I Tried Apple Fitness+ For One Week — Here's What I Loved & What I Didn't Love

My fitness routine used to center solely around marathon training, but I’ve learned I thrive on exercise variety in the last few years. So when I was asked to test Apple Fitness+, I jumped at the chanced to review the platform’s robust library of workouts. 

Apple Fitness+ started as a paid companion for the Apple Watch, but it’s now a paid subscription service available to anyone with an Apple device (iPad, Apple TV, iPhone, or Apple Watch). When you sign up for the Fitness+ program, it will automatically be integrated into the Fitness app on your device.

In addition to these classes, Fitness+ also offers “Time to Walk” and “Time to Run” sessions, meant to be played as you walk or run.

While this app used to be reserved for those with an Apple Watch, you can now use Fitness+ with any Apple device. That said, having an Apple Watch greatly expands your capabilities with Fitness+.

If you do have an Apple Watch, you’ll be able to see your heart rate and calories burned on the screen as you workout—so you can literally see your rings close as you go.

I personally do not have an Apple Watch—so I wasn’t clued into these insights—but I imagine seeing your metrics in real time would help you push harder in your workouts (the same way it does on a treadmill or exercise bike).

On that note, it’s fairly simple to try out Fitness+ without spending a dime. Those who recently purchased an Apple device will get three months free, while those who are signing up without a purchase will get one month free.

Once you're signed up for Fitness+, you can access it via the Fitness app on your iPhone, AppleTV, or iPad. A major selling point for the platform is its user-friendly design; it's easy to filter through the classes, track your workout history, and view your stats. There's even a feature that allows you to connect with friends who also use the app!

The interface is broken out into three tabs: Summary, Fitness+, and Sharing. The Summary pulls in data from other devices (e.g. an Oura Ring or Garmin) and outlines your activity for each day, displaying calories burned, steps, and distance. This is also where you'll see your movement trends, awards, and weekly motivational tips from the app's trainers.

The Fitness+ tab is where every workout and wellness session lives. At the top, you can click into any of the 12 main workout categories, and within each category you can filter workouts by trainer, duration, theme, equipment, body focus, music, and other parameters depending on the class.

To build your custom schedule, you'll simply select the duration and type of workout you want to complete each day, your desired length of the plan, and any preferences in terms of equipment, music, and instructors.

From there, the app will develop a plan for you. In theory, this is a great solve, but I did experience a few frustrations with this feature (which I'll dive into in the "what I didn't love" section).

Below the custom plan feature, you'll find new workouts displayed, followed by new meditations, the Time to Walk sessions, and the Time to Run Sessions. Next, you can browse curated workout collections, tailored programs, Artist spotlights, and Music spotlights.

Finally, at the very bottom of the Fitness+ tab, you'll be able to browse through the trainer bios, view trainer tips, and view your personal library of workouts, meditations, workout stacks, custom plans, and downloaded classes.

Like I said, I replaced an entire week of workouts with Apple Fitness+. In this time, I stuck with my preferred types of exercises (strength and Pilates), while mixing in one Dance class, a cooldown routine, and a meditation.

I also tried a few of the Time to Walk sessions and was surprised by how quickly I got hooked. These guided sessions range from 25 to 43 minutes and are hosted by names that will be familiar to most—I personally chose to walk with Misty Copeland, Gloria Estefan, Nick Jonas, Jason Segal, and Billie Jean King (yes; I walk a lot).

Since I'm a runner, you may be surprised that I didn't try the Time to Run series. These hosted sessions take you through various iconic destinations with motivational words to keep you going.

"Fitness+, and other platforms like it, are excellent for beginners looking to add more movement into their daily routine," says certified personal trainer and CrossFit Level 1 coach, Gabrielle Bolin. "For people new to exercise, any additional movement, whether by way of a fitness app or simply getting more steps in, will have a major benefit."

Bolin caveats that Fitness+ might not be enough for more experienced fitness enthusiasts. "As the body adapts to additional daily exercise, it is important to increase the cardiovascular challenge of our fitness routine and add progressive overload to our strength training in order to continue to build lean muscle mass," she explains.

Ultimately, Apple Fitness+ is worth giving a try—especially considering any new user can get as least one month for free. Long term, $9.99 per month membership could be a worthwhile investment depending on your goals and how you plan to use the app.

I personally wouldn't choose it as my primary fitness app, as I have a few existing platforms with instructors whose styles I connect with more. That in mind, I would consider Fitness+ an excellent supplement to my existing routine.