Looking for a way to improve your yoga practice at home or on the go? With a yoga app, you can access hundreds of classes, poses, educational content, and motivation from your smartphone, tablet, or other electronic device. These apps are designed for all fitness levels and yoga abilities. While some apps target advanced yogis, most have basic content and introductory programs appropriate for someone new to the practice.
Yoga is a practice that benefits you both physically and mentally. The most common benefit people think of with yoga is increased flexibility, but it can also build strength.1 Aside from the physical benefits, yoga has been shown to improve mental health and reduce anxiety.2 When it comes to overall wellness, yoga helps you work on it from multiple angles.
To curate this list, we looked at yoga apps that offer a free version and a paid subscription or in-app purchase. The best yoga apps are available on both iOS and Android devices. They also offer pre-designed routines and the ability to customize a program specific to your needs. With that in mind, here are our top picks for the best yoga apps.
The 8 Best Yoga Apps of 2022
- Best Overall: Yoga Studio by Gaiam
- Best for All Fitness Levels: Down Dog
- Best for Community Support: Daily Yoga
- Best for Busy People: Glo
- Best for Kids: Simply Yoga
- Best Budget: Yoga Workout
- Best for Beginners: Pocket Yoga
- Best for the Office: 5 Minute Yoga
1.Yoga Studio by Gaiam
Key Specs
- Pricing: Free to download; subscription costs about $10 per month
- Platforms: iOS and Android
- Features: Yoga for runners, back pain, prenatal, relaxation, and more
Why We Chose It: Yoga Studio by Gaiam earns the top spot because its classes focus on specific goals and themes, the app is easy to use, and it’s affordable.
Pros
- Includes more than 75 ready-made classes available for all levels
- Ability to create your own custom flow using a reference guide featuring more than 250 poses
- Comes with guided meditations and relaxation practices
Cons
- Some features require a monthly subscription
- Layout is a bit complicated to navigate
- Updates often cause glitches in the app
Yoga Studio gets our top ranking for yoga apps, thanks to its high-quality content, ease of use, and excellent value. With numerous custom classes, yogis of all different levels will find plenty of ways to stay motivated and challenged. Classes focus on specific goals such as flexibility, balance, relaxation, and strength, and also feature different themes such as yoga for back pain, prenatal yoga, and yoga for runners.
You can create your own custom flow using the app’s smart-link feature that allows you to add blocks of poses to classes. Also included in the subscription is the ability to schedule and track classes, access to a library of 280+ poses, and the option to choose music or create your own playlists from your music library. You’ll also get 15+ guided meditations and relaxation practices. Subscriptions are available by the week, month, and year, and are extremely reasonably priced for the quality and quantity you get.
2.Down Dog
Key Specs
- Pricing: Free to download; about $8 per month for premium subscription
- Platforms: iOS and Android
- Features: Select time, focus, level, voice, and music for personalized yoga session
Why We Chose It: Down Dog is known for its inclusiveness, multiple class levels, and ability to customize your yoga practice.
Pros
- Customize yoga practice to match your level
- Vinyasa, Hatha, Gentle, Restorative, Yin, Ashtanga, Chair, and Sun Salutation practices
- Ability to choose from six different instructor voices to guide your practice
Cons
- Requires monthly membership to access several features
- Focuses more on beginner and intermediate levels
- Minimal music options with free version
Down Dog is an app that you can use as you progress in your yoga practice, as it has plenty of lessons and routines for all levels. Choose from various levels, like beginner and expert, plus different practice durations, from 10 minutes to 110 minutes.
Down Dog offers a non-intimidating entry into yoga, while still providing plenty of challenging classes for more advanced yogis. The app generates new sequences of moves and allows you to choose a pace and specific focus, so you never have the same class every time. Instructions are very clear and easy to understand, and almost feel like you have a real instructor leading you. The free version can give you a real feel for the app, but you’ll get better music and more options with the pro subscription.
3.Daily Yoga
Key Specs
- Pricing: Free to download; about $21 per month for premium subscription
- Platforms: iOS and Android
- Features: Yoga and meditation classes for all levels, large yoga community
Why We Chose It: Access to one of the best online global communities is the reason Daily Yoga won the best for community support category.
