How to Create a Fitness App: All of the Facts Uncovered

Fitness apps are in high demand. They could soon replace gyms, as people will be able to achieve their fitness goals by simply using their smartphones. The question of how to develop a fitness application is becoming more common. This article will show you how to create a fitness app and help you succeed in this competitive market. Continue reading!

Fitness Apps Market and Trends

What is the size of the fitness app industry? Statista reports that the number of fitness app downloads reached 656,000,000 during the second quarter of 2020. The latest IHRSA study estimates that this market was worth 96.7 billion dollars in 2019, and will reach 102 billion dollars this year.

North America and the U.S. have dominated the fitness apps market. The surge in fitness apps is expected to be seen in Asia Pacific, and Europe is also embracing this trend.

Thousands of useful apps are available for smartphone users around the globe. Lack of time to visit a gym no longer hinders you from achieving a fit and healthy body. Fitness apps are available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. They can be used to track workouts, dietary requirements, or other aspects of fitness.

Millennials are the most fitness-oriented generation: According to a Nielsen survey, 81% already exercise or would like to start. Around half of millennials want to get as much information about their health and purchase a device.

Fitness apps are replacing traditional health equipment such as scales and glucose meters. It is more convenient to use a mobile app for body measurements than to use traditional scales.

Integrating fitness apps with social networking websites is another innovative solution from developers. People can share their fitness accomplishments with friends and family, which will provide them with additional motivation. Integration with social networking websites has also clearly influenced the growth of mobile applications.

There's no doubt that technology and functionality play a major role in the fitness app segment. However, there is always room for improvement. Why not create a fitness app worth millions and revolutionize the industry?

Types of Fitness apps

Before we move on to the basics of fitness app development, let's take a look at some of the most popular types of fitness apps. These include activity trackers and nutrition apps.

• Motion sensors are used in activity trackers to monitor different types of physical activities, like cycling or running. These apps provide accurate information on calories burned and/or distance covered in kilometers or miles.

• Nutrition apps use user data to calculate calories consumed. People typically provide their height, weight, and daily rations to such apps. Nutrition apps then give advice or warn the user based on their daily food portions, dietary goals, and nutritional needs.

• Workout apps are a great substitute for gym instructors as they show users how to do different fitness exercises. Downloading a "workout" application teaches users how to perform push-ups, sit-ups, and other fitness activities correctly. They can also track their progress with timers, and determine their fitness rate.

• Most meditation apps are tutorials that allow users to learn about various yoga practices and mediations, as well as choose their level of complexity. Several apps, including Daily Yoga, also offer subscribers access to online sessions with instructors.

• Apps that connect the above types can create workouts and diet programs tailored to a specific individual. Before beginning any new exercise program, it is important to consult a medical professional.

We recommend you take into consideration a few features that are essential for fitness apps. These include personal accounts, profiles, synchronization with other services and social networks, geolocation, integration of wearable devices, as well as features that set fitness goals. Your fitness app must facilitate communication through Bluetooth, camera GPS, microphone, and Wi-Fi networking.

Fitness App Features

All the features that can be included in a mobile fitness application can be divided into three categories: those for an MVP app, features for a standard app, and level updates.

MVP Features:

• Personal profile: While not as important as a personal profile, a profile that includes a photo of the user should provide additional motivation and personalization to achieve fitness goals.

• Start with two to three workouts and divide them, if you wish, into different levels of difficulty.

• You can write articles on useful tips for a healthy diet and lifestyle. Do not forget to back them up with scientific studies and facts. This will help you build rapport with your readers.

• Feedback forms: An MVP's main purpose is to gather feedback from users, and then adjust subsequent updates. Don't forget about asking each user what they thought.

Standard Features

• Personal account: A must-have for fitness apps that are highly customized. Users can store personal information like age, weight, and height in their accounts to monitor their fitness.

• Workouts and nutrition plans for advanced users: You can include workouts that target specific muscles or those geared towards people with certain medical conditions. You can also implement a nutrition adviser based on data that users enter into the app.

• Reminders and push notifications: Allow users to set reminders (days of week, time, and repeating). Do not forget to use push notifications to let users know when it is time to exercise.

• Cloud sync: Some people will want to store their data in case they lose their device or switch devices. Enabling cloud synchronization is the best way to move data from one account to another.

Advanced Features

• Synchronizing other servers and social networks: It's important to give users the option to log in through Facebook, Instagram, or other social media to be able to share their progress. Your app will be able to combine social networking features such as RSS feeds, tracking, and searching for friends.

• Integration with wearable devices: Users who use different smart devices, such as watches, bracelets, and rings, can connect to the app more easily via wearable devices. It will also be easier to monitor their performance. Your app should therefore be compatible with various wearable devices.

• Geo-location feature will allow users to create their jogging/walking route and track their position in real time. You can integrate a geolocation service into your app using a variety of navigation services.

• Custom workouts. Allow users to create their workouts: Create a list of exercises in your app, and allow users to choose the order and duration.

• Depending on the type of app, you may have different features to set fitness goals. Some examples include diet information, music, workout sets, and online sessions with well-known coaches.

Consider creating a menu that includes all the features you want, and adding a payment method. Your new fitness app should be fun to use and simple.

Main Step on How to develop a fitness app

Let's now look at your development strategy, once we have determined what features your app will include.

