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The Top 21 Must-Have Features for Building Fitness App

August 11th, 2023
Features for Building Fitness App.

Introduction

Fitness apps are the new craze in the health and fitness industry. These apps make tracking your progress easier, motivate you, and inspire you to work out more often. If you are a fitness enthusiast who wants to develop a fitness app and doesn't know where to start and what features to add. Then we are here to rescue. We have a list of 21 must-have features to include in a fitness app.

So, whether you work independently or hire a remote developer for application development purposes, you will benefit from this blog.

What is a Fitness App?

What is a Fitness App?.

Fitness apps are used to track workouts and exercise. They can help one to stay motivated by allowing you to monitor your progress. These apps typically offer a range of features and functionalities that aid users in tracking their physical activities, monitoring their nutrition, setting fitness goals, and providing access to guided workouts and exercise routines.

Fitness apps are invaluable for those needing to lose weight or get in shape because they provide detailed information about the workout. Some of the details include calories burned, and distance traveled for a particular exercise session. It can also provide valuable statistics and allow one to compare or compete with other fitness app users for added motivation. 

Types of Fitness Apps?

Types of Fitness Apps?.

There are several types of fitness apps with a wide range of features. Some focus on diet and nutrition, while others focus on exercise and workout routines. What's great about the variety is that there's an app for every type of person and their specific needs.

Some of the common applications of fitness apps include:

  • Workout and exercise apps

  • Guided workout routines and videos 

  • Activity and step trackers to monitor daily physical activity

  • Diet and nutrition apps offering meal planning and calorie tracking

  • Running and cycling apps for tracking outdoor activities

  • Yoga and meditation apps for relaxation and mindfulness

  • Sleep tracking apps to monitor sleep patterns

Knowing the type of fitness app you want to build can help shape it better. It is a vital factor in distinguishing your targeted audience. Whether you hire remote developer or any development firm for your fitness app development process, it is a good practice to have a clear picture of what you wish to build to avoid confusion. 

List of 21 Essential Features To Add To Your Fitness App

Now that you are more familiar with a fitness app, it's time to dive into the essential features to include in your app. These features will make your app more functional and appealing, helping users on their fitness journey.

1. User registration and onboarding

User registration and onboarding.

A user registration and login page are basic requirements. This is the first thing users see when they visit your fitness app. It's very important to ensure the registration process is smooth, simple, and fast to get more users on board.

2. Activity tracking and workout plans

Activity tracking and workout plans.

Activity tracking and workout plans are vital components of any fitness application. These features enable users to track their physical activities and monitor real-time data like steps taken, distance covered, and calories burned. Moreover, fitness enthusiasts can create customized workout plans tailored to their fitness goals: weight loss, muscle gain, or overall fitness improvement. 

The app's exercise library is a valuable resource. It offers instructional content with detailed descriptions and video demonstrations of various exercises to ensure users maintain proper form and technique during their workouts. With these features, users can stay motivated, track progress, and achieve their fitness objectives effectively.

Do you know: According to statistics, The Fitness Apps segment is on track to reach a staggering US$19.33 billion in revenue by 2023, with a jaw-dropping 14.34% annual growth rate, soaring to a projected market volume of US$33.04 billion by 2027! These numbers highlight the incredible demand and potential of fitness apps, shaping the future of the fitness industry.

3. Nutrition and meal planning

Nutrition and meal planning.

Fitness app nutrition and meal planning features enable users to track calorie and macronutrient intake, access personalized meal plans and recipes, and conveniently integrate with food databases. These features facilitate mindful eating, help users reach their fitness goals, and make informed nutritional choices for a healthier lifestyle.

4. Progress tracking and analytics

Progress tracking and analytics.

Progress tracking and analytics are a must-have for any fitness app, but they can also be difficult to implement. You need to make sure that you have the right tools in place for your progress tracking, and you also need to have a good way of displaying the data so that it's easy for users to understand what they're looking at. In addition, analytics are important because they'll show you which parts of your app are working well and which areas need improvement.

5. Push notifications and reminders.

Push notifications and reminders.

