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Monday, May 19th
Fitness Blender is refreshingly different from typical online fitness platforms. Founded in 2010 by trainers Kelli and Daniel, this service prioritizes your health and fitness journey over flashy marketing tactics. What makes it stand out is how they've built a platform that truly puts users first - they offer high-quality workouts for all budgets, with content created by qualified professionals including personal trainers, physical therapists, dietitians, and psychologists. Instead of pushing expensive supplements or showing off six-packs, they focus on delivering research-backed, effective workouts that you can actually enjoy, whether you're working out at home or have access to a gym.
Over 700 free videos
Fitness Blender offers quite the workout catalog: 707 free videos and 908 premium ones. (You'll be happy to know that you can start working out right away without even creating an account.) Fitness Blender regularly adds fresh content and makes it easy to find popular workouts with their trending collections. Whether you're into high-intensity cardio or gentle stretching, you can easily filter workouts by your preferred style, including everything from barre and kickboxing to yoga and prenatal exercises. The platform lets you get specific about your workout needs too - you can filter by equipment required, difficulty level (rated 1-5), and even expected calorie burn.
Professional instruction that puts safety first
We're really pleased with how well these trainers guide you through each workout. They really know their stuff and have a friendly, down-to-earth way of showing you exactly how to do each move safely and effectively. Want to try a challenging total body strength routine for the first time? How about mixing things up with a barre/walking fusion class? The instructors will guide you every step of the way. One thing to note though: you'll want to queue up your favorite workout playlist since the videos come without music.
$8.99/month for Plus is competitive
Interested in FB Plus? For $8.99 monthly or $79.99 yearly (with auto-renewal), this premium membership removes ads and gives you access to 99 trainer-created programs, 908 professional workouts, 115 expert articles, and 128 dietitian-approved recipes. You'll also be able to track your progress, view statistics for your activities, schedule your workouts, and create custom ones. You can try it free for a week before committing.
Flexible payment options for commitment-phobes
If you're not ready for a subscription, you can buy short-term passes ranging from $2.99 for one day to $44.99 for 90 days. These passes give you full access to everything FB Plus offers without a long-term commitment, and you can stack multiple passes for longer access. There is a 1-year pass without auto-renewal, but it costs $134.99 (as opposed to $79.99 with auto-renewal). If you're going to buy a year of membership, it makes more sense to sign up for the subscription with auto-renewal and set a reminder to cancel in time.
Meal plans and wellness programs
You can also purchase meal plans and wellness programs directly, and they'll include access to all Pro features for their duration. While the selection of meal plans is relatively small (only five options), they cover popular areas like strength training nutrition, quick meals, and global cuisine. These plans come with everything you need to succeed: grocery lists, educational resources, and the ability to adjust portions to your preferences. Plus, there are four wellness-focused "pilot plans" that help you tackle challenges like better sleep, body image, and stress management.
No app required
You'll get reliable video streaming since Fitness Blender uses YouTube's player, and the website stays up-to-date with fresh features and bug fixes. While there hasn't been a dedicated smartphone app for quite some time (which might actually be a relief if you're trying to minimize screen time), you can still access workouts through your phone's web browser - though the experience may not be quite as polished as using a computer. The lack of an app might be a dealbreaker if you're planning to exercise on the go without laptop access, but the web-based platform should work across different devices and browsers.
Recommended by personal trainers
Fitness Blender gets great customer reviews on platforms like Trustpilot, especially from people who've stuck with Fitness Blender for years and achieved the results they were hoping for using just the free features. People commonly mention how the approachable style of the trainers make them feel more like workout buddies than intimidating fitness gurus. We even found a glowing review from a personal trainer, saying that if they had to recommend an online fitness platform to anyone, it would be Fitness Blender. (Now that's high praise.) The only major hangup people have about FB is that you can't download videos for offline use.
Free is free, but you get what you pay for
You'll get a lot of value from Fitness Blender, especially since they offer so many free workouts that anyone can use. However, you should know that the platform feels a bit scattered compared to other options - even with an FB Plus subscription, you might find yourself piecing together your own workout plan from their various videos and challenges. The biggest downside is that workouts don't come with music, so if you play your own tunes, you might miss some of the instructor's cues (and trying to sync your playlist with the exercises is basically impossible). While Fitness Blender is perfect if you're looking for free, quality online workouts, you might want to look elsewhere if you need features like a smartphone app, fitness tracker integration, or built-in workout music.
To answer that, you need to think about what you want from an online fitness program. Are you someone who struggles to stay consistent and wants a structured plan to keep you on track? Maybe you're a former athlete looking for challenging workouts to push your limits? Or are you a busy parent who only has 20 minutes a day to squeeze in some movement?
Whatever your reasons, online fitness programs offer great convenience and flexibility for people with busy schedules. Unlike going to a gym with set hours, online programs let you work out whenever you have time. Whether you're an early riser or like to work out late, you can access your workout anytime. You can also exercise from home, which saves you time and money that would otherwise be spent commuting to a gym.
Another benefit is the variety available in online fitness programs. There are many types of workouts to choose from, such as yoga, pilates, HIIT, or weightlifting. This range of programs helps keep things interesting, and you can easily change up your workouts if you want to try something new or challenge yourself in a different way. Many programs also offer personalized plans that match your fitness level and goals, so you get a workout routine that's perfect for you.
And most people are pleasantly surprised when they discover that online fitness programs are generally much more affordable than traditional gym memberships or personal training. With online programs, you can access a wide range of workouts for a low monthly fee. Some platforms even offer free workouts, so you don't have to spend much money to get fit.
There's an online fitness platform for just about every situation. Some programs are designed to hold your hand every step of the way, providing personalized workout plans and progress tracking. Others offer massive libraries of workout videos, letting you choose what you want, when you want. Some include meal planning and nutrition coaching, while others focus purely on exercise.
No matter what you're looking for, most online fitness platforms follow a similar model: you can usually try them for free before deciding whether a paid membership is worth it. If you're on a tight budget, don't worry - plenty of great options offer free workouts. While you might see some features locked behind a paywall, you can often get a solid workout experience without spending a dime.
Once you have a clearer idea of what you're looking for in an online fitness program, it's time to narrow down your options. With so many choices, it can feel overwhelming, but keeping these factors in mind will make your decision easier:
To make your search easier, Top Consumer Reviews has evaluated and ranked the best online fitness programs available. Whether you're looking for structure, flexibility, or a mix of both, we hope this guide helps you find the perfect fit for your fitness journey!
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