own pricing page, store listing or help center, linked under each app and collected in the Sources section at the end.

Here are the 10 best free workout apps in 2026. Skim the quick-pick table, then jump to the app you're curious about.

Quick-Pick Comparison

What each free tier actually includes, as of October 2026:

How We Evaluated Free Workout Apps

This list is built from each app's official pricing page, App Store or Google Play listing and help center, checked in October 2026. Where a publisher's own pages disagree (it happens more than you'd think), we say so. We weighted six criteria:

• Free tier usefulness — Can you actually train on the free plan for months, or is it a demo? Routine caps, ad load, history limits and trial-only "free" all count against an app. Two apps from our May list were dropped on this criterion alone.

• Workout tracking quality — Sets, reps, weight, RPE, rest timer, history, plate math, supersets. The basics — but several apps still gate one of them.

• Exercise library — How many exercises ship in the app, whether each has a demo and instructions, and whether custom exercises are free or capped.

• Routine flexibility — Can you build your own program from scratch on the free plan, or only follow pre-built ones? This is where free tiers diverge the most.

• AI and personalization — Does the app build a program for you, import one you found elsewhere, or adapt over time — and how much of that sits behind a paywall?

• Platform and integrations — iPhone / Android coverage, Apple Watch / Wear OS, Apple Health / Google Fit / Health Connect sync, Live Activities.

We deliberately did not count "community feed" or "social sharing" as core training value. Some lifters love them, but most people open a workout app to train, not scroll. We also don't rank on star ratings — they lag years behind pricing changes.

The 10 Best Free Workout Apps in 2026

1. Ellim — Best Free All-in-One Fitness App (iPhone)

Ellim is the closest thing to a complete fitness app with a free tier that doesn't feel crippled. Free gets you a 3,500+ exercise library with instructions, unlimited custom routines, full workout logging with history and PRs, ready-made plans matched to your goal, nutrition logging with food search and barcode scanning, water and sleep on the Today tab, and AI routine import — snap a photo of a routine from Instagram, a coach's PDF or a screenshot and it becomes a trackable routine. The AI Coach, which builds a personalized multi-day program, is a Premium feature, but currently you can see a preview of your program (its name, why it fits you, the first exercises) before paying. It is iPhone-only, there is no Apple Watch app, and no social feed — if any of those is a dealbreaker, Hevy or Strong will suit you better.

Pros

• 3,500+ searchable exercises with instructions — the largest library on this list

• Unlimited custom routines on the free tier

• AI routine import (photo or text) is free, not Premium

• Nutrition logging with barcode scanning, plus water and sleep on the same Today screen — free

• Currently, a free preview of your AI-built program before you pay

• Apple Health sync for workouts, nutrition and water

Cons

• iPhone only — no Android app

• No Apple Watch app

• No community feed or workout sharing

• Premium ($17.99/mo or $99.99/yr) is needed to train with the AI Coach, Smart Session, Snap & Track meal photos, Coach Debrief and the Insights charts

Free tier: Workout logging, rest timer, history and PRs; 3,500+ exercises; unlimited routines; ready-made plans; AI routine import; manual nutrition with barcode scanning; water logging; sleep (single nights); Apple Health sync.

Paid pricing: Premium $17.99/mo or $99.99/yr (Apple subscription, cancel anytime). Adds AI Routine Coach (up to 10 programs/month), Smart Session (up to 30 AI-built workouts/month), Snap & Track meal photos (up to 30/day), Coach Debrief after each workout, progressive-overload suggestions, adaptive routine changes, Insights, and water/sleep trends. Core training stays free.

Verified against: Ellim on the App Store (October 2026).

Download Ellim free →

Already convinced? Download Ellim free on the App Store →

2. Hevy — Best Free Social Workout Logger

Hevy is a polished, social-first workout tracker and the most complete cross-platform free logger here. The free tier covers unlimited workout logging, a 400+ exercise library, the community feed, and Apple Watch and Wear OS apps. The catches are well documented in Hevy's own help center: 4 routines, 7 custom exercises and 3 months of statistics history on the free plan. Hevy Trainer, which generates and progresses a program, is Pro-only — and Hevy is refreshingly upfront that it is an algorithm, not AI.

