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Not sure how you want to work out? An online workout program might be just the thing. In general, online workout programs are workout schedules, training, or coaching from fitness experts delivered directly to athletes via apps or websites they can access from the comfort of their homes (or local gyms). Through online workout programs, people can train in nearly every aspect of fitness, from Olympic lifting to cardiovascular health, in the form of videos, virtual meetings, or online dashboards that list daily workouts.
There are virtually countless online workout programs, which can be a double-edged sword. On the one hand, there will likely be (at least) one online program that can suit your needs. On the other hand, with all the choices available, it can be hard to separate the great programs from the not-so-great ones. So we’ve done the work for you, looking for online workout programs that are effective, comprehensive, scalable, and yeah, even fun. But since everyone works out differently, we’ve put together a list of the best online workout programs for a range of workout types, so you can get your sweat on no matter how you like to do it.
Best Online Workout Programs
Best Online Workout Program Overall: Living.Fit
Best Online Workout Program for Personalized Coaching: Future
Best Online Workout Program for At Home Workouts: Living.Fit
Best Online Workout Program for Cardio: iFit
Best Online Workout Program for Strength and Conditioning: NCFIT
Best Online Workout Program for Live Classes: MIRROR by Lululemon
Best Online Workout Program for the Money: Living.Fit
Best Online Workout Program
When searching out the best online workout program, we wanted a platform that provided workouts to help athletes meet various goals, catered to all skill levels, and didn’t break the bank. This pick checked all those boxes for us.
Living.Fit
If you’re looking for a fitness program that covers everything from building strength and size to losing weight and running a 5k, Living.Fit is hard to beat. Rather than pay a monthly subscription, you can choose your workout programs a la carte, paying roughly $10 for whatever workout plan you’d like. The plans most often consist of 30 classes that last anywhere from 10 to 40 minutes, ranging from beginner to advanced levels, and centering around kettlebells, battle ropes, dumbbells, body weight, and resistance band movements. There are also week-long plans that can be repeated for as many weeks as you’d like. They even offer nutrition programs for people who want to learn how to eat better.
Living.Fit Online Workout Program
Living.Fit lets you choose your workout programs a la carte, paying roughly $10 for month-long kettlebell, dumbbell, battle rope, or body weight workout plans. There are also week-long plans as well as nutrition programs for people who want to learn how to eat better.
Want to go all in? Opt for the $8 per month subscription and gain access to every workout Living.Fit offers. No equipment? No worries. If you get sick of doing bodyweight workouts, you can order kettlebells, dumbbells, battle ropes, resistance bands, and a bunch of other workout gear on Living.Fit’s website. Heck, personal trainers can even get continuing education certifications through the site as well.
Who Should Subscribe To Living.Fit
Anyone who wants a wide range of different workouts will appreciate the strength, hypertrophy, endurance, and other options available here.
People who want to change programming month to month will like the option to pay per program instead of committing to a monthly subscription.
Athletes on a budget will love paying $10 for a month of programming at a time.
Who Shouldn’t Subscribe To Living.Fit
Athletes who want sport-specific or barbell programming are out of luck here since the programs all revolve around general fitness.
While this programming lacks sport-specific and barbell training, its variety, accessibility, and low price point make it an excellent option for anyone looking to increase their general fitness.
Best for Personalized Coaching
Personalized one-on-one training might be the most effective way to hit your goals. But having a program written specifically for you, with your movements and progress evaluated on a day-to-day basis, and someone to hold you accountable online is not an easy task. This pick does it better than any other we’ve seen.
Future
The perfect blend of old-school personal training and modern-day connectivity, Future is a fitness app that connects you with one of the company’s personal trainers, who will meet with you to discuss your goals, create a personalized program for you, and follow your progress as you go, making adjustments when needed. It’s just like having a personal trainer, but instead of being limited to local trainers in your area, you have access to world-class trainers all over the country.
Future Online Personal Training
Future offers online personal training in every facet of fitness. Every client gets a certified fitness professional who will proscribe training programs, follow up daily to assess progress, make program adjustments as needed, and offer accountability.
Once you’ve chosen a coach, you’ll have a video conference to discuss your goals, needs, and other details. Then your coach will send you daily workouts through the app that you’ll complete on your own, often with recorded voice notes telling you specifically how they’d like you to do your movements. When you finish each workout, you’ll record your results and any comments or questions you have for your coach in the app so that they can review and adjust future workouts.
You can also record videos of your movements for evaluation. Plus, you can communicate with your coach at any time. Even better, if you skip a workout, your coach will most likely reach out to you to see what happened and help you get back on track. Depending on what you choose to focus on, you’ll require different equipment. For instance, if you want to work on your Olympic lifts, you’ll need a barbell, weight plates, and a power rack to start with. If you want to improve your half marathon time, you may not need more than a good pair of running shoes.
Who Should Buy Subscribe to Future
Athletes who want one-on-one personal training will love the accountability and attention that this program’s coaches provide.
Anyone trying to get better at a specific lift or skill will like the opportunity to work with accomplished athletes in various fields.
Customers who want daily accountability. The coaches here can reach out to see why you missed a workout.
Who Shouldn’t Subscribe to Future
People who don’t want to track their progress meticulously won’t like having to enter every weight and rep count of their workouts.
Anyone who doesn’t want to check in with someone regularly won’t like their coach’s ability to contact them at will.
Athletes on a budget will likely balk at the $149 per month price tag.
With the convenience of one-on-one coaching in any number of specialized sports, this online workout program can help you improve in whatever facet of fitness you enjoy most.
Best for At-Home Workouts
When you’re working out at home, space can be an issue. This online workout program does away with barbells and power racks to provide top-notch programming with space-saving gear like kettlebells, dumbbells, and resistance bands.
Living.Fit
Working out at home can be a challenge, especially if you don’t have a lot of room to spare. Living.Fit’s programming is an excellent solution, thanks to its heavy reliance on kettlebells, dumbbells, resistance bands, and bodyweight movements in its programming. These pieces of equipment might be small compared to barbells, but they’re among the most versatile fitness tools on the market. This program takes full advantage, offering strength, endurance, and interval workout plans designed for maximum effectiveness while taking up minimal space.
Living.Fit Online Workout Program
Living.Fit lets you choose your workout programs a la carte, paying roughly $10 for month-long kettlebell, dumbbell, battle rope, or body weight workout plans. There are also week-long plans as well as nutrition programs for people who want to learn how to eat better.
The plans in this program range in duration from repeatable five-day-a-week plans to 30-day plans, and they offer a mix of strength training, fat loss, running, and conditioning, so there’s an option for just about every athlete. There are also nutrition plans to help athletes improve their eating habits as well.
Who Should Subscribe To Living.Fit
Customers looking for many workouts that don’t require a lot of space will like this program’s use of smaller weights, like kettlebells and resistance bands.
Athletes who want access to various workouts will appreciate being able to switch from strength training to cardiovascular or HIIT training every month.
Anyone who wants to switch programming from month to month will like the month-long commitments to each plan.
Who Shouldn’t Subscribe To Living.Fit
Athletes who want to train with barbells should look elsewhere since this pick has no barbell programming.
People who need personal training and accountability won’t like that there is no live interaction with coaches unless you pay more for personal training.
Living.Fit’s programming offers variety, low pricing, and pre-recorded video workouts you can follow along with and do in just a few square feet of space. While it doesn’t offer many strength-sport-specific workouts, this is a great option for people looking to improve their general fitness from home.
Best for Cardio
Working to improve your cardiovascular output can be a grind as you chug out miles on a treadmill or a bike. This pick makes those hours more engaging with virtual destination runs and training options like strength workouts and yoga to break up the monotony.
iFit
If you’re looking for cardio workouts that aren’t boring, give iFit a good, hard look. iFit programming is a blend of fitness and entertainment, thanks to its mix of on-demand and live classes, immersive destination workouts, and machine integration. While some classes don’t require equipment, iFit’s programs really shine when connected to a NordicTrack, ProForm or Freemotion treadmill or stationary bike.
$25 Off
iFit Class Subscription
The iFit app features a library of over 16,000 live and on-demand classes that range from mental health and recovery to rowing, running, HIIT and strength classes. You can get the full studio experience virtually through iFit, and is a great boost to any home gym set-up — with or without equipment.
When connected, the classes provide a nearly endless supply of workouts, from interval and distance training to heart rate training. One of the outstanding features is the destination runs, which simulate hikes through the pyramids of Giza (complete with a guide) or a trek to Mt. Everest base camp. While you’re taking one of these classes, your connected tread, bike, or elliptical can automatically adjust with the class to simulate that trail’s specific elevation gain and loss.
You can still use the program if you don’t have any of the machines mentioned above by streaming through the iFit app on your own device. iFit also offers workouts that don’t require any machines, including HIIT, strength training, yoga, and a wide range of other floor-based classes.
Who Should Subscribe To iFit
Anyone with NordicTrack, ProForm, FreeMotion, or Reebok equipment will love the added features and ability to control iFit through their machine.
Customers looking for an all-in-one fitness program that integrates with their fitness equipment will like the seamless integration between the programming and their cardio machines.
People who are training for endurance events will appreciate the variety of training and the virtual destination training videos.
Who Shouldn’t Subscribe To iFit
Customers who don’t want to increase their cardiovascular capacity may want to look for programming more geared toward strength training.
Athletes who are looking to bulk up and build strength would probably want more workouts involving heavier weight.
People who don’t want to spend a lot of money on equipment and programming may want to check out other programs. While iFit has workouts that work on and off the machines, the program really shines when paired with a compatible machine.
With seamless integration with a range of ProForm, NordicTrack, FreeMotion, and Reebok treadmills, rowers, stationary bikes, and ellipticals, this program delivers a mix of cardio and entertainment. And even if you don’t have any of these pieces of equipment, the program contains a full suite of off-machine workout options.
