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iFit provides fitness coaching, workouts, and more for a monthly subscription fee. Each user has a single login and a profile they can use across multiple devices and pieces of fitness equipment.
iFit can help a person track their progress toward their fitness goals, potentially motivating them to stick to their exercise regimen.
This article discusses iFit in more detail, including what it offers and how people can use it. We also look at how fitness benefits health.
iFit is a fitness platform that provides easy-to-access coaching, workouts, and other services for people who work out at home, in the gym, or outdoors. ICON Health and Fitness owns iFit and several other health and fitness products.
iFit is an app people can download to their TV, phone, or tablet. Some fitness equipment manufacturers offer products that are compatible with iFit. The services on the app include workouts and coaching as a part of a monthly subscription.
The company states that iFit has one login for all devices, which means a person can use various devices to access their settings and workouts. They can also log in to their account using different exercise equipment.
iFit has accreditation with the Better Business Bureau (BBB), which gives the company an A+ grade.
The company has a rating of 1.41 out of 5 stars based on over 580 customer reviews.
Reviewers on Trustpilot currently give iFit an average rating of 1.6 stars out of 5. Negative reviews state that the iFit app does not work reliably and is not user-friendly. Other reviewers say they had issues canceling the service after a free trial, and several users noticed unexpected charges on their cards after cancellation.
Users who have written positive reviews state that iFit motivates them to continue exercising and rewards them for reaching their fitness goals. Others mention finding it useful that their exercise equipment is compatible with iFit, allowing them to sync the data and metrics from their workouts with their devices.
Please note that the writer of this article has not tried these products. All information presented is purely research-based and correct at the time of publication.
Medical News Today follows a strict product selection and vetting process. Learn more here.
The iFit app offers several features that can help people by:
- tracking fitness and goals
- providing motivation
- offering a variety of workouts to reduce boredom and improve strength
Coaching
iFit provides several different classes with a coach who guides the workout. As part of this guidance, the coach will tell a person when to change their exercise machine’s resistance, speed, or incline settings.
On some equipment that includes a built-in screen, such as NordicTrack treadmills and bikes, the coach can automatically decrease the machine’s intensity as part of the integrated app. However, people who use the app on a phone, tablet, or TV will not have access to this automatic adjustment feature.
Individuals with a subscription to iFit can access content from more than 180 personal trainers who offer a wide variety of workout options, including:
- studio classes
- high intensity interval training (HIIT)
- cycling
- resistance training
- treadmill workouts
Live workouts
Users can also join a live workout by logging in to the app and selecting the activity they want to join.
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Global workouts
One of the features of iFit is the ability to do a virtual workout with a trainer or group in a different country. This feature allows a person to experience workouts and events, such as races, in locations worldwide.
Mindfulness
iFit also offers meditation classes, iFit Mind, for those interested in mindfulness. These sessions may include yoga and mental walks through landscapes. A person can learn breathing techniques, watch sessions with trainers, and learn about their personal stories and mindfulness techniques.
Fitness tracking and goal setting
As with other fitness apps, iFit allows a person to set goals and track their progress toward reaching them. The company notes that people can conveniently view their workouts from any device whenever they log in.
The app provides a dashboard that allows a person to see:
- activity stats from any iFit-enabled devices
- nutrition tracking and stats
- sleep stats
- goals and goal progress
Individuals can log in to iFit from the following devices and equipment:
- iFit-enabled devices
- smartphones
- tablets
- compatible TVs
The company also provides wearable fitness trackers that people can use to track daily fitness metrics, such as their daily step count or the calories they burn.
Fitness equipment
Several fitness equipment brands are compatible with iFit, including NordicTrack, ProForm, and Freemotion machines. Individuals can log in from this equipment to access the workouts that the fitness equipment manufacturer provides.
The app will measure a person’s fitness metrics. The metrics that iFit tracks will depend on which equipment the person uses. For example, it will record the distance and speed that a person cycles when using an exercise bike.
The iFit app is available to use with a range of exercise equipment, including:
If a person wishes to use iFit, they should carefully read a product’s description to ensure that it is compatible with the app before purchasing it.
TVs
People can access the iFit app through their smart TV or inserts such as the Roku Streaming Stick. When a person accesses the app through a TV, it will record their workout and log it in their profile or dashboard for later viewing and goal tracking.
A person can also choose to use a TV to stream any workout that does not require equipment, such as HIIT, resistance training, or yoga workouts.