Pros

• Clean, fast logging UI with Live Activities

• Workout sharing and community feed

• iOS and Android, with Apple Watch and Wear OS apps on the free tier

• Cheapest Pro upgrade on this list ($23.99/yr)

Cons

• Free plan capped at 4 routines and 7 custom exercises

• Free statistics history limited to the last 3 months

• Hevy Trainer (program generation) is Pro-only, and there is no routine import

• No nutrition tracking on any plan

Free tier: Unlimited workout logging, 4 routines, 7 custom exercises, 3 months of stats, feed, Watch / Wear OS.

Paid pricing: Hevy Pro $2.99/mo, $23.99/yr or $74.99 lifetime per Hevy's FAQ (some App Store snapshots show $3.99/mo and $79.99 lifetime). Unlocks unlimited routines, custom exercises, full history and Hevy Trainer.

Verified against: Hevy Pro help article, free-tier limits, exercise library and the Hevy Trainer announcement (October 2026).

See our Ellim vs Hevy breakdown →

3. Strong — Best Free Minimalist Logger

Strong is still the "Notes app for lifting": fast, distraction-free, and with one of the best Apple Watch apps in the category — it logs full workouts with or without your iPhone. The free tier is tighter than Hevy's (3 custom routines) but workout logging itself is unlimited and accounts are free forever. Strong doesn't publish an exercise count, so we've stopped quoting one; you can add your own exercises on the free plan.

Pros

• Fast, distraction-free logging

• Fully featured Apple Watch app (works without the phone)

• Unlimited workouts on free; custom exercises allowed

• iOS and Android

Cons

• Free plan capped at 3 custom routines

• No AI, no nutrition, no program builder

• No published exercise count

Free tier: Unlimited workout logging, 3 custom routines, Apple Watch app.

Paid pricing: Strong PRO $4.99/mo or $29.99/yr for unlimited routines and extra PRO features; a lifetime option is also listed (price varies by storefront snapshot).

Verified against: Strong on the App Store and strong.app (October 2026).

Compare Strong vs Ellim →

4. JEFIT — Best Free Bodybuilding Library

JEFIT has been around since 2010, and the depth shows: 1,400+ exercises with animated demos, a huge community routine database, Apple Watch live sync and a Wear OS app. The free tier is ad-supported but lets you log unlimited workouts and build your own routines. Elite ($12.99/mo or $69.99/yr) removes ads and adds the Adaptive AI Coach, which builds a program from your goal, equipment and schedule and adjusts loads as you log. If you prefer picking from community plans over building your own, JEFIT's library is hard to beat; it still has no nutrition tracking.

Pros

• 1,400+ exercise library with animations

• Huge community routine database

• iOS and Android, Apple Watch live sync and Wear OS

Cons

• Ads on the free tier

• Adaptive AI Coach and the pro-built plan library require Elite

• No nutrition tracking

Free tier: Exercise library, unlimited logging, custom and community routines, ad-supported.

Paid pricing: JEFIT Elite $12.99/mo or $69.99/yr — removes ads, adds Adaptive AI Coach, advanced analytics and the pro-built plans.

Verified against: JEFIT Elite page and JEFIT on the App Store (October 2026).

See Ellim vs JEFIT →

5. Alpha Progression — Best Ad-Free Logger With Exercise Videos

New to this list. Alpha Progression's permanent free version is unusually generous for a cross-platform app: unlimited workout logging, manually built training plans and standalone workouts, all 795 built-in exercises with real demonstration videos (available offline), rest timers, PRs, body measurements, plan sharing and CSV export — ad-free, and usable without creating an account. What you pay for is the intelligence: the personalized plan generator, progression recommendations, charts, periodization and deloads are all Pro.

