9 Best Online Fitness Classes of 2023

We love Obé Fitness for its vast list of on-demand classes, live class schedules, training programs, age-friendly offerings, and cost. With a searchable library of more than 10,000 on-demand workouts, a robust schedule of live classes, and themed training programs, you'll never run out of fun, inspiring classes.

Class types fall into four categories:

• Cardio: HIIT, Dance HIIT, Dance Cardio, Cardio Boxing, Bounce, Jump, and Ride
• Strength training: Sculpt, Pilates, Strength, Power, and Barre
• Yoga: Vinyasa Yoga, Yoga Sculpt, Restorative Yoga, and Meditation
• Activate/Recover: Warmup, Cool-down, Stretch, and Foam Roll

For the most part, you won't need equipment, but a foam roller, yoga mat, chair, and some hand weights could come in handy. Thanks to the kid-friendly classes and low-intensity workouts for older adults, you can get the whole family involved.

Obé Fitness is available on the web and iOS and Android devices, and is compatible with Chromecast, Roku, Fire TV, and Apple TV. You can also take advantage of the Tracker feature that lets you see your progress over time.

Obé Fitness is also perfect for those who love attending live classes, thanks to new live sessions that take place seven days a week across various categories. Live classes are available as early as 6 a.m. Eastern Time and as late as 6:30 p.m. ET. If mid-day classes don't suit you, live classes are posted upon completion, so you can catch them at a time that works better for you.

If the community feel of going to the gym is your thing, Obé Fitness has an active Facebook page where you can talk with other members and share workout faves and tips for surviving those high-intensity cardio butt-busting sessions.

Future was created to bring the human connection to digital personal training by inspiring and engaging people in lifelong health. It uses a combination of technology, content, and elite personal trainers to empower members through fitness.

There are over 130 personal trainers to choose from on the website. Each has a profile you can read to learn about their education, certifications, specialties, and coaching style, plus there's a little personal information to get a feel for their personality.

Workouts may include a gym session, group fitness classes, an outdoor run, or a virtual workout on Future's app. The monthly flat rate includes daily access to your trainer, so if you need to update your training plan, ask a question, or modify a workout, you don't have to wait for your next session. It's also risk-free for the first 30 days, allowing you to try the service out before making a long-term commitment.

You will need a smartwatch so your trainer can monitor your workouts, heart rate, and progress to tailor workouts and keep you on track. It's important to note that a personal trainer is constantly tracking your progress and holding you accountable, so if that sounds like too much micromanaging, Future is probably not for you.

Whether you have 10 minutes to squeeze in a workout or 30, Alo Moves classes are sure to help you meet your fitness goals. You can choose classes that target specific areas, such as building whole-body strength, improving posture, or zoning in on certain muscle groups.

Another standout feature is the search function which allows you to search for classes based on type (Pilates, HIIT, core barre), difficulty level (beginner, moderate, intermediate, advanced), and intensity level (1, 2, 3, or 4).

We tested several Alo Moves fitness classes and quickly fell in love with the wide range of workouts available on the user-friendly app. The Pilates full-body and targeted upper- and lower-body classes were great for a quick and intense workout, and we also enjoyed the stretching videos to cool down after a run.

Alo Moves costs $20 a month or $199 for the year. The on-demand classes are accessible on nearly every device from Apple to Android to desktop, laptop, and tablet. You can cancel anytime, but we recommend checking out the free version, then taking advantage of the free trial before dropping your cash on something that may not fit your needs or schedule.

Yoga Download is a virtual yoga studio that offers online classes, fitness programs, and multi-day challenges for beginning yogis and experts alike. Whether you're looking to relieve stress or start your day off with a quick morning flow, Yoga Download has tons of options to choose from. Improve your balance, strength, and flexibility on your schedule from anywhere in the world. And with over 2,400 available classes, you could try a new class every day for several years.

In addition to popular yoga flows like Anusara, Ashtanga, hatha, and vinyasa, targeted classes are available on themes like "Detox & Cleanse," "Relax & Restore," "Wellness & Therapy," and prenatal and postnatal yoga. Yoga Download also has specific class categories for every age, level, and even profession, including kids, older adults, snowboarders, desk jockeys, and runners. Class times range from five minutes to an hour.

In addition to yoga, Yoga Download also offers classes focusing on barre, Pilates, and chakras. The only downfall is the way the packages are offered. You can only buy individual standard class packages or splurge on the unlimited package. For example, if you only wanted to take power yoga classes, then a standard package ($12 per month) would work well. If you want to enjoy multiple types of yoga and take a Pilates class in between, an unlimited package ($18 per month, or $120 per year) will be best.

International retreats are also available starting at around $2,200 per person, but they sell out fast. So if you're interested, reserve your spot early.

Aaptiv adds its own twist on on-demand classes by using audio-based workouts to keep you moving and motivated. You stay focused on your form and workout instead of a screen. This fitness subscription service offers training plans, guided workouts (running, elliptical, yoga, Pilates, and more), and strength training exercises that you can access online or through the app at any time—but note that these are all targeted to runners.

