Skip to main content
  1. Home
  2. Health & Fitness

The Manual may earn a commission when you buy through links on our site.

The best calisthenics apps, rated and ranked

Improve your calisthenics workout

By
man balancing on hand exercising wearing shorts no shirt on grass outside
Bojan / Adobe

Calisthenics involves movements using your body weight and large muscle groups to enhance strength, flexibility, agility, and balance. If you’re wondering what exercise to try next, a calisthenics app can be a helpful tool to propel your fitness to the next level. You can learn how to perform a specific movement, like a certain type of plank or pushup, log your progress, and more. We’ve found, ranked, and rated the best calisthenics apps available in the App Store and Google Play so that you can get your calisthenics workout on, whether at home or on the go. 

man exercising balancing plank type pose on couch at home wearing sweatpants
Diego Cervo / Adobe

Calisthenics mastery

Calisthenics Mastery has over 150 exercises targeting 27 different muscles in your body. 

Recommended Videos

Features

You can search by exercise or muscle group, set up a personal plan, adjust the difficulty, schedule your workouts, and track your progress. There’s something for everyone, from beginner to advanced levels. 

Related

We love that Calisthenics Mastery has a free version with five functional exercises in five different categories. You also have the option to purchase the pro version for $14.99 per month, which comes with additional fun workout modes and challenges. 

The intuitive workout player helps you count time, tick off your reps, and show you what’s coming up next. Users love the simple, clean interface and layout, the descriptions and animated icons of the exercises, and the rest timer that reminds you to rest.

Rating

4.2 out of 5

Verdict

We like the free and paid versions of this highly-rated app more than YouTube because the exercises are targeted, and you can set up a personal plan. The free version is packed with key calisthenics moves, such as ten pushup exercises and ten squats. 

man in plank pose one hand behind back on grass outside wearing shorts and shirt
Mil Tech Pharma LTD / Unsplash

Mad Barz

Even the accessible version of this cool-sounding app offers over 60 exercises to choose from.

Features

MadBarz provides daily workout routines that allow you to choose your workout duration, the targeted muscles, your experience level, and more. You can save your custom workouts and take part in weekly challenges. We love the easy-to-use interface, the detailed descriptions of the exercises, and the high-quality video tutorials; however, there’s no way to track your performance.

We love the free version and the free 7-day trial for the premium paid version. The premium subscription is $9.99 a month or $59.99 a year and opens the door to an even bigger catalog of exercises, 12-week courses, nutrition guides, recipes, and other perks. 

Rating

4.5 out of 5

Verdict

Mad Barz makes our list because of the extensive catalog and the free version. We prefer Mad Barz to YouTube because you can save your custom workouts and try the weekly challenges rather than trying to find high-quality videos on YouTube, which is time-consuming.

couple man and woman working out plank pose joining hands outside on concrete
Black Day / Adobe

ThenX

ThenX made our list thanks to the simple design and the range of content designed by professional trainer Chris Heria and professional athletes. 

Features

Just because professional trainers and athletes designed the highly-rated app, and its content doesn’t mean the app is only suitable for athletes because there’s something for everyone at all levels. You can input your height, weight, and goals to develop your workout plan. We love the high-quality video clips and technique guides, the attractive design and layout, the informative blog, and the in-app community. 

The paid subscription for ThenX is $9.99 a month or $89.99 per year, which is more affordable than many other calisthenics apps.

Rating

4.3 out of 5

Verdict

We prefer ThenX over YouTube because professional athletes and trainers have crafted carefully curated content over many years.

man wearing shorts no shirt working out exercising on bars calisthenics
HD92 / Adobe

The movement athlete

The Movement Athlete app is an excellent choice for those looking to get serious about calisthenics, with a huge database of hundreds of moves and a personalized fitness assessment. 

Features

During the assessment, you go over most muscle groups and pinpoint which exercises you passed and failed to set up your personalized workout schedule. You also choose the key skills you want to master.

The Movement Athlete has a 7-day free trial and a subscription of $24.99 for one month and $49.99 for three months, so it definitely requires an investment in your fitness. 

We love the full-body workout programs, the video clips that demonstrate the movements, the performance tracker, and the steady increase in difficulty until you’ve mastered your five main focus areas. The app also has a searchable database of informative articles and fitness questions, so you can amplify your knowledge and fitness at the same time. 

Rating

4 out of 5

Verdict

The mixing of gymnastics and calisthenics and the personalized fitness assessment are just some of the reasons why we feel the Movement Athlete beats YouTube. This highly-rated app has impressive reviews and an attractive, user-friendly design.

man doing handstand outside no shirt just pants in nature
Pedro Araujo / Unsplash

Caliverse

Caliverse provides a library of over 300 bodyweight exercises and 100 workouts, including full-body programs. 

Features

We commend the app designers for the sleek and easy-to-navigate design and interface of Caliverse because it’s definitely one of our favorites. There’s plenty of free content to check out, and this app is an excellent pick for beginners. The workout plans are categorized into four difficulty levels, and you can set up a weekly schedule.

We love the fact that the free version of this highly rated, jam-packed app gives you access to over ten training plans and hundreds of bodyweight and calisthenics exercises. Upgrade to the premium version for only $4.49 a month or $44.99 per year to access more advanced workouts, live sessions, and more. There’s a 7-day free trial for you to try out the premium version and the top-notch live sessions with trainers.

