Feeling like your living room workouts are getting a bit boring? We’ve got you covered! The best home workout programs can shake things up and even introduce you to new exercises.
With many gyms still closed due to the pandemic, at-home workouts have become the norm. If you’re used to fitness classes at the gym or studio, working out at home can be a big change. One of the main reasons is that, in a class, you don’t have to plan what to do next—just follow the instructor and stay focused on the workout. This makes things easier and less stressful.
When you’re working out at home, you’re in charge of everything: What exercises should you do? How many reps? How often should you rest? Are you in the mood for cardio, an upper-body workout, or a full-body routine? Figuring all this out can be stressful, especially when you’d rather just get a good workout without all the extra hassle.
The good news is you don’t have to skip your workout to avoid the stress of planning it. There are plenty of at-home workout programs that take all the guesswork out for you. They’ll provide a full exercise plan, so all you need to do is show up and get ready to sweat.
With so many programs available, picking the right one can be overwhelming. You might hear rave reviews from friends or coworkers about programs like Tone It Up or Insanity, but the best choice for you depends on your own lifestyle and fitness goals.
Programs vary in cost, workout types, duration, equipment needs, and more. If you’re short on fitness equipment (which can be hard to find online these days), you can find tips to make your workouts more challenging without extra gear.
Just a heads-up: some programs promise exaggerated results and use questionable marketing tactics. They might include meal plans or food diaries, which are better left to a registered dietitian. Remember, what works best for you is unique to your body, health, sleep, genetics, and diet. If a meal plan or food diary isn’t for you, don’t worry—just focus on the workouts and skip the rest.
It’s really important to listen to your body, especially with high-intensity workouts. Rest when you need to, don’t push through pain, and pick a program that matches your fitness level. For instance, if you’re new to working out, diving straight into something intense like P90X might not be the best fit and could feel overwhelming.
To help you find the right home workout program, we checked out some of the most popular ones. We made sure the workouts are legit and well-designed, and we’ve broken down what you can expect from each. Here’s the scoop on 13 of the top home workout programs available.
1. Alo Moves
What it is: Fresh workouts each week, including yoga, Pilates, and meditation.
You’ll find a huge variety of workouts here, suitable for all fitness levels—from beginners to advanced. Classes are organized by fitness level, length, and style, so you can easily find what you need. You can choose from different types of yoga, like Ashtanga or Vinyasa, try fitness classes like HIIT or barre, or take skills-based classes to improve things like handstands or flexibility. Plus, you can download the routines to take your workout outdoors—whether it’s in your backyard or at a park.
Cost: $20 per month.
2. P.Volve
What it is: The P.Volve fitness method focuses on resistance-based, high-intensity moves that are easy on your joints but great for building functional strength.
With P.Volve’s streaming platform, you can access over 200 workouts (and new ones are added every week). You can search for workouts by body part or duration, and the plan is customizable. Based on your goals, the app even suggests workouts for you each week, so you don’t have to guess. P.Volve also offers optional equipment, like the flexible P.ball, resistance bands, and ankle weights.
Cost: $20 per month or $135 per year.
3. Obe Fitness
What it is: Obe Fitness gives you unlimited access to both live and on-demand fitness classes.
With Obe Fitness, you can work out with some of NYC’s top instructors right from your living room. There are 100 live classes every week, and their signature 28-minute workouts are perfect for any schedule. If you’re short on time, they even offer a 10-minute express workout. To get the best results, aim for five classes a week: two strength-focused Define classes and three cardio-based Sweat classes. The program will suggest classes based on your fitness level and experience, and it encourages you to add resistance when you’re ready and modify moves that are too challenging.
If you want to add more resistance, Obe also sells equipment like sliders, mini bands, and ankle weights.
Cost: $27 per month or $200 per year.
4. BBG
What it is: BBG is a 12-week program that mixes strength and cardio workouts, each lasting 28 minutes.
Created by Australian trainer Kayla Itsines, BBG combines low-intensity cardio, high-intensity interval training, and strength training circuits to boost your heart rate and challenge your muscles. You’ll need some equipment like dumbbells, a medicine ball, flat benches, and a jump rope, but there are alternatives if you don’t have everything. You can access the workouts through the app, or if you prefer, download the guides as e-books.
Cost: $20 per month for the app membership, or $46 for the e-book.
5. Core de Force
What it is: Core de Force is a 30-day cardio program that needs no equipment and is based on mixed martial arts like boxing, kickboxing, and Muay Thai.
Created by Joel Freeman and Jericho McMatthews, Core de Force is a home workout that combines boxing, kickboxing, and Muay Thai moves with bodyweight exercises and cardio boosts. It’s especially great for your abs because boxing requires core strength to stay stable and powerful with every punch.
You’ll get to choose from eight different workouts, each featuring 6 to 12 three-minute rounds, totaling between 27 and 47 minutes.
Cost: You can join Beachbody On Demand for $39 for three months, $59 for six months, or $99 for a year, giving you access to Core de Force and other Beachbody programs.
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6. Fit Girl’s Guide 28-Day Jumpstart
What it is: Fit Girl’s Guide 28-Day Jumpstart is a beginner-friendly fitness program that focuses on self-love and building a supportive community.
