Best Streaming Workouts

One of the major trends in fitness in recent years, spurred by pandemic-induced global lockdowns, is a shift towards home workouts. Tons of people spent big money on fitness equipment and made room in their homes to do workouts, removing two of the main obstacles, but there are still some barriers to consistency that are more of an issue in a home than a commercial gym: instruction and motivation. If you're someone who struggles with motivation or would benefit from more guided workouts, you're in luck, because a bevy of workout streaming services have popped up to help you get the personalized guidance you need to get in the best shape of your life.  RELATED: How You Should Work Out at Every Age From classes involving equipment like treadmills, exercise bikes, and rowing machines to cardio and strength training fitness sessions and yoga instruction, there's a workout out there to fit every person's skill level, interest, and needs for any given day. While most streaming workouts are available on all platforms — smartphone, iPad/tablet, computer, and TV streaming devices (Firestick, Roku, etc) — some are only available on a smartphone, so keep that in mind when you're signing up for a membership. Apple Fitness+ With the introduction of the Apple Watch, the largest tech company in the world threw its weight into fitness in a big way, and Apple Fitness Plus is the result. It's a subscription-based online workout platform, giving members access to a wide array of instructional classes, covering the basics (strength training, yoga, pilates, HIIT) and some extras you won't find on most other online workout platforms: workouts for the elderly or the pregnant, for example. If you're already plugged into the Apple ecosystem, you can get a lot out of Apple Fitness Plus, which can use your Apple devices to give you advanced fitness metrics like your heart rate, blood pressure, blood oxygen level, and calories burned. One thing you'll notice right away from Apple is their high production value across all classes, as well as the caliber of their instructors. It's not a cheap service, by any means, but if you're using it on the daily, the price is more than fair for what you get. Pros: Comprehensive workout offerings, lasting from 5 to 45 minutes, involving yoga, HIIT, pilates, and strength training, among others; massive user base; pairs well with Apple devices to offer you advanced fitness metrics Cons: Most of the classes aren't separated by level of fitness, so beginners might struggle to find a foothold; to get the most out of it, you need to have an Apple Watch Cost: $12.99 per month or $99.99 per year Sign up at Apple.com BODi (Formerly Beachbody on Demand) With more than 1,500 workout choices, BODi allows you to fit in a sweat session whenever you can, even if you just have 10 minutes to spare. Choose from a vast selection of programs, that run the gamut from cardio and strength training to mixed martial arts and yoga. Each program will tell you how long it lasts (anywhere from 5 to 90 days), how much time you should expect to put in each day to get the results you want, and how intense the regimen is.  Just getting started? Try a beginner-level regimen like SHIFT SHOP. Already have a head start on fitness? The more advanced Transform:20 may be a better fit for you. However, if you just can't decide on a program, you can let the handy program selector find the perfect fit for you. Whichever workout plan you decide to pick, you can rest assured that it's led by an expert Beachbody Super Trainer — and if you don’t happen to like it, you can always try another. Pros: Little to no equipment is required, depending on your choice of workout. It also provides customizable meal plans, recipes, and cooking videos to help you meet your fitness goals from all angles. Cons: You don't interact directly with your trainer. However, you can tap into support from a free coach, expert fitness and nutrition advice, and a motivational member community. Cost: Packages from $15 per month Sign up at BeachbodyOnDemand.com Daily Burn Similar to Beachbody, Daily Burn offers a multitude of streaming workout programs to match your fitness level whether you're a beginner or a pro. Choose from cardio, yoga, Spartan training, bodyweight regimens and more. They even offer super-quick "Mini Burns" — 5-minute workouts you can easily conquer between e-meetings when you just can't sit at your desk anymore. Not only do they have thousands of different videos on tap, but they also host a full-body group workout every day. New ones are on hold during the coronavirus outbreak, but you can access the past database for now as they continue to curate a different daily workout to keep