As an Apple Watch user, you’re probably conscious of needing to close your Activity Rings daily. But if your lifestyle isn’t too active, you may need some extra help. And that’s when these third-party iPhone apps come in handy.
1. Gentler Streak
Gentler Streak, an excellent alternative to Apple Fitness+, covers a broader range of fitness activities than the built-in list Apple offers. With over a hundred workout types, you canclose your Activity Rings each dayby trying new exercise options ranging from parkour and mountain biking to stroller jogging and even doing your daily chores!
Gentler Streak works seamlessly with Apple Health, provided you enable data sharing with Apple from within its settings. That’s the case for each app on this list, so here’show to view and change the apps that share data with Apple Health.
TheGentler Streak app helps you improve your fitness without overtrainingby incorporating rest days and recovery workouts into your fitness schedule. And this brilliant app never fails to provide a moment of pride with a congratulatory message upon even the smallest workout win.
Download:Gentler Streak(Free, subscription available)
Exercise app Zova uses a system it refers to as ZX5 to offer over 500 routines and stretches centered around three workout types: Cardio Sweat, Strength and Sculpt, and Body Burner.
Not only does Zova integrate with Apple Health, but it also has Apple’s colored Heart Rate Zone indicators within its display on both your iPhone and your Apple Watch. During your workout, this data provides a constant visual reminder of the need to elevate your heart rate and make every action count.
Download:Zova(Subscription required, free trial available)
One of the leading workout apps for women,Sweat helps women exercise safelyat home or in the gym. You’ll find special pregnancy and post-pregnancy programs among the wide range of workouts, classes, and challenges.
Enable data sharing with Sweat in Apple Health, and you’ll be able to record details such as your Active Energy, Resting Energy, and Heart Rate from your efforts. Complete with nutritional advice and a Sweat community, this app provides plenty of guidance to help you lead an active life.
Download:Sweat(Free, subscription available)
4. Nike Training Club
“Just Do It” is the perennial challenge from Nike, and the fitness giants offer this feature-packed free app to help you meet your fitness goals with no excuses.
You canuse the Nike Training Club for next-level fitness. Fire up the app, and you’ll be amazed at how much training content is yours for free. It’s not just individual workouts but also detailed multi-week programs that most apps charge a premium to access. Enable Apple Health to record your active energy and workouts.
Download:Nike Training Club(Free)
Strength training app Fitbod uses an innovative algorithm to create a personalized workout to help you meet your fitness goals. This means completing an extensive questionnaire before you get started, but it pays off when you receive a program that means you may train at a level that pushes your limits but doesn’t lead to injury.
As part of the setup, you’ll be invited to sync Fitbod with Apple Health, and Fitbod will read your profile and use your Apple Health information to help inform your workout plan. As a consequence, the Health Access categories list for Fitbod is exhaustive. Make sure you turn on as many Health Access categories as possible to get the most out of this app.
Download:Fitbod(Free, subscription available)
6. Pedometer++
Walking is one of the best ways to close all three of your Activity Rings, and if you wear an Apple Watch, you’ll already have a great pedometer on your wrist. Apple Fitness detects you’re walking and prompts you to record the fact.
However, you may want to download an app specifically to measure your steps and track your progress. Amongthe best pedometer apps for iPhoneis Pedometer++. This simple and effective app employs bright colors and a clear display to give you an excellent picture of your progress, with challenges and badges to collect.
In the app settings, choose to merge the motion data from just your iPhone or your Apple Watch as well, and enable your Health Access data in all categories to ensure you get that extra credit for taking the stairs!
Download:Pedometer++(Free, subscription available)
You can alsorecord your walks with Strava, along with just about every other means of exercise you can imagine. One of the most popular exercise tracking apps, Strava appeals to everyone from the most casual exercise beginners to professional athletes.
Download:Strava(Free, subscription available)
8. Asana Rebel
You canlearn to practice yoga with Asana Rebel. This feature-packed app provides articles, challenges, nutritional information, mindfulness sessions, and sleep aids to supplement the exercise content.
It’s the yoga-based workouts that you’ll want to track in Apple Health, however. You’ll be able to report your active energy, steps, water intake, weight, and workouts on Apple Health.
Download:Asana Rebel(Free, subscription available)
Hugely popular workout app Seven encourages you to see the benefit of committing just seven minutes per day to one of its exercise routines. With no equipment needed, you have little to lose in trying this free app. Activities are organized in categories such as Mobility, Lose Weight, and Focus.
Enable Apple Health to track your workout using the Apple Watch app if you can, and verify you enable Heart Rate information so that Seven can display your efforts in real-time on its workout screen.
Download:Seven(Free, subscription available)
10. MySwimPro
If swimming is your preferred form of exercise, use MySwimPro to track your swimming workouts. While Apple Fitness allows you to record a pool or open water swim, MySwimPro will formulate a personalized, detailed training plan for you.
With dry land workouts, detailed analytics, a video library to help you master technique, and a community element, you canuse the MySwimPro app to become a stronger swimmer.
Although many detailed features are only available via subscription, you can wear your Apple Watch to track unlimited swim sessions. The data MySwimPro shares includes your swimming distance, strokes, workout routes, and resting energy.
Download:MySwimPro(Subscription required, free trial available)
11. SmartGym
The award-winning SmartGym app is a must for Apple Watch users, integrating brilliantly with your device to guide you through gym or home exercise. AI-powered personalized workouts are provided, but you’re able to use the app simply to track your session if you prefer.
Download:SmartGym(Free, subscription available)
