A higher level of fitness is associated with a longer lifespan, a better quality of life, and decreased risk of stroke, heart disease, and diabetes.

With smartphones, getting fit has never been easier. There are several great iPhone apps that can help you get in shape. But with so many options, finding the best one that works for you can be tough.

If you're looking to take your fitness seriously, here's a look at the 12 best fitness apps for your iPhone. Hopefully, you'll find one that works great for you.

1. Apple Fitness

If you're looking to get in shape, the Apple Fitness app is a great place to start. After all, it comes pre-installed on almost all iPhones.

Apple Fitness is essentially a fitness tracker for your iPhone. With Apple Fitness, you can track your steps, workouts, and even meditation sessions. Since you usually have your iPhone with you everywhere you go, using the built-in Fitness app is a great tool to utilize.

The Apple Fitness app is a must-have if you have an Apple Watch, as it seamlessly integrates with your wearable to track your sleep, heart rate, steps, and workouts.

If you subscribe to Fitness+, you can get access to guided workouts, classes, and meditations.

Download: Apple Fitness (Free, subscription available)

2. Peloton

Peloton is known for its popular exercise bikes, but you don't need to buy one to get fit. Peloton also has a great app that gives you workouts you can do at home.

Just like on the Peloton bikes, the Peloton app has thousands of live and on-demand classes. To get fit, just find a class and get started. While some classes have bike exercises, there are also strength, core, yoga, and meditation classes.

With the Peloton app, you can get both your body and mind in shape. The Peloton community is also great for finding accountability in your workouts. There are also challenges, GPS run tracking, and guided programs.

If you are also considering getting a Peloton bike, check out our review of the Peloton bike and see if it's worth the hype.

Download: Peloton (Free trial, subscription required)

3. Fitbit

While you don't need a Fitbit tracker to use the Fitbit app for iPhone, it certainly helps. The app functions as an activity and sleep tracker, along with running, walking, and hiking monitoring. You can record your workouts, log your meals, monitor hydration, and set goals to motivate yourself, too.

If you do own a Fitbit tracker, the app wirelessly syncs with your wearable Fitbit and automatically logs metrics like sleep quality, daily steps, and heart rate (provided that your tracker supports it). You can also link it with your Aria Smart Scale to log your weight automatically.

All these options make Fitbit one of the most versatile and best free fitness apps on the market. While the app is free, a Fitbit Premium service is available for those interested in a more comprehensive experience. The app is essentially a big ad for owning a Fitbit device, so make sure to ask yourself whether you should buy a Fitbit before purchasing one.

Download: Fitbit (Free, subscription available)

4. ASICS RunKeeper

Running is one of the most common activities for those wanting to get fit. RunKeeper, as the name suggests, provides a simple way to establish and stick to an exercise routine.

This is one of many free fitness apps available that track cycling, walking, hiking, and other activities. However, it stands out as one of the best. With access to your location and motion data, RunKeeper can track and plot your progress on a map. You can opt for frequent audio updates on your progress or play music stored on your iPhone.

While using a treadmill at the gym might not be an option, never fear. RunKeeper can track laps around your front yard or on a secluded street. While the basic functionality is free, you can upgrade to RunKeeper Go for $10 a month or $40 a year to get detailed insights, "tailored race-training plans," and live tracking.

Download: ASICS RunKeeper (Free, subscription available)

5. MyFitnessPal

Diet is an important part of any exercise routine, and tracking macros like carbohydrates, protein, and fat can help you reach your long-term goals.

However, counting calories doesn't have to be a pen-and-paper exercise. MyFitnessPal makes it easy to log your meals and snacks, with over six million recorded foods and a handy barcode scanner to help recognize them.

Using the app, you can import recipe information, log restaurant items, or use your home recipes to ensure that you're staying within your set boundaries. Best of all, the app also functions as an exercise monitor. You can connect to more than 50 other apps and devices to help incorporate your activity and dietary information into one place.

Although you can get a ton of value from this app with the free version, you can also upgrade to a MyFitnessPal Premium account for $19.99 per month or $79.99 per year. For its wide range of features, this is one of the best free fitness apps for iPhone.

Download: MyFitnessPal (Free, subscription available)

6. Strava

Strava is similar to RunKeeper but has an emphasis on cycling. As one of the best fitness apps for iPhone, you can also use this app to track running. However, its primary audience prefers two wheels when breaking a sweat.

Just like RunKeeper, Strava tracks and plots your workouts on a map. This mapping includes essential information like elevation, speed, and comparisons with other riders who have taken the same route.

