Just like we all need a little help with taxes, most of us need help to design and create workout programs. But if you’re too lazy to do either, what do you do?
Taxes, yeah, that’s between you and the IRS. However, the Freeletics App offers you plenty of workout help … apparently. Let’s see if it’s worth it.
What is Freeletics?
Freeletics was developed by Freeletics GmbH, which also developed Freeletics Nutrition. The app is available on both the App Store and the Google Play Store and currently sits at a rating of around 4.6 stars (as of February 2023).
It was developed with one goal in mind — to give users the best digital coaching at the best price possible. With more than 54 million downloads, it’s safe to say most people are probably benefiting from the app.
Just like many other fitness apps, they also offer some workout equipment and attire on their site. They also offer a community function on their app, something you don’t see very often. This allows you to engage with other users of the app online.
The biggest change compared to other training apps is the fact that this app doesn’t just give workouts. No, you’ll be met with weeks worth of training.
Yup, that’s right. You’ll get access to a full training plan, which means they must’ve put some real thought into the app’s development.
Some of their main workout types include:
- Strength and stamina
- Start strong
- Run & burn
- Hybrid Strength
- 15-minute fitness
- Weights-free gains
But are they any good?
Freeletics Details & Features
As mentioned, Freeletics gives you full workout plans that don’t just give you one or two ideas. Instead, they give you weeks of plans to execute. They provide a rundown of what the plan will look like, and then you’re off to the races.
Here’s what you’ll see inside the app:
Plans A-Plenty!
Having full workout plans is a blessing that’s so rare, it could be their entire selling point. When you open the app, you’re met with various categories, all with their own workouts within.
| Get Running | HIIT & Run weight loss Leg strength and sprints Run & burn Run further |
| Get Started | 15-Minute fitness Fit for life Start strong |
| Gain muscle | Barbell gain Dumbbell gain Explosive strength Fit for life Freeletics hardcore Start strong Weight-free gains |
| Lose weight | Balanced burn Cardio burn Fit for life Freeletics hardcore HIIT & run weight loss Shred & burn Start strong Strength & stamina |
| Get fit | 15-Minute fitness Balanced burn Cardio burn Everyday strength Fit for life HIIT & run weight loss Hybrid Strength Kettlebell fundamentals |
And that’s not even all of them…
Once you’ve selected your plan, you also have the option to personalize your plan slightly.
“Personalization”
Following a plan relies heavily on your ability to sustain the effort. Any coach or athlete would tell you that an inability to sustain any effort will only burn you out and leave you disappointed.
Thus, Freeletics offer some personalization to make their plans way more sustainable.
Once you’ve selected your plan (see above), you’ll need to personalize some of the options below:
- Training days per week
- Equipment available
- Exercises that you cannot do
- Do you want to incorporate sprinting/running?
- Do you have limited training space?
- Would you like to train quietly?
Once you’ve entered all of your information, you’re greeted with a somewhat personalized plan. The workouts include warm-ups, the main body of the session, and an active cool-down.
This looks really good…
Furthermore, you have the ability to add your own exercises. You also get to create your own workouts and much more. Heck, you even get a pop-up asking if you want more, in which case, a challenge is offered. I think yes…
These challenges are typical “Complete ‘x exercise’ for 400 reps,” etc. Pretty nice if you’re a very competitive person. You even have the ability to create your own challenge!
Community
This is definitely the part of the app that’s there simply to improve UX and UI. This is like your typical Facebook-like feed where other athletes and users can post workouts, achievements, and the aforementioned challenges.
Who is Freeletics Good for?
We typically break down exactly who this app is for and who it isn’t for, but in reality, everyone would do extremely well with this app. There’s no denying just how good this app is at creating workouts while still giving the user some freedom to adjust things as necessary.
Who is Freeletics Not for?
Strength athletes.
This isn’t to say their strength programs aren’t good. In fact, they’re pretty well designed.
However, getting swole and dirty strong requires a dismally complex program. It requires a lot of intricate analysis of the person in question to see where their weaknesses are and how to fix them.
Am I being incredibly anal? When the app is this good, you kinda have to be. There’s so little wrong with it that you have to judge it strongly.
How Much Does Freeletics Cost?
The Freeletics app will run you different amounts based on how many months you purchase a subscription for.
Here are the cost options:
- 3 months for $34.99
- 6 months for $59.99
- 12 months for $74.99
Freeletics FAQs
Is Freeletics Good for Beginners?
Absolutely. Not only do they have various programs for beginners, but those programs aren’t all focused on one goal. Some are focused on building muscle, while some help you lose fat, etc. This makes the app incredibly appropriate for beginners, and they don’t overstimulate the user with options to alter their own workouts.
