The Problem With "Free" Fitness Apps
Free sounds great until you discover the app charges $15/month to unlock literally everything useful. The fitness app market is flooded with "free" apps that are really just very restricted trials.
This list is about apps that are genuinely useful without paying — or that offer a generous free tier alongside a premium option. We tested each one across workout tracking, calorie tracking, AI features, and usability.
Here's the honest breakdown.
1. Soma — Best Free AI Gym App Overall
Free tier: Full workout tracking, AI workout plans, RPE logging, photo calorie tracking, social leaderboard
Premium: $11.99/month or $29.99/year
Soma's free tier is unusually generous. You get AI-generated workout plans built around your goals, the ability to log workouts with RPE tracking, photo calorie tracking (point your camera at food and get an instant calorie estimate), and access to the social leaderboard to compete with friends.
Most apps lock AI features entirely behind a paywall. Soma lets you experience the core product for free, which is rare.
The premium upgrade is worth it if you want unlimited AI coaching conversations, but the free version alone is a genuinely complete tool for most gym-goers.
Best for: Anyone who wants one app for training and nutrition without paying upfront.
Download Soma free on the App Store
2. Hevy — Best Free Workout Tracker
Free tier: Unlimited workout logging, exercise library, basic progress graphs
Premium: ~$5.99/month (routine creation limits lifted)
Hevy is one of the cleanest free workout tracking apps available. The interface is simple, the exercise library is solid, and the free tier genuinely lets you log unlimited workouts without nagging you to upgrade.
The catch: Hevy is workout-only. There's no calorie tracking, no nutrition features, no AI. If you also want to track what you eat, you'll need a second app.
For pure workout logging with no interest in nutrition, Hevy is one of the best free options.
Best for: Lifters who want a simple, free workout log and already handle nutrition elsewhere.
3. MyFitnessPal — Best Free Calorie Tracker (Just About)
Free tier: Calorie logging, food database access, basic macro breakdown
Premium: ~$19.99/month (unlocks macro goals, barcode scanning history, meal plans)
MyFitnessPal built its reputation on having the largest food database of any calorie tracking app — and that's still true. The free tier lets you log food and see basic calorie and macro data.
The problem is that MFP has steadily restricted its free tier over the years. Features that were once free are now premium. Barcode scanning still works, but analytics, custom macro goals, and the best reporting are locked away.
If you're a casual calorie counter who doesn't need much depth, the free tier is functional. But it's noticeably less useful than it used to be, and plenty of users are actively looking for a MyFitnessPal alternative.
Best for: Basic calorie logging if you're already familiar with the platform.
4. Strong — Best Minimalist Free Workout Log
Free tier: Up to 3 workout routines, unlimited exercise logging within those routines
Premium: ~$4.99/month (unlimited routines)
Strong is the gold standard for minimalist workout tracking. The UI is clean, it loads instantly, and the logging flow is frictionless. The free tier is limited to three saved routines — which is genuinely enough for most beginners running PPL or an upper/lower split.
Like Hevy, Strong is workout-only. No nutrition, no AI, no social. It does one thing and does it well.
The 3-routine cap becomes frustrating if you run more complex programming, but for simple free workout logging it's hard to beat.
Best for: Beginners who want a no-nonsense, fast workout log.
5. MacroFactor — Free Trial Only
Free tier: 2-week trial, then $11.99/month
No permanent free tier
MacroFactor is exceptional — arguably the most scientifically rigorous nutrition tracking app available. Its adaptive TDEE algorithm adjusts your calorie targets based on real weight trends rather than fixed formulas. It's genuinely impressive.
But it's not free. After the trial it's $11.99/month with no free tier. We're including it because the free trial is worth using to understand what good nutrition tracking looks like — just go in knowing it ends.
Best for: Serious nutrition trackers willing to pay for the best tool available.
6. Fitbod — Free Trial Only
Free tier: 5 free workouts, then $12.99/month
No permanent free tier
Fitbod generates AI workout plans based on muscle recovery, available equipment, and training history. It's smart and genuinely useful for people who don't want to write their own programming.
Like MacroFactor, though, there's no real free tier — just enough of a trial to get you hooked. No nutrition features either.
Best for: Testing AI-generated workout programming before committing.
7. Cal AI — Free for Photo Tracking (Mostly)
Free tier: Photo calorie tracking with limited daily scans
Premium: ~$9.99/month for unlimited scans
Cal AI does one thing: estimate calories from food photos. It's genuinely impressive tech and the accuracy is reasonable for most foods. The free tier gives you a handful of daily scans, which isn't much if you want to track every meal.
For casual use — snapping your lunch occasionally — the free tier works. For actual daily tracking, you'll hit the limit fast.
Best for: Occasional photo-based calorie estimates with no interest in workout tracking.
The Verdict: Best Free Gym App in 2025
| App | Free Workout Tracking | Free Calorie Tracking | AI Features Free | Social |
|-----|----------------------|----------------------|-----------------|--------|
| Soma | ✅ | ✅ (photo-based) | ✅ | ✅ |
| Hevy | ✅ | ❌ | ❌ | Limited |
| MyFitnessPal | ❌ | ✅ (limited) | ❌ | ❌ |
| Strong | ✅ (3 routines) | ❌ | ❌ | ❌ |
| MacroFactor | Trial only | Trial only | Trial only | ❌ |
| Fitbod | 5 workouts | ❌ | 5 workouts | ❌ |
| Cal AI | ❌ | ✅ (limited scans) | ✅ (limited) | ❌ |
For pure workout logging, Hevy and Strong are both strong free options. For calorie tracking only, MyFitnessPal still works despite its reduced free tier.
But if you want an app that covers both — training and nutrition — with AI features available on the free tier, Soma is the only real option. It's the most complete free gym app available right now, and the premium tier is genuinely optional rather than mandatory.