Best for Strength and Conditioning
Though you’ll generally need a home gym stocked with kettlebells, dumbbells, plyo boxes, and a good pull-up rig to get the most out of these classes, NCFIT offers programming and training from some of the best functional fitness athletes and coaches in the world.
NCFIT
Founded by CrossFit legend Jason Khalipa, NCFIT is a California-based fitness center with two gym locations in the Bay Area. But if you live elsewhere, NCFIT offers a $ 20-a-month app that provides training programs designed by NCFIT coaches that offer strength training, conditioning, and bodybuilding plans for athletes with their own equipment.
NCFIT Online Workout Program
NCFIT provides workout programs for beginner, intermediate, and advanced athletes 365 days a year. The program offers a mix of strength, conditioning, and cardiovascular workouts to deliver well-rounded fitness to participants.
The classes consist of daily workouts written out for athletes to follow on their own time. Each daily workout has two versions: Fitness is more approachable with moderate weights and movements, where Performance is geared more towards competitive athletes and consists of heavier weights and more complicated movements.
In addition to daily programming, the app offers daily tips, an in-app timer for workouts, and travel workouts. If you’re not sure what something is, there is a video library in the app that will walk you through the proper form and performance of each movement NCFIT prescribes. And if you happen to be missing a piece of equipment that a workout requires, there is a list of movement substitutions within the app to help you out.
Who Should Subscribe to NCFIT
Anyone who wants to learn CrossFit but is nervous about starting in a gym will love the ability to learn the basics at home.
CrossFit competitors who want to podium will like this program’s Performance track’s heavy weights and complicated movements.
Athletes who want to build strength and improve conditioning will appreciate this pick’s focus on combining strength with speed and work capacity.
Who Shouldn’t Subscribe to NCFIT
Anyone who doesn’t have access to equipment, since the majority of the workouts will require weights, plyo boxes, wall balls, or a pull-up rig.
While you will need your own equipment (or access to it), this program offers a very well-rounded blend of strength and conditioning. Athletes looking to improve strength, aerobic capacity, and gymnastic prowess should give this program a try.
Best for Live Classes
Creating the community feeling of a live group class in a virtual setting can be challenging. This pick not only mimics the boutique fitness studio experience with live cardio, strength, and mobility classes but also offers discounts on in-house workouts with local partner gyms for when athletes want to get out of the house.
MIRROR by Lululemon
This program is built for people who love the studio fitness experience but can’t always make it to the gym. MIRROR offers over 10,000 prerecorded studio classes, live class events, and discounts to partner gyms for in-house classes. You don’t need the actual MIRROR to use the app or take classes, but it’s a snazzy device. The MIRROR looks like a regular mirror when not in use, but when it’s time to sweat, it streams workouts to the MIRROR’s surface so that you can follow along with the instructor’s movements. It also shows stats like your heart rate, the time left in a movement or workout, and who else is in the class with you.
Mirror by Lululemon
MIRROR offers access to over 10,000 prerecorded studio classes, live class events, and over 60 workout categories, including pilates, barre, strength, cardio, and yoga.
The app gives you access to live and on-demand classes that range in duration from five minutes to an hour. The classes have four difficulty levels – beginner, intermediate, advanced, and expert – and there are over 60 workout categories, including barre, strength, cardio, restorative yoga, Pilates, and boxing. There are enough no-equipment workouts to keep you busy, but having dumbbells, kettlebells, and resistance bands will open up your options.
Who Should Subscribe to MIRROR by Lululemon
Athletes who want a studio experience in their own home will love the live group classes, as well as the discounts on local gym classes.
Anyone who wants a variety of workouts will appreciate having over 60 categories of workouts to choose from.
Customers who want to improve flexibility will like the option to do barre, yoga, and pilates workouts.
Who Shouldn’t Subscribe to MIRROR by Lululemon
Athletes whose main goal is increasing strength and size since many of MIRROR’s workouts focus on general fitness, toning, and cardio.
Anyone who wants to train for a specific sport or competition won’t like the lack of sport-specific training here.
Other programs offer live studio experiences, but this pick goes above and beyond by offering discount in-house classes at brick-and-mortar studios. However, you may not need them since the app itself has daily live classes and over 10,000 classes on demand.
Best for the Money
When looking for an online workout program that was heavy on features but light on the wallet, this pick stood out for its variety of options, high quality of programming, and its unique a la carte pricing model.
Living.Fit
This program offers a variety of strength and conditioning courses that generally revolve around kettlebells, dumbbells, resistance bands, and bodyweight workouts. The workouts come in a 30-day series, and each month-long series will cost around $10. What’s so interesting about this programming is that you can mix and match your workouts from month to month: This month, you can do a kettlebell strength series, while next month, you can switch it up to a resistance band weight loss program.
Living.Fit Online Workout Program
Living.Fit lets you choose your workout programs a la carte, paying roughly $10 for month-long kettlebell, dumbbell, battle rope, or body weight workout plans. There are also week-long plans as well as nutrition programs for people who want to learn how to eat better.
These pre-recorded workouts consist of an introduction by a trainer, followed by a 10- to 40-minute workout that you can follow along with. In addition to seeing the trainer do the movement during the workout, there is also a movement video library to help you dial in your form. If you want full access to all of the program’s features, you can purchase an all-in subscription that costs $8 a month, or if you commit to a year, only $50 annually.
Who Should Subscribe to Living.Fit
Athletes who want a program that won’t break the bank will appreciate the option to buy programs from month to month instead of committing to a recurring subscription.
Anyone who wants home workouts that don’t require a lot of equipment will like that most of the workouts here use just a pair of kettlebells or dumbbells.
People who also want an option for nutrition coaching since this pick has several nutrition programs to choose from.
Who Shouldn’t Subscribe to Living.Fit
Athletes whose main goal is increasing barbell strength won’t like the lack of barbell programming.
People looking for cardio-specific programming should look for a program that focuses more on cardio training.
Living.Fit offers a wide selection of workouts aimed toward a variety of goals, all of which come at some of the lowest prices you’ll find. If you’re looking for an online workout program that’s tough on you but easy on your wallet, this one’s worth checking out.
How We Chose the Best Online Workout Programs
There is a seemingly endless number of choices when it comes to online fitness programs, with each one claiming to be the best. But the best workout varies widely from person to person based on their goals, needs, and abilities. We considered factors like price, accessibility, expertise, required equipment, and more to create a comprehensive list that appeals to a wide range of consumers looking for a solid online fitness program.
Price
Factoring in the price of a program is a great place to start whittling down your options. Some programs requiring more attention, like one-on-one coaching, can run up to over $100 a month. If that’s out of your price range, less expensive programs provide workouts and generalized coaching instead. We chose programs that span the range from premium to cost-effective, so there’s a program here for every budget.
Accessibility
Any good program will offer classes that work well for beginners. There’s nothing worse than going out too hard and quitting a workout halfway through or, even worse, injuring yourself. We made it a point to find programming that offers beginner or on-ramp courses and more advanced workouts.
Good beginners’ workouts are built with the goal of building a foundation of fitness, rather than on heavy weights and high intensity. These workouts usually use lighter (if any) weights, simpler or modified movements (like air squats or knee push-ups), and go at a slower pace than intermediate or advanced workouts.
Expertise
The coaches you’ll find in these programs have a variety of certifications and qualifications. Each has gone through and graduated from a coaching program that determined them to be qualified to coach athletes. Some are or have been competitive athletes as well.
Required Equipment
We made it a point to find programs that will work with a range of equipment access. Some of these programs offer training requiring little or no fitness equipment, while others require access to a full gym or specific tech, like treadmills or fitness mirrors. Whether you have a full gym at your disposal or nothing at all, there’s something on this list for you.
Program Variety
Everyone has different goals, whether to lose weight, gain muscle, or move a refrigerator all by themselves. We chose programs that would cover as wide a range of goals as possible, so there would be something useful for every type of athlete. Strength training and hypertrophy training are perfect for people who want to get bigger and stronger, whereas HIIT, cardio, and boxing training are all ideal for athletes who want to tone and improve their cardiovascular fitness. Looking to improve your flexibility? There are yoga and pilates classes in some of these programs, as well.
Benefits of Online Workout Programs
While an in-house workout program provides the benefit of real-time coaching, online workout programs do have some solid perks — such as convenience and lower cost.
Convenience
Online programming is convenient because you can do it anywhere. Since you don’t have to go to a gym whenever you want to work out, you’re not at the mercy of traffic or class times that don’t work with your work/life schedule.
Also, having someone else do the programming for you means you won’t be sitting around wondering what workout you should do on any given day. Just read the programming and get to work.
Price
Generally, you’ll pay less for an online workout program than you will for a gym. This is because the programmers don’t have to worry about paying for the gym space or equipment. Consequently, you’ll have to provide your own space and gear, but the subscription generally won’t cost as much.
If you’re looking for a deal, many programs will offer discounts for buying an annual membership versus going with a monthly membership. If you can pony up the money for an annual membership (and you know you like the program), that’s the way to go.
How Much Do Online Workout Programs Cost?
Online workout programs can vary wildly in price. Most of the programs you’ll find will be in the $40 to $60 a month range, but some can go quite a bit higher or lower.
Best Overall
Living.Fit
$8 a month
$50 a year
Best for Personalized Coaching
Future
$149 a month
Best for At Home Workouts
Living.Fit
$8 a month
$50 annually
Best for Cardio
iFit
$15 a month
$180 a year
Best for Strength and Conditioning
NCFIT
$20 a month
Best for Live Classes
MIRROR by Lululemon
$39 a month
Best for the Money
Living.Fit
$8 a month
$50 a year
Lower-cost programs with preset programs that you can follow at your leisure tend to be on the less expensive side since the programming is already set. Programs with regularly updated or live workouts require constant upkeep (and studio space for live and pre-recorded videos), so they’ll be in the middle to the higher end of the price range. One-on-one personal training will often be the most expensive option.
