The 9 Best CrossFit Exercise Apps for Beginners

CrossFit is a fun and effective way to exercise, and you'll find plenty of smartphone apps to help you on your journey.

CrossFit is a high-intensity workout that effectively combines weightlifting, gymnastics, and cardio exercise. Many people consider it to be extreme, yet it's one of the most popular exercise philosophies around. Some even call CrossFit a lifestyle.

For beginners, CrossFit workouts can be extra tough. But thanks to a selection of awesome exercise apps, you can turn yourself into a CrossFit expert. Below are the best CrossFit exercise apps for you to download and enjoy.

CrossFit may be a grueling way to exercise, but that doesn't mean it can't be enjoyable! With the CrossFit Games app, you can rank yourself against other athletes around the world in a fun and competitive way. However, for CrossFit newbies, it's the ideal app to learn everything there is to know about the sport.

CrossFit Games makes it easy to follow your favorite CrossFit athletes, keep track of the latest news, and search for a CrossFit gym close to where you live.

Download: CrossFit Games for iOS | Android (Free)

Being a beginner, you might feel confused when you hear CrossFit athletes using the phrase WOD. WOD stands for "workout of the day", and it is an important part of CrossFit. Doing your first WOD is likely to be demanding, but it'll leave you feeling amazing. With SugarWOD, you can complete a huge number of workouts—including those from the past.

The app is ideal for logging your workouts and connecting with other CrossFit athletes. Also, be sure to enable notifications so you know whenever the app posts a new workout.

Download: SugarWOD for iOS | Android (Free)

Have you found it difficult to stay motivated as a CrossFit newcomer? Keeping your drive going and holding yourself accountable is easy with the Hero WOD app. On the app, every workout displays the rounds, sets, and time.

Additionally, Hero WOD also lets you know before you start a workout if you need any special equipment, such as a weighted ball, skipping rope, rower, or dumbbells. Download Hero WOD to save your favorite workouts, do a quick warm-up, or create your own unique WOD.

Download: Hero WOD for iOS | Android (Free, subscription available)

WOD, AMRAP, EMOM–In the CrossFit world, there are a lot of workout abbreviations to keep track of! SmartWOD Timer is a useful app if you want to try out different workouts and see which ones you like best.

If you want to make as many rounds as possible (AMRAPs) your new favorite workout, for instance, set the duration, start the timer, and start moving. The app is simple to use, with a large display, mid-workout reminders, and a countdown at the end of each session.

Download: SmartWOD Timer for iOS | Android (Free, in-app purchases available)

If you're struggling to come up with interesting workouts, SmartWOD Workout Generator can give you random workouts based on what equipment you have. As an example, if you're working out at home and only have access to dumbbells, simply select the equipment, and SmartWOD narrows down which workouts you have access to.

Bought new exercise gear? Don't worry; you can edit your equipment settings at any time. Overall, the SmartWOD app has one of the best workout collections available.

Download: SmartWOD Workout Generator for iOS | Android (Free, subscription available)

GOWOD is the ultimate app to improve your mobility. When you first use the app, it's best to do the mobility test, particularly if you're a beginner. The test consists of a few body movements and stretches to calculate your mobility score. From there, you can target specific body zones that you want to improve, like your lower body, for instance.

GOWOD gives you access to over 240 free exercises, but if you want unlimited access to your personalized protocols, you need to upgrade to premium.

Download: GOWOD for iOS | Android (Free, subscription available)

Going to a CrossFit gym can be pricey, and figuring out a precise training program can be time-consuming. If you want to save time and money while still doing challenging and calculated exercises, The WOD Generator app is exactly what you need.

Just choose a category, and the app produces a random WOD from a range of over 10,000. Because of the huge variety, you won't ever get bored with your workout again. A couple of the categories include Tabata, endurance, gymnastics, and workouts to do with a partner.

Download: The WOD Generator for iOS | Android (Free, subscription available)

CrossFit workouts may be difficult, particularly for beginners, but with the Hero Timer app, there is no need to exercise with a personal trainer. Hero Timer is easy, straightforward, and convenient to use, giving you the ability to do various types of workouts. So, whether you're using it for EMOM or Tabata workouts, it performs perfectly.

Furthermore, the verbal countdown at the end of the workout gives you that extra bit of encouragement to finish strong. Consider upgrading to the premium version if you want to create your own custom workouts.

Download: Hero Timer for iOS | Android (Free, in-app purchases available)

Are you ready to crush your WOD? Tap on GO or shake your phone, and WOD Roulette generates a random workout. The workouts include three levels of difficulty: easy, medium, and hard. If you're a CrossFit novice, stick to the easy workouts and simply shake or tap again if you don't like the WOD or get a hard one.

With time, you'll be able to do more grinding exercises. The best bit is that you can use the WOD Roulette app as more than a WOD generator. There are various workout collections available, so you can choose the one that suits you best. Among the collection categories are competition workouts and exercises you can do in your living room.

Download: WOD Roulette for iOS | Android (Free, in-app purchases available)

There are a ton of positive health and fitness benefits of CrossFit, and you don't need to be a super athlete to give it a try. Whether you are looking to boost your confidence and improve your sleep or burn serious calories and build strength, CrossFit can help you achieve your fitness goals.

But when you first start CrossFit, it can take quite a while to figure out what's going on. If you're new and thinking of giving CrossFit a shot, download one or two of these exercise apps to make your journey a lot easier.

Christine has been writing professionally about tech since 2014. Now, with her knowledge about health, fitness, and food, she specializes in writing about wellness-related tech at MUO.