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In our recent head-to-head comparison of some of the best home workout apps, Openfit came out top in many categories.
With live classes, a huge on-demand library of workouts, nutritional tracking, and priced at just $8/month, Openfit promises an incredible amount of value for such a small price tag.
But is it worth it? And what are the classes, workouts and meal planner actually like?
We’re here to help…
In this Openfit review, we put this popular fitness app to the test, and after 30 days of use, we’ve outlined everything you need to know about it.
Update for 2022 – Openfit is now part of Beachbody on Demand
A Beachbody on Demand membership will now give you access to all of Openfit’s workouts and content. We think this makes Beachbody (BOD) the ultimate fitness content membership and incredible value for the low monthly price. Learn more about BODi membership.
To have access to all of Beachbody’s and Openfit’s content in one (very affordable) membership, we think Beachbody on Demand is hard to look past if you’re looking for fitness workouts and online classes. 👇
What is Openfit
Openfit is a health and fitness app, that offers live classes, on-demand workouts and programs, and nutritional tracking.
Founded in 2018 by Jon Congdon (Co-Founder of Beachbody), Openfit offers an inclusive solution to help anyone feel fitter and healthier. Openfit’s ethos and approach to fitness seems very aligned with Beachbody, so if you’ve enjoyed their workouts in the past, Openfit could be the perfect option for you. The connection between the two brands also means Openfit benefits from all the experience Beachbody has when it comes to online workout videos (Beachbody pretty much invented the category 20+ years ago).
Openfit is accessible on a computer, mobile app and can be streamed on your TV (ideal for following along to workouts) via a quarterly or yearly subscription.
Once you sign up, you’ll do a small quiz to highlight what your main goals and aspirations are from using Openfit, before gaining access to your dashboard (where you can select workouts, classes and programs).
How Much Does Openfit Cost?
When paid annually, Openfit costs just $8/month. Compared to other fitness apps that offer live classes, this is incredibly cheap.
Based on testing lots of the best fitness apps out there, we’d put the average app that includes live classes anywhere between $20-40/month, so you can see why Openfit has turned many heads since launching.
What We Like About Openfit
Instructor Led Live Classes
For the price, it’s genuinely surprising that your subscription includes live, instructor-led classes.
Similar to Peloton, these classes allow you to follow along to a workout routine, under the guidance of a professionally certified instructor.
The instructors also try their best to give a shout-out to everyone who has joined, so that helps to create a studio-vibe in your home.
Compared to just following a workout on YouTube, for example, the impact of having an instructor there to cheer you on, offer encouragement and provide insights into the exercise is huge and definitely noticeable.
Community
Openfit really pushes their community Facebook group when you join. This a place where you can ask questions and engage with fellow users, as well as coaches.
They also have specific Facebook groups for certain programs, like Xtend Barre, offering very tailored advice and support. This is a small feature but it really does add to the experience when you can see what others are posting and it certainly helps with motivation.
Variety
Some people really know what they like when it comes to workouts.
Like barre? Physique 57 is worth exploring.
Like yoga? Try Alo Moves.
But what happens when you want to try lots of different styles? The answer is Openfit.
With so many different workouts to select, both in terms of programs, on-demand and live classes, Openfit really does feel like the only fitness app you need.
As far as on-demand workouts go, the library is vast and you’ll definitely find more than enough exercise routines to follow along to.
Like Beachbody, Openfit targets a broad audience and really hits the nail on the head in terms of what the average person wants from a fitness app. It’s also as suitable for men as women.
Intimate Live Classes
Live classes are limited to 50 people, so you need to remember to reserve your spot, otherwise you may not be able to join.
This isn’t a negative thing though, in fact, this is something we really like about it.
It means the live classes are always capped at 50, so they never get overwhelmingly large.
Realistically, if 1,000 users are all signed onto a class, an instructor is never going to be able to give feedback to everyone. With a max of 50, instructors have the time to actually review your form and offer feedback.
Beginner Friendly
Openfit’s workouts definitely seem inclusive and beginner friendly.
They have avoided the issue that brands like Peloton have fallen victim to, whereby beginners and those who just want to get fit without becoming an Olympic athlete feel intimidated and put off.
Openfit includes lots of workouts that are suitable, even if you’ve never really followed an online workout before.
The instructors also offer support and guidance throughout the live classes, so that’s a huge bonus for beginners compared to just trying to make it up as you go along.
Programs
The most notable comparison of Openfit to Beachbody is their love for the good old fashioned online fitness program.
Structured programs, spanning multiple weeks, is the perfect way to immerse yourself into Openfit’s world.
These programs are all focused around certain styles of exercises or specific goals.
At the time of writing, the available programs include:
- Xtend Barre
- Xtend Barre Pilates
- Rough Around The Edges
- Yoga52
- 600 Secs
- Tough Mudder T-Minus 30
- Sugar Free 3
We tried Xtend Barre and Yoga52 and both were exactly what you’d want from an online program. Again, for the price tag, these are the sorts of programs Personal Trainers flog on social media for upwards of $99, so it’s hard to argue against the value you get for your subscription.