You should also factor in any needed equipment to the cost. While many online workout programs have options for bodyweight movements, there are some that will require workout gear. Often, this will be minimal, like a kettlebell and a few pairs of dumbbells, but other programs will require more expensive and space-hogging equipment, like barbells and plyo boxes.
What to Consider Before Buying An Online Workout Program
Before committing to an online workout program, it’s important to consider a few factors to make sure you choose the right one for you. Here are a few things to take into account before you commit.
Goals
The first thing to consider when starting an online workout program is what you want from it. Why are you thinking about it in the first place? Do you want to lose weight? Consider a cardio or HIIT-based program over a strictly strength-based one. Looking to get stronger or compete in strength competitions? Find one that focuses on improving your lifting form and building strength.
Equipment and Space
Also, be sure to consider what workout gear you already have (or have access to) and what you’re willing to spend to build out your home gym. Few things are as frustrating as subscribing to a program, and then finding out that you need to buy a bunch of fitness equipment before you can get started. Several plans on this list offer classes that require little or no fitness equipment, so if you’re not eager to shop for weights, those are the ones to consider.
Budget
And, of course, if you can’t afford it, you’re not getting it. Consider the total cost of your investment, which includes the monthly cost of the programming and any equipment you may need to get started. The programs in this list range in price from over $100 a month to less than $10 a month, so there are options here for every price range.
Fitness Level
One of the most common mistakes for someone new to working out or just getting back into a fitness routine is going out too hard with a high-level competitive program. If you’re a newer athlete, don’t jump right into competitive or high-level online workout programming. Make sure whatever program you choose has easier courses to get you started — something that consists of lower weights, simpler movements, and slower pacing to help you form a foundation to build your fitness upon.
Final Word
Online fitness programs are a great way to get a workout done wherever you are. Plus, there are programs to help you achieve specific goals, so whether you want to gain strength, lose weight, or improve your cardiovascular fitness, there are plenty of options to choose from. The choices in this list cover a wide range of goals, methods, and price ranges, so there’s something for everyone. But the one thing they all have in common is that they provide expert coaches with the expertise to get you where you want to be. All you have to do is choose your goal, find an online workout program in your price range, and get to work.
FAQs
Are online workout programs as effective as in-person classes?While online workout programs don’t have the benefit of having a trainer watching you in real-time, they do have several advantages. One is the variety of workout programs available online. You only have so many gyms in your area, but the list of online workout programs is nearly endless. You just need to pay attention to your form and hold yourself accountable to do the work.
How much do online workout programs cost? Online workout programs vary in price, from less than $10 a month to $150 and beyond for online personal training. It really depends on how much oversight you need and what you’re willing to pay for it. If you want a personal trainer to follow your workouts online and give you personalized critiques and tips, you can expect to pay more. You can expect to pay anywhere from $60 to $100 a month for online workout programs that provide on-demand or live group classes.
What’s the best online workout program?Since people’s goals and abilities differ, there isn’t one online workout program that is the best for everyone. One aspect that is common among all of the best ones is that the trainers and coaches are experienced certified professionals that are qualified to design and prescribe workouts. For us, we like the Living.Fit program for its reasonable pricing and variety of training options.
Not sure how you want to work out? An online workout program might be just the thing. In general, online workout programs are workout schedules, training, or coaching from fitness experts delivered directly to athletes via apps or websites they can access from the comfort of their homes (or local gyms). Through online workout programs, people can train in nearly every aspect of fitness, from Olympic lifting to cardiovascular health, in the form of videos, virtual meetings, or online dashboards that list daily workouts.
There are virtually countless online workout programs, which can be a double-edged sword. On the one hand, there will likely be (at least) one online program that can suit your needs. On the other hand, with all the choices available, it can be hard to separate the great programs from the not-so-great ones. So we’ve done the work for you, looking for online workout programs that are effective, comprehensive, scalable, and yeah, even fun. But since everyone works out differently, we’ve put together a list of the best online workout programs for a range of workout types, so you can get your sweat on no matter how you like to do it.
Best Online Workout Programs
When searching out the best online workout program, we wanted a platform that provided workouts to help athletes meet various goals, catered to all skill levels, and didn’t break the bank. This pick checked all those boxes for us.
Living.Fit
If you’re looking for a fitness program that covers everything from building strength and size to losing weight and running a 5k, Living.Fit is hard to beat. Rather than pay a monthly subscription, you can choose your workout programs a la carte, paying roughly $10 for whatever workout plan you’d like. The plans most often consist of 30 classes that last anywhere from 10 to 40 minutes, ranging from beginner to advanced levels, and centering around kettlebells, battle ropes, dumbbells, body weight, and resistance band movements. There are also week-long plans that can be repeated for as many weeks as you’d like. They even offer nutrition programs for people who want to learn how to eat better.
Living.Fit Online Workout Program
Living.Fit lets you choose your workout programs a la carte, paying roughly $10 for month-long kettlebell, dumbbell, battle rope, or body weight workout plans. There are also week-long plans as well as nutrition programs for people who want to learn how to eat better.
Want to go all in? Opt for the $8 per month subscription and gain access to every workout Living.Fit offers. No equipment? No worries. If you get sick of doing bodyweight workouts, you can order kettlebells, dumbbells, battle ropes, resistance bands, and a bunch of other workout gear on Living.Fit’s website. Heck, personal trainers can even get continuing education certifications through the site as well.
Who Should Subscribe To Living.Fit
Best for Personalized Coaching
Personalized one-on-one training might be the most effective way to hit your goals. But having a program written specifically for you, with your movements and progress evaluated on a day-to-day basis, and someone to hold you accountable online is not an easy task. This pick does it better than any other we’ve seen.
Future
The perfect blend of old-school personal training and modern-day connectivity, Future is a fitness app that connects you with one of the company’s personal trainers, who will meet with you to discuss your goals, create a personalized program for you, and follow your progress as you go, making adjustments when needed. It’s just like having a personal trainer, but instead of being limited to local trainers in your area, you have access to world-class trainers all over the country.
Future Online Personal Training
Future offers online personal training in every facet of fitness. Every client gets a certified fitness professional who will proscribe training programs, follow up daily to assess progress, make program adjustments as needed, and offer accountability.
Once you’ve chosen a coach, you’ll have a video conference to discuss your goals, needs, and other details. Then your coach will send you daily workouts through the app that you’ll complete on your own, often with recorded voice notes telling you specifically how they’d like you to do your movements. When you finish each workout, you’ll record your results and any comments or questions you have for your coach in the app so that they can review and adjust future workouts.
You can also record videos of your movements for evaluation. Plus, you can communicate with your coach at any time. Even better, if you skip a workout, your coach will most likely reach out to you to see what happened and help you get back on track. Depending on what you choose to focus on, you’ll require different equipment. For instance, if you want to work on your Olympic lifts, you’ll need a barbell, weight plates, and a power rack to start with. If you want to improve your half marathon time, you may not need more than a good pair of running shoes.
Who Should Buy Subscribe to Future
Best for At-Home Workouts
When you’re working out at home, space can be an issue. This online workout program does away with barbells and power racks to provide top-notch programming with space-saving gear like kettlebells, dumbbells, and resistance bands.
Living.Fit
Working out at home can be a challenge, especially if you don’t have a lot of room to spare. Living.Fit’s programming is an excellent solution, thanks to its heavy reliance on kettlebells, dumbbells, resistance bands, and bodyweight movements in its programming. These pieces of equipment might be small compared to barbells, but they’re among the most versatile fitness tools on the market. This program takes full advantage, offering strength, endurance, and interval workout plans designed for maximum effectiveness while taking up minimal space.
Living.Fit Online Workout Program
Living.Fit lets you choose your workout programs a la carte, paying roughly $10 for month-long kettlebell, dumbbell, battle rope, or body weight workout plans. There are also week-long plans as well as nutrition programs for people who want to learn how to eat better.
The plans in this program range in duration from repeatable five-day-a-week plans to 30-day plans, and they offer a mix of strength training, fat loss, running, and conditioning, so there’s an option for just about every athlete. There are also nutrition plans to help athletes improve their eating habits as well.
Who Should Subscribe To Living.Fit
Best for Cardio
Working to improve your cardiovascular output can be a grind as you chug out miles on a treadmill or a bike. This pick makes those hours more engaging with virtual destination runs and training options like strength workouts and yoga to break up the monotony.
iFit
If you’re looking for cardio workouts that aren’t boring, give iFit a good, hard look. iFit programming is a blend of fitness and entertainment, thanks to its mix of on-demand and live classes, immersive destination workouts, and machine integration. While some classes don’t require equipment, iFit’s programs really shine when connected to a NordicTrack, ProForm or Freemotion treadmill or stationary bike.
$25 Off
iFit Class Subscription
The iFit app features a library of over 16,000 live and on-demand classes that range from mental health and recovery to rowing, running, HIIT and strength classes. You can get the full studio experience virtually through iFit, and is a great boost to any home gym set-up — with or without equipment.
When connected, the classes provide a nearly endless supply of workouts, from interval and distance training to heart rate training. One of the outstanding features is the destination runs, which simulate hikes through the pyramids of Giza (complete with a guide) or a trek to Mt. Everest base camp. While you’re taking one of these classes, your connected tread, bike, or elliptical can automatically adjust with the class to simulate that trail’s specific elevation gain and loss.
You can still use the program if you don’t have any of the machines mentioned above by streaming through the iFit app on your own device. iFit also offers workouts that don’t require any machines, including HIIT, strength training, yoga, and a wide range of other floor-based classes.