After signing up for an Aaptiv account, you'll be asked a series of questions about your fitness goals, preferred workout length, and music tastes so the app can curate workouts that challenge you with music that motivates you. From there, you will have an entire workout library coupled with tunes right on your phone.

The greatest benefit to Aaptiv, and what sets it apart, is the audio classes that let you choose where you want to work out: the gym, at home, or the great outdoors.

The classes are fully guided from the first step of your warm-up to the body-blasting workout to the cooldown. It's truly like having a personal trainer running right alongside you.

Kickstarting your fitness journey for the first time can be daunting, but one of the best ways to begin is by signing up for an online fitness class. BODi's live classes and on-demand workouts are led by top personal trainers who teach you the moves as you go. The service also includes personalized nutrition plans, recommended workout classes, and access to BODi's two million-strong community, which provides workout accountability and encouragement as you work toward your fitness goals.

Just the BODi website alone will motivate you to lace up your shoes, grab the weights, and get moving. On the home page, you'll see a scrolling video of people of every race and body size working out hard. Further down the page is a glimpse at the over 1,500 fitness videos and BODi's nutrition packages. The website is a one-stop shop for a complete body and diet overhaul.

Choose from individual classes (cardio, strength training, yoga, Pilates, and more) or challenge yourself to complete one of the 20-, 30-, or 60-day challenges like the 21-Day Fix, 60-day InsanityMAX30, or 60-day Piyo challenge.

No equipment is needed for most workouts, and you get a 14-day free trial to make sure this is the program for you.

If you're looking for an effective cardio workout but running isn't your thing, jumping rope might be more your style. Great for burning calories and building muscle in your legs, abs, and shoulders, jump rope workouts on Crossrope's app make it easy to stay motivated and see results. The app features hundreds of on-demand jump rope workouts, tutorials, and HIIT or Tabata classes that combine cardio with bodyweight moves.

Sign up for a free account to receive access to 10 of the most recent workouts, or upgrade your subscription for full access to Crossrope's library of fitness programs and challenges.

If you're new to jumping rope, Crossrope offers a few different types of jump ropes to get you started, ranging in length and weight. These are not your elementary gym class jump ropes; these are jump ropes on steroids with names like, Get Fit, Get Lean, and Get Strong. The ropes are weighted to increase the intensity of your workout.

If you're thinking this is all about jumping rope in place until you fall over from exhaustion, think again. Well, you might fall over, but it will be from the high-impact moves and constantly changing body motions. And, if you're a parent, this is one workout that you can rope your kids into doing with you!

For people with a hectic schedule, short but effective bursts of activity are often the only way to squeeze in a high-quality workout. And HIIT (high-energy interval training) classes have been shown to burn more calories and keep your metabolic rate elevated for a longer time compared to other workout styles.

Qhat sets ClassPass apart is its affiliation with thousands of gyms, studios, massage therapy, and even hair salons that you can visit using credits you purchase from ClassPass. So, in one day you can go to the gym and enjoy a high-intensity HIIT class, then grab a massage to soothe your sore muscles, and follow it all up with a little self-care at a hair salon, all for less than you'd pay without the credits.

While the on-demand videos are straightforward and awesome, the credit program is a little more difficult to navigate. You'll start by purchasing a monthly credit package ($19 for 8 credits; $49 for 23 credits; $89 for 43 credits; $159 for 80 credits; and $199 for 100 credits) and then use those credits for workouts, massages, manicures, or haircuts.

Where it gets confusing is that from one gym to the next, the required credits vary by popularity, time, and reservation type. While we are all for taking advantage of the free trial period, it's important to take a look at the affiliations ClassPass has near you before committing to a monthly subscription.

One of the biggest misconceptions about Barre3 is that it's like ballet. Folks, we are here to tell you this is not a ballet class where you are glued to a bar for an hour. Not even close. Sure, sometimes you are at the bar, but for the most part, you are doing a mix of cardio, yoga, Pilates moves, and strength training. When it comes to balanced, full-body workouts, Barre3 is truly tough to beat. And just like yoga or Pilates, it doesn't put a strain on tendons or ligaments.

Another bonus is that you can take a class at one of the over 170 Barre3 studios spread out across the country, or hit play on one of the over 500 on-demand videos at home or on the go. Classes range from 10 to 60 minutes long and include everything from traditional Barre3 to cardio to strength training, core focus, and pre/postnatal flow.

This is one of the pricier options on the list at $30 a month. That said, Barre3 classes are around $30 for an individual class at a studio, so you could save yourself a ton of money if you regularly take classes online instead. Plus, opting for a year-long subscription drops the monthly cost to just $20.

To sign up for the free trial you'll need to enter your credit card information, but if you cancel before the end of the trial, you will not be charged. If you decide you want to add some Barre3 gear to your workout collections, you can buy core sliders, weights, a core ball, and resistance bands on the website.