Pros

• 795 exercises with real video demos, free and offline

• Unlimited logging and manual plan building, no ads, no account required

• CSV export on the free tier

• iOS and Android with Live Activities / notifications during workouts

Cons

• Plan generation and progression recommendations are Pro-only

• No Apple Watch or Wear OS app (on the roadmap per Alpha Progression)

• No nutrition tracking

Free tier: Unlimited logging, manual plans and workouts, full exercise library with videos, PRs, measurements, CSV export.

Paid pricing: Pro $12.99/mo or $79.99/yr (14-day Pro trial on the annual plan for new customers). Prices checked by Alpha Progression in August 2026 and may vary by region.

Verified against: The Complete Alpha Progression Guide and Alpha Progression vs Fitbod (October 2026).

Visit Alpha Progression

6. FitNotes — Best Truly-Free Android Logger

FitNotes is the rare app that is genuinely free with no ads and no premium tier at all. It is Android-only and deliberately minimal — the developer's FAQ says there are no plans for an iPhone version, and the similarly named "FitNotes 2" and "FitNotes - Workout Tracker" on the App Store are different developers' apps. If you want to log sets, reps and weight without anything trying to sell you something, this is it.

Pros

• 100% free with no ads and no paid tier

• Unlimited custom exercises and routines

• Body-weight, measurement and graph tracking

Cons

• Android only — no official iOS app

• No video demos for exercises

• No AI, no nutrition, no social features

Free tier: Everything.

Paid pricing: None.

Verified against: FitNotes on Google Play and the FitNotes FAQ (October 2026).

Download FitNotes on Google Play

7. Boostcamp — Best Free Pre-Built Strength Programs

Boostcamp offers 130+ coach programs (most free) with logging and auto-progression built in, plus a library of 11,000+ user programs. Correction from our May list: the custom program builder (multi-week mesocycles, supersets, drop sets, custom exercises) is free with no cap, in the app and on the desktop Web Program Creator. Pro adds the Strength Score, per-muscle volume heatmap, 20+ exclusive coach programs and a questionnaire-based personalized program builder.

Pros

• Excellent free programs by recognised coaches, with auto-progression

• Custom program builder is free (in-app and on the web)

• RPE/RIR logging, plate calculator and rest timers on free

• iOS and Android

Cons

• No native Apple Watch or Wear OS app (iOS Live Activity instead)

• No published exercise count

• No nutrition tracking

Free tier: 130+ coach programs (most free), custom program builder, tracking, RPE/RIR, plate calculator, basic PRs.

Paid pricing: Boostcamp Pro $59.99/yr ($4.99/mo billed annually, 7-day trial) or $14.99/mo.

Verified against: Boostcamp Pro, custom program builder and boostcamp.app (October 2026).

Visit Boostcamp

8. Caliber — Best Free Strength Tracker With a Coaching Upgrade Path

Caliber is best known for its 1-on-1 online coaching, but the app's free tier stands on its own: unlimited workouts and 800+ exercises with form videos. Caliber's release notes say supersets, custom exercises and the plan library are Plus features for accounts created after April 2024, and the coach-designed plans sit in Caliber Plus. There is no native Apple Watch app (it is a long-standing request on Caliber's feedback board), but Apple Health and Health Connect sync are supported.

Pros

• Unlimited workouts and 800+ video exercises free

• Clear upgrade path: Plus plans, then human coaching

• Apple Health and Health Connect sync

Cons

• Supersets, custom exercises and the plan library are Plus for accounts created after April 2024

• No native Apple Watch app

• No AI generation; nutrition targets only on Plus

Free tier: Unlimited workout logging, 800+ exercises, Apple Health / Health Connect sync.

Paid pricing: Caliber Plus $12/mo or $72/yr in the most recent US App Store listing (older snapshots show other tiers). Premium Coaching with a human trainer is priced separately, month to month.

Verified against: Caliber on the App Store and Google Play (October 2026).

