Women over 50 know they need to improve their fitness levels but can still have a hard time fitting it into their busy schedules. While they might crave the camaraderie that one experiences at a gym or during a class, certain things could hold them back from engaging in them. Scheduling conflicts are common, but so is navigating the culture of a particular gym or class. Workout apps can provide the motivation and variety that women need to stay healthy while still meeting their other needs.
Top 20 Workout Apps for Women Over 50
We looked at what’s on the market and recommend these as some of the best workout apps out there. We also have a free 30-day fitness challenge to help you get started.
1. Walk2
Walk2 is an interactive weight loss solution offering virtual walking challenges to help you lose weight or simply become more active. You can automatically sync your real-life steps into the virtual route and explore famous landmarks as you reach milestones in your challenge. Not only does walk2 effortlessly fit into your daily life, helping you exercise without even realizing that you’re exercising, but it also motivates you to keep going with exciting rewards along the way.
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2. Future
Future is the new workout experience that pairs you one-on-one with your own fitness coach. With Future, you’ll get unlimited personal training and all the support you need to stay on track. Your coach will map out a plan based on your goals, build the workouts to get you there, and keep you accountable every day. Future has over 3,000 5-star reviews in the App Store. Future members love the experience and say this is the most consistent they’ve been with their fitness in years. With your own personal trainer, you’re closer than ever to the results you want.
3. Chapter
Chapter is the go-to wellness app for older Americans. Chapter negotiates exclusive discounts with partners like Mighty Health, the first all-in-one exercise, nutrition, and daily health program designed for people 50 and up. Chapter also makes it easy to claim fitness benefits and over-the-counter workout equipment covered by your Medicare plan. Access is free for everyone, but we recommend iPhone and iPad users download the Chapter app for first access to new features.
4. Yoga Wake Up
With the Yoga Wake Up app, you might be swayed to become a morning person — even if you aren’t right now. These easy routines are ones you can do right from your bed and range from stretches that get the blood flowing to those that energize you, the ones that increase your mindful breathing, and more.
5. MapMyFitness by Under Armor
The MapMyFitness app is free and essentially turns your phone into a personal trainer. Using your phone’s GPS capabilities, MapMyFitness monitors your favorite activity and delivers performance feedback. You can plan routes in Google Maps, listen to music, and receive encouragement via instant messages from friends from within the app. You can even sync your workouts with Under Armor smart shoes, allowing you to track everything from pace, stride length, and cadence, plus get personalized coaching tips along the way.
6. STRETCHIT
For women over 50 who understand the paramount importance of flexibility, STRETCHIT offers a structured, science-backed approach to flexibility and mobility training suited for beginners and seasoned enthusiasts alike. Not only does STRETCHIT work seamlessly with your schedule, allowing you to improve your flexibility at your convenience, but it also takes the intimidation factor out of stepping into a new gym or class culture.
7. Yoga Poses
Yoga Poses offers you 250 yoga poses with accompanying video demos, modifications for beginners, and explanations about the benefits you can experience with each pose. This free app is ideal if you’re more comfortable exercising or learning new poses in private.
8. MyFitnessPal
MyFitnessPal is your one-stop location for tracking your diet, exercise, and caloric intake. If your goal is to lose weight — or keep the weight from creeping up on you — while getting fit, MyFitnessPal makes it fast and easy to count calories while providing a place to log your exercise.
9. Openfit
Openfit offers live and on-demand classes led by real personal trainers. Whether you’re traveling or at home, you can join a live exercise group day and night. Choose from classes that run 15, 30, or 40 minutes long that are easy to fit into your busy schedule. Tap into a library of pre-recorded classes 24/7 at any fitness level. With Openfit, it’s like having a personal trainer to collaborate with to help you reach your fitness goals.
10. Daily Burn
Daily Burn lets you seamlessly track both your caloric intake and your exercise output in one interactive place. The app includes a calorie counter that enables you to scan a food’s barcode and get instant nutritional information. You can also stream more than 1,000 workouts ranging from beginners to advanced.