Step 1. Research

You may have a brilliant idea for a business in the fitness industry. However, you are more likely to get it if you conduct some market research. Cold research is not the only option. Instead, you might be a fitness enthusiast with experience in fitness apps. You may want to improve the experience of a fitness application that could revolutionize an industry.

In any case, it is important to do a thorough market study or hire a professional firm. You should also consider what the typical app user hopes to get out of your app. Ask yourself the following questions.

• What is your target market?

• What can future users expect from you?

• What fitness mobile apps are most likely to be profitable in the next few years?

• Who or what are your biggest competitors?

After you have decided what type of fitness application you would like to build, and the basic features you'd like to include, you can start thinking about how you will create the app and the cost. The cost to develop a fitness application varies depending on its features, type, and the number of developers. A demo version of a health and fitness app can be completed within two to three months depending on the platform. Once you have calculated the costs, you will need to decide how you are going to monetize your app.

Step 2. Design

Your fitness app must have a simple, convenient design. But it must also be highly functional. Apps should not be confusing and buttons should indicate their function. If you choose to include ads in your app, make sure that they don't affect the design or functionality.

Wireframing can be a great way to organize design elements.

Step 3. Development

Once you have a clear idea of how your fitness app should look, you can start the development phase. This is a complex stage that requires specialized knowledge. The app should not only have the front end, which is the part that allows users to interact with it. It also needs a backend for managing data and structural elements.

Step 4. Testing

Fitness app development requires a lot of testing. It is important to ensure that the app works as expected. The app should not crash while the user is setting up their nutrition plan or during a workout.

Step 5. Release and Support

Now that you have completed and approved all the stages above, it is time to release your app. But the work is not done: you still need to debug, update, and review feedback. The user is the last one who will want to find out about any problems.

Required Technologies for Fitness App Development:

The exact tech stack for a fitness application will depend on several factors. These include the specific specifications, scope of the work, and deadline. We can, however, outline the most popular and trusted tools.

You can choose from the following options to get an Android solution:

• Kotlin is a programming language

• MVVM+C, architecture

• Google Fit is the core Android health ecosystem tool

• Google Location API: Geolocation

• Google Maps Android IP: Route-building

• Google Cloud Messaging: Push Notifications

The following tools are the best for building an iOS fitness app:

• Swift 5 programming language

• MVVM+C, architecture

• HealthKit is the main iOS health ecosystem tool

• Core Location: Geolocation

• MapKit: Route-building

• Apple Push: Push notifications

Some platform-agnostic stacks are compatible with both iOS and Android.

• Twilio - Chats and SMS notifications

• ELCIES Connected Services - Acquiring data from wearables

• Stripe: Payments

The Leading monetization strategies

So, your app looks good. We're well into the development phase. We know how it works, we understand the stack and we have a good understanding of the functionality. You should consider how you will make your app profitable and cover its costs.

• Premium subscription: Most fitness apps allow you to subscribe to all the features and activities of the app. To access the best features of an app or exclusive activities (such as sessions with the top yoga coaches), a user must purchase a subscription.

• Fremium Upsell: The Freemium Upsell assumes that the user can download an app free of charge to see what it offers. To use certain cool features of the app, however, users will need to subscribe.

• In-App Purchase: A user can purchase in-app content such as a subscription or new features and services.

• Fitness apps can also earn money through ads, CPI networks, investments, and sponsorship. If your app is highly useful, then you should start looking for sponsors and ads.

Tips for a better understanding

• The app is now ready. There are still some tips to improve your fitness app.

• Motivate users to continue training by sending push notifications or stories.

• Experts in the field: trainers, doctors, and nutritionists can help you create informative content.

• Add a game element to the experience of users.

• Encourage the creation of a community that will support each other and offer mutual assistance.

• Voice control integration with Siri or Google Assistant.

• Personalization is key. Make sure that your app is tailored to each user. It should encourage first-name familiarity, which tells users that you are on the same team.

These features can give you an advantage on the market, and allow you to communicate effectively with your audience.

Our experience in workout app development

Racefully is a geo-location tracker available on the App Store. Racefully tracks in real time all types of fitness activities, from gentle jogging up to intense jumping. Racefully also offers a "competition feature". Two or three users can compete at different distances in real time. Racefully will take into account the terrain characteristics and provide objective results.

Final Thoughts

It makes sense to create a useful and cool fitness app, as top fitness apps continue to make huge profits. A great fitness app requires a lot of work. It must be both innovative and have all the features necessary. Your app's features should not distract users from their fitness activity.

Costs of development are also important. Each new feature adds to the cost. If your budget is limited, it's best to only include the most essential features during the development phase. If your app is successful, you can add new features based on the experience and suggestions of users. Fitness apps can easily be monetized through premium features and subscriptions.

Keep in mind the high level of personalization that the new fitness app will offer. It is vital to protect sensitive data stored by users.

Fitness apps can be a great way to monetize and satisfy your own needs. People get healthier while earning money. Don't give up on your dream to develop a fitness app. Follow the steps to develop a fitness app. If you're looking to make a difference in the fitness world, it is worth the effort.

Fitness apps are in high demand. They could soon replace gyms, as people will be able to achieve their fitness goals by simply using their smartphones. The question of how to develop a fitness application is becoming more common. This article will show you how to create a fitness app and help you succeed in this competitive market. Continue reading!