The 12 Best Apple Watch Fitness Apps for 2025 (Tested on Series 10)

1. Motion - Best for Gamification & Inclusivity

Price: Free with optional Motion Hero subscription Watch Independence: Works with any tracker, smart watch, or phone Unique Features: Get fit bingo, Virtual fitness pet (Motmot), weekly battles, adaptive goals

Motion turns fitness into a game without being childish. Your Motmot pet lives in your app and needs daily movement to stay healthy & happy... just like you! The weekly battles are based on effort percentage, not fitness level, so players of all fitness levels can play fairly together.

Best For: Anyone who struggles with motivation, families, mixed fitness levels
Skip If: You want super detailed metrics, or to optimise athletic performance

2. WorkOutDoors - Best for Serious Outdoor Athletes

Price: $5.99 one-time purchase
Watch Independence: Full offline maps without phone
Unique Features: Incredible customization, detailed maps, unlimited screens

If you're serious about running, cycling, or hiking, WorkOutDoors is unmatched. The map detail on the watch screen is insane - you can actually navigate trails without your phone.

Best For: Trail runners, cyclists, hikers
Skip If: You mostly work out indoors

3. Hevy - Best for Weight Training

Price: Free with premium ($4.99/month)
Watch Independence: Can log workouts without phone
Unique Features: Plate calculator, rest timer, exercise library

Hevy has cracked the code for strength training on a tiny screen. Swipe between exercises, tap to log sets, automatic rest timer. The social features are actually good - not just "Jim worked out."

Best For: Gym rats, powerlifters, bodybuilders
Skip If: You don't lift weights

4. Nike Run Club - Best Free Running App

Price: Completely free
Watch Independence: GPS tracking without phone
Unique Features: Guided runs, coaching plans, no ads

Still the best free running app. The guided runs with coaches and athletes talking you through workouts are perfect for long runs. No subscription pushes, no ads, just running.

Best For: Runners of all levels
Skip If: You want detailed training metrics

5. Strava - Best for Competitive Athletes

Price: Free with premium ($11.99/month)
Watch Independence: Basic tracking without phone
Unique Features: Segments, social kudos, route discovery

Strava on Apple Watch is finally good. Live segments, quick kudos, easy activity start. But let's be honest - it's still built for serious runners and cyclists. <a href="/strava-for-casual-fitness/">Casual users</a> might feel out of place.

Best For: Competitive runners and cyclists
Skip If: You're not training for something specific

Start With Your Why

"I need motivation to move more" → Motion's gamification or Zombies, Run!'s stories will keep you engaged

"I'm training for a specific event" → Strava for races, TrainingPeaks for structured plans, WorkOutDoors for trail events

"I want to get stronger" → Hevy or Strong for the gym, Seven for home workouts, Motion for community and motivation

"I need to manage stress" → Asana Rebel for yoga, Gentler Streak for balanced wellness

"I want to help others while helping myself" → Charity Miles turns your movement into donations, Motion combines community and fitness to help everyone move more together

The Multi-App Strategy

Many successful Apple Watch users combine apps:

• Motion for daily motivation and fun
• Hevy for detailed gym tracking
• Nike Run Club for running specific workouts

Your Apple Watch can handle multiple fitness apps. Don't feel limited to just one!

Free vs Paid: What's Worth It?

Always Free & Excellent:

• Nike Run Club (no catches)
• Motion (free version is fully functional)
• Charity Miles (funded by sponsors)

Worth the One-Time Purchase:

• WorkOutDoors ($5.99 is a steal for what you get)

Worth the Subscription:

• Hevy or Strong if you lift regularly
• Athlytic if you're serious about recovery
• TrainingPeaks if you have a coach

Try Before Subscribing: Most apps offer free trials. Use them! A week is enough to know if an app clicks with you.