Finding the Best Strength Training App for Women Over 40

For women over 40, aligning with the right strength training app can feel overwhelming. There is no shortage of fitness apps that promise weight loss, toned muscles, and fast results. But if you’re a woman over 40, your needs are likely different than they were ten to twenty years ago.

At this point, there’s a good chance you’re navigating perimenopause, experiencing slower recovery, balancing work and family, and simply looking for a workout routine that’s realistic enough to actually stick with.

The best strength training app isn’t necessarily the one with the most features or the one that comes highly recommended by every top influencer. It’s the one that helps you stay realistically consistent with your routine. Here’s what to look for before choosing.

What Women Over 40 Should Look for in a Strength Training App

As we get older, our fitness goals shift. For a lot of us, we become less interested in (and available for) spending hours exercising and more interested in:

• Building and maintaining muscle
• Supporting bone health
• Improving energy
• Staying mobile and independent
• Feeling stronger in everyday life

A good strength training app should support these goals through repetition, instead of relying on random workouts and high-intensity cardio.

Look for Structured Programming

This is hands-down one of the biggest mistakes I see women make - they jump from workout to workout without a plan. They do workouts they make up themselves or find on YouTube, Instagram, or TikTok, and essentially just show up for whatever sounds good that day. While I will always be an advocate for any movement is good movement, at this stage of life, if you want to get results, you need to have a plan in place.

A good fitness app will provide structured programming that builds over time. Instead of winging your fitness journey, wondering what to do each day, you should be following a structured workout plan that progresses week after week.

I recommend that women over 40 look for programming that includes:

• Progressive overload
• Planned exercise progressions
• Recovery days
• Balanced muscle group training

This makes it much easier to measure progress and continue getting stronger. And, yes, this means repeating workouts.

Choose an App That Fits Your Lifestyle

This is something that I cannot stress enough for women over 40 - the best workout app is the one that you’ll actually be able to commit to. This means that it has to be realistic for regular life and your already busy schedule.

Ask yourself:

• Do you want to work out at home or in a gym?
• How many days per week can you realistically exercise?
• How much equipment do you have?
• How long can you dedicate to each workout?

Many women over 40 appreciate workouts that can be completed in 30 to 45 minutes using just dumbbells from home, as removing barriers (aka the drive to and from the gym) makes consistency so much easier.

Don't Overlook Support and Community

It’s fun to sign up for the big-name apps that everyone seems to be doing, but don’t neglect the support and community aspect of training. Most workout apps simply generate a workout for you and leave you on your own.

However, there are other apps (usually the smaller ones) that provide access to a real trainer, educational resources, and a community of women working toward similar goals. This is a hugely underutilized and underappreciated feature and benefit of some apps that can be the difference-maker between staying consistent and falling off the wagon in week 2.

Fitness is about more than completing workouts; it’s about building habits that last and not feeling like you’re on your own in your journey.

Features to Look For

There are hundreds of strength training apps to choose from; here are a few considerations I recommend thinking about as you navigate the space:

• Multiple workout plans for different experience levels
• Home and/or gym workout options (depending on where you prefer to train)
• Exercise demonstration videos
• Workout tracking
• Progressive overload
• Flexible workout schedules
• Educational content
• Community support
• Access to the trainer

Not every woman needs or values every feature, but these are often the ones that make the biggest difference over time.

Our Top Picks for Women Over 40

1. Simply Strong App

I believe that the Simply Strong App is best for women who want structured home strength training with coach-designed programming.

The Simply Strong App is designed specifically for women who want to build strength from home with limited time.

Features include:

• Monthly strength training programs
• 3-, 4-, and 5-day workout splits
• Dumbbell-focused home workouts
• Built-in progressive overload
• Exercise demonstration videos
• Workout tracking
• Access to a supportive community
• Direct access to a certified personal trainer for workout-related questions and guidance

With Simply Strong, you’re not doing random workouts every day; instead, the programming is intentionally designed to build on itself month after month. This approach is a great option for women who want to know exactly what to do to get results in minimal time and without a lot of drama.

2. Fitbod

I believe this app is best for women who enjoy AI-generated workouts and extensive customization. Fitbod utilizes AI to generate custom workouts based on your equipment availability, workout history, and training goals. This app is a solid choice for women who enjoy flexibility and find themselves working out in different environments often.

3. Moves App by Madeline Moves

I believe this app is best for women who enjoy a follow-along format and programming that changes every week. Moves App offers a variety of workout styles and training programs that contain a lot of novelty.

4. Ladder

I believe that Ladder is best for women who want a coach-led program and don’t mind the “big box” experience. Ladder offers multiple different workout programs led by a variety of coaches. It’s great for women who are seeking ample variety.

5. FASTerway to Fat Loss

I believe FASTerway to Fat Loss is a good match for women who enjoy short, follow-along workouts that change frequently. FASTer Way’s no-repeat approach allows women who get bored easily to stay entertained. It’s also a great option for women who want a nutritional element to pair with their training.

Which Strength Training App Is Best?

There isn’t one perfect strength training program; therefore, you’ll never find the perfect app for every woman. We all have different goals, experience levels, and preferred workout styles.

If you’re looking for an AI-powered experience with a lot of customization, Fitbod might be a great choice. If you love follow-along workouts and a variety of training styles, Moves, Ladder, FASTerway to Fat Loss, or Bodi are good options.

If you’re looking for structured strength training designed specifically for women, at-home friendly workouts, progressive overload, and access to a real trainer and community, Simply Strong is an excellent choice.

And these are only a handful of the thousands of options available.

Wrapping Up

The best strength training app for women over 40 is the one that aligns with your goals and preferences and provides a realistic, sustainable approach to fitness. I recommend looking for a program that provides structure, progression, flexibility, and support - not just a list of exercises and then cuts you loose.

The sweet spot is finding a program that’s built for women over 40 in mind and will give you results without the fluff and nonsense.