How to choose the best fitness app for 2025 How to choose the best fitness app for 2025

Chris Hemsworth’s team of trainers are ready to help you discover your best self.

How to choose the right workout app for you

Now that you know which features to look for in a workout app, it’s time to focus on the things that matter most to you.

1. Define your goals
Ask yourself what you hope to accomplish. Are you looking to lose body fat, build muscle, improve cardio fitness or all of the above? Do you want to achieve your goals by a certain timeframe?

If you need help setting goals, there are tools to keep you on track. Forget those resolutions that fade by February – try these habit hacks instead.

2. Factor in your budget
Results matter, but so does your budget. Compare prices and think beyond the subscription – will you need extra equipment or a gym membership?

Also, consider which payment intervals work for you: are you better able to pay month by month, commit to quarterly payments, or save by paying for a full year in advance?

Don’t forget that investing in your health and fitness can have long-term benefits, including for your wallet. Many Centr members have come to us with concerns such as high blood pressure, high cholesterol, or pre-diabetic, then gone on to receive a clean bill of health from their doctor.

So, what’s good health worth to you? Swapping a few pricey coffee runs or unused streaming services could be an easy trade for lasting fitness.

3. Read online reviews
Check the ratings in the app store, or what users are saying on review sites that you trust. Also look out for recommendations from leading fitness and tech sites, such as Men’s Health and CNET.

4. Try a free trial
Once you’ve done your research, try the app with a free trial. Found a short workout challenge? Give it a week and see how it fits your routine.

If it clicks, keep going. If not, cancel before the trial ends – no strings attached.

Read up on Eric’s stunning transformation (and his 5 essential tips for beginners) here.

What results can you get using the Centr app?

The best recommendation you could possibly get for a fitness app is knowing that it has achieved real results for real people, just like you.

Maybe you’ve never had the confidence to make a change. Maybe you’re a single parent and don’t feel you have time to look after yourself.

Or maybe, like Eric, you don’t know where to start. Here’s how he did it (and you can, too).

Just a few years ago, Eric would get out of breath tying his shoelaces and was unable to fasten the seat belt on a roller coaster.

“I was pushing 40 years old, weighed nearly 300lbs (136kg), had a very busy life with four very active teenagers, a full-time career, a family budget and was pretty much clueless when it came to all things nutrition and exercise,” he says.

He believed he was “destined to be a big guy for the rest of my life”. It wasn’t until he discovered Centr that he realized he didn’t need to know everything – he just needed to get started. Chris Hemsworth’s team of experts would take care of the rest.

“I came to Centr with pretty much every hurdle known to mankind, but this program is made for people like me.”

Eric began his fitness journey with a HIIT workout coached by Chris’s personal trainer Luke Zocchi. “What kept me going was the way Luke led the workout. He’d call out when he was tired, hurting or struggling and it made me feel better about being tired and struggling. I also loved his sense of humor. It seriously felt like working out with a friend.”

The things he initially worried about – that it wouldn’t work, or would be some kind of “crazy ‘health food’ plan” – were quickly proven to be non-issues.

“I was afraid of getting my hopes up again, only to realize that poor health was something I was just stuck with,” Eric says. “I always subscribed to the idea that I was a victim of bad genetics. Some people had ‘it’ and some people didn’t, and I was just one of the people that didn’t. But once I started seeing results, a sense of curiosity and confidence took over.”

“The difference with Centr,” he adds, “is that it focuses on teaching you how to live a healthy life that is sustainable, flexible and fun. Through the blogs, meditations, workouts and recipes you gain valuable skills. It transcends the short-term goal of losing weight and gets you to a point where you start thinking, ‘Hey, I can do this for the rest of my life!’”

Now, according to Eric’s doctor, he is “a picture of great health”. And he’s taken all the skills he’s learned on Centr and used them to become a health coach in his own right.

Don’t miss Eric’s 5 essential tips for beginners – all the things he wished someone had told him when he was starting out.

Does the Centr app have everything you need?

Now you know what you need from a fitness app. The question now is, can you get it all in one place? On the Centr app, you can.

Let us give you an overview of the movement, meals, mind coaching and more that Centr puts at your fingertips.

Movement
Centr offers you a variety of no and low-equipment workout and program options to help you find what you enjoy and build your fitness.

