13 of the best fitness and exercise apps of 2026, tested and reviewed

Honorable mentions

Courtesy of iFit

iFit: Unfortunately, many fitness apps require special equipment. But if you want to travel, I recommend iFit, which teams up with NordicTrack, ProForm, and FreeMotion gear. You get world-class gym trainers with stunning scenery from all over the world to do amazing yet entertaining workouts. I may not be able to ride the track with Ashley McIvor in real life, even if there wasn’t a pandemic. But on the iFit platform, she laughed out loud at the joy of flying behind her as the bike tilted up and down. I loved it so much, in fact, that my mother bought a treadmill and now enjoys her world tours at home.

Zombies, run!: If you’ve ever thought to yourself, “The only way I’ll start running is if I have to run for my life,” you can now start practicing. Zombies, run! It’s an award-winning survival game and secretly a fitness tool. Once you connect your headphones and start working out, an audio guide will appear narrating your fitness journey. In an apocalyptic world filled with zombies, your mission is to scavenge resources for your ragtag group of human survivors and evade death.

The app is free, but you can pay for the Abel Runner’s Club version to access all eight seasons and features. In addition to exciting audio stories and narrated adventures, there are also virtual races, stat tracking, GPS-enabled maps, and the ability to connect to an Apple Watch or Google Pixel Watch. I have no doubt that it works, I’ve burned at least 5 to 10 calories just listening to the promotional video on YouTube with trepidation.

Break your fitness: If you’re a cyclist, you probably have a trainer set up for what WIRED writer Robbie Gonzalez once called the “human hamster wheel.” If you find Zwift boring, you might want to consider a new cycling game called Smash Your Fitness. Cyclists wear a “Smashometer,” a small, rechargeable ankle device that transmits leg speed to the game via Bluetooth, or directly to your smart trainer via Bluetooth or ANT+.

You wander into a sci-fi world and feel as if you are suspended in space, as you ride on a track that resembles a rotating thread of DNA or a natural world that is a convincing virtual version of Europe or the Southwest. You can swap with friends remotely or join group trips led by virtual trip leaders. The AI ​​trainer can also provide an exercise program after giving it some basic data. Preset workouts can be as short as five minutes or as long as several hours.

There are a lot of moving parts in Smash that a cyclist like me who just wants to get in some quick exercise might not want or need. For example, cyclists have the option to “steer” the bike using their phone or keyboard. When this feature is turned on, there is a risk of crashing, which I did at least 10 times on one trip. Throughout a month of testing, I found the app not exactly easy to use. I was never able to sync it with my Zwift Hub smart trainer. The company promises that the connectivity glitches will be resolved soon, but until then it’s up to the Smashometer to make the trip. The companion app is also still awaiting approval from Apple and the Google Play Store. -Steve Pearson

Courtesy of Yuki

Yuki: Qigong is an ancient Chinese practice of using controlled breathing and body movements to collect life energy (known as qi) and redistribute it around your body and back to the Earth. It’s also a great way to start your day on an energetic note. Qigong exercises are performed in a standing position, and the gentle activities fall somewhere between Tai Chi movements and your favorite yoga poses.

I learned to practice qigong daily thanks to a series of videos by Marisa Cranville of Yoqi.com. The name of her company says it all: Cranville designs routines that are a blend of yoga and qigong, focusing equally on breathing, balance, meditation, and Chinese medicine. Incorporating yoga elements also makes the preparation experience easier for those who are well-versed in yoga but new to qigong.

There are a bunch of free videos on Yoqi’s YouTube channel, including a 30-minute debut video. Start there. Once you’re done, a $15 subscription gets you unlimited video views on the company’s website. Cranfill also has some fun audio meditations that you can download for $15 to $30 each. —Michael Calor

Yoga with Cassandra: My favorite yoga class online is Yoga with Adriene Mishler, and not just because we have the same name and the same breed of dog. But at the WIRED offices, I’m outnumbered by Yoga with Cassandra. It all comes down to personal taste – I’d say Adriene is more talkative and informal, and Kassandra is more efficient and business-like.

There are plenty of online yoga instructors you can try if none of your personality matches yours. If Adrian’s cooing that the pose is “yummy” makes you feel down, you could also try Jessamyn Stanley or yoga with Tim. I also enjoy Cosmic Kids Yoga with my kids on weekend afternoons. For more tips, check out our story on everything you need to practice yoga.

dance church: If you miss walking into a club, getting your heart racing, and flapping your arms wildly with a group of sweaty, cheerful strangers, Dance Church might be for you. The online platform offers crazy dance sessions led by real dancers, with diverse bodies, dance styles, and (I must say) amazing outfits. The company leads in-person live classes that are pay-per-use, but an on-demand subscription of $19 per month gives you ongoing access to live and on-demand dance sessions. This is a good option if you are suitable for exercise sessions with young children who think that jumping up and down on the sofa next to you is the pinnacle of fitness and entertainment.

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