you on your toes. There's also an active member community where you can find support and motivation 24/7. Pros: Little to no equipment is required for most workouts. They've also recently introduced audio workouts — and meditation sessions too — so you can take your trainer and some heart-pumping music with you on-the-go. Cons: It may not have as wide of a range of workouts as some others — especially for those looking for more advanced fitness — but you definitely won't get bored with the selection. Cost: From $7.50 per month Sign up at DailyBurn.com Aaptiv If you're someone who gets bored just working out in their living room — or your home is a bit too cramped for a sweat session these days — Aaptiv could be the perfect fit for you. The audio-only workouts lend themselves quite well to outdoor spaces so you can get some fresh air while you get your heart pumping. With Aaptiv, you'll gain unlimited access to thousands of workouts with dozens more being released each week. There are sessions tailored to strength training, yoga and outdoor running, and they even have treadmill, elliptical and cycling workouts if you do happen to have some equipment at home and need to add a little structure and motivation. Plus, the workouts are set to songs you've actually heard before — not some crappy stock tracks. Pros: Offers a lot of options that don't involve you sweating on a mat in front of the TV for an hour. It can also really amp up your usage of any home gym machines that you already own. Cons: No one-on-one interaction; the only coaching is powered by AI Cost: $8.33/month after 7-day free trial Sign up at Aaptiv.com ClassPass Just because gyms and studios are closed, doesn't mean you can't still benefit from a ClassPass membership. Normally, the service helps you book popular in-person fitness classes near you. However, you can still use it to reserve your space in livestreaming classes and pay for each as you go, with all proceeds supporting studios through June 1. Or, you can take advantage of their free (yes, free) library of on-demand classes! Setting up a free account will grant you unlimited access to 4,000 on-demand workouts — both audio and video — led by expert trainers who walk you through all the moves.  Pros: Free workouts, of course! But you also have the option to support your favorite studios by purchasing credits for live streaming classes. Cons: The free on-demand workouts are, of course, not interactive. Cost: Varies depending on how many livestreaming workouts you purchase, if any. Get started with a free account at ClassPass.com Peloton Nope, you don't need to drop thousands of dollars on a Peloton Bike or Tread to benefit from the brand's popular streaming workouts.  You can try out the Peloton app for free for 90 days and gain access to thousands of live and on-demand classes. If you already have a stationary bike or treadmill at home, you can really ramp up your workouts with the cycling and running classes — or take them on-the-go if you're heading outdoors for a solo sweat session. There are also a ton of other workouts that focus on strength, toning, yoga and meditation if you don't have any equipment at home. No matter which you choose, you'll benefit from an on-demand studio experience right on your smartphone, tablet, TV or laptop. You can even keep yourself motivated via stats at-a-glance on your Apple Watch. Pros: Offers a ton of choices no matter your means, and you can filter classes by type, length and even your favorite music. Cons: Might not be the optimal choice if you don't have a bicycle or treadmill at home, but it's still worth checking out if you can get nearly three months for free. Cost: From $12.99/month after 90-day free trial Sign up at OnePeloton.com Find Your Trainer If you're really missing your personal trainer these days, FindYourTrainer has just launched virtual sessions to get you back into gear. In a previous timeline, FYT was dedicated to providing certified, insured and background-checked in-home trainers but, of course, the world looks a little different right now. So, they've adapted to make their one-on-one fitness training as safe and accessible as possible. Just pick the perfect trainer for you by taking the FYT quiz, then choose to meet via Skype, FaceTime, Hangouts or Facebook Messenger. Together, you'll build a training plan to keep you in shape, no matter your current fitness level. Pros: If you're looking for personalized one-on-one attention, this is definitely your best choice. Cons: No workouts to stream on-demand. Cost: $29/session Get started at FindYourTrainer.com You Might Also Dig: Best Exercise Equipment Under $100 Best Walking Shoes for Men How to Build Your Biceps Without Ever Doing a Curl