Who Should Subscribe To iFit
Best for Strength and Conditioning
Though you’ll generally need a home gym stocked with kettlebells, dumbbells, plyo boxes, and a good pull-up rig to get the most out of these classes, NCFIT offers programming and training from some of the best functional fitness athletes and coaches in the world.
NCFIT
Founded by CrossFit legend Jason Khalipa, NCFIT is a California-based fitness center with two gym locations in the Bay Area. But if you live elsewhere, NCFIT offers a $ 20-a-month app that provides training programs designed by NCFIT coaches that offer strength training, conditioning, and bodybuilding plans for athletes with their own equipment.
NCFIT Online Workout Program
NCFIT provides workout programs for beginner, intermediate, and advanced athletes 365 days a year. The program offers a mix of strength, conditioning, and cardiovascular workouts to deliver well-rounded fitness to participants.
The classes consist of daily workouts written out for athletes to follow on their own time. Each daily workout has two versions: Fitness is more approachable with moderate weights and movements, where Performance is geared more towards competitive athletes and consists of heavier weights and more complicated movements.
In addition to daily programming, the app offers daily tips, an in-app timer for workouts, and travel workouts. If you’re not sure what something is, there is a video library in the app that will walk you through the proper form and performance of each movement NCFIT prescribes. And if you happen to be missing a piece of equipment that a workout requires, there is a list of movement substitutions within the app to help you out.
Who Should Subscribe to NCFIT
Best for Live Classes
Creating the community feeling of a live group class in a virtual setting can be challenging. This pick not only mimics the boutique fitness studio experience with live cardio, strength, and mobility classes but also offers discounts on in-house workouts with local partner gyms for when athletes want to get out of the house.
MIRROR by Lululemon
This program is built for people who love the studio fitness experience but can’t always make it to the gym. MIRROR offers over 10,000 prerecorded studio classes, live class events, and discounts to partner gyms for in-house classes. You don’t need the actual MIRROR to use the app or take classes, but it’s a snazzy device. The MIRROR looks like a regular mirror when not in use, but when it’s time to sweat, it streams workouts to the MIRROR’s surface so that you can follow along with the instructor’s movements. It also shows stats like your heart rate, the time left in a movement or workout, and who else is in the class with you.
Mirror by Lululemon
MIRROR offers access to over 10,000 prerecorded studio classes, live class events, and over 60 workout categories, including pilates, barre, strength, cardio, and yoga.
The app gives you access to live and on-demand classes that range in duration from five minutes to an hour. The classes have four difficulty levels – beginner, intermediate, advanced, and expert – and there are over 60 workout categories, including barre, strength, cardio, restorative yoga, Pilates, and boxing. There are enough no-equipment workouts to keep you busy, but having dumbbells, kettlebells, and resistance bands will open up your options.
Who Should Subscribe to MIRROR by Lululemon
Best for the Money
When looking for an online workout program that was heavy on features but light on the wallet, this pick stood out for its variety of options, high quality of programming, and its unique a la carte pricing model.
Living.Fit
This program offers a variety of strength and conditioning courses that generally revolve around kettlebells, dumbbells, resistance bands, and bodyweight workouts. The workouts come in a 30-day series, and each month-long series will cost around $10. What’s so interesting about this programming is that you can mix and match your workouts from month to month: This month, you can do a kettlebell strength series, while next month, you can switch it up to a resistance band weight loss program.
Living.Fit Online Workout Program
Living.Fit lets you choose your workout programs a la carte, paying roughly $10 for month-long kettlebell, dumbbell, battle rope, or body weight workout plans. There are also week-long plans as well as nutrition programs for people who want to learn how to eat better.
These pre-recorded workouts consist of an introduction by a trainer, followed by a 10- to 40-minute workout that you can follow along with. In addition to seeing the trainer do the movement during the workout, there is also a movement video library to help you dial in your form. If you want full access to all of the program’s features, you can purchase an all-in subscription that costs $8 a month, or if you commit to a year, only $50 annually.
Who Should Subscribe to Living.Fit
How We Chose the Best Online Workout Programs
There is a seemingly endless number of choices when it comes to online fitness programs, with each one claiming to be the best. But the best workout varies widely from person to person based on their goals, needs, and abilities. We considered factors like price, accessibility, expertise, required equipment, and more to create a comprehensive list that appeals to a wide range of consumers looking for a solid online fitness program.
Price
Factoring in the price of a program is a great place to start whittling down your options. Some programs requiring more attention, like one-on-one coaching, can run up to over $100 a month. If that’s out of your price range, less expensive programs provide workouts and generalized coaching instead. We chose programs that span the range from premium to cost-effective, so there’s a program here for every budget.
Accessibility
Any good program will offer classes that work well for beginners. There’s nothing worse than going out too hard and quitting a workout halfway through or, even worse, injuring yourself. We made it a point to find programming that offers beginner or on-ramp courses and more advanced workouts.
Good beginners’ workouts are built with the goal of building a foundation of fitness, rather than on heavy weights and high intensity. These workouts usually use lighter (if any) weights, simpler or modified movements (like air squats or knee push-ups), and go at a slower pace than intermediate or advanced workouts.
Expertise
The coaches you’ll find in these programs have a variety of certifications and qualifications. Each has gone through and graduated from a coaching program that determined them to be qualified to coach athletes. Some are or have been competitive athletes as well.
Required Equipment
We made it a point to find programs that will work with a range of equipment access. Some of these programs offer training requiring little or no fitness equipment, while others require access to a full gym or specific tech, like treadmills or fitness mirrors. Whether you have a full gym at your disposal or nothing at all, there’s something on this list for you.
Program Variety
Everyone has different goals, whether to lose weight, gain muscle, or move a refrigerator all by themselves. We chose programs that would cover as wide a range of goals as possible, so there would be something useful for every type of athlete. Strength training and hypertrophy training are perfect for people who want to get bigger and stronger, whereas HIIT, cardio, and boxing training are all ideal for athletes who want to tone and improve their cardiovascular fitness. Looking to improve your flexibility? There are yoga and pilates classes in some of these programs, as well.
Benefits of Online Workout Programs
While an in-house workout program provides the benefit of real-time coaching, online workout programs do have some solid perks — such as convenience and lower cost.
Convenience
Online programming is convenient because you can do it anywhere. Since you don’t have to go to a gym whenever you want to work out, you’re not at the mercy of traffic or class times that don’t work with your work/life schedule.
Also, having someone else do the programming for you means you won’t be sitting around wondering what workout you should do on any given day. Just read the programming and get to work.
Price
Generally, you’ll pay less for an online workout program than you will for a gym. This is because the programmers don’t have to worry about paying for the gym space or equipment. Consequently, you’ll have to provide your own space and gear, but the subscription generally won’t cost as much.
If you’re looking for a deal, many programs will offer discounts for buying an annual membership versus going with a monthly membership. If you can pony up the money for an annual membership (and you know you like the program), that’s the way to go.
How Much Do Online Workout Programs Cost?
Online workout programs can vary wildly in price. Most of the programs you’ll find will be in the $40 to $60 a month range, but some can go quite a bit higher or lower.
Best Overall
Living.Fit
$8 a month
$50 a year
Best for Personalized Coaching
Future
$149 a month
Best for At Home Workouts
Living.Fit
$8 a month
$50 annually
Best for Cardio
iFit
$15 a month
$180 a year
Best for Strength and Conditioning
NCFIT
$20 a month
Best for Live Classes
MIRROR by Lululemon
$39 a month
Best for the Money
Living.Fit
$8 a month
$50 a year
Lower-cost programs with preset programs that you can follow at your leisure tend to be on the less expensive side since the programming is already set. Programs with regularly updated or live workouts require constant upkeep (and studio space for live and pre-recorded videos), so they’ll be in the middle to the higher end of the price range. One-on-one personal training will often be the most expensive option.
You should also factor in any needed equipment to the cost. While many online workout programs have options for bodyweight movements, there are some that will require workout gear. Often, this will be minimal, like a kettlebell and a few pairs...
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There are virtually countless online workout programs, which can be a double-edged sword. On the one hand, there will likely be (at least) one online program that can suit your needs. On the other hand, with all the choices available, it can be hard to separate the great programs from the not-so-great ones. So we’ve done the work for you, looking for online workout programs that are effective, comprehensive, scalable, and yeah, even fun. But since everyone works out differently, we’ve put together a list of the best online workout programs for a range of workout types, so you can get your sweat on no matter how you like to do it.
Best Online Workout Programs
Best Online Workout Program Overall: Living.Fit
Best Online Workout Program for Personalized Coaching: Future
Best Online Workout Program for At Home Workouts: Living.Fit
Best Online Workout Program for Cardio: iFit
Best Online Workout Program for Strength and Conditioning: NCFIT
Best Online Workout Program for Live Classes: MIRROR by Lululemon
Best Online Workout Program for the Money: Living.Fit
Best Online Workout Program
When searching out the best online workout program, we wanted a platform that provided workouts to help athletes meet various goals, catered to all skill levels, and didn’t break the bank. This pick checked all those boxes for us.
Living.Fit
If you’re looking for a fitness program that covers everything from building strength and size to losing weight and running a 5k, Living.Fit is hard to beat. Rather than pay a monthly subscription, you can choose your workout programs a la carte, paying roughly $10 for whatever workout plan you’d like. The plans most often consist of 30 classes that last anywhere from 10 to 40 minutes, ranging from beginner to advanced levels, and centering around kettlebells, battle ropes, dumbbells, body weight, and resistance band movements. There are also week-long plans that can be repeated for as many weeks as you’d like. They even offer nutrition programs for people who want to learn how to eat better.
