Maybe you cant go to the gym.

Maybe you dontwantto go to the gym.

Maybe the gym is too darn expensive.

Good thing you’ve got the option to turn to your phone for an instant workout.

Which app gives the best workouts, though?

Today, we find out.

Or, you’ve got the option to just read these descriptions:

Sworkitis alongstanding Lifehacker favorite.

For a fee, you get training plans and more variety in workouts.

Nike+ Training Clubis the workout partner toNike+ Run Club, one of our favorite running apps.

Nike sells shoes, not app subscriptions, so everything including the workout plans is free.

Lets put them through their paces.

Sworkit Gives You Workouts you might Do Right Now, In Your Nice Clothes

Picture this.

Which app is the right one for the job?

It didnt take me long to get in character (Life hacks: check!

Glazed eyes: check!)

so my first task was to install Sworkit.

I started with the Butt app, just because it is called Butt.

The workout did, indeed, challenge my butt.

I didnt break a sweat, though, so I was fine in my work clothes.

I even ate crackers while doing some of the lunges.

NTC, on the other hand, failed this test miserably.

When I tried to browse for workouts, only one was listed as five minutes long.

I recognized this workout, my old nemesis Bodyweight Only Benchmark.

I remember the Bodyweight Only Benchmark from last summer.

Indeed, it is seared into my memory.

In total, it asks you to do 50 full pushups, 50 burpees, and 50 squat jumps.

When I tried it last year, it took over 20 minutes, and nearly killed me.

So I skipped that one, and instead chose the Start Up Benchmark, listed at 6 minutes.

This one was good!

I did it in five minutes.

It was a few rounds of jumping jacks, squats, lunges, and knee pushups.

Nike Wins at Serious Workouts

OK, Ive changed into my workout clothes now.

Which app is better for a serious workout?

Lets start again with Sworkit.

The full appnot the Butt onegives you a choice of strength, cardio, yoga, or stretching.

If you scroll down, there are more options, including workouts just for beginners.

Most of the advanced and more interesting workouts are locked, but theres still plenty available for free.

I chose a cardio workout described as Boot Camp Inspired.

you could choose the length of the workout, so I asked for 20 minutes.

I blasted one called Throwback Jams and got to work.

I churned through Sworkits 30-second nuggets of exercise, with a 30-second break every now and then.

There were jumps, ab exercises, and pushups, to name a few.

So Id do a few jumps, rest for a few breaths and do a few more.

On to Nike+ Training Club.

The first thing youll notice is the variety of workouts.

And rather than cycling through a library of moves, the workouts are designed with a specific structure.

It finishes with some quick footwork and some cooldown stretches.

For you and me, Nike+ Training Club is the app to pick.

Nikes workouts are better thought out, and you have more variety in the types of moves.

A subscription is $7.99/month.

With Nike, you could get a workout plan for free.

Now, I also wear Nike shoes, so maybe Ive been brainwashed.

So Im awarding this one to NTC, but Im going to do Nikes workouts to the Sworkit playlists.