Apple Fitness Plus Is the Most Versatile Fitness Subscription Service I’ve Tried

I’ve tried many fitness apps and subscriptions, and this one covers classes, narrated walks and more.

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I’ve tried many fitness apps and subscriptions, and this one covers classes, narrated walks and more.

iPhone users know that Apple offers all the best high-tech features in its software and the same applies to its programs. Apple Fitness Plus is a fitness subscription that iPhone users can find under the Apple Fitness icon. Besides telling you the number of steps you’ve taken for the day, you also have the option to sign up for Apple Fitness Plus if you’re looking to start working out with fitness classes. For the past month, I was able to get a taste of the Apple Fitness Plus experience and tried various fitness classes as well as the programs Time to Walk and Time to Run.  Apple Fitness Plus has some standout features that set it apart from other fitness subscription services. Having tested many of these and fitness apps in the past, I was able to distinguish how Apple Fitness Plus is different and does its own thing to try to lead by example. Check out my review below if you’re interested in trying out Apple Fitness Plus for yourself.  Apple Fitness Plus is exclusive to iPhone users and offers a free trial to new subscribers to test out Apple Fitness Plus. If you purchase a new iPhone 16, iPhone 16 Plus, Apple Watch Series 10, Apple Watch SE, Apple Watch Ultra 2 or a new Apple Watch Series 6 or later, you can get the free trial for three months before committing to the subscription. If you decide to sign up when your trial expires, Apple Fitness Plus will run you $10 a month or $80 a year. Otherwise, it’s $11 per month after a month-long free trial as a new subscriber without a new device. You can also share your Apple Fitness Plus membership with five other family members by setting up family sharing on your device. An example of a HIIT class cued up on Apple TV. Apple Fitness Plus offers 12 different types of classes like strength training, HIIT training, core, meditation, yoga, Pilates, dance, kickboxing, cycling, treadmill, rowing and more. You can create your own program based on how many days a week you’d like to work out, the type of workouts you like to do and even the length of the workouts. There are also programs in the collection for beginners, 30-day core challenges and others to choose from. You can create stacks, which lets you save multiple workouts that you can do in a single session. An example of the Apple Fitness Plus classes on the homepage. Additionally, Apple Fitness Plus has programs Time to Walk and Time to Run, which are narrated audio segments (similar to a podcast) that are meant to be listened to during a walk or run. Time to Walk features celebrities and other high-profile personalities who share a story about their lives so you can tune in as you go for a stroll. The segments vary in length and can be as long as five to 45 minutes long. Time to Run is narrated by a running coach who describes in great detail the location where they are running, whether it be in Florence, Italy, or Prospect Park, Brooklyn.   The versatility of Apple Fitness Plus is that you can stream workouts on your iPhone, iPad, tablet or Apple TV. This makes it easy to access even if you’re traveling and looking to get in a workout. One of the best ways to see the output you’re getting out of your workouts is by connecting Apple Fitness Plus to your Apple Watch. This is optional, but if you like seeing your metrics during a class, the Apple Watch provides real‑time data on screen. You’ll be able to view your heart rate, the calories burned and the progress of all three activity rings. These rings indicate your goals for the day and each respectively stands for Move, Exercise and Stand. The blue ring indicates your time standing or how many times you move during the day, green tracks exercise time and red tracks active calories burned throughout the day. One of the tag lines used during the classes is “close your rings,” which refers to these activity rings that the Apple Watch uses to track your activity.  I’d used Apple Fitness Plus in the past, but not as my primary source of workouts. This time I used it over the course of the month in conjunction with my regular workout program. I didn’t customize my workouts, even though it’s a nice option to have, but I explored the different classes Apple Fitness Plus offers. One of the first things I noticed that made the subscription stand out from other fitness apps I’ve tested is how inclusive it is. The instructors not only verbally tell you what to expect during your workout, but they also use American Sign Language to sign instructions for users who are hearing impaired.  The workouts are easy enough to follow whether you’re looking to challenge yourself or scale back. The on-screen class has trainers following the instructor, and one trainer will always demonstrate regressed exercise moves in case you’re just getting back into exercising or want modifications.  One of the advantages that Apple Fitness Plus has is that it offers classes of different time lengths, which is beneficial for me as a working mom with limited time. I loved being able to hit play on a 20- or 30-minute strength-training workout and feeling accomplished completing them. I would modify the intensity like the weights I was using based on how much energy I had on any given day or how strong I felt. I followed my data with my Apple Watch and enjoyed having that extra information on hand during my workout. Your heart rate and calories burned are displayed clearly with the amount of time left during a workout segment.  Examples of Time to Walk and Time to Run on the Apple Fitness Plus homepage. I also particularly enjoyed the Time to Walk series because I could pop in my AirPods and shut out the world while out on a stroll during my lunch break. It felt meditative — similar to when I listen to a podcast. I also liked that the celebrities who narrated Time to Walk, like Danny Trejo, were out on a walk themselves and you could hear the serene sounds of nature in their surroundings. The childhood stories they shared were also entertaining enough to keep me intrigued for the 30- or 45-minute walks. I’ve been trying to get back into running, so I decided to give Time to Run a shot. It was helpful because it took off the pressure of hitting certain paces and times that I would normally follow. Time to Run provides a different background depending on where the narrating coach is running. In my case, I chose Florence since I was feeling nostalgic for Italy. The running coach narrates the scenery and encourages you to slow down or pick up the pace at certain points. The length of these workouts is also doable and offers approximately 30-minute, 40-minute to 1-hour narrated runs. These are perfect options for the runner who isn’t in training mode.  One downside to Apple Fitness Plus is that it’s only accessible by Apple users. It would be great if Apple allowed Android users to get a taste of the workouts as well.  Another thing I observed is that while the workouts are great for someone who isn’t looking to hit personal records and just wants an easy way to get movement in daily, they may not be challenging enough for a more robust athlete. The experienced athlete may benefit more from a sport-specific program.  Even though Apple Fitness Plus lets you customize your programs, I think it lacks guidance on how to stick with it and this is where it could use some of its new AI capabilities to motivate you. It would also be nice to have a personal trainer option (even at an additional cost) for users who want a more customized experience.  With the latest iOS 18 software update, Apple Fitness Plus also got a facelift. The update lets you create a personalized For You Space and has new search features. The search features are helpful because you can filter based on class, instructor, length of workout, equipment and even music type. Fitness Plus awards have also been enhanced and you can explore library spaces. All of the new updates are intended to make the user experience easier and to keep you motivated and consistent with your routine.  Overall, I think Apple Fitness Plus is an ideal fitness subscription if you are already an iPhone user or if you’re looking for an easy-to-follow workout program. Its inclusive nature is inviting and a good way to ease back into a fitness routine that gets you moving in multiple ways. It’s also nice that it’s compatible with your Apple devices, so you’re always in sync.  You’ll find something you like, whether you like yoga or running. It’s also budget-friendly, so you won’t feel like you’re breaking the bank with the monthly fee. If you’re looking for a more workout-specific app or want more of a personal training feel, you can always check out some of CNET’s other recommended workout subscriptions.

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