Living.Fit Online Workout Program
Living.Fit lets you choose your workout programs a la carte, paying roughly $10 for month-long kettlebell, dumbbell, battle rope, or body weight workout plans. There are also week-long plans as well as nutrition programs for people who want to learn how to eat better.
Want to go all in? Opt for the $8 per month subscription and gain access to every workout Living.Fit offers. No equipment? No worries. If you get sick of doing bodyweight workouts, you can order kettlebells, dumbbells, battle ropes, resistance bands, and a bunch of other workout gear on Living.Fit’s website. Heck, personal trainers can even get continuing education certifications through the site as well.
Who Should Subscribe To Living.Fit
Anyone who wants a wide range of different workouts will appreciate the strength, hypertrophy, endurance, and other options available here.
People who want to change programming month to month will like the option to pay per program instead of committing to a monthly subscription.
Athletes on a budget will love paying $10 for a month of programming at a time.
Who Shouldn’t Subscribe To Living.Fit
Athletes who want sport-specific or barbell programming are out of luck here since the programs all revolve around general fitness.
While this programming lacks sport-specific and barbell training, its variety, accessibility, and low price point make it an excellent option for anyone looking to increase their general fitness.
Best for Personalized Coaching
Personalized one-on-one training might be the most effective way to hit your goals. But having a program written specifically for you, with your movements and progress evaluated on a day-to-day basis, and someone to hold you accountable online is not an easy task. This pick does it better than any other we’ve seen.
Future
The perfect blend of old-school personal training and modern-day connectivity, Future is a fitness app that connects you with one of the company’s personal trainers, who will meet with you to discuss your goals, create a personalized program for you, and follow your progress as you go, making adjustments when needed. It’s just like having a personal trainer, but instead of being limited to local trainers in your area, you have access to world-class trainers all over the country.
Future Online Personal Training
Future offers online personal training in every facet of fitness. Every client gets a certified fitness professional who will proscribe training programs, follow up daily to assess progress, make program adjustments as needed, and offer accountability.
Once you’ve chosen a coach, you’ll have a video conference to discuss your goals, needs, and other details. Then your coach will send you daily workouts through the app that you’ll complete on your own, often with recorded voice notes telling you specifically how they’d like you to do your movements. When you finish each workout, you’ll record your results and any comments or questions you have for your coach in the app so that they can review and adjust future workouts.
You can also record videos of your movements for evaluation. Plus, you can communicate with your coach at any time. Even better, if you skip a workout, your coach will most likely reach out to you to see what happened and help you get back on track. Depending on what you choose to focus on, you’ll require different equipment. For instance, if you want to work on your Olympic lifts, you’ll need a barbell, weight plates, and a power rack to start with. If you want to improve your half marathon time, you may not need more than a good pair of running shoes.
Who Should Buy Subscribe to Future
Athletes who want one-on-one personal training will love the accountability and attention that this program’s coaches provide.
Anyone trying to get better at a specific lift or skill will like the opportunity to work with accomplished athletes in various fields.
Customers who want daily accountability. The coaches here can reach out to see why you missed a workout.
Who Shouldn’t Subscribe to Future
People who don’t want to track their progress meticulously won’t like having to enter every weight and rep count of their workouts.
Anyone who doesn’t want to check in with someone regularly won’t like their coach’s ability to contact them at will.
Athletes on a budget will likely balk at the $149 per month price tag.
With the convenience of one-on-one coaching in any number of specialized sports, this online workout program can help you improve in whatever facet of fitness you enjoy most.
Best for At-Home Workouts
When you’re working out at home, space can be an issue. This online workout program does away with barbells and power racks to provide top-notch programming with space-saving gear like kettlebells, dumbbells, and resistance bands.
Living.Fit
Working out at home can be a challenge, especially if you don’t have a lot of room to spare. Living.Fit’s programming is an excellent solution, thanks to its heavy reliance on kettlebells, dumbbells, resistance bands, and bodyweight movements in its programming. These pieces of equipment might be small compared to barbells, but they’re among the most versatile fitness tools on the market. This program takes full advantage, offering strength, endurance, and interval workout plans designed for maximum effectiveness while taking up minimal space.
Living.Fit Online Workout Program
Living.Fit lets you choose your workout programs a la carte, paying roughly $10 for month-long kettlebell, dumbbell, battle rope, or body weight workout plans. There are also week-long plans as well as nutrition programs for people who want to learn how to eat better.
The plans in this program range in duration from repeatable five-day-a-week plans to 30-day plans, and they offer a mix of strength training, fat loss, running, and conditioning, so there’s an option for just about every athlete. There are also nutrition plans to help athletes improve their eating habits as well.
Who Should Subscribe To Living.Fit
Customers looking for many workouts that don’t require a lot of space will like this program’s use of smaller weights, like kettlebells and resistance bands.
Athletes who want access to various workouts will appreciate being able to switch from strength training to cardiovascular or HIIT training every month.
Anyone who wants to switch programming from month to month will like the month-long commitments to each plan.
Who Shouldn’t Subscribe To Living.Fit
Athletes who want to train with barbells should look elsewhere since this pick has no barbell programming.
People who need personal training and accountability won’t like that there is no live interaction with coaches unless you pay more for personal training.
Living.Fit’s programming offers variety, low pricing, and pre-recorded video workouts you can follow along with and do in just a few square feet of space. While it doesn’t offer many strength-sport-specific workouts, this is a great option for people looking to improve their general fitness from home.
Best for Cardio
Working to improve your cardiovascular output can be a grind as you chug out miles on a treadmill or a bike. This pick makes those hours more engaging with virtual destination runs and training options like strength workouts and yoga to break up the monotony.
iFit
If you’re looking for cardio workouts that aren’t boring, give iFit a good, hard look. iFit programming is a blend of fitness and entertainment, thanks to its mix of on-demand and live classes, immersive destination workouts, and machine integration. While some classes don’t require equipment, iFit’s programs really shine when connected to a NordicTrack, ProForm or Freemotion treadmill or stationary bike.
$25 Off
iFit Class Subscription
The iFit app features a library of over 16,000 live and on-demand classes that range from mental health and recovery to rowing, running, HIIT and strength classes. You can get the full studio experience virtually through iFit, and is a great boost to any home gym set-up — with or without equipment.
When connected, the classes provide a nearly endless supply of workouts, from interval and distance training to heart rate training. One of the outstanding features is the destination runs, which simulate hikes through the pyramids of Giza (complete with a guide) or a trek to Mt. Everest base camp. While you’re taking one of these classes, your connected tread, bike, or elliptical can automatically adjust with the class to simulate that trail’s specific elevation gain and loss.
You can still use the program if you don’t have any of the machines mentioned above by streaming through the iFit app on your own device. iFit also offers workouts that don’t require any machines, including HIIT, strength training, yoga, and a wide range of other floor-based classes.
Who Should Subscribe To iFit
Anyone with NordicTrack, ProForm, FreeMotion, or Reebok equipment will love the added features and ability to control iFit through their machine.
Customers looking for an all-in-one fitness program that integrates with their fitness equipment will like the seamless integration between the programming and their cardio machines.
People who are training for endurance events will appreciate the variety of training and the virtual destination training videos.
Who Shouldn’t Subscribe To iFit
Customers who don’t want to increase their cardiovascular capacity may want to look for programming more geared toward strength training.
Athletes who are looking to bulk up and build strength would probably want more workouts involving heavier weight.
People who don’t want to spend a lot of money on equipment and programming may want to check out other programs. While iFit has workouts that work on and off the machines, the program really shines when paired with a compatible machine.
With seamless integration with a range of ProForm, NordicTrack, FreeMotion, and Reebok treadmills, rowers, stationary bikes, and ellipticals, this program delivers a mix of cardio and entertainment. And even if you don’t have any of these pieces of equipment, the program contains a full suite of off-machine workout options.
Best for Strength and Conditioning
Though you’ll generally need a home gym stocked with kettlebells, dumbbells, plyo boxes, and a good pull-up rig to get the most out of these classes, NCFIT offers programming and training from some of the best functional fitness athletes and coaches in the world.
NCFIT
Founded by CrossFit legend Jason Khalipa, NCFIT is a California-based fitness center with two gym locations in the Bay Area. But if you live elsewhere, NCFIT offers a $ 20-a-month app that provides training programs designed by NCFIT coaches that offer strength training, conditioning, and bodybuilding plans for athletes with their own equipment.
NCFIT Online Workout Program
NCFIT provides workout programs for beginner, intermediate, and advanced athletes 365 days a year. The program offers a mix of strength, conditioning, and cardiovascular workouts to deliver well-rounded fitness to participants.
The classes consist of daily workouts written out for athletes to follow on their own time. Each daily workout has two versions: Fitness is more approachable with moderate weights and movements, where Performance is geared more towards competitive athletes and consists of heavier weights and more complicated movements.
In addition to daily programming, the app offers daily tips, an in-app timer for workouts, and travel workouts. If you’re not sure what something is, there is a video library in the app that will walk you through the proper form and performance of each movement NCFIT prescribes. And if you happen to be missing a piece of equipment that a workout requires, there is a list of movement substitutions within the app to help you out.
Who Should Subscribe to NCFIT
Anyone who wants to learn CrossFit but is nervous about starting in a gym will love the ability to learn the basics at home.
CrossFit competitors who want to podium will like this program’s Performance track’s heavy weights and complicated movements.
Athletes who want to build strength and improve conditioning will appreciate this pick’s focus on combining strength with speed and work capacity.
Who Shouldn’t Subscribe to NCFIT
Anyone who doesn’t have access to equipment, since the majority of the workouts will require weights, plyo boxes, wall balls, or a pull-up rig.
While you will need your own equipment (or access to it), this program offers a very well-rounded blend of strength and conditioning. Athletes looking to improve strength, aerobic capacity, and gymnastic prowess should give this program a try.