Rating

4.6 out of 5

Verdict

Caliverse beats YouTube with hundreds of exercises and workouts in one user-friendly place on your smartphone. We love the new workout plans added every month with feedback from the community. 

silhouette of woman doing handstand by the ocean water on the beach at sunset
Marc Kleen / Unsplash

Which is the best calisthenics app?

At the top of our list, we crowned Caliverse because the premium version is so affordable, and the free version gives you access to hundreds of workouts and videos by trained professionals. The design reigns supreme, and we love that the online community provides feedback for the new workout plans.

Trying one of these awesome apps is a great way to get you moving and improve your calisthenics performance over time. Don’t forget to check out our list of the best yoga apps, rated and ranked.

Editors’ Recommendations

Topics
Steph Green
Steph Green
Steph Green is a content writer specializing in healthcare, wellness, and nutrition. With over ten years of experience, she…
How to use the 30/30/30 method to get fit
Learn about this sustainable and healthy method
Mediterranean breakfast

Have you heard about the popular 30/30/30 method? With so many workout and diet trends, like the Atlantic diet and so many more, it can be hard to know which you should try and which don’t hold much merit. Luckily, this method is realistic and attainable for many people.

Keep reading to learn exactly how to follow the 30/30/30 method, what the potential benefits and downsides are, and more!
What is the 30/30/30 method?

Read more
When should you take creatine to optimize muscle growth? Here’s the science
Does supplementing creatine really help your muscles swell? When should you take it?
Creatine remains one of the most talked about supplements in the fitness world when it comes to boosting muscle mass and aiding muscle recovery. Some take it before workouts, and others take it after workouts or first thing in the morning. It's been on the top supplement list of athletes and fitness professionals for decades. Creatine has remained popular for so long, probably because of its multitude of evidence-based benefits, including lowering blood sugar and increasing muscle mass and strength. Most researchers and fitness professionals believe creatine is a safe and effective supplement when taken properly. Let’s look at the science on the benefits of creatine and the best time to take this supplement to optimize muscle growth. What is creatine? Creatine is a compound formed during protein metabolism and a natural supplement found in your body, especially in your muscle cells. Around half of the creatine your body stores comes from your diet, particularly seafood and red meat. Your liver and kidneys make the rest from the amino acids arginine and glycine. Your muscles use creatine to help produce energy when you’re heavy lifting or doing vigorous-intensity workouts. In 1832, French scientist and philosopher Michel Eugene Chevreul was the first man to extract creatine from meat, so he labeled his new discovery creatine like the Greek word kreas, which means meat. When is the best time to take creatine for muscle growth? The right time and amount you need depends on factors like your workouts and goals. While there is a lot of research on creatine, there isn’t a clear conclusion on whether it’s better to take creatine before or after resistance training so you can do what feels best for you. Studies do indicate that supplementing closer to your workout is optimal. Try to make sure you choose a quality supplement that’s been tested and certified by an independent third-party testing laboratory like NSF. Before exercise? The research suggests that consuming creatine before exercise can increase your strength and muscle mass, whether you take it right before exercise or several hours before. Blood flow to your muscles could remain increased for half an hour after taking creatine. After exercise? Consuming creatine immediately after exercise or several hours later has also been shown to produce similar muscle benefits in younger and older adults. Researchers conclude that exercise helps prime your muscles so they're ready to absorb more creatine. Evidence indicates that taking creatine after a workout has a more significant impact on body composition and strength than taking it before exercise, but more research is needed. Be consistent Studies suggest that supplementing creatine consistently generates the best results for muscle growth, and researchers conclude that consistency is more important than timing with regard to boosting muscle mass. What are the benefits of creatine? Here are some of the potential evidence-based benefits of supplementing creatine: Increase your muscular energy and performance. Enhance your muscle strength and mass. Lower blood sugar. Boost brain function. Boosts the formation of proteins that enhance the size of muscle fibers. Creatine can reduce myostatin levels, a molecule that hinders muscle growth. Reduce tiredness and feel more energized.

Creatine remains one of the most talked about supplements in the fitness world when it comes to boosting muscle mass and aiding muscle recovery. Some take it before workouts, and others take it after workouts or first thing in the morning. It's been on the top supplement list of athletes and fitness professionals for decades.

Creatine has remained popular for so long, probably because of its multitude of evidence-based benefits, including lowering blood sugar and increasing muscle mass and strength. Most researchers and fitness professionals believe creatine is a safe and effective supplement when taken properly. Let’s look at the science on the benefits of creatine and the best time to take this supplement to optimize muscle growth.
What is creatine?

Read more
The 7 best cross-training shoes for men: Our top picks
Discover the optimal brands for your workouts
guy sitting on bench at gym holding water flask wearing black with white sneakers

As an athlete or fitness enthusiast, you will agree that there are numerous exercises to try, all requiring different shoes. So, you should constantly choose the right shoes for each training session. But did you know that you can do all your workouts in one dependable cross-training shoe? These shoes offer convenience and cost-effectiveness for all your training.

Over the years, many cross-training shoes for men have been introduced to the market because there is so much demand for them in the fitness community. Hence, there are just too many options to choose from. That is why we have curated a list of the best cross-training shoes for men to help you make informed decisions. Let’s dive in!
What is cross-training?

Read more