Pros
- Biggest worldwide yoga community
- New classes updated weekly
- Includes more than 500 asanas, upwards of 70 yoga programs, and more than 500 guided yoga, pilates, and meditation sessions
Cons
- Costs significantly more than other yoga apps
- Requires subscription to unlock routines, classes, and other features
- Might be too advanced and technical for beginners
If you love studio yoga for the community support and motivation, Daily Yoga is an app for you to consider. You can engage and interact with its active global community of users, reaching out to share ideas, be inspired, and get advice. Daily Yoga even has weekly activities you can join with others to motivate each other. Included in the monthly pro subscription plan are more than 500 asanas, 200 guided classes of yoga, Pilates, and meditation, and 50 workout plans, with options for all levels, from beginners to advanced.
Daily Yoga also has numerous multi-week programs, such as Beginner to Master, Getting Toned, and Health Enhanced, which focus on various goals. New programs and videos are always being added. The free version has some annoying pop-up ads and access to fewer videos, but is worth trying to give the app a test drive.
4.Glo
Key Specs
- Pricing: Free to download; costs about $18 per month
- Platforms: iOS and Android
- Features: Meditation, yoga, Pilates, lectures, and workshops
Why We Chose It: Glo offers a wide variety of classes in varying lengths, such as 10, 15, and 20 minutes, making it the perfect app for busy people.
Pros
- Beginner-friendly content
- Offers more than 4,000 classes and 16 styles of yoga for multiple levels
- Subscription offers educational classes and lectures to improve yoga knowledge
Cons
- Requires upgrade to a premium plan to access most features
- Monthly subscription more expensive than other yoga apps
- Fewer personalized recommendations than other apps
With a huge team of quality, experienced instructors and a wide variety of classes, Glo is a great choice for yogis who can rarely make it to a studio class. You can use the app’s search filters to find the exact type of class you need, whether it’s beginner or advanced, short or lengthy, or for a specific need, such as back pain.
The app has a ton of 10-, 15-, and 20-minute classes, so it’s easy to find one when you only have a short block of time for yoga. It’s very beginner-friendly, but also offers many challenging classes for when you want to take your yoga to the next level.
5.Simply Yoga
Key Specs
- Pricing: Free to download and use
- Platforms: iOS and Android
- Features: Classes for adults and kids that last 20, 40, or 60 minutes
Why We Chose It: Families looking to introduce their kids to yoga can do it for free with the Simply Yoga app.
Pros
- Classes for adults and kids that last 20, 40, or 60 minutes
- Free version has several classes appropriate for beginners
- Video and audio instruction
Cons
- Minimal features compared to other yoga apps
- Advanced sequences and more customization requires an upgrade to Pro
- Free version only has six predefined level one routines
Simply Yoga is a great no-frills yoga app for adults or kids who want to learn some basic yoga poses or start a regular yoga practice. With a very simple and user-friendly interface, the free version offers three beginner level sequences that last 20, 40, or 60 minutes. The videos and voice-over instructions are very clear and easy to follow. Simply Yoga is a great option for parents who want to try yoga with their kids. If you get bored with the beginner plans, you could upgrade to the paid version for more advanced sequences and more customization.
6.Yoga Workout
Key Specs
- Pricing: Free to download and use
- Platforms: iOS
- Features: Beginner yoga lessons, 21-day challenge, and 10-, 20-, and 30-minute classes
Why We Chose It: If you’re not ready to spend money on an app, then consider Yoga Workout. You get free access to everything on the app.
Pros
- Content and classes are free
- Decent app for beginners to get a feel for yoga
- Includes yoga challenges to keep you motivated
Cons
- Designed for iOS
- Basic design and interface
- Not as many classes or features as other yoga apps
Whether you have five or 50 minutes for yoga, Yoga Workout offers many lessons and workouts, all with very clear and expert instructions. The app also features numerous challenges, such as the 21-day Yoga Challenge and the Yoga for Beginners 30-Day Challenge, to keep you motivated. Whether you’re at work, traveling, at home, or even in bed, this app makes it easy to do yoga in various situations. But what really sets this app apart from others with similar high-quality content is that it’s completely free to access everything.
7.Pocket Yoga
Key Specs
- Pricing: Costs about $3
- Platforms: iOS and Android
- Features: Classes for all levels, comprehensive pose dictionary, customize levels
Why We Chose It: Beginners will appreciate the simple instructions, library of poses, and low cost to download the Pocket Yoga app.
Pros
- One-time fee to download and use the app
- Content and classes are kid-friendly
- Ability to customize by changing difficulty level and duration
Cons
- Poses and routines are illustrated
- Limited routines and classes
- No human video instruction
If you shy away from the yoga studio because you’re self-conscious or feel like you can’t keep up with the class, Pocket Yoga is a great, beginner-friendly app to try. It’s perfect for those who want a yoga app that they can just download (at a very minimal cost) and not worry about being charged a monthly or yearly subscription fee.
