Finding new ways to enjoy a healthier lifestyle is never a bad idea. And thanks to a slew of downloadable fitness apps, exercising in 2021 can be really fun and exciting. It’s almost like having a personal trainer (almost). While exercise classes and gym passes are still an option, these apps can help you save time and money.
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We’ve sussed out 10 of the best free fitness apps and matched them to suitable personality types to help you decide which one is best for you. Check them out here:
MapMyRun is just for you if you’re addicted to online socialising. You’ll never need to exercise alone again! Connect with friends and other app users through its social media feature. Enjoy bragging, competing, and sharing your results with your social crowd. You will also find discussion groups here to guide and support you whenever you need assistance about a fitness-related matter. Available at both the Apple app store and Google play store.
Download here.
If you’re not into intense physical activities like running a marathon or feel too busy to exercise, it’s important to be physically active on a general level to maintain your health. In this case, the Pacer may be quite suitable for you. This app’s primary objective is to keep you sufficiently motivated to be physically active for at least half an hour every day. It records the distance you travel, the time you spend, and the calories you burn as you stroll, sprint, or walk throughout the day. You could also join 12-week fitness plans designed to help you lose weight, get toned, and get active. Available at both the Apple app store and Google play store.
Download here.
Are you keen to make a difference for society? If so, there’s an app called Charity Miles that gives you the option of jogging, walking or running, and even biking for your favourite charity organisation. The app monitors distance and transfers twenty-five cents to your preferred charity for every mile you cover.
This money is available thanks to funds donated by corporate sponsors. Before you head out, just make sure that you switch on your location on your smartphone so that the distance you cover can be tracked. This app is a great way for you to contribute to a charity even if you yourself don’t have the means to do so from your own wallet. Available at both the Apple app store and Google play store.
Download here.
On a more realistic note, are you often setting a goal of becoming a top-class runner, but failing to achieve it? Then the Nike Run Club app will pose a solution to your problem. This app helps you attain your objectives by directing you to focus on your capabilities and developments. With a location-finder, calorie-counter, and time-tracker, you can easily monitor your speed and distance and work towards your ideal long-distance timing. Available at both the Apple app store and Google play store.
Download here.
If music gets your blood pumping, why not combine it with exercise? Choose from a wide range of songs on RockMyRun, which automatically syncs the beat of the music to your steps and heartbeat. Scientifically proven to increase motivation, this application lets you track your exercises and listen to music at the same time. Available at the Apple app store.
Download here.
If you’re hoping to get an adventure thrill from outdoor exercise, then you should try Mountain Athletics. This app presents a six-week training program that focuses on different styles of skiing, mountain/rock climbing, and other challenging activities. It also provides you with comprehensive video guides. Any intense athlete can monitor performance and focus on improving specific points such as agility, strength, or stamina. Available at the Apple app store.
Download here.
Experience a yoga class from the comfort of home with Yoga Studio that teaches you workout poses through videos, trainers, and audio directions. It also allows you customise your experience so that you can find the best possible methods for yourself. Available at both the Apple app store and Google play store.
Download here.
For those of you who love to run on an adrenaline rush, Zombie, Run! is incredibly cool. This free app simulates the feeling of zombies chasing you, helping you to increase your running speed. Just think, this app would put you at an advantage during a zombie apocalypse! Available at both the Apple app store and Google play store.
Download here.
Strava is a dream come true for cyclists. It allows you to track your workout in terms of improvement of average speed and the number of calories burned. Out on the road, on your own, bike-riding can often feel pretty isolating – but not with this app. You can connect, compete and socialise with fellow cyclists which can motivate and inspire you further. If you are a newbie cyclist, this can even set you on the path to becoming a real pro. Available at both the Apple app store and Google play store.
Download here.
Close that Candy Crush app – the Seven (7 Minute Workout) app brings a fun challenge to traditional exercise, where users use a chair, a wall, and your own bodyweight seven minutes a day for seven months to achieve their best body ever. The catch is, just like in video games, you begin with three lives. Miss your seven minutes a day and lose a heart, miss three in a month and you have to start over! Available at both the Apple app store and Google play store.
Download here.
Text: Anna Haotanto, The New Savvy / Additional Reporting: Elizabeth Liew, Gowri Somasundaram and Atika Lim.
This story was updated in 14 March, 2021