Are you looking for the best virtual fitness classes and apps to help you get fit without leaving your home? With the rise of on-demand and livestream workout options, it’s easier than ever to find online classes and personalized training that match your goals and fitness level.
In this blog post, we’ll review the top 5 virtual fitness apps and class platforms available in the United States right now. Whether you want to take yoga, HIIT, strength training, or any other workout from home, these picks offer excellent variety, quality instruction, and flexibility to fit your schedule.
An Introduction to Virtual Fitness Classes and Apps
Before we dive into the top virtual fitness apps and platforms, let’s quickly go over what virtual fitness is and how online classes can benefit your routine.
Virtual fitness refers to any pre-recorded or livestreamed workout you can access on your phone, laptop, smart TV, or other device. The classes are led by real instructors but delivered digitally so you can exercise anytime, anywhere.
Here are some of the main advantages of using virtual fitness apps and online classes:
- Convenience: You can work out whenever and wherever is best for you – at home, while traveling, on a lunch break, early morning or late at night. No commute to the gym needed.
- Variety: Apps and platforms offer tons of class styles, difficulty levels, trainers, and programs to match your goals. Switch it up daily.
- Motivation: Joining live classes or online challenges can give you accountability and inspiration to keep going.
- Affordability: Most apps offer free trial periods or cost less per month than gym memberships.
- Personalization: Some apps use your feedback and performance to recommend personalized workouts.
- Equipment-free options: Many classes use minimal or no equipment so you can get in an effective workout without expensive gear.
Now let’s get into the top 5 virtual fitness apps and platforms for at-home workouts! We chose these for their excellent variety, training quality, popularity, and affordability.
1. Peloton – Best Overall At-Home Fitness Classes
Overview: Peloton is the leading name in virtual fitness, with thousands of live and on-demand classes, motivational instructors, and a supportive community. While Peloton is best known for its stationary bikes and treadmills, you can access its entire library of online classes for just $12.99/month with the Peloton app (no equipment required).
Key Features:
- 5-10 new live classes added daily with 30+ categories including strength, yoga, cardio, cycling, running, bootcamps, stretching and more.
- Thousands of on-demand workouts with expert coaches. Classes range from 5-90 minutes.
- Tracking your performance metrics like heart rate, cadence, and output (for bike/tread owners)
- Compete on leaderboards and earn achievement badges to stay motivated.
- Compatible with iOS, Android, Fire TV, Chromecast, Apple TV.
- 30 day free trial period available.
For the ultimate Peloton experience, you can invest in their indoor cycling bike ($1,445) or treadmill ($2,845) and get a full home gym setup with the classes. However, the app alone provides an enormous and ever-growing fitness library. If you want to access elite-level training and coaching at a reasonable price point, Peloton can’t be beat.
2. Obé Fitness – Best for Variety of Live Classes
Overview: Obé offers one of the widest varieties of live, equipment-free virtual classes through its app. Stream everything from HIIT to barre, Pilates, strength training, dance cardio, sculpting classes, stretching and more. The platform is best known for its incredibly motivating and personable instructors.
Key Features:
- 14+ new live classes added daily, covering over 10 fitness genres
- Library of short equipment-free workouts (5-20 minutes) for when you’re limited on time
- Community challenges and programs for extra accountability
- Leaderboard to track progress and motivate
- Filter classes by difficulty, style, instructor, duration, muscle groups worked, etc.
- iOS and Android app, plus Apple TV and Roku
- $27/month after a 7 day free trial
Obé has something for everyone, whether you’re a beginner, seasoned athlete, or just looking to switch up your routine. The trainers teach high-energy, fun workouts that will keep you engaged from start to finish.
3. Nike Training Club – Best Free Fitness App
Overview: If you want to take your at-home workouts up a notch for zero dollars, check out Nike Training Club. This free app offers an extensive library of full-length workout programs, guided sessions, video tutorials, tips and more – all led by elite Nike Master Trainers. There are countless workout options requiring minimal to no equipment.
Key Features:
- 100+ free at-home workout programs and challenges (beginner to advanced)
- Wide variety of training plans: strength, HIIT, yoga, mobility, endurance, core, etc.
- Audio guided training sessions for running and mobility
- Video demos and tips from trainers for perfecting form
- No equipment needed for most workouts
- Track progress, earn awards, set weekly workout schedules
- Apple Watch connectivity and tracking
- iOS and Android app
Nike Training Club offers the coaching expertise you’d get with premium apps, but in an entirely free platform. If you need guidance, motivation and structure without the monthly costs, it doesn’t get better than this.
4. Aaptiv – Best Audio-Based Fitness App
Overview: Aaptiv sets itself apart by delivering virtual personal training completely via audio-based classes. Each workout has an audio coach guiding and motivating you through every movement (no video feed). Classes include detailed coaching cues so you know you’re doing each exercise correctly.
Key Features:
- Access to 4,000+ audio fitness classes led by expert trainers
- Huge range of class types like strength training, running, yoga, boxing, cycling, Pilates, barre, stretching, dance, etc.
- Class duration ranges from 10-60 minutes
- Customizable exercise filters (class style, trainer, duration, music genre, equipment needed, etc).
- Performance tracking options
- Class playlists featuring top artists
- iOS and Android app
- Introductory offer of $99.99/year after 30 day free trial
If you find visual distractions limiting during workouts, switch over to Aaptiv’s purely audio-guided training. Let the coaches talk you through sequences, form corrections, pacing and more.
5. Daily Burn – Best for On-Demand Fitness Classes
Overview: Daily Burn offers an enormous on-demand library of workout videos covering all fitness levels. Choose from over 1,500 classes when designing your perfect workout each day. Access Daily Burn online or through apps.
Key Features:
- 1,500+ workout videos available on-demand
- New classes added daily – up to 40 mins long
- Trainers include fitness pros and star athletes
- Variety of class lengths, intensities, and focuses
- Yoga, HIIT, strength, Pilates, cardio, martial arts, pre/post-natal, etc
- Custom class filters and recommended programs
- Tracking your health stats and progress
- iOS and Android apps, plus web access
- Free 30 day trial, then $14.95/month
With new classes released daily across nearly any workout style you can imagine, Daily Burn makes it easy to avoid workout boredom and find fresh training you look forward to doing each day.
Start Working Out from Home Today
Virtual fitness platforms and apps make it simple and affordable to access specialty workout classes wherever you have an internet connection and device.
Hopefully this review of the top 5 virtual fitness apps and platforms – Peloton, Obé Fitness, Nike Training Club, Aaptiv and Daily Burn – gave you a sense of the variety and quality of online classes available today.
With so many options to choose from, you can build a customized workout plan that keeps your fitness routine interesting. Mix and match class styles based on what you enjoy and the areas you want to target.
Take advantage of free trials to test out new apps and find the right fit before committing. Then get started crushing your fitness goals from home!