As these programs are provided by third parties, it does create a bit of a branding issue for Openfit, with different programs having very different personalities. It’s not really a bad thing, but you may notice it and find just because you loved one program, it doesn’t mean you’ll love them all.
Check out the video below from Jen Widerstrom, illustrating the style of one of her Openfit programs.
Meal Planner & Nutrition Tracking
The meal planner and nutrition tracking is definitely an added bonus for your Openfit subscription.
As discussed a bit further down, this feature feels like it could be better if they didn’t push supplements as much but it still provides value for those looking to eat healthier.
As far as meal planning and nutritional tracking go, Openfit isn’t the leader in this space, but as an additional feature that’s included in your membership, it’s worth using and seeing if it provides you with value.
Student Discount
Openfit also offers a 20% discount for students, which is a great added perk if you fall into this category.
Things to Consider
Not Necessarily a Guided Class
The instructors don’t necessarily do the workouts with you during the live classes. We’re not sure if this is the case with every live class, but the instructors are there to guide you, but the class may involve pre-recorded video demonstrations.
This creates quite a different vibe from say Obe or FiiT, whereby the instructors will sweat along with you every step of the way.
Big on Supplements in Nutrition Plans
We really liked having the ability to use the same membership for both fitness and nutrition, but Openfit definitely want you to delve into the world of supplements as part of your nutritional plan.
There’s nothing wrong with supplements, but you may find it a bit annoying with so many pitches for related supplements within the nutritional plans.
Phone Stand
If you want to benefit from being able to see yourself doing the exercises, it’s worth getting a proper phone stand. We found trying to balance a phone, or even get the angle right on a laptop is harder than we thought during a workout and that it sort of kills off the adrenaline.
Instead, it would be much better to invest in a phone stand and have it set up at the right height/angle before you start the class.
Or similarly, you may find it is easier to use a TV to follow along to.
Syncing Data
It’s not really a negative about Openfit, but when looking at the general fitness app market, some brands like FiiT, include heart rate monitoring and collecting data during workouts to help you understand your performance better.
A feature like this would be a great addition to Openfit and is hopefully something around the corner.
Openfit Alternatives?
Future Fitness – Looking for more personalized support from a certified fitness coach? A personal training app like Future Fitness could be worth looking into. It’s considerably more expensive than Openfit, but the personalized coaching is likely to help you really upgrade your home workouts.
Our in-depth review of Future provides you with everything you need to know about it. Or similarly, you can start a risk-free trial today.
P.volve – Gaining huge popularity in recent years, P.volve’s momentum shows no signs of slowing down. P.volve’s workouts are all about functional movement, and feel like a bit of a mash-up of barre, Pilates and HIIT. To make the most out of it, you’ll probably want to invest in some of their equipment.
If that sounds intriguing, you can start a free trial here.
Obé Fitness – If you want to follow along to fun live classes, and not take yourself too seriously, Obé is definitely for you. It’s more expensive than Openfit, but the live classes are great fun.
Check out our full Obé review here.
FiiT – FiiT is a leader when it comes to combing live classes and data. They are like a Peloton for HIIT and studio workouts.
Learn more about FiiT in our comprehensive review.
Beachbody – Owned by the same company, Beachbody is probably the most similar to Openfit, both in terms of price range and approach. Beachbody has a larger library of programs, including some popular online titles. Beachbody now offers personalized group coaching too. In contrast to Openfit’s modern barre and Pilates workouts, Beachbody does sometimes feel a bit old-school in their fitness workouts (whether that’s a bonus for you or not is just personal preference).
Grab a Beachbody free trial here.
Update for 2022 – Openfit is now part of Beachbody on Demand
A Beachbody on Demand membership will now give you access to all of Openfit’s workouts and content. We think this makes Beachbody (BOD) the ultimate fitness content membership and incredible value for the low monthly price. Learn more about BODi membership.
Openfit Free Trial
Openfit offer a 14 day free trial, so you can test it out before you buy.
Simply follow this link to get started.
Who is Openfit Best For?
When comparing Openfit to other health and fitness apps, it is best suited for those who want an all-in-one exercise and diet solution that includes live classes at an affordable price.
Live classes usually bumps up the cost of fitness apps into the $30+/month price range, but Openfit manage to offer this feature for just $8/month.
With such a variety of classes and workouts, Openfit is ideal for anyone who enjoys doing different types of exercise and would like to give things like barre, Pilates and HIIT all a go.
Bottom Line
We’re all a bit spoilt for choice nowadays when it comes to fitness apps.
If you like following a structured fitness program and would like the additional benefit of having meal plans, then for $8/month, Openfit is second to none. The value is hard to argue against and although there are other fitness apps that offer live classes that we’ve really enjoyed, the price difference means it feels like you’re slightly comparing apples to oranges.
If you’re on a budget but ready to upgrade from following YouTube videos, Openfit is a great choice.
As we’ve mentioned in this review, Openfit is now part of Beachbody and included in the Beachbody on Demand membership. Try it below. 👇
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