You can buy the Fit Girl’s Guide 28-Day Jumpstart package at any time, but what makes it special is the chance to join scheduled monthly challenges and connect with others on Instagram for extra motivation. The program features 30-minute workouts that don’t require any equipment and mix cardio with strength training. The 28-Day Jumpstart includes four weeks of workouts, each with easy-to-follow illustrations for proper form.
It also comes with a Jumpstart Journal, which includes a food and exercise diary, self-love coaching, tips for staying on track over weekends, and advice to help you stop negative self-talk about your body.
Cost: $35
7. Insanity
What it is: Insanity is a tough, 60-day cardio program designed for advanced exercisers.
You don’t need to be in “extreme” shape to start, but be prepared: Insanity is intense. Created by Shaun T., this program includes 10 workouts, each lasting 30 to 60 minutes, and you’ll do them six days a week.
The workouts mix cardio and plyometric drills with intervals of strength, power, resistance, and core training. The idea is to push yourself to the max with short breaks in between. No equipment is needed, and you’ll also get a nutrition guide.
Cost: You can access Insanity and other Beachbody programs with a Beachbody On Demand subscription: $39 for three months, $59 for six months, or $99 for a year.
8. Love Sweat Fitness Hot Body Sweat Guide
What it is: The Hot Body Sweat Guide is an eight-week workout program that blends cardio and strength training, and it’s great for all fitness levels.
Created by Katie Dunlop, this program takes things up a notch from her Love Sweat Fitness platform, where you can find free workouts and join a supportive community on her website or Instagram. The Hot Body Sweat Guide offers fun, easy-to-follow workouts that target your arms, legs, abs, and butt.
The e-book includes eight weeks of workouts, each under 30 minutes and requiring no equipment. It also features an exercise encyclopedia to help you perfect your form, plus a warm-up and stretching guide and some bonus workouts.
Cost: $50
9. PIIT28
What it is: PIIT28 is a 28-day workout program that combines Pilates and interval training, and it needs no equipment, takes up minimal space, and only requires 28 minutes a day.
Created by Cassey Ho, the founder of Blogilates, PIIT28 mixes her core-strengthening POP Pilates with high-intensity intervals. You’ll do six workouts a week, each lasting 28 minutes and 40 seconds. Each session includes seven exercises, each for 45 seconds, with a 15-second rest in between, repeated three times. The workouts alternate between cardio and Pilates moves.
The program includes 17 guided workout videos and an e-book with printable workouts, a workout calendar, a warm-up guide, tips for proper form, and a progress tracking sheet.
Cost: $39
10. PiYo
What it is: PiYo is a 60-day workout plan that mixes Pilates and yoga but at a faster pace to give you a cardio boost, all while being easy on your joints.
Created by Chalene Johnson, PiYo stands out because it’s low-impact—perfect for anyone with joint issues or if you have neighbors below who prefer a quieter workout. Plus, you don’t need any equipment.
The workouts blend the muscle-toning benefits of Pilates with the flexibility of yoga, and they’re done at a steady, flowing pace to keep your heart rate up. (You won’t be holding yoga poses for ages.) The program includes seven different workouts, a 60-day workout calendar, and a meal plan.
Cost: Access PiYo and other Beachbody programs through Beachbody On Demand ($39 for three months, $59 for six months, or $99 for 12 months).
11. P90X
What it is: P90X is an intense 90-day fitness program where you work out for one hour a day, six days a week.
This program is known for its hard-core reputation—hence the “X” for “extreme.” Created by Tony Horton, it includes a mix of resistance training, cardio, plyometrics, abs exercises, martial arts, and yoga. You’ll need some equipment, like dumbbells or resistance bands and a chin-up bar that fits in a doorway.
The program features 12 different workouts, along with a nutrition plan and a workout calendar to help you stay on track.
Cost: You can access P90X and other Beachbody programs through Beachbody On Demand ($39 for three months, $59 for six months, or $99 for 12 months).
12. Tone It Up
What it is: Tone It Up is a fitness community offering a mix of free and paid workouts, plus a paid nutrition plan.
Created by Katrina Scott and Karena Dawn, Tone It Up isn’t just a program—it’s a whole community. Their website is packed with free workouts and daily exercises. They also host rotating challenges throughout the year, which you can follow on Instagram and their website.
The weekly workout calendar includes extra workouts from the Studio Tone It Up app, which costs $15 a month. You’ll find a lot of variety here: HIIT, total-body strength, cardio, and targeted routines for areas like arms, abs, or glutes. There are also workouts inspired by boxing, barre, yoga, and more. Some workouts need equipment like exercise balls, sliders, resistance bands, and dumbbells, while others are bodyweight-only.
Cost: $15/month or $100/year for the Studio Tone It Up membership.
13. 80-Day Obsession
What it is: An 80-day program with a new strength or cardio workout every day.
With Autumn Calabrese’s 80-Day Obsession, you’ll never get bored. The program features 80 different workouts, so each day brings something fresh. You’ll find a mix of cardio classes and strength sessions targeting various muscle groups, like legs, arms, abs, and glutes. Some workouts focus on total-body strength. Each session lasts between 30 and 60 minutes. You’ll need light, medium, and heavy dumbbells, resistance bands, and sliders.
The program is part of Beachbody On Demand, so with your subscription, you’ll get the full 80-Day Obsession experience, including a workout calendar, tracker sheets, and a nutrition plan.
Cost: $39 for three months, $59 for six months, or $99 for 12 months with Beachbody On Demand.
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