It can be challenging to maintain a good fitness level if you can’t get to a gym or exercise class regularly. If you find it difficult to go out to exercise, calisthenics might provide the ideal solution. Calisthenics is a type of workout that uses primarily your body weight to build strength and requires little or no equipment.
This type of exercise is great for everyone because it can be done almost anywhere, regardless of your initial fitness level. That’s why this ancient form of workout remains so popular. Here are some great apps to help you practice calisthenics, learn how to perform the exercises, and discover routines to get you moving.
1. Seven
Seven is one of the most popular exercise apps for calisthenics-based training. The app employs high-intensity interval training (HIIT) to ensure short but effective workouts. It’s called Seven because you’ll break a sweat with just seven minutes of exercise.
The real appeal of Seven is how easy it makes calisthenics. You don’t need any equipment or experience. Simply set your goals, desired difficulty level, and set a schedule for yourself. The app will send workout reminders to keep you on track.
As well as following the set programs, you can design your own custom workout with just a few clicks.
Seven offers numerous challenges and competitions, with achievements to collect along the way. You can even change your instructor, with options such as a peaceful yogi or a drill sergeant to put you through your paces. Subscribe to the 7 Club for full access to all workouts, along with personalized fitness plans.
Download: Seven for iOS | Android (Free, subscription available)
2. 8fit
8fit combines the talents of fitness and nutrition experts to provide both a personal trainer and meal planner in one app. It’s perfect if you want quick workouts and a complete dietary plan to follow simultaneously. The fitness element of the app allows you to practice calisthenics with a wide range of workouts. The HIIT-based routines will enable you to burn fat and strengthen muscles with bodyweight exercises such as squats, crunches, and pushups. There are several cardio and strength apps for building a hybrid training program.
The free version of 8fit gives you the full body exercise program. Or you can subscribe to 8fit Pro for custom workouts, extra challenges, live weekly classes, and full access to personalized meal plans.
Download: 8fit for iOS | Android (Free, subscription available)
3. Madbarz: Body Workouts
Madbarz is another top-rated home calisthenics workout app that will help you tailor your exercise to target specific muscle groups. You can see which muscles you’re activating on the accompanying graphics. Madbarz is excellent for beginners, too, with great videos and descriptions to explain each exercise.
In addition to the included workout programs, you can design your own workout from the extensive catalog. A smart repetition counter helps you count your reps with ease, and there’s an exercise tracking tool that integrates with Apple Health. Alternatively, track your progress on the app’s built-in progress calendar. If you enjoy this element of Madbarz, consider these activity tracker apps to help you with your fitness goals.
Subscribe to get even more workout plans and challenges, along with nutrition information and a complete eating guide.
Download: Madbarz for iOS | Android (Free, subscription available)
4. Calisthenics Mastery
Calisthenics Mastery contains the most complete source of calisthenics exercises of any app on this list. It’s like a calisthenics encyclopedia.
Each exercise is fully explained with diagrams showing the muscles worked. Build your own routines from the more than 50 activities in the free version, or upgrade for even more content and advanced exercises as you progress and learn.
Every feature you could hope for is here: schedules and notifications, a well-designed player, rep and rest counters, integration with Apple Health, and even a social section with a forum and chat features. By the time you’ve mastered the free offering, you won’t mind paying for the upgrade. However, if you decide that calisthenics doesn’t suit you, there are lots of great apps to help you in your gym's weight room.
Download: Calisthenics Mastery for iOS (Free) | Calisthenics Mastery Pro for iOS ($12.99) | Calisthenics Mastery for Android (Free, in-app purchases available)
5. We’re Working Out: Al Kavadlo
Al Kavadlo is one of the world’s leading experts in calisthenics, so you’re in safe hands with this app. It’s a fun yet challenging app which you can use to learn the basics for free before upgrading to the premium version as you improve your skills.
Start from scratch in the "Zero" category, which includes routines for beginner themes: zero experience, zero equipment, and even zero expectations! Then, choose from over 40 unique workouts. Subscribe or upgrade to get full access to all content and additional features, including activity logging. Beginners will also enjoy these workouts for starting a weight loss journey.
Download: We’re Working Out: Al Kavado for iOS | Android (Free, subscription available)
6. Movement Athlete
The Movement Athlete is an app that combines calisthenics with gymnastic skills to guide you from whatever fitness level you start at towards a stronger, leaner, more flexible body. It uses the wisdom of professional coaches and physiotherapists and makes it available to provide a comprehensive and progressive exercise program in which you unlock each new skill by mastering the one before. Alternatively, you can select a workout based on working specific muscle groups or improving your mobility.
Undertake an athlete assessment and upgrade to a premium subscription to get a personalized workout, which you can adjust by giving feedback and reporting any pain. There’s even a chat function. It’s superbly detailed and the closest you’ll get to having a personal calisthenics trainer.
Download: Movement Athlete for iOS | Android (Subscription required, free trial available)
7. Caliverse
Caliverse is one of the best free calisthenics apps available as it contains so much content you don’t have to subscribe to access—more than 100 workouts, live sessions, and challenges. You have to seek it out, as the interface is geared towards paid subscribers. However, the lessons are clear and easy to follow.
Subscribing to Caliverse PRO provides you access to more advanced workout plans, tutorials, and the opportunity to train with a coach who gives instant feedback to improve your performance.
Download: Caliverse for iOS | Android (Free, subscription available)
8. Thenics
Thenics does all the basics well: it shows you the key skills of calisthenics, provides progressions that you will use in different workouts, and offers a varied set of routines.
It’s not as detailed as some of the other apps on the list, nor is it particularly memorable or dynamic. If you’re looking for audio explanations, music, or even any diversity, you won’t find it here. Still, even if you subscribe to Thenics Pro, this app is cheaper than many of its rivals.
Download: Thenics for iOS | Android (Free, subscription available)
9. Calisteniapp
Calisteniapp boasts a comprehensive set of videos showing basic calisthenic exercises. This is another app that doesn’t incorporate sound at all while leading you through workouts or counting duration or reps, making it hard to follow while practicing your new skills.
However, Calisteniapp has a great set of exercise routines that are laid out clearly in categories such as strength, mobility, and high intensity. There’s also a good community feature, and you may enjoy joining the community challenges. A range of helpful free articles and tutorials make this a well-rounded free package with the option to subscribe for full access to a range of multi-week workout plans.
Download: Calisteniapp for iOS | Android (free, subscription available)
10. Thenx
Thenx is a perfect calisthenics workout app for beginners to the discipline, since a Techniques section will help you to begin mastering the basic skills you’ll need. Once you've explored that, embark on the thorough Introduction to Calisthenics Program. Afterward, you’ll definitely be prepared for the daily workouts on offer, or you might opt to take on another of the Thenx programs.
Thenx instructors are welcoming and encouraging, the moves are clearly explained, and everything is demonstrated in short videos. A superb workout display screen means you’ll always know what you’re doing and what’s up next, and you even get breaks built right in.
The app contains plenty of free content, including links to videos on the Thenx YouTube channel and access to the Thenx community. Subscribe to get full access to the extensive catalog.
Download: Thenx for iOS | Android (Free, subscription available)
Build Strength and Tone Up Using Calisthenics
Beyond these apps, there are lots of great fitness apps and resources that incorporate calisthenics techniques in their workouts. If you can commit to a calisthenics exercise program, you’re bound to feel the benefits. It’s rewarding to track your progress and see how far you’ve come on your fitness journey with almost no equipment.