The app features a library of almost 300 poses, all illustrated and explained in detail. You can search the library by pose type or level of difficulty, or browse an alphabetical list. If you prefer routines, there are five animated classes to choose from, all led with clear, gentle instructions. Another great app for kids, Pocket Yoga can be customized by changing the difficultly level or duration for each routine.
8.5 Minute Yoga
Key Specs
- Pricing: Free to download and use; costs about $3 to $7 per month
- Platforms: iOS and Android
- Features: Short sessions, clear images, and detailed instructions
Why We Chose It: We chose 5 Minute Yoga because it offers short sessions for all levels and abilities.
Pros
- Poses are demonstrated with clear detail and images
- Features quick yoga routines no longer than five minutes each
- Something for all levels
Cons
- Requires upgrade to a monthly membership to access all content
- Minimal content compared to other yoga apps
- Classes in yoga only
Another fantastic yoga app for busy people, 5 Minute Yoga features short sessions made up of simple yet effective yoga poses. Each pose includes clear images and detailed instructions, so it’s ideal for a beginner yogi who wants to improve, but doesn’t have time for the studio.
The 5-minute sessions are perfect for a relaxation break at work, whether in your office, break room, or right in your cubicle. They’re also great to squeeze in during your busy morning routine or before you go to bed. This app offers a short free trial but after that you do have to pay for a subscription.
Final Verdict
Our picks for the best yoga apps include options for beginners, budget-conscious users, kids, varying levels, community support, and busy people. If you want an app that covers a bit of everything, consider Yoga Studio by Gaiam. For about $10 per month, you get yoga classes targeting a variety of themes, and you can customize your own practice.
For people new to yoga, choosing an app like Pocket Yoga that is affordable and easy to follow can make committing to a practice a whole lot easier. And finally, Down Dog is a safe bet if you want an app that targets all yoga and fitness levels and won’t break the bank.
Frequently Asked Questions
How Much Do Yoga Apps Cost?
Some yoga apps are free to download, but the free version might include just basic features. Other yoga apps charge a one-time download cost, usually in the range of $3 to $5, or they may offer a monthly or yearly membership. Members gain access to more robust features such as advanced workouts and customization to help them develop their own personal yoga practice. Monthly or yearly subscription memberships can range from approximately $5 to $20 per month.
What Equipment Do I Need for Yoga?
Whether you’re practicing yoga at a studio, gym, or at home, you’ll want to use a yoga mat for stability and cushioning if you are on hardwood floors and other surfaces. Aside from that, you really don’t need any additional equipment. As you continue with your yoga practice, you may find that yoga props such as blocks, straps, bolsters, or wheels are helpful, since they’re designed to enhance certain postures by offering more support.
What Should I Wear for a Yoga Class?
Wear comfortable clothes that are easy to move in. Yoga pants are typically a good choice, but shorts are also a popular option for men and women or those who enjoy hot yoga. Choose tops that are comfortable yet form-fitting so they’ll stay in place while you perform certain postures such as bending over into a forward fold.
Look for clothes that are made of moisture-wicking material so you stay dry and comfortable. Women may wear a sports bra, though many yoga tops come with sports bras already built in. Most people do yoga barefoot, so you don’t have to wear any special shoes or socks.
Is Yoga Good for My Health?
Yoga is good for both your physical and mental health. Physically, it’s good for increasing flexibility, cardiovascular function, balance, and strength.1 Mentally, it has been shown to reduce anxiety, improve sleep, help with self-esteem, and boost overall mental health.2
How Many Times a Week Should I Practice Yoga?
There is no one-size-fits-all answer. Some people enjoy practicing yoga every day, while others find that a few times a week is a good option. To reap the benefits of practicing yoga, try to fit it in at least three times a week.
Methodology
We looked at 10 online yoga apps before settling on our eight top picks. To make the final list, we considered content quality, class levels and duration, how the poses are demonstrated, and technical difficulty. We also spent time looking at the free version of each app versus the paid subscription version. Some apps are functional with the free option, while others need an upgrade to access extra classes, poses, and content, but this is common with exercise apps. Rounding out the criteria for selection, we considered the platform required for use. All but one of the apps (Yoga Workout) is available on both iOS and Android.
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