Whether you prefer biking in a gym or on remote cross-country tracks, this will help you measure your workout. The baseline features for Strava are free. You can upgrade to a Strava premium account with a monthly or annual plan to get customized training, personal heatmaps, and detailed analyses of your ride data.

Download: Strava (Free, subscription available)

7. C25K 5K Run Trainer

This is the official app of the Couch to 5K program, stylized as C25K. If you've been leading a sedentary lifestyle and want to get off the couch and start moving, then this training app is for you.

Using audio cues and activity monitoring, the app hopes to build up your overall levels of fitness to the point where you can run a 5K non-stop. This realistic training schedule won't push you too hard. Instead, it focuses on gradual improvements for those unfamiliar with an exercise routine.

While the core C25K is free, you can check out its in-app purchases to remove ads or pay for playlists.

Download: C25K 5K Run Trainer (Free, in-app purchases available)

8. Nike Training Club

Nike Training Club is a free fitness app from Nike. It includes over a hundred workouts covering various types—from strength exercises to cardio and endurance to mobility and yoga. The program covers all levels of fitness and all types of schedules.

The app also includes personalized workouts based on past routines. This means the more you use it, the better it gets at predicting what you'll want to do next. Also included are tips from trainers and celebrity-inspired routines.

Overall, the app is ideal for those who can't afford a pricey exercise program.

Download: Nike Training Club (Free)

9. Fitbod

Fitbod is one of many apps you can use for bodybuilding, body sculpting, weight lifting, or strength training. The focus here is on creating customized workouts that prioritize muscle groups based on user-generated information.

First, choose your activity type, desired goals, and number of workouts per week. Next, you'll receive a workout plan that adapts to your fitness level. In this plan, you'll get descriptions and videos of the included workout exercises. You can also specify the type of gym equipment that you have available.

While access to proper gym equipment might not be practical for everyone, Fitbod's ability to create custom workouts without official equipment means you can still use it at home and on a budget.

The downside is that while you can create several workouts for free, you'll need to subscribe to get the most benefits after the trial period. A Fitbod subscription is $12.99/month or $79.99/year.

Download: Fitbod (Free trial, subscription required)

10. Fitness Point

Fitness Point is another app aimed at strength training. Unlike Fitbod, it serves as a reference for exercises you can do rather than as an automated planner.

Each exercise in the Fitness Point library has an animation and a description attached to that animation, along with information about which muscles the exercise works.

The animations aren't as good as Fitbod's videos, but there are still many exercises to choose from. You can create your own workout plans, log progress, and use the built-in rest timer while working out.

Unfortunately, while some of the exercises are available for free, you'll need to upgrade to Fitness Point Pro or Fitness Point Pro Female to see them all. However, the free app should give you enough information to decide whether the paid version is worth it.

Download: Fitness Point (Free, subscription available)

Download: Fitness Point Pro ($4.99, in-app purchases available) | Fitness Point Pro Female ($4.99, in-app purchases available)

11. Fit Radio

Even if you subscribe to Apple Music or Spotify, it can be hard to find music to listen to every time you work out. That's where Fit Radio comes in. The app offers coaching for a variety of different workouts. You can also choose to listen to a specific type of music that will fit the activity that you're doing.

Finally, there's a running tab that matches your pace to the music automatically or by manually setting a pace you want to follow.

While Fit Radio is free, you can upgrade to a Fit Radio Premium account with several different payment options to enjoy more mixes, customization, and better recommendations. It's a great tool for setting up a gym environment in your home.

Download: Fit Radio (Free, subscription available)

12. Pokémon GO

Looking for free iPhone workout apps that venture off the beaten path? While Pokémon GO might not be a fitness app in the traditional sense, it can definitely motivate you to move around. It is one of the best apps that make fitness fun.

If you're finding it difficult to stay energized long enough to go for a walk, Pokémon GO might be the motivation you need. Basically, this game could be the carrot on the end of the string that gets you moving without even realizing that you're exercising.

You can play this game virtually anywhere, and you don't need a penny to start playing it, although there are in-app purchases to help you get various items.

Download: Pokémon GO (Free, in-app purchases available)

Use One of These Free Fitness Apps to Work Out Anytime

However you choose to get fit—whether by working out at home or walking outside—these free fitness apps for the iPhone should help you achieve that progress. Not only do they assist with your physical health, but regular exercise can also have a positive secondary effect on your mental health.