Visit Caliber

9. Nike Training Club — Best Free Guided Video Workouts

Nike Training Club is a different category — not a set/rep tracker but a guided-video library. Nike says it is free to download with 185+ workouts (bodyweight, dumbbell, yoga, HIIT, mobility) from 5 to 50 minutes, plus multi-week programs. It works with Apple Watch for heart rate and control from the wrist, syncs to Apple Health on iOS and Google Fit on Android, and lets you add every session to an Activity tab. Best for home workouts, travel or anyone who wants to be told what to do next.

Pros

• Genuinely free with no upsell

• 185+ video workouts and multi-week programs

• Apple Watch, Apple Health and Google Fit support

Cons

• Not a tracker — no sets/reps/weight logging

• Class-based, not program-based — hard to run your own split

• Less useful in a barbell gym

Free tier: Entire library.

Paid pricing: None.

Verified against: nike.com/ntc-app and NTC on the App Store (October 2026).

Visit Nike Training Club

10. FitOn — Best Free Video Classes With Personalized Plans

New to this list, replacing Gymshark Training. FitOn's help center says all of its workouts and personalized fitness plans are 100% free, and that it doesn't sell your data to pay for it. The library covers strength (bodyweight and dumbbell), HIIT, yoga, Pilates and more, with celebrity trainers, and Apple Watch heart rate. FitOn PRO is an annual subscription that adds meal plans, 500+ recipes, offline downloads, premium music and live heart rate from Fitbit, Garmin or Samsung devices — the workouts themselves never go behind it.

Pros

• All workouts and plans free, no ads for data

• Strength, HIIT, yoga and Pilates classes for every level

• Apple Watch heart rate; iOS and Android

Cons

• Video-class format — no set/rep/weight logging

• PRO price isn't stated plainly on the listing (several annual price points appear)

• Meal plans and offline downloads are PRO

Free tier: All workouts and personalized plans.

Paid pricing: FitOn PRO — annual subscription for meal plans, recipes, offline downloads, premium music and third-party heart-rate devices. The US App Store lists several PRO price points; check the in-app price.

Verified against: Is FitOn really free?, what PRO includes and FitOn on the App Store (October 2026).

Visit FitOn

Two Apps We Removed From This List (and Why)

StrongLifts 5x5. Our May list called it the best free beginner barbell program. StrongLifts' own support site now states that since 2025 the app is "Pro only. No free tier." — Pro is $11.99/mo or $59.99/yr, with a 7-day trial on the yearly plan. The program itself is still free to read on stronglifts.com, and you can run it in Ellim, Boostcamp, Hevy or Alpha Progression at no cost. If you specifically want the StrongLifts app, budget for the subscription.

Gymshark Training. Gymshark's support article says the Training app is no longer available on Google Play and "will no longer be updated with any fixes or new features" on either platform. The iOS app is still listed and still free, but we don't recommend building a training habit on an app its publisher has stopped maintaining. Boostcamp (free coach programs) and Nike Training Club (free guided video) cover the same ground.

Also not on this list: Fitbod. People ask. Fitbod is an excellent AI-planned workout app, but its help center describes a 7-day trial that rolls into a $15.99/mo or $95.99/yr subscription — there is no ongoing free tier. See free Fitbod alternatives and our AI workout apps guide.

Head-to-Head: Top 5 Free Workout Apps

Direct feature comparison of the five most popular trackers:

Free Workout App Feature Matrix

Every feature, every app, side by side. "NTC" = Nike Training Club; "N/P" = not published by the developer.

Seen enough? Get Ellim free on the App Store →

Best Free Workout App by Goal

Best for Beginners

For a complete newcomer, Boostcamp (a beginner dumbbell program, free) hands you a working program on day one, and Nike Training Club or FitOn will coach you through a session on video. If you'd rather have one app that grows with you — a goal-matched plan in onboarding, then meals and routine import later — start with Ellim. See Ellim for beginners and our best fitness apps for beginners guide. Women starting strength training can also see our best workout apps for women.