• New to fitness? Centr Begin is the workout program designed for total fitness newbies. In just 3 weeks, trainers Maricris and Dan will help you learn the basics, start building up your strength and cardio fitness, and build a workout routine that fits your lifestyle.
• Looking for other workout modalities like yoga or pilates? Centr Align has you covered.
• What about a little bit of strength and cardio? Centr’s Hybrid Strong program might just be up your alley.

Looking for something else? Find the right Centr program for your goals here.

Not really sure on what you’re looking for? Visit our homepage and take our FitQuiz for a personalized plan tailored to your goals, schedule and fitness level.

Meals
Nutrition is key to achieving your fitness goals – whatever they might be. The Centr app makes it easy with:

• A personalized meal plan tailored to your goals.
• Quick and easy recipes the whole family will love – like these mac & cheese favorites!
• No calorie or macro counting required. We’ve done all the hard work, so you can get on with training safe in the knowledge you’re fueled for results.
• Convenient shopping list – add ingredients straight from your meal plan. Meal prepping for a busy week ahead? Simply increase serving sizes to make more for your fridge and freezer.
• Expert, real-world nutrition advice from sports dietitian Angie Asche.

Mind
Your mindset is going to play a big role in your fitness journey. The Centr app is packed with practical tools to help you take control of stress, get pumped up to train, eat mindfully and sleep better.

• Stress can disrupt your sleep, your hunger hormones and your muscle gains. Our Stress Relief Toolkit is designed to help you tackle what stresses you from every angle.
• Recover well and lock in all the benefits of your training with Power Sleep. Chris’s calming voice will help you fall asleep, stay asleep and wake up primed and ready.
• We know there’s more to your day than just working out and meal prep. Need help focusing on work or study? Try the Soundscapes our members love.
• Struggling to get the kids to bed? Let Chris and Taika Waititi bring calm to your house with Sleep for Kids.

You’ll also find expert advice on every aspect of your health and fitness journey, from things you’re curious about (is intermittent fasting for me?) to things you really need to know (when will I actually start seeing results?).

Nat is an inspiring example of what’s possible with Centr – learn how she found her power and transformed her life for good.

Finding the best workout app FAQ

Still have questions about finding the right fitness app for you? No worries, we’ve answered some of the most common ones here.

Are fitness apps really worth it?
Yes, by choosing the right fitness app for your experience and goals you can get real, sustainable results.

Make sure the app you go with:

• Offers workouts tailored to your goal and your level of experience. Plus plenty of variety so you don’t get bored.
• Packs in practical tools that help you build good habits, like a shopping list and progress tracker.
• Has your nutrition needs covered, too. Because what you eat is a huge part of the puzzle.
• Gives you a 24/7 support network, so you’re never going it alone!

Don’t forget, choosing and downloading a fitness app is just the beginning. To make results happen, you need to show up for yourself.

Fortunately, having the tools you need in the palm of your hand removes a lot of the obstacles to working on your health and fitness. Can’t get to the gym? Select a no-equipment home workout. Too busy to work out? Jump onto the Centr app to squeeze in a 5, 7 or 10-minute workout whenever you can.

If you have been inactive for some time, also know that the first week is going to be a struggle – but that every little bit of movement helps. And, as Centr expert Maricris Lapaix says: “We’ll be with you every step of the way to keep you motivated and smiling.”

What apps are best for gym workouts?
We get it: if you’ve shelled out for a gym membership, you want to get maximum bang for that buck. While there are plenty of apps that offer gym workouts, Centr can help you get more out of every session with next-level personalization.

• Commit to your goal with a dedicated gym workout program like Centr Power, Upper-Body Builder or Power Shred in Gym.
• Make the most of all that amazing gym equipment with programs tailored to specific machines and gear. Centr 3 Max is a 9-week muscle-building program designed specifically for cable machines. Or hit the bench and dumbbell rack to build functional strength and achieve total-body sculpting with Centr Circuit: Strength.
• The self-guided workout style on Centr gym workouts allows you to check your technique and take sessions at your pace (or the pace of the dude hogging the equipment you’re waiting to use).

And if you prefer to work out at home, you can do that with Centr too. Equipment filters on the app allow you to quickly find workouts to suit the equipment you have at home.

Is the Centr app worth it?
We definitely think so – but why not try it for yourself? You can start your free trial right now.

Whatever your goals, whatever your current level of fitness or experience, you’ll find what you need to get started, then take it all the way, on Centr.