The best fitness apps for summer 2021

Finding the motivation to dig out the dumbbells, roll out the yoga mat or head out for a run can be tough, especially when all you want to do on a hot day is relax in the sunshine. What you need is an on-screen or in-ear personal trainer to keep you going. There’s a fitness app out there for every activity and every level, whether you’re training for a half marathon or gearing up for your first downward dog.

Are you new to exercise, returning from a break, or thinking about swapping your home workouts for the open road? Then make Public Health England’s free Couch to 5K app the first stop on your running journey. Your chosen coach will hold your hand as you progress from one-minute run-walk intervals to running for 30 minutes non-stop over nine weeks. Stick to the plan and it’s virtually guaranteed to make a runner out of you.

For more tips on finding your feet, read our beginner’s guide to running. And don’t forget to check out our expert tips on finding the best sports headphones for you.

Perfect if you want to start working out at home but aren’t sure where to start, Nike’s NTC app includes hundreds of free workouts led by Nike Master Trainers, along with four flexible follow-along plans to help you get fit, build strength and improve endurance, with or without weights. Classes include yoga, cardio and HIIT (high-intensity interval training) workouts, with strength sessions that focus on abs, arms, legs and glutes. The app is a great way to track your workouts and give new classes a go, all from the comfort – and privacy – of your living room.

Explore more of our favourite home workouts in our guide to the best online exercise classes.

Whether you’re looking for a helping hand to boost speed, power or endurance, are hooked on data, or are simply after a handy way to map and track your weekend bike rides during the summer, Cyclemeter is set to be your new best friend. Suitable for indoor and outdoor cycling, the app will keep tabs on your speed, distance and elevation as well as ride, split, interval and stop times – if you’re a fan of stats and graphs, you’re in for a treat. You can use the app to follow training plans and track your journey and progress in real time – it also works for running, walking and even cross-country skiing.

Find What Feels Good features more than 700 classes taught by YouTube’s most popular yoga influencer, Adriene Mishler (of Yoga with Adriene fame). Don’t know your camel from your cobra? Don’t worry – Adriene’s classes are suitable for everyone, from complete beginners to experienced students. The app provides access to the full YWA library, along with exclusive classes, courses and vlogs, ranging from headstand workshops to kundalini meditation and prenatal yoga.

Find more tips and inspiration in our beginner’s guide to at-home yoga.

Are you new to exercising and worried about how much of your time it will take up? Then Seven might be the app for you. Fire up the free app, work through its quick questionnaire (decide on a goal – lose weight, get fit or build strength – and pick the number of days that you want to workout each week) and it will create a matching programme of bodyweight exercises for you.  Best of all? Each workout takes just – you guessed it – seven minutes to complete. 

Expecting? Results with Bump has hundreds of classes specially designed for pregnant women and new mums. For more tips on pre- and post-natal exercise, read our guides to staying fit and healthy during pregnancy and the best baby-friendly workouts.

With useful features like heart-rate tracking, plus real-time feedback, a smartwatch or fitness tracker can help you take your run, ride or workout to the next level. Apple Fitness+ serves up a full catalogue of living room-friendly HIIT, yoga, core, strength and dance classes, plus treadmill, cycling and rowing programmes to take to the gym. Powered by Apple Watch, the app is designed to sync with your iPhone, iPad or Apple TV, allowing you to check your heart rate and calorie burn in real time. John Lewis customers can claim a free six month subscription to Fitness+ when they buy an Apple Watch – My John Lewis members who already own an Apple Watch can claim a two-month subscription.

If you want to stay strong and keep those bones healthy, regular resistance exercise is non-negotiable. But if you’ve never lifted weights before, they can be intimidating. Starting small and taking the time to learn proper technique is key. Designed to be completed at home, Emily Skye FIT’s four week Start Strong programme is perfect for beginners. Once you’ve got the basics under your belt, you can move on to one of Emily’s six week fitness challenges, or take part in her daily workouts. The app also offers comprehensive pre- and post-natal programmes for new mums and mums-to-be.

Maybe you’ve been following a Couch to 5K app and feel a bit lost without the guiding voice in your ear. Maybe you want to work towards a new running goal but aren’t sure where to start. Or maybe you’re just a bit bored and looking for a way to shake up your training regime now that the sun’s finally out. Add some variety with the free Nike Run Club app – it’s packed with fun guided runs and customisable training plans. Fancy giving mindful running a go? Check out the guided mindful runs created in collaboration with the Headspace team.