Best for Muscle Gain

Hypertrophy-focused lifters want a big library, flexible routines and progress tracking. Ellim (3,500+ exercises, unlimited routines, routine import for any program you find online), JEFIT (1,400+ exercises, community routines) and Alpha Progression (795 video exercises, ad-free) are the strongest free picks. Hevy if you also want to share your sessions. See Ellim for the gym.

Best for Strength / Powerlifting

Strength athletes want a fast logger, plate math, RPE/RIR and structured programs. Boostcamp (free strength programs with RPE logging and a plate calculator), Strong (clean logging + Apple Watch) and Caliber (free strength tracking with a human-coach option) are the best free picks. Ellim covers the logging and adds nutrition in the same app; its progressive-overload suggestions are Premium.

Best for Home / Bodyweight

At home, video guidance matters more than a logger. Nike Training Club and FitOn are the best free guided options; Boostcamp has free home programs if you'd rather follow a written plan. Ellim has 1,300+ bodyweight exercises and home routines if you want one app for home, gym and meals — see Ellim for home workouts and our free home workout apps round-up.

Best for Tracking Only (Pure Logger)

If you already know your program and just need a frictionless logger: FitNotes (Android, fully free), Strong (iOS, best Watch app), Alpha Progression (cross-platform, no account needed) and Hevy (cross-platform, social). Mind the routine caps on Strong (3) and Hevy (4).

Best for Tracking Workouts and Nutrition in One App

Only one tracker on this list ships nutrition logging in its free tier — Ellim: food search, barcode scanning, water and sleep next to your workouts. Everyone else makes you stack a second app (usually MyFitnessPal or Cronometer). See Ellim for nutrition and our workouts + nutrition in one app guide.

Free vs Paid: When Is a Paid Workout App Actually Worth It?

A paid plan is worth it when one or more of these is true:

• You've outgrown a routine cap (3 on Strong, 4 on Hevy) — or move to an app without one.

• You want a program generated for you and progressed over time: Hevy Trainer (Pro, algorithmic), JEFIT's Adaptive AI Coach (Elite), Alpha Progression's plan generator (Pro), or Ellim's AI Coach and Smart Session (Premium).

• You want AI meal logging from a photo (Ellim Snap & Track, Premium) or coach-style feedback after each session (Ellim Coach Debrief, Premium).

• You want a human coach (Caliber Premium Coaching) rather than software.

For most people training 3–5x a week, the free tiers in this list will carry you for a year or more — especially Ellim's free tier, Alpha Progression and Boostcamp, none of which cap routines. Upgrade when you hit a feature ceiling, not because the app nags you to.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the best free workout app in 2026?

If you train with weights and want one app for routines, tracking and nutrition on iPhone, Ellim has the most generous free tier on this list — 3,500+ exercises, unlimited routines, AI routine import, nutrition, water and sleep. On Android, Alpha Progression (ad-free, 795 video exercises) and FitNotes (fully free) are the best loggers, and Hevy is the best social logger on either platform. For free guided video at home, Nike Training Club or FitOn.

Are any free workout apps actually free, or do they all upsell?

Truly free with no paid tier at all: FitNotes and Nike Training Club. Free with an optional paid tier that never blocks basic training: Ellim, Hevy, Strong, JEFIT, Alpha Progression, Boostcamp, Caliber and FitOn. Not free despite the "free download" label: Fitbod (7-day trial) and StrongLifts (Pro-only since 2025).

Which free workout app has the biggest exercise library?

Ellim (3,500+) leads, then JEFIT (1,400+), Caliber (800+), Alpha Progression (795, all with video) and Hevy (400+). Strong and Boostcamp don't publish a count. Hevy caps free custom exercises at 7; Ellim's own-exercise feature is Premium.

Did StrongLifts 5x5 stop being free?

Yes. StrongLifts' support site says the app has been Pro-only since 2025 — $11.99/mo or $59.99/yr, with a 7-day trial on the yearly plan. The 5x5 program is still free to read on stronglifts.com and runs fine in any logger on this list; Boostcamp also ships comparable free beginner programs with auto-progression.

Is the Gymshark Training app still worth downloading?