Best for Live Classes
Creating the community feeling of a live group class in a virtual setting can be challenging. This pick not only mimics the boutique fitness studio experience with live cardio, strength, and mobility classes but also offers discounts on in-house workouts with local partner gyms for when athletes want to get out of the house.
MIRROR by Lululemon
This program is built for people who love the studio fitness experience but can’t always make it to the gym. MIRROR offers over 10,000 prerecorded studio classes, live class events, and discounts to partner gyms for in-house classes. You don’t need the actual MIRROR to use the app or take classes, but it’s a snazzy device. The MIRROR looks like a regular mirror when not in use, but when it’s time to sweat, it streams workouts to the MIRROR’s surface so that you can follow along with the instructor’s movements. It also shows stats like your heart rate, the time left in a movement or workout, and who else is in the class with you.
Mirror by Lululemon
MIRROR offers access to over 10,000 prerecorded studio classes, live class events, and over 60 workout categories, including pilates, barre, strength, cardio, and yoga.
The app gives you access to live and on-demand classes that range in duration from five minutes to an hour. The classes have four difficulty levels – beginner, intermediate, advanced, and expert – and there are over 60 workout categories, including barre, strength, cardio, restorative yoga, Pilates, and boxing. There are enough no-equipment workouts to keep you busy, but having dumbbells, kettlebells, and resistance bands will open up your options.
Who Should Subscribe to MIRROR by Lululemon
Athletes who want a studio experience in their own home will love the live group classes, as well as the discounts on local gym classes.
Anyone who wants a variety of workouts will appreciate having over 60 categories of workouts to choose from.
Customers who want to improve flexibility will like the option to do barre, yoga, and pilates workouts.
Who Shouldn’t Subscribe to MIRROR by Lululemon
Athletes whose main goal is increasing strength and size since many of MIRROR’s workouts focus on general fitness, toning, and cardio.
Anyone who wants to train for a specific sport or competition won’t like the lack of sport-specific training here.
Other programs offer live studio experiences, but this pick goes above and beyond by offering discount in-house classes at brick-and-mortar studios. However, you may not need them since the app itself has daily live classes and over 10,000 classes on demand.
Best for the Money
When looking for an online workout program that was heavy on features but light on the wallet, this pick stood out for its variety of options, high quality of programming, and its unique a la carte pricing model.
Living.Fit
This program offers a variety of strength and conditioning courses that generally revolve around kettlebells, dumbbells, resistance bands, and bodyweight workouts. The workouts come in a 30-day series, and each month-long series will cost around $10. What’s so interesting about this programming is that you can mix and match your workouts from month to month: This month, you can do a kettlebell strength series, while next month, you can switch it up to a resistance band weight loss program.
Living.Fit Online Workout Program
Living.Fit lets you choose your workout programs a la carte, paying roughly $10 for month-long kettlebell, dumbbell, battle rope, or body weight workout plans. There are also week-long plans as well as nutrition programs for people who want to learn how to eat better.
These pre-recorded workouts consist of an introduction by a trainer, followed by a 10- to 40-minute workout that you can follow along with. In addition to seeing the trainer do the movement during the workout, there is also a movement video library to help you dial in your form. If you want full access to all of the program’s features, you can purchase an all-in subscription that costs $8 a month, or if you commit to a year, only $50 annually.
Who Should Subscribe to Living.Fit
Athletes who want a program that won’t break the bank will appreciate the option to buy programs from month to month instead of committing to a recurring subscription.
Anyone who wants home workouts that don’t require a lot of equipment will like that most of the workouts here use just a pair of kettlebells or dumbbells.
People who also want an option for nutrition coaching since this pick has several nutrition programs to choose from.
Who Shouldn’t Subscribe to Living.Fit
Athletes whose main goal is increasing barbell strength won’t like the lack of barbell programming.
People looking for cardio-specific programming should look for a program that focuses more on cardio training.
Living.Fit offers a wide selection of workouts aimed toward a variety of goals, all of which come at some of the lowest prices you’ll find. If you’re looking for an online workout program that’s tough on you but easy on your wallet, this one’s worth checking out.
How We Chose the Best Online Workout Programs
There is a seemingly endless number of choices when it comes to online fitness programs, with each one claiming to be the best. But the best workout varies widely from person to person based on their goals, needs, and abilities. We considered factors like price, accessibility, expertise, required equipment, and more to create a comprehensive list that appeals to a wide range of consumers looking for a solid online fitness program.
Price
Factoring in the price of a program is a great place to start whittling down your options. Some programs requiring more attention, like one-on-one coaching, can run up to over $100 a month. If that’s out of your price range, less expensive programs provide workouts and generalized coaching instead. We chose programs that span the range from premium to cost-effective, so there’s a program here for every budget.
Accessibility
Any good program will offer classes that work well for beginners. There’s nothing worse than going out too hard and quitting a workout halfway through or, even worse, injuring yourself. We made it a point to find programming that offers beginner or on-ramp courses and more advanced workouts.
Good beginners’ workouts are built with the goal of building a foundation of fitness, rather than on heavy weights and high intensity. These workouts usually use lighter (if any) weights, simpler or modified movements (like air squats or knee push-ups), and go at a slower pace than intermediate or advanced workouts.
Expertise
The coaches you’ll find in these programs have a variety of certifications and qualifications. Each has gone through and graduated from a coaching program that determined them to be qualified to coach athletes. Some are or have been competitive athletes as well.
Required Equipment
We made it a point to find programs that will work with a range of equipment access. Some of these programs offer training requiring little or no fitness equipment, while others require access to a full gym or specific tech, like treadmills or fitness mirrors. Whether you have a full gym at your disposal or nothing at all, there’s something on this list for you.
Program Variety
Everyone has different goals, whether to lose weight, gain muscle, or move a refrigerator all by themselves. We chose programs that would cover as wide a range of goals as possible, so there would be something useful for every type of athlete. Strength training and hypertrophy training are perfect for people who want to get bigger and stronger, whereas HIIT, cardio, and boxing training are all ideal for athletes who want to tone and improve their cardiovascular fitness. Looking to improve your flexibility? There are yoga and pilates classes in some of these programs, as well.
Benefits of Online Workout Programs
While an in-house workout program provides the benefit of real-time coaching, online workout programs do have some solid perks — such as convenience and lower cost.
Convenience
Online programming is convenient because you can do it anywhere. Since you don’t have to go to a gym whenever you want to work out, you’re not at the mercy of traffic or class times that don’t work with your work/life schedule.
Also, having someone else do the programming for you means you won’t be sitting around wondering what workout you should do on any given day. Just read the programming and get to work.
Price
Generally, you’ll pay less for an online workout program than you will for a gym. This is because the programmers don’t have to worry about paying for the gym space or equipment. Consequently, you’ll have to provide your own space and gear, but the subscription generally won’t cost as much.
If you’re looking for a deal, many programs will offer discounts for buying an annual membership versus going with a monthly membership. If you can pony up the money for an annual membership (and you know you like the program), that’s the way to go.
How Much Do Online Workout Programs Cost?
Online workout programs can vary wildly in price. Most of the programs you’ll find will be in the $40 to $60 a month range, but some can go quite a bit higher or lower.
Best Overall
Living.Fit
$8 a month
$50 a year
Best for Personalized Coaching
Future
$149 a month
Best for At Home Workouts
Living.Fit
$8 a month
$50 annually
Best for Cardio
iFit
$15 a month
$180 a year
Best for Strength and Conditioning
NCFIT
$20 a month
Best for Live Classes
MIRROR by Lululemon
$39 a month
Best for the Money
Living.Fit
$8 a month
$50 a year
Lower-cost programs with preset programs that you can follow at your leisure tend to be on the less expensive side since the programming is already set. Programs with regularly updated or live workouts require constant upkeep (and studio space for live and pre-recorded videos), so they’ll be in the middle to the higher end of the price range. One-on-one personal training will often be the most expensive option.
You should also factor in any needed equipment to the cost. While many online workout programs have options for bodyweight movements, there are some that will require workout gear. Often, this will be minimal, like a kettlebell and a few pairs of dumbbells, but other programs will require more expensive and space-hogging equipment, like barbells and plyo boxes.
What to Consider Before Buying An Online Workout Program
Before committing to an online workout program, it’s important to consider a few factors to make sure you choose the right one for you. Here are a few things to take into account before you commit.
Goals
The first thing to consider when starting an online workout program is what you want from it. Why are you thinking about it in the first place? Do you want to lose weight? Consider a cardio or HIIT-based program over a strictly strength-based one. Looking to get stronger or compete in strength competitions? Find one that focuses on improving your lifting form and building strength.
Equipment and Space
Also, be sure to consider what workout gear you already have (or have access to) and what you’re willing to spend to build out your home gym. Few things are as frustrating as subscribing to a program, and then finding out that you need to buy a bunch of fitness equipment before you can get started. Several plans on this list offer classes that require little or no fitness equipment, so if you’re not eager to shop for weights, those are the ones to consider.
Budget
And, of course, if you can’t afford it, you’re not getting it. Consider the total cost of your investment, which includes the monthly cost of the programming and any equipment you may need to get started. The programs in this list range in price from over $100 a month to less than $10 a month, so there are options here for every price range.
Fitness Level
One of the most common mistakes for someone new to working out or just getting back into a fitness routine is going out too hard with a high-level competitive program. If you’re a newer athlete, don’t jump right into competitive or high-level online workout programming. Make sure whatever program you choose has easier courses to get you started — something that consists of lower weights, simpler movements, and slower pacing to help you form a foundation to build your fitness upon.
