Fitness apps to crush New Years resolutions at home

• gifts include free apps and YouTube workouts. They are great for getting your feet wet – maybe you start exercising again after a long period of rest. YouTube is where you can try virtually any type of workout. The downside is that you have to spend time looking for one, and even that little friction can keep you from exercising if you feel sluggish.

• Premium programs are like Netflix for fitness. You typically pay between $ 5 and $ 25 per month to access a large library of on-demand workouts of different types. The fees are probably cheaper than your gym membership. These apps aim to be one-stop-shops for exercise. Cardio, strength, and yoga are usually offered in the same app. Some include lessons that are broadcast live.

• Zoom Studios are the virtual version of premium brick and mortar fitness offerings. They’re expensive, but working with others in real time and getting personalized, webcam-activated instructions can be worth it.

The key to any type of exercise, of course, is to show up for it. These are workouts that I have turned to again and again this year. But getting in shape is a very personal thing and instructors, music selection, and exercise styles vary widely from application to application. For some, live lessons are a good way to stay responsible. For others, short workouts that can fit into a busy day are most important.

My biggest tip: Take advantage of free trials before you subscribe. (On iOS and Android, for “free” trials that require you to sign up, you can opt out immediately to avoid being charged.)

Gifts

Nike training club
Platforms: iOS and Android

What to like: The Nike Training Club app includes workouts focused on strength, endurance, and mobility. From yoga to stimulating bodyweight cardio, there’s something for every skill level. An integration with Apple Watch displays your heart rate, upcoming exercise and play / pause commands.

Before the pandemic, quality “trainer classes” cost $ 15 per month or $ 120 per year. Nike made those 15- to 60-minute workouts free once so many people got stuck at home.

Not so good: NTC doesn’t come with music – you have to bring your own. You can play Spotify or any other streaming app you want in the background.

The Body project
Fitness mixer
Cycling with Kristina Girod
Yoga with Adriene
Platform: Youtube

What to like: YouTube videos are a great way to try out different styles of fitness before committing to a program. I like these channels because they offer variety and regularly upload new content. A paid subscription unlocks additional training and coaching.

Not so good: You will be sitting through the occasional advertisement, and there is no option to download workouts to be done offline.

Premium programs

Digital platoon
Price: $ 13 per month

Free try: A month

Platforms: iOS, Android, Web, Apple TV, Amazon Fire TV, Roku, Android TV

What to like: A Peloton subscription includes live lessons and the Peloton library covering 11 disciplines, such as cycling, strength training, yoga and meditation. The app’s music-themed classes cover a range of genres, from Beyoncé to the Beatles, and the instructors provide motivation and advice on form. There’s also built-in community support: you can see which users are training alongside you and send or receive digital high-fives.

The experience is better with certain equipment (such as weights or a basic stationary bike combined with a cadence sensor). But the outdoor running feature, which only requires shoes, is my favorite. Audio-guided workouts are led by professionals (one instructor, Robin Arzon, is a certified running trainer and ultramarathoner), peppered with advice and set to music that matches the effort of the interval.

Not so good: Although the courses can be preloaded, you cannot take them offline. So if your home gym is a basement with no Wi-Fi, Peloton is not a good choice. Users of the app also can’t see how their stats stack up against other Peloton members – the leaderboard is exclusive to those who own the company’s smart bike ($ 1,895 and up) and the mat. intelligent race ($ 2,495 and more), in addition to paying for unlimited access Subscription of $ 39 per month.

Apple Fitness +
Price: $ 10 per month or $ 80 per year

Free try: A month

Platforms: iPhone, iPad, Apple TV HD (fourth generation) or Apple TV 4K

What to like: In my first review I called Fitness + great value for money. With a subscription, everyone in your iCloud household (up to six people) has access to the library on demand. There’s studio-style cycling, interval training, treadmill running, yoga, core, strength, rowing and dancing, as well as “mindful chills” (or stretches). . All workouts include modifications for beginner and intermediate practitioners. Sessions are short – the longest are 45 minutes, but most are 30 minutes or less.

Not so good: The program is only available to owners of Apple Watch (Series 3 and newer). The service itself is hard to find, as a new tab in Apple’s existing Fitness app. You cannot stream workouts through Apple AirPlay, which is supported by some TVs and streaming boxes; you will need a newer Apple TV to watch the workouts on your TV.

(Dow Jones & Co., publisher of The Wall Street Journal, has a commercial agreement to provide information through Apple services.)

Obey Fitness
Price: $ 27 per month, $ 65 per quarter, $ 199 per year

Free try: One week

Platforms: iOS, Web, Roku, Amazon Fire TV

What to like: There are 22 live lessons per day, taught by friendly, cheerful instructors in colorful, minimalist studios. There is also a backlog of thousands of on-demand videos. In live lessons, instructors often call users by name, although they can’t see you, of course. The workouts focus on disciplines such as barre, sculpture, dance and Pilates. Cardio boxing and trampoline-assisted rebound training are two of the more unique offerings. There are specially designed workouts for children (with a Kidz Bop soundtrack) and seniors (with low impact, user-friendly chair exercises). The “workout” feature allows you to share the experience with seven friends via video chat.

Not so good: Workouts feature only one type of music – an upbeat generic mix with popular hits dotted around – and there’s no option to turn the music off so you can listen to your own. It’s more expensive than other digital fitness offerings, and there’s no native Android experience. (A spokesperson said that an Android app will launch in the coming months.)

Alo moves
Price: $ 20 per month or $ 199 per year

Free try: Two weeks

Platforms: iOS, Android, Web, Apple TV, Chromecast

What to like: Alo Moves offers different types of flow yoga – including Ashtanga, Vinyasa, and prenatal variations – as well as yoga-themed strength, barre, and Pilates classes. I like the multi-day series, focused on one type of training, where each class builds on the next. Guided meditations are excellent.

Not so good: Alo Moves’ large content library can be overwhelming, and class names (eg “Drop In” and “Coming Home”) aren’t always informative. Offers for beginners are minimal, with many videos aimed at more advanced yogis.

Zoom Studio

Barry at home
Price: $ 20 per course; $ 70 for 5 classes; $ 120 for 10 classes

Free try: No

Platforms: Zoom

What to like: The bootcamp fitness chain has gone virtual with its expensive workout ($ 35 per class in San Francisco, where I live). You can choose from Barry’s iconic weight classes and treadmills, as well as body weight, resistance bands and weights. The 45-minute, instructor-led sessions are live, and participants can activate their webcams for personalized adjustments. There are dozens of time slots to choose from each day. You will receive by email a Zoom link to join your course 20 minutes before the start.

Not so good: Sometimes there are technical difficulties. (Zoom requires strong Wi-Fi at both ends.) While beginners get two lessons for the price of one, there is no trial period for you to try out the experience. But you can check out some non-live shortcut workouts on Barry’s Instagram page.

—For more analysis, reviews, tips and headlines on WSJ technology, sign up for our weekly newsletter.

Write to Nicole Nguyen at [email protected]