Must-Have Health and Fitness Apps for 2024

Apps centering around health and wellness have been around for some time now, but they've become increasingly popular in recent years. Whether it's workouts, nutrition, sleep tracking, or mindfulness techniques, you can safely bet there are plenty of apps for whatever you're looking for.

Due to the sheer volume of apps on the market lately, it can be tricky to discern which ones you'll genuinely use and which aren't worth your time. To help you separate the best from the rest, we've put together this assortment of our favorite health and fitness apps.

Nike Training Club

For anyone who’s eager to get in shape with a personal trainer but doesn't fancy the hefty price tag that comes with it, Nike Training Club is the next best thing. In contrast to many other fitness apps, Nike Training Club is entirely free!

When you begin using the app, you'll answer a series of questions about your fitness goals, weight, activity levels, and any specific needs. Based on your responses, Nike Training Club will create a four- to eight-week training program that caters to your targets and fitness. As you work through your personalized plan, you'll have access to dozens of cardio, strength training, and yoga classes. 

Strava

If you're into outdoor exercising and are fanatical about your workout statistics, it doesn't get much better than Strava. The beloved tracking app is especially popular with runners, cyclists, and hikers. However, it now has upwards of 40 activities to choose from, including swimming, HIIT, and a myriad of indoor and outdoor sports.

After each exercise session, Strava gives you a detailed breakdown of your distance, pace, route, calories burned, and heart rate. One of the most appealing features for many is the social media-like interactions. The app allows you to share your workouts with friends and motivate one another through likes and comments.

MyFitnessPal

MyFitnessPal has become one of the top tracking apps for anyone hoping to shed a few pounds or track their macro and micronutrient intake.

The app is primarily used as a food diary of sorts, and it keeps tabs on your calorie and nutrient intake. Before logging your meals and snacks, the app will use your statistics and weight-related goals to determine your caloric needs. Then, you'll add everything you eat using the app's huge database or by scanning the label of any packaged food. Additionally, the app provides users with healthy recipes, handy workouts, and exercise monitoring.

Headspace

Your well-being goes beyond exercise and nutrition, and apps like Headspace provide you with the tools to improve your mental health. We've all heard the benefits of practicing mindfulness and including meditations in our routines, but understanding how to do that isn't so easy.

With Headspace, you can unlock a seemingly endless selection of breathing exercises, guided meditations, and sleep practices. All of the content on Headspace is evidence-based, meaning that each activity is curated to relieve stress, reduce anxiety, boost your mood, or help you unwind.

Freelectics: HIIT Fitness Coach

Although HIIT workouts (High-Intensity Interval Training) are perhaps what Freelectics does best, as the name suggests, the app is also packed with hundreds of other workouts. Their videos focus on everything from cardio to stretching, and you even have the option to create your own workouts by selecting your favorite exercises and movements.

If you choose to upgrade to their premium version, you'll have access to personalized, AI-generated workouts and nutrition plans. Unlike most fitness apps, Freelectics also incorporates mindfulness techniques and educational aspects into each customized program. In doing so, the app strives to assist users in forming life-long, sustainable habits.

Jefit

Jefit is a well-established exercise-tracking app, but it really shines in its strength training offerings. Over 1,000 different movements are featured, and users can keep a watchful eye on their weights, reps, form, and activated muscles.

Those who'd like a little more guidance can take advantage of the many pre-set training programs, which have been designed by experts to accommodate various fitness levels. It's worth noting that, as Jefit focuses heavily on strength training, most of the workouts require some equipment. 

Calm

The aim of the Calm app is rather self-explanatory. In essence, its plethora of sleep stories, meditations, and breathing sessions work to calm and relax your body and mind. This will be a game-changer if you struggle to cope with stress or switch off from your thoughts.

Calm's bank of activities is wide-ranging, with sessions geared toward various age groups, time frames, and interests. As a result, the app is as helpful for a young child with difficulty concentrating as it is for an adult who only has a few minutes to clear their mind each day. With such an extensive content library, knowing where to begin can feel slightly overwhelming, so Calm has crafted a bunch of multi-day courses to get you started. 

Sleep Cycle

One of the fundamentals in keeping you at your happiest and healthiest is securing sufficient sleep each night. Thanks to Sleep Cycle, getting a solid night's rest is a whole lot easier. The app tracks your movements and helps you understand how your sleeping pattern works or why you might be having difficulty nodding off.

Sleep Cycle has some pretty fantastic features, including its alarm function. By setting your alarm to the latest time you need to be awake, the app monitors your rhythm near this time and wakes you up when your sleep is lightest. Another handy aspect of the app is how it allows you to make notes of variables, such as diet or exercise, indicating what factors affect the quality of your sleep.

Stay on Top of Your Well-Being With the Useful Mobile Apps

Since there have been so many handy health and wellness apps developed in the past few years, looking after your well-being is more convenient than ever. 

Not only can they make it easier to maintain good habits, such as getting enough steps each day and fitting in a meditation session, but they also hold you accountable and keep you motivated.