Final Word
Online fitness programs are a great way to get a workout done wherever you are. Plus, there are programs to help you achieve specific goals, so whether you want to gain strength, lose weight, or improve your cardiovascular fitness, there are plenty of options to choose from. The choices in this list cover a wide range of goals, methods, and price ranges, so there’s something for everyone. But the one thing they all have in common is that they provide expert coaches with the expertise to get you where you want to be. All you have to do is choose your goal, find an online workout program in your price range, and get to work.
FAQs
Are online workout programs as effective as in-person classes?While online workout programs don’t have the benefit of having a trainer watching you in real-time, they do have several advantages. One is the variety of workout programs available online. You only have so many gyms in your area, but the list of online workout programs is nearly endless. You just need to pay attention to your form and hold yourself accountable to do the work.
How much do online workout programs cost? Online workout programs vary in price, from less than $10 a month to $150 and beyond for online personal training. It really depends on how much oversight you need and what you’re willing to pay for it. If you want a personal trainer to follow your workouts online and give you personalized critiques and tips, you can expect to pay more. You can expect to pay anywhere from $60 to $100 a month for online workout programs that provide on-demand or live group classes.
What’s the best online workout program?Since people’s goals and abilities differ, there isn’t one online workout program that is the best for everyone. One aspect that is common among all of the best ones is that the trainers and coaches are experienced certified professionals that are qualified to design and prescribe workouts. For us, we like the Living.Fit program for its reasonable pricing and variety of training options.
Not sure how you want to work out? An online workout program might be just the thing. In general, online workout programs are workout schedules, training, or coaching from fitness experts delivered directly to athletes via apps or websites they can access from the comfort of their homes (or local gyms). Through online workout programs, people can train in nearly every aspect of fitness, from Olympic lifting to cardiovascular health, in the form of videos, virtual meetings, or online dashboards that list daily workouts.
There are virtually countless online workout programs, which can be a double-edged sword. On the one hand, there will likely be (at least) one online program that can suit your needs. On the other hand, with all the choices available, it can be hard to separate the great programs from the not-so-great ones. So we’ve done the work for you, looking for online workout programs that are effective, comprehensive, scalable, and yeah, even fun. But since everyone works out differently, we’ve put together a list of the best online workout programs for a range of workout types, so you can get your sweat on no matter how you like to do it.
Best Online Workout Programs
- Best Online Workout Program Overall: Living.Fit
- Best Online Workout Program for Personalized Coaching: Future
- Best Online Workout Program for At Home Workouts: Living.Fit
- Best Online Workout Program for Cardio: iFit
- Best Online Workout Program for Strength and Conditioning: NCFIT
- Best Online Workout Program for Live Classes: MIRROR by Lululemon
- Best Online Workout Program for the Money: Living.Fit
When searching out the best online workout program, we wanted a platform that provided workouts to help athletes meet various goals, catered to all skill levels, and didn’t break the bank. This pick checked all those boxes for us.
Living.Fit
If you’re looking for a fitness program that covers everything from building strength and size to losing weight and running a 5k, Living.Fit is hard to beat. Rather than pay a monthly subscription, you can choose your workout programs a la carte, paying roughly $10 for whatever workout plan you’d like. The plans most often consist of 30 classes that last anywhere from 10 to 40 minutes, ranging from beginner to advanced levels, and centering around kettlebells, battle ropes, dumbbells, body weight, and resistance band movements. There are also week-long plans that can be repeated for as many weeks as you’d like. They even offer nutrition programs for people who want to learn how to eat better.
Living.Fit Online Workout Program
Living.Fit lets you choose your workout programs a la carte, paying roughly $10 for month-long kettlebell, dumbbell, battle rope, or body weight workout plans. There are also week-long plans as well as nutrition programs for people who want to learn how to eat better.
Want to go all in? Opt for the $8 per month subscription and gain access to every workout Living.Fit offers. No equipment? No worries. If you get sick of doing bodyweight workouts, you can order kettlebells, dumbbells, battle ropes, resistance bands, and a bunch of other workout gear on Living.Fit’s website. Heck, personal trainers can even get continuing education certifications through the site as well.
Who Should Subscribe To Living.Fit
- Anyone who wants a wide range of different workouts will appreciate the strength, hypertrophy, endurance, and other options available here.
- People who want to change programming month to month will like the option to pay per program instead of committing to a monthly subscription.
- Athletes on a budget will love paying $10 for a month of programming at a time.
- Athletes who want sport-specific or barbell programming are out of luck here since the programs all revolve around general fitness.
Best for Personalized Coaching
Personalized one-on-one training might be the most effective way to hit your goals. But having a program written specifically for you, with your movements and progress evaluated on a day-to-day basis, and someone to hold you accountable online is not an easy task. This pick does it better than any other we’ve seen.
Future
The perfect blend of old-school personal training and modern-day connectivity, Future is a fitness app that connects you with one of the company’s personal trainers, who will meet with you to discuss your goals, create a personalized program for you, and follow your progress as you go, making adjustments when needed. It’s just like having a personal trainer, but instead of being limited to local trainers in your area, you have access to world-class trainers all over the country.
Future Online Personal Training
Future offers online personal training in every facet of fitness. Every client gets a certified fitness professional who will proscribe training programs, follow up daily to assess progress, make program adjustments as needed, and offer accountability.
Once you’ve chosen a coach, you’ll have a video conference to discuss your goals, needs, and other details. Then your coach will send you daily workouts through the app that you’ll complete on your own, often with recorded voice notes telling you specifically how they’d like you to do your movements. When you finish each workout, you’ll record your results and any comments or questions you have for your coach in the app so that they can review and adjust future workouts.
You can also record videos of your movements for evaluation. Plus, you can communicate with your coach at any time. Even better, if you skip a workout, your coach will most likely reach out to you to see what happened and help you get back on track. Depending on what you choose to focus on, you’ll require different equipment. For instance, if you want to work on your Olympic lifts, you’ll need a barbell, weight plates, and a power rack to start with. If you want to improve your half marathon time, you may not need more than a good pair of running shoes.
Who Should Buy Subscribe to Future
- Athletes who want one-on-one personal training will love the accountability and attention that this program’s coaches provide.
- Anyone trying to get better at a specific lift or skill will like the opportunity to work with accomplished athletes in various fields.
- Customers who want daily accountability. The coaches here can reach out to see why you missed a workout.
- People who don’t want to track their progress meticulously won’t like having to enter every weight and rep count of their workouts.
- Anyone who doesn’t want to check in with someone regularly won’t like their coach’s ability to contact them at will.
- Athletes on a budget will likely balk at the $149 per month price tag.
Best for At-Home Workouts
When you’re working out at home, space can be an issue. This online workout program does away with barbells and power racks to provide top-notch programming with space-saving gear like kettlebells, dumbbells, and resistance bands.
Living.Fit
Working out at home can be a challenge, especially if you don’t have a lot of room to spare. Living.Fit’s programming is an excellent solution, thanks to its heavy reliance on kettlebells, dumbbells, resistance bands, and bodyweight movements in its programming. These pieces of equipment might be small compared to barbells, but they’re among the most versatile fitness tools on the market. This program takes full advantage, offering strength, endurance, and interval workout plans designed for maximum effectiveness while taking up minimal space.
Living.Fit Online Workout Program
Living.Fit lets you choose your workout programs a la carte, paying roughly $10 for month-long kettlebell, dumbbell, battle rope, or body weight workout plans. There are also week-long plans as well as nutrition programs for people who want to learn how to eat better.
The plans in this program range in duration from repeatable five-day-a-week plans to 30-day plans, and they offer a mix of strength training, fat loss, running, and conditioning, so there’s an option for just about every athlete. There are also nutrition plans to help athletes improve their eating habits as well.
Who Should Subscribe To Living.Fit
- Customers looking for many workouts that don’t require a lot of space will like this program’s use of smaller weights, like kettlebells and resistance bands.
- Athletes who want access to various workouts will appreciate being able to switch from strength training to cardiovascular or HIIT training every month.
- Anyone who wants to switch programming from month to month will like the month-long commitments to each plan.
- Athletes who want to train with barbells should look elsewhere since this pick has no barbell programming.
- People who need personal training and accountability won’t like that there is no live interaction with coaches unless you pay more for personal training.
Best for Cardio
Working to improve your cardiovascular output can be a grind as you chug out miles on a treadmill or a bike. This pick makes those hours more engaging with virtual destination runs and training options like strength workouts and yoga to break up the monotony.
iFit
If you’re looking for cardio workouts that aren’t boring, give iFit a good, hard look. iFit programming is a blend of fitness and entertainment, thanks to its mix of on-demand and live classes, immersive destination workouts, and machine integration. While some classes don’t require equipment, iFit’s programs really shine when connected to a NordicTrack, ProForm or Freemotion treadmill or stationary bike.
$25 Off
iFit Class Subscription
The iFit app features a library of over 16,000 live and on-demand classes that range from mental health and recovery to rowing, running, HIIT and strength classes. You can get the full studio experience virtually through iFit, and is a great boost to any home gym set-up — with or without equipment.
When connected, the classes provide a nearly endless supply of workouts, from interval and distance training to heart rate training. One of the outstanding features is the destination runs, which simulate hikes through the pyramids of Giza (complete with a guide) or a trek to Mt. Everest base camp. While you’re taking one of these classes, your connected tread, bike, or elliptical can automatically adjust with the class to simulate that trail’s specific elevation gain and loss.
You can still use the program if you don’t have any of the machines mentioned above by streaming through the iFit app on your own device. iFit also offers workouts that don’t require any machines, including HIIT, strength training, yoga, and a wide range of other floor-based classes.
Who Should Subscribe To iFit
- Anyone with NordicTrack, ProForm, FreeMotion, or Reebok equipment will love the added features and ability to control iFit through their machine.
- Customers looking for an all-in-one fitness program that integrates with their fitness equipment will like the seamless integration between the programming and their cardio machines.