11. Stay on Track
Stay on Track is a calorie-tracking app that will help you start a new active lifestyle, improve your health, reach your target weight, and build healthy habits. Whether you want to lose weight or maintain it, Stay on Track will calculate the optimal daily calorie budget for you based on your goals.
12. Mark Lauren Bodyweight Training
Working on the premise that you don’t have any equipment, Mark Lauren Bodyweight Training is packed with 200 bodyweight exercises that tap into just your own body’s weight to be effective. Available for Apple and Android devices, this app also includes how-to videos and modifications so you can customize the exercises to your fitness level.
13. 7-Minute Workout
The 7-Minute Workout app lets even the busiest women squeeze in exercise routines that are short yet effective. Using a combination of cardio and strength training exercises that don’t need any special equipment, the 7-Minute Workout also tracks your progress to keep you both motivated and challenged.
14. Couch to 5K Running App
If running a 5K is on your bucket list now that you’ve surpassed the half-century mark, it can be more than a little intimidating knowing how to get started. That’s where the Couch to 5K Running App comes in. Ease into training with a nine-week program that has you running three times a week for 30 minutes each time. Choose from four virtual coaches with their distinct personalities to keep you motivated.
15. Pilates Anytime
Pilates Anytime takes the tricky vocabulary associated with the practice and breaks down each move. You can watch each one as many times as you need to feel comfortable without the pressures that a group setting often brings. If you’re already a Pilates pro, choose from one of the 2,500 included classes that range from favorites like foam roller workouts, basic mat routines, barre fusion, and more.
16. GymGoal Pro
Adding weights to your workouts can help you retain muscle mass, flexibility, and strength as you age. Getting started can be intimidating, but the GymGoal Pro app is here to help. With your one-time purchase of GymGoal Pro, you have access to a powerful, adjustable, and expandable fitness app. Not only will you learn the proper form for weight lifting, but you’ll also have access to a growing library of workouts that can be modified based on both your capabilities and your goals. There’s a cheaper option available, GymGoal, but it is more limited and has fewer workout options.
17. Gym Plus FitSense App
The FitSense app is a handy mobile fitness app designed to help you succeed with your fitness and nutrition goals. Ready to book an exercise class? You can check the club schedule and book a class using the app. It also includes personalized training and nutrition plans designed by a trainer at your fitness assessment to keep you motivated!
18. Interval Timer App
Need a good circuit training music app? This handy little app helps you keep track of your work and rest periods during workouts. Whether you’re into cycling, running, lifting weights, exercise, stretching, boxing, MMA, or HIIT, this interval timer will prove to be an invaluable asset to you.
19. Stretch & Flexibility at Home App
If you’re not stretching 2-3 times each day, it’s time to start! As one of the best stretching apps, this program features stretching exercises that cover all muscle groups and are suitable for all people, including men, women, young, and old.
20. FaceYoga
Rated as one of the best face exercise apps out there, the face yoga exercises strengthen muscles, increase blood circulation, improve skin condition, and relieve stress. They also serve as an anti-aging routine against crow’s feet and other unwanted wrinkles, helping to diminish dark shadows beneath the eyes, toning muscles, reducing double chin, and lifting flabby cheeks.
21. FitnessBuilder
FitnessBuilder gives you the power of a personal trainer along with the ability to record and track your workouts so you can compare your progress with your friends. With FitnessBuilder Plus Access, you can choose from more than 1,000 workouts and over 7,000 videos and fitness images to ensure your form is correct and more.
Turning your smartphone into a fitness tool is made easier with the plethora of apps available today. The best workout apps are the ones you’ll actually use. The above selections are designed to give you a taste of the diverse options you can tap into to meet your health goals.
If you’re still struggling to lose weight even after adding more time to your daily and weekly workouts, you might want to consider giving your diet an overhaul. If you’ve considered intermittent fasting but are intimidated by the idea, take a look at Prime Women’s PLATE program, which offers an amazing program specially designed to help women over 50 jump-start their weight loss. Now available in an app on Apple or Android with reminders to keep you on track.
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