Push notifications and reminders are a must-have for any fitness app. Notifications and reminders play a big role in helping users achieve their daily goals, workout schedules, and nutrition plans.

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6. Social and community features

Social and community features.

Social and community features are a great way to connect with others interested in the same activities as you. Social media channels can be used to share your workout progress, answer questions or get advice on improving your fitness. If you're looking for new workout partners, social media is an excellent way to find like-minded individuals who share similar interests.

These features will help motivate users by providing an outlet to interact with others who share their passion for staying active. Many apps offer the ability to create groups so members can connect specifically based on shared interests or geographic location.

7. Wearable devices integration

Wearable devices integration.

Wearable devices are a good way to track your fitness goals. You must integrate your wearable with fitness apps, enabling seamless connectivity with popular fitness wearables, syncing data from smartwatches and fitness trackers, and enhancing the overall user experience through wearable technology. By incorporating wearables, users can easily monitor and track their fitness data, providing valuable insights for their health and wellness journey.

8. Personalization and customization

Personalization and customization.

Personalization and customization are vital in fitness apps, tailoring content to user preferences and offering customizable profiles and fitness goals. Adaptive recommendations provide personalized guidance to help users achieve their unique fitness objectives. These features create an engaging and motivating fitness journey.

Also, if you think the features we listed will exceed your budget, you can opt for MVP development too.

9. In-App workouts and video demonstrations

In-App workouts and video demonstrations.

In-App workouts and video demonstrations are essential features in fitness apps. Users can access pre-recorded guided workouts and benefit from video demonstrations of exercises, ensuring proper form and technique. Additionally, live-streaming fitness classes provide real-time interaction and motivation. These features empower users to have effective workouts, stay engaged, and achieve their fitness goals conveniently within the app.

10. Sleep and stress tracking

Sleep and stress tracking.

This is a great feature for fitness apps. It helps to improve user experience, as users can track their sleep patterns, stress levels, moods, and heart rate. This will enable them to take the necessary steps to improve their lifestyle by getting a decent night's sleep or reducing their stress levels through meditation and yoga classes.

11. Challenges and rewards

Challenges and rewards.

Rewards are a great way to keep your users engaged, especially when working toward a goal. They can also encourage users to try new workouts and complete more workouts in a given period.

12. Health insights and content

Health insights and content.

The app should be able to provide you with health insights so that you can track your progress. The content should also be personalized according to your goals and objectives.

13. Subscription plans and payment integration

Subscription plans and payment integration.

The ability to offer subscription plans is a must-have for any fitness app. It allows you to create packages that include different levels of access and pricing, which will appeal to different types of users. Payment gateways are vital to offer multiple subscriptions at different prices. Backtesting the app for secure payment integration and making it easy and secure would make it more purposeful. You can also use a QR code made for your specific needs.

14. Offline mode and data backup

Offline mode and data backup.

Offline mode and data backup are crucial elements of fitness apps. Users can access previously downloaded content offline, providing uninterrupted access to their favourite workouts and plans. Automatic data backup and restore functionality ensures user fitness data remains safe and retrievable. 

By prioritizing data security and privacy, fitness apps can instil confidence in users, assuring them that their personal information is protected. These features add convenience and peace of mind, allowing users to focus on their fitness journey without worrying about connectivity or data loss.

15. Customer support and feedback

Customer support and feedback.

Customer support is an important aspect of any business. Your customers will want to be able to reach you at all times and via multiple channels. It would help if you had a customer support team that can handle different issues, including billing, app functionality, and technical issues. You also need a team that can respond quickly so your users don't get frustrated or lose interest in using the app.

16. Gamification and challenges

Gamification and challenges.

Gamification is a fun way to make fitness apps more engaging. You can use it to motivate people or make your app more exciting.

A challenge is an activity that has a specific goal, like running 10 km in one week. There are many ways to set up challenges: you could ask users to complete them within a certain time, or you could have them compete against each other by posting their results on social media.

17. Security and privacy

Security and privacy.