- People who are training for endurance events will appreciate the variety of training and the virtual destination training videos.
- Customers who don’t want to increase their cardiovascular capacity may want to look for programming more geared toward strength training.
- Athletes who are looking to bulk up and build strength would probably want more workouts involving heavier weight.
- People who don’t want to spend a lot of money on equipment and programming may want to check out other programs. While iFit has workouts that work on and off the machines, the program really shines when paired with a compatible machine.
Best for Strength and Conditioning
Though you’ll generally need a home gym stocked with kettlebells, dumbbells, plyo boxes, and a good pull-up rig to get the most out of these classes, NCFIT offers programming and training from some of the best functional fitness athletes and coaches in the world.
NCFIT
Founded by CrossFit legend Jason Khalipa, NCFIT is a California-based fitness center with two gym locations in the Bay Area. But if you live elsewhere, NCFIT offers a $ 20-a-month app that provides training programs designed by NCFIT coaches that offer strength training, conditioning, and bodybuilding plans for athletes with their own equipment.
NCFIT Online Workout Program
NCFIT provides workout programs for beginner, intermediate, and advanced athletes 365 days a year. The program offers a mix of strength, conditioning, and cardiovascular workouts to deliver well-rounded fitness to participants.
The classes consist of daily workouts written out for athletes to follow on their own time. Each daily workout has two versions: Fitness is more approachable with moderate weights and movements, where Performance is geared more towards competitive athletes and consists of heavier weights and more complicated movements.
In addition to daily programming, the app offers daily tips, an in-app timer for workouts, and travel workouts. If you’re not sure what something is, there is a video library in the app that will walk you through the proper form and performance of each movement NCFIT prescribes. And if you happen to be missing a piece of equipment that a workout requires, there is a list of movement substitutions within the app to help you out.
Who Should Subscribe to NCFIT
- Anyone who wants to learn CrossFit but is nervous about starting in a gym will love the ability to learn the basics at home.
- CrossFit competitors who want to podium will like this program’s Performance track’s heavy weights and complicated movements.
- Athletes who want to build strength and improve conditioning will appreciate this pick’s focus on combining strength with speed and work capacity.
- Anyone who doesn’t have access to equipment, since the majority of the workouts will require weights, plyo boxes, wall balls, or a pull-up rig.
Best for Live Classes
Creating the community feeling of a live group class in a virtual setting can be challenging. This pick not only mimics the boutique fitness studio experience with live cardio, strength, and mobility classes but also offers discounts on in-house workouts with local partner gyms for when athletes want to get out of the house.
MIRROR by Lululemon
This program is built for people who love the studio fitness experience but can’t always make it to the gym. MIRROR offers over 10,000 prerecorded studio classes, live class events, and discounts to partner gyms for in-house classes. You don’t need the actual MIRROR to use the app or take classes, but it’s a snazzy device. The MIRROR looks like a regular mirror when not in use, but when it’s time to sweat, it streams workouts to the MIRROR’s surface so that you can follow along with the instructor’s movements. It also shows stats like your heart rate, the time left in a movement or workout, and who else is in the class with you.
Mirror by Lululemon
MIRROR offers access to over 10,000 prerecorded studio classes, live class events, and over 60 workout categories, including pilates, barre, strength, cardio, and yoga.
The app gives you access to live and on-demand classes that range in duration from five minutes to an hour. The classes have four difficulty levels – beginner, intermediate, advanced, and expert – and there are over 60 workout categories, including barre, strength, cardio, restorative yoga, Pilates, and boxing. There are enough no-equipment workouts to keep you busy, but having dumbbells, kettlebells, and resistance bands will open up your options.
Who Should Subscribe to MIRROR by Lululemon
- Athletes who want a studio experience in their own home will love the live group classes, as well as the discounts on local gym classes.
- Anyone who wants a variety of workouts will appreciate having over 60 categories of workouts to choose from.
- Customers who want to improve flexibility will like the option to do barre, yoga, and pilates workouts.
- Athletes whose main goal is increasing strength and size since many of MIRROR’s workouts focus on general fitness, toning, and cardio.
- Anyone who wants to train for a specific sport or competition won’t like the lack of sport-specific training here.
Best for the Money
When looking for an online workout program that was heavy on features but light on the wallet, this pick stood out for its variety of options, high quality of programming, and its unique a la carte pricing model.
Living.Fit
This program offers a variety of strength and conditioning courses that generally revolve around kettlebells, dumbbells, resistance bands, and bodyweight workouts. The workouts come in a 30-day series, and each month-long series will cost around $10. What’s so interesting about this programming is that you can mix and match your workouts from month to month: This month, you can do a kettlebell strength series, while next month, you can switch it up to a resistance band weight loss program.
Living.Fit Online Workout Program
Living.Fit lets you choose your workout programs a la carte, paying roughly $10 for month-long kettlebell, dumbbell, battle rope, or body weight workout plans. There are also week-long plans as well as nutrition programs for people who want to learn how to eat better.
These pre-recorded workouts consist of an introduction by a trainer, followed by a 10- to 40-minute workout that you can follow along with. In addition to seeing the trainer do the movement during the workout, there is also a movement video library to help you dial in your form. If you want full access to all of the program’s features, you can purchase an all-in subscription that costs $8 a month, or if you commit to a year, only $50 annually.
Who Should Subscribe to Living.Fit
- Athletes who want a program that won’t break the bank will appreciate the option to buy programs from month to month instead of committing to a recurring subscription.
- Anyone who wants home workouts that don’t require a lot of equipment will like that most of the workouts here use just a pair of kettlebells or dumbbells.
- People who also want an option for nutrition coaching since this pick has several nutrition programs to choose from.
- Athletes whose main goal is increasing barbell strength won’t like the lack of barbell programming.
- People looking for cardio-specific programming should look for a program that focuses more on cardio training.
How We Chose the Best Online Workout Programs
There is a seemingly endless number of choices when it comes to online fitness programs, with each one claiming to be the best. But the best workout varies widely from person to person based on their goals, needs, and abilities. We considered factors like price, accessibility, expertise, required equipment, and more to create a comprehensive list that appeals to a wide range of consumers looking for a solid online fitness program.
Price
Factoring in the price of a program is a great place to start whittling down your options. Some programs requiring more attention, like one-on-one coaching, can run up to over $100 a month. If that’s out of your price range, less expensive programs provide workouts and generalized coaching instead. We chose programs that span the range from premium to cost-effective, so there’s a program here for every budget.
Accessibility
Any good program will offer classes that work well for beginners. There’s nothing worse than going out too hard and quitting a workout halfway through or, even worse, injuring yourself. We made it a point to find programming that offers beginner or on-ramp courses and more advanced workouts.
Good beginners’ workouts are built with the goal of building a foundation of fitness, rather than on heavy weights and high intensity. These workouts usually use lighter (if any) weights, simpler or modified movements (like air squats or knee push-ups), and go at a slower pace than intermediate or advanced workouts.
Expertise
The coaches you’ll find in these programs have a variety of certifications and qualifications. Each has gone through and graduated from a coaching program that determined them to be qualified to coach athletes. Some are or have been competitive athletes as well.
Required Equipment
We made it a point to find programs that will work with a range of equipment access. Some of these programs offer training requiring little or no fitness equipment, while others require access to a full gym or specific tech, like treadmills or fitness mirrors. Whether you have a full gym at your disposal or nothing at all, there’s something on this list for you.
Program Variety
Everyone has different goals, whether to lose weight, gain muscle, or move a refrigerator all by themselves. We chose programs that would cover as wide a range of goals as possible, so there would be something useful for every type of athlete. Strength training and hypertrophy training are perfect for people who want to get bigger and stronger, whereas HIIT, cardio, and boxing training are all ideal for athletes who want to tone and improve their cardiovascular fitness. Looking to improve your flexibility? There are yoga and pilates classes in some of these programs, as well.
Benefits of Online Workout Programs
While an in-house workout program provides the benefit of real-time coaching, online workout programs do have some solid perks — such as convenience and lower cost.
Convenience
Online programming is convenient because you can do it anywhere. Since you don’t have to go to a gym whenever you want to work out, you’re not at the mercy of traffic or class times that don’t work with your work/life schedule.
Also, having someone else do the programming for you means you won’t be sitting around wondering what workout you should do on any given day. Just read the programming and get to work.
Price
Generally, you’ll pay less for an online workout program than you will for a gym. This is because the programmers don’t have to worry about paying for the gym space or equipment. Consequently, you’ll have to provide your own space and gear, but the subscription generally won’t cost as much.
If you’re looking for a deal, many programs will offer discounts for buying an annual membership versus going with a monthly membership. If you can pony up the money for an annual membership (and you know you like the program), that’s the way to go.
How Much Do Online Workout Programs Cost?
Online workout programs can vary wildly in price. Most of the programs you’ll find will be in the $40 to $60 a month range, but some can go quite a bit higher or lower.
Best Overall
Living.Fit
$8 a month
$50 a year
Best for Personalized Coaching
Future
$149 a month
Best for At Home Workouts
Living.Fit
$8 a month
$50 annually
Best for Cardio
iFit
$15 a month
$180 a year
Best for Strength and Conditioning
NCFIT
$20 a month
Best for Live Classes
MIRROR by Lululemon
$39 a month
Best for the Money
Living.Fit
$8 a month
$50 a year
Lower-cost programs with preset programs that you can follow at your leisure tend to be on the less expensive side since the programming is already set. Programs with regularly updated or live workouts require constant upkeep (and studio space for live and pre-recorded videos), so they’ll be in the middle to the higher end of the price range. One-on-one personal training will often be the most expensive option.
You should also factor in any needed equipment to the cost. While many online workout programs have options for bodyweight movements, there are some that will require workout gear. Often, this will be minimal, like a kettlebell and a few pairs...
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