Mobile devices made our life more comfortable. People tend to learn languages, attend courses, and more online. These days, it’s popular to lead a healthy lifestyle. As a result, a lot of fitness applications have appeared on the market. So, we’ve created a guide on how to develop a fitness app in 2019.
Fitness Application Types
The App Store and Google Play offer various fitness apps. However, not all of them are popular and user-friendly. If you want to make an app, it’s better to pay attention to widespread applications and define their type and features.
1. High-Intensity Interval Training
High-Intensity Interval Training or HIIT apps provide users with short but intensive training. These exercises are good for burning calories but require a lot of energy. As a result, users who have just started doing sports wouldn’t choose such training.
The perfect example of HIIT is an Android fitness app called Tabata HIIT Interval Timer.
2. Diet and Nutrition Applications
The primary purpose of such apps is tracking the used calories. Users have an opportunity to add products they ate and count calories. After that, such kind of apps provide data about the amount of eaten and consumed calories. Additionally, users can track their weight setting the number of required calories.
One of the most useful features is the barcode scanner. Users can scan the code during the shopping and get the data about the product.
Google Store claims that one of the most popular apps of this type is My Fitness Pal.
3. Activity Tracking Apps
Such applications can track activity while doing a particular sport or many of them. In App Store and Google Play, there are applications for runners, cyclists, and so on. These applications also tend to track the user’s activity in general, e.g. the number of steps, distance, etc.
Such apps, in combination with wearables, can provide an accurate result. So, if you want to create an activity tracking app, it’s better to consider the compatibility with wearable devices like smartwatches and fitbits.
To engage more users, you can integrate social media and offer users to share their progress with friends. For example, Nike Run Club suggests using various social networks. Additionally, this app allows training or competing with friends and other fitness lovers.
There are many popular applications of this type, for instance, Runtastic Running and Fitness Tracker.
4. Personal Trainer or Studio Application
These apps are completely customized since they are built for the individual needs of the trainer or a fitness studio. As a result, these apps tend to have completely different functionality. For instance, the application can provide an opportunity to arrange or cancel the training for the client. Additionally, it’s possible to post some vital information about studio schedule, nutrition recommendations, and more.
Among the required features are live streaming and communication. Users need to communicate with each other comfortably in the app. As for live streaming, it offers to train remotely but under the trainer control.
5. Meditation Apps
Such applications usually provide a wide range of exercise according to the users’ level. The wellness applications assist users in keeping fit and calm. Such practices as yoga and meditation need to be done every day. As a result, the application needs to have a daily reminder function. It informs the user about the yoga or meditation session at a specific time.
One of the best examples is the Daily Yoga app.
As you can see, there are various types of fitness app since modern people are quite demanding. The applications even tend to combine several types. For instance, an activity tracker app can also count calories.
Features of a Basic Fitness App
All the apps mentioned above provide users with rich functionality. However, some basic features are must-have for a fitness app. We’ve provided a list below.
Log in. Every proper fitness application offers a high personalization level. That’s why it’s necessary to create a personal account for a user. It’s common to provide such registration options like log in via email, social network, etc.
Social integration. There are several advantages to this feature. Firstly, the app can synchronize with the social media account to provide more personalized content. Additionally, it’s easy to find friends and make a competition with them. Social media can also be a part of your marketing strategy. You can create accounts on popular social networks and post fitness and wellness content to gain more users.
Personal account. After the registration, the user needs to add data about weight, height, and personal goals. Additionally, it’s good to add a profile photo.
Device connectivity. The app should be compatible with various wearable devices to provide more accurate information.
User activity tracking. This function is considered traditional for a fitness app. Users expect that the app will track their basic activities like running, walking, cycling, and more.
Geolocation. This feature allows users to create running and walking routes, find their current position, and more.
Notifications. It’s necessary to do sport several times a week. So, the app has to notify users about scheduled training.
Target setting. This feature allows users to set their goals and plan ahead.
Workouts. The app can offer users to create their workout or to do an existing one and track this activity.
Settings. It’s possible to add any elements to this menu depending on the application type. However, this menu should be understandable and intuitive.
We’ve listed some basic features that are obligatory for an MVP app development. However, to create a successful fitness app and gain many users, you need to consider some advanced features and follow trends.
Trends in Building Fitness Apps
Mobile app development trends can bring innovations into your fitness app. We’ve chosen three trends to discuss more precisely.
- Integrate game elements. People tend to lose motivation quite fast since sport requires a lot of effort. So, it’s necessary to make the training process exciting and entertaining. For instance, you can create an application that works as a game, e.g. it can offer rewards and bonuses for conquered tasks.
- Implement social media. These days, humans like to tell their friends about their achievements and results. So, it’s essential to allow users to share this data on such networks as Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and more.
- Consider virtual reality. This trend becomes more and more widespread since it’s new technology. However, creating an application with VR requires preparation and reliable partnership with companies.
Fitness applications are demanding since it’s become popular to do sport and track physical activity. Before starting the development process, your need to consider your project requirements and business goals. Modern users are quite spoilt nowadays, so your fitness app should have some exciting and advanced features.