Is Freeletics Good for Building Muscle?
It depends on how hard you work. Any plan will work if you do it well enough, and the same goes for the hypertrophy plans offered by Freeletics.
Is Freeletics Worth the Money? (Price)
Yes, even with the most expensive version of $34.99 for 3 months, you can’t go wrong with this app.
How Many Calories Do You Burn with Freeletics?
Firstly, the number of calories you burn will depend on a myriad of factors, such as age, gender, etc. The workouts, in general, will burn between 200 – 300 calories, depending on which one you go for. If you’re stronger than the average individual, you might burn even more.
Is Freeletics Good for the Gym?
Yes, especially if you’re new to the gym. The gym can be intimidating, but with the guidance the app provides, you should be bangin’ and clangin’ in no time.
Freeletics Alternatives
Fitbod
Without beating around the bush, the only way Fitbod holds a candle to Freeletics is with its ability to create workouts easier (their UI is better). Freeletics has more options, has full programs, and offers more adaptability based on the needs of the user.
Apple Fitness Plus
The big thing with this app is, of course, you need an Apple device. That excluded, the Apple Fitness Plus app is relatively okay but doesn’t compete on the same level as Freeletics.
Freeletics is a full-blown workout partner with the knowledge, full workout plans, and the ability to track single workouts. Very few (if any) workout apps can compete…
Trainerize
Isn’t Trainerize done with a coach or PT? You’re right, and the fact is that the Freeletics app is Trainerize without the human being on the other side.
The team who designed the workout plans and the UI did such a good job that it could theoretically replace a whole coach easily. This is something that’s so unbelievable that I might download the app (and not use it because I prefer a pen and book), purely because they deserve the money for their efforts.
Freeletics Reviews
Again, we go to the wonderful world of Reddit to see the unbiased opinions of users. On this thread, a commenter had the following to say:
“I’ve been using Freelethics for three years now and for me, the biggest benefit is the coach and the programming. I don’t have to think about which exercises to perform. I just turn on the app and do what it tells me which makes me exercise consistently. Sure, the exercises are “basic” but in my mind, that doesn’t matter. There are no magic bullet exercises that will get you into shape. Hard work and showing up will though.”
Another thread had the following comment:
“I don’t have pics but went from 84 kg to 68 with Cardio VBurn. Starting with 2 times a week, progressively adding a day whenever I felt it. Ended with 5 days a week, mostly meat-free, no soda.
What have I noticed physically? Less fat… And way more constitution.
In total worked out for about 7 months or so, just restarting Cardio Burn when I finished Hell Week. Currently on a break but eager to start again.”
When you look at all the reviews online, they’re all really good, and most users praise the pre-made workout routines on the app. Another factor people love is the ability to edit those plans so they fit the lives of the users. Best of both worlds.
3 Freeletics Pros
They Look Further Than Just Fat Loss
… which is rare in the world today. Freeletics has quite a few offerings focused on fitness and muscle gain, both of which will lead to fat loss indirectly as well. Combined with the nutrition app, this would lead to even more fat loss.
The Cost is Pretty Low
At least compared to other key competitors. They also have quite a few different options, which makes choosing an applicable one quite easy. Their marketing is also really tasteful, as a little sidenote…
They Still Offer You the Ability to Adjust Pre-Made Workouts
In other words, you’re never tied down to specific workouts. Not only that, but they ask so many questions to ensure you’re 100% comfortable with the workout before you start it that it’s somewhat impossible not to have the perfect workout…
Freeletics Cons
I don’t mean to be that guy… but there are none?
Well, none that are going to bother 99% of the population. In order for you to actually find problems, you’d need to ask the app something it was never developed to do in the first place.
Freeletics might not be for professional athletes, but for everyone else, it’s spot on. Professional athletes would also be better off hiring professional coaches, as their needs will change daily.
Again, don’t ask something of something that it was never designed to do in the first place.
Final Thoughts
Am I really giving the Freeletics app 5 out of 5? You’re damn right I am.
This app meets all the needs that the average user will ever need. The biggest of which is the fact that they have full workout programs planned that will last months, as well as:
- The ability to adjust and edit those workouts as needed
- Yes/no questions to make sure they give you a workout program that you can follow sustainably
- Pricing that’s fair and somewhat cheap
- They even offer a nutrition app that’ll help you finish the trifecta of fitness (training, diet, and recovery)
When you look at this app at face value, it’s virtually perfect. When you zoom in and try to find smaller details that might be wrong, you’ll be hard-pressed to find a single thing out of place.
Maybe the most experienced of lifters might want to look elsewhere. But that literally means hiring a personalized coach — which runs you $150 per month, minimum.
See what good value the app is now?
Rating: 5.0 out of 5
