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6 Best Apps for Getting More Active

Starting to get more active? Good for you. It won’t be easy, but there’s likely and app out there that can make it a little easier.

The Johnson & Johnson Official 7 Minute Workout

The app: The Johnson & Johnson Official 7 Minute Workout.
Platform: iOS & Android.
Cost: free.

Here’s what you need for this seven-minute workout: the app, a chair, and yourself. No other equipment necessary. And you get a simple workout tailored to your ability on an app that has a clean, simple interface. Expect push-ups, planks, triceps dips, and running in place. No experience necessary, the app coaches you though each workout as it counts you down. All ability levels welcome—doesn’t matter if you’re just starting out or you’re a fitness fiend looking for something extra.

Lose It!

The app: Lose It!
Platform: iOS, Android, Web, Tablet
Cost: free, $39.99 for premium features.

This app is based on calorie tracking and is fully customizable. If you’re looking specifically to lose weight, Lose It! is a good app. It’s compatible with a whole bunch of fitness trackers (like FitBit, Nike, Withings, and more), it recognizes a lot of brand-name foods, and it has a very strong, supportive community to help you along the way. Love It! makes balancing calories in with calories out very easy indeed.

Pact

The app: Pact.
Platform: iOS & Android.
Cost: free, but . . . well, just read below.

Do you find yourself saying you’ll hit the gym but then . . . well, doing anything else? Maybe you’d be more motivated if you put money on it. That’s what Pact does. You set a fitness goal, you make a bet, the app tracks your progress, and if you meet your goal, you get paid out from the pool of betting money. Of course, if you fail to meet your goal, you’re one of the many people paying.

RockMyRun

The app: RockMyRun.
Platform: iOS & Android.
Cost: $6.99 per month, $39.99 annually.

Do you hate it when you’re speeding up on a run—then your music slows down to a ballad? Have you ever started to cool down—then “Eye of the Tiger” comes on? RockMyRun promises to fix that. It’s equal parts fitness app and music subscription. However, the music is curated by professional DJs and the app plays tracks that roughly match the intensity of your workout. And it doesn’t matter what genre you like, RockMyRun has it all. Even classical.

Charity Miles

The app: Charity Miles.
Platform: iOS & Android.
Cost: free.

Every time you walk, run, or cycle with this free app, you earn money for a charity of your choice. How? A bunch of corporate sponsors agree to donate a few cents for every mile you complete. You select the corporate sponsor, then you select the charity, then you start racking up miles. After all, it feels good to get moving and extra good to help people at the same time.

Jefit

The app: Jefit.
Platform: iOS & Android.
Cost: free; pro version is $6.99.

Are you still carrying around a little notebook every time you hit the gym, keeping track of time, reps, and sets with a pen and pad? There’s a better way. That’s what Jefit does: it offers a simple interface for creating and keeping track of your weightlifting routine. You can log your reps, sets, and weights, and the calendar can help you create a broader plan. It’s a no-bells-or-whistles kind of app. 

The Bottom Line

Finding the motivation and organization to lead a more active life isn’t simple, but some of these apps can help with that. Whether you already lead a very health-conscious lifestyle or you’re just getting back into a fitness routine, there’s an app that can make being active easier.