Phones and tablets
People can place a smartphone or tablet on their exercise equipment and stream their workouts. The app will record the fitness metrics during the workout and sync them to other devices.
A person can also use a tablet or phone to stream any workout, including those that do not require equipment.
There is a range of subscription options with iFit. These include:
- Yearly Individual Plan, costing $180 a year
- Monthly Family Plan, costing $39 a month
- Yearly Family Plan, costing $396 a year
These subscriptions offer people access to the full iFit workout library. However, people can access a limited number of onboard workouts without a subscription.
A person can cancel their membership at any time.
iFit provides integrated health and fitness workouts across various activities and machines. Other brands and devices can provide similar services for a subscription fee. Some alternatives to iFit include:
- MYXfitness: This brand offers a subscription service to workouts and trainers through their stationary bikes. The workouts integrate cycling, resistance training, and recovery exercises.
- Virtual Active Roam: This subscription service enables individuals to use their stationary bike or treadmill to bike, hike, run, or walk virtually in several locations worldwide. Unlike iFit, it does not offer workouts but adds variety to a person’s home workouts for a lower price.
The table below compares iFit with its competitors.
| iFit | MYXfitness | Virtual Active Roam | Peloton | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Type of workouts | • cycling • treadmill • HIIT • rowing • strength training • yoga | • cycling • HIIT • pilates • strength training • cardio • meditation • barre • yoga | high-definition video experiences for treadmill, elliptical, and stepping workouts | • cycling • running • walking • boot camp • strength • barre • core • mediation • stretching • pilates • boxing |
| Compatible with | • NordicTrack • ProForm • FreeMotion • iOS • Android | • iOS • Android • TV • computers | • iOS • Android • TV • computer browser | • iOS • Android • TV • computers |
| Price | • Yearly Individual Plan: $180 a year • Monthly Family Plan: $39 a month • Yearly Family Plan: $396 a year | • $39 a month membership • $1,399–1,599 equipment | • $9.99 a month • $99 a year | $12.99 a month |
Physical fitness plays an essential role in a person’s overall health. The
- an improvement in cognitive abilities
- better sleep quality
- a decrease in the risk of developing depression and anxiety
Over a longer period, exercise can provide benefits such as:
- helping a person reach or maintain a moderate weight
- reducing the risk of heart disease
- decreasing the risk of type 2 diabetes
- improving quality of life and engagement in activities
- decreasing the risk of certain cancers
- strengthening bones and muscles
- increasing lifespan
Learn more about the benefits of exercise here.
The American Heart Association (AHA) recommends that people participate in moderate-intensity aerobic activities for at least 150 minutes each week. Workouts include walking, hiking, cycling, running, and swimming, among many other options.
In addition, the AHA advises participating in weight or resistance training at least 2 days a week. This training can include lifting weights or doing body-weight exercises, such as pushups or pullups.
An app like iFit may help motivate a person to meet these recommendations. In a 2019 study, researchers found that at-home workouts can help a person maintain a moderate weight and improve blood pressure, resting heart rate, and overall aerobic health.
The researchers noted that a person needs exercise and a nutritious, balanced diet to achieve these results.
Below, we answer some of the top frequently asked questions about iFit.
Is iFit worth the cost?
Some people may find accessing almost 200 personal trainers worth the $39-a-month iFit subscription fee. With a family plan, a person can add several profiles, which may make the app cost-effective for those wishing to encourage their family to exercise regularly.
However, a person can find many free workouts online, which may be a preferable option for those working with a smaller budget or less fitness equipment at home.
Can you use iFit for free?
A person can access a small range of iFit workouts for free and still use exercise equipment. However, a person must pay for iFit to get the full library of workouts.
Is iFit as good as Peloton?
iFit and Peloton share many similarities, such as the type and range of classes they offer. However, iFit does not offer live workout classes — instead, it offers longer Live Events, which are competitive events people can take part in at home. As such, iFit may not be suitable for people looking for regular live workout classes.
However, iFit is more affordable than Peloton. A full-access membership costs $44 monthly with Peloton and $39 with iFit.
iFit is a fitness platform providing workouts that a person can access through compatible fitness machines, TVs, tablets, and smartphones. People can download it as an app by paying a monthly subscription fee. The app can help people track their progress, which may help them achieve their fitness goals.
Regular physical activity can help improve a person’s physical and mental health. Fitness apps like iFit may improve overall health by motivating individuals to exercise regularly.