Security and privacy are two of the most important factors in building an app. When you think about it, many things can go wrong if your data isn't secure and protected.

18. Encryption of data

Encryption of data.

You want to ensure that your user's information is encrypted and protected by a password or PIN before sending it anywhere else. This includes emails, messages, and other types of communication between users on your platform.

This article explains more about mobile app development in 2023: Mobile app development in 2023

19. Water intake tracker

Water intake tracker.

A fitness app with a water intake tracker will help remind you to stay hydrated throughout the day and ensure you consume the necessary water.

20. Body Measurements

Body Measurements.

Body measurements are a significant feature in fitness apps. It empowers users to log and track crucial metrics such as weight, height, and body fat percentage. Regularly monitoring these measurements allows users to observe their progress, set achievable goals, and stay motivated throughout their fitness journey.

21. Personal training service and workout history

Personal training service and workout history.

Personal training services are valuable in fitness apps, providing users access to certified trainers or personalized coaching services. The feature allows individuals to receive expert guidance, tailored workout plans, and personalized feedback based on their fitness goals and needs. With the support of qualified trainers, users can optimize their workouts, maintain proper form, and progress effectively.

Workout history is a valuable component of fitness apps, keeping a comprehensive record of user's past workouts for reference and motivation. Users can easily track their progress by storing workout details, such as exercise routines, duration, and intensity. This feature allows individuals to compare their performance with previous sessions, providing insights into their fitness improvements.

Case Study of Fitness App Development for She’s Tough

Case Study of Fitness App Development.

Building a fitness app can take serious majors to make it not over the board and not under either. So, it's crucial to understand what clients need and their goals. We worked with various industries as a well-known development firm and an official Laravel partner. Our recent client was a fitness enthusiast who dreamed of making her fitness app and website. She wanted to take her knowledge online and share and help other people reach their fitness goals.

As we discussed, she wanted a fitness app loaded with all useful features without exceeding the budget. It is always essential to choose the technologies wisely; it is more so when developing a fitness app. We choose Swift and Java as the programming languages. 

Our previous experience in hand-building robust web applications helped us to lead this project to success. By fulfilling all their requirements, we created a smooth and fast-running website and fitness app for 'She's Tough'.

Features

  • Browse the fitness programs on the website

  • Search using well-defined categories on the website

  • Access fitness programs via the mobile app

  • eCommerce store for mechanize on website

  • Downloadable eBook

  • News and updates

Conclusion

The fitness app is one of the most important apps as it helps improve your health. Many fitness apps are available in the market, but not all are good enough to motivate users toward goals. But this list of features will help your fitness app gain an edge over the competition. The features listed are tried and tested to make a brilliant app that encourages users to care for themselves.

Here is the link to another article for those who require more information on the development cost: How Much Does It Cost to Make a Fitness App

Revolutionize Your Business with a Custom Mobile App

Take your business to new heights with a tailor-made mobile app to meet your unique needs. We've covered you, from seamless user experiences to enhanced customer engagement. Schedule your complimentary 30-minute consultation today and embark on a mobile app development journey.

FAQ

What are the key features that a fitness app should have?

Some essential features include workout tracking, personalized plans, progress tracking, social sharing, body measurement and in-app messaging.

How can a fitness app keep users engaged?

A fitness app can motivate users to stay consistent and engaged by incorporating features like gamification elements, rewards, and interactive challenges.

How much does it cost to make a fitness application?

The cost of developing a fitness application can vary based on its complexity, features, platform, and development team rates. Basic apps may start from $8,000 to $10,000, while more advanced ones can range from $25,000 to $100,000 more if they have some complex features to incorporate. Send us details of your requirements, and we will reply promptly with a quote. 

Here is the link to another article for those who require more information on the development cost: How Much Does It Cost to Make a Fitness App

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Mukesh Ram

Founder and CEO, Acquaint Softtech

I love to make a difference. Thus, I started Acquaint Softtech with the vision of making developers easily accessible and affordable to all. Me and my beloved team have been fulfilling this vision for over 15 years now and will continue to get even bigger and better.

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