It's still free on iOS, but Gymshark's support page says it has been removed from Google Play and will receive no more fixes or features. We removed it from this list for that reason. Nike Training Club and FitOn are maintained free alternatives for guided sessions; Boostcamp for free written programs.

Can a free workout app replace a personal trainer?

For programming, mostly yes — the right app gives you a working routine, tracks it and shows progress. What apps can't replace is in-person form coaching and someone expecting you at 7am. If you want software to adapt your plan week to week, that is usually a paid feature: Hevy Trainer, JEFIT Elite, Alpha Progression Pro or Ellim Premium (AI Coach plus a Coach Debrief after each workout). If you want a human, Caliber's coaching tier is the direct route.

Do I need a separate nutrition app if I use a workout app?

With 9 of these 10 apps, yes — you'll end up pairing them with MyFitnessPal or Cronometer. Only Ellim bundles free nutrition logging (search and barcode) with workout tracking; AI meal photos are a Premium add-on. See our workout + nutrition in one app guide for the trade-offs.

What if I find a routine on Instagram or in a PDF? Can a free app import it?

Ellim lets you import any routine from a screenshot, photo or pasted text on the free tier — it parses the exercises, sets and reps into a trackable routine. None of the other apps on this list offers routine import; Boostcamp's free program builder is the closest manual equivalent. See the routine import walkthrough.

Which free workout app is best on iPhone?

Ellim is the most complete iPhone-only option (tracking, nutrition, water, sleep, AI import, all free) but has no Watch app. Strong has the best Apple Watch experience and Hevy the best social one. See Best Workout App for iPhone (2026).

Which free workout app is best on Android?

On Android, FitNotes (fully free, no upsell) and Alpha Progression (ad-free, video exercises) are the best loggers; Hevy adds a Wear OS app and community, and JEFIT the deepest library. Ellim is iPhone-only.

Why is Ellim free if it has all these features? What's the catch?

No catch on the basics. Ellim gives away tracking, the 3,500+ exercise library, unlimited routines, routine import and nutrition logging so you can train for years without paying, and earns revenue from the people who want the AI coach: AI Routine Coach (a personalized multi-day program — currently you can preview yours free), Smart Session (describe a workout, get it built), Snap & Track (meal photos to macros) and Coach Debrief (feedback and proposed changes after each workout). Premium is $17.99/mo or $99.99/yr, cancel anytime.

The Bottom Line

The best free workout app in 2026 is the one that gets you in the gym and gets you back next week. For most iPhone lifters that's Ellim — 3,500+ exercises, unlimited routines, AI routine import, full tracking and nutrition in one free app. On Android, Alpha Progression or FitNotes. If you train at home, Nike Training Club or FitOn. If you want a written program handed to you, Boostcamp. If you love a feed, Hevy.

Whatever you pick: install one today, log one workout this week, and ignore the others. The app you actually use will always beat the one with the better feature list.

Take the 30-second start: Download Ellim free on the App Store →

Sources

All pricing and free-tier claims above were checked against these publisher pages in October 2026. Prices vary by region and change without notice — confirm in the app before subscribing.

• Hevy: Hevy Pro — what it includes · switching from Pro to free · exercise library (400+) · Hevy Trainer announcement · how Trainer builds programs

• Strong: App Store listing · strong.app

• JEFIT: Elite membership plans · App Store listing

• Alpha Progression: Complete guide (free vs Pro) · Alpha Progression vs Fitbod (pricing)

• FitNotes: Google Play listing · FAQ (Android only)

• Boostcamp: Boostcamp Pro · custom program builder · homepage (no Watch app)

• Caliber: App Store listing · Google Play listing

• Nike Training Club: nike.com/ntc-app · App Store listing

• FitOn: Is FitOn really free? · What PRO includes · App Store listing

• StrongLifts: support article with pricing history ("Pro only" since 2025) · how to upgrade to Pro

• Gymshark Training: support article (no longer updated)

• Fitbod: How the trial works

• Ellim: App Store listing