Why do you need apps for certain things? The average user spends more than 5 hours per day using his or her favorite apps. Google processes over 8.5 million searches per day. Over 63% of US organic traffic is generated by mobile devices. This indicates that the average user uses their smartphone to find solutions to daily problems. Ironic as it may sound, even when seeking fitness advice they turn to the phone that made them unfit. If you are considering investing in fitness app development, your chances of success are high.
This blog will tell you everything you need to build and launch a fitness application that meets modern user expectations.
Apple and Amazon, two industry giants, are constantly implementing new ideas to keep up with fitness trends and to support their users in leading healthier lives. You should not only invest in an app that is feature-rich and engaging but also consider how it could be better or different from other fitness apps in the market. Fret not. We will answer all of your questions (even those you didn’t ask) about the development of fitness mobile apps. You will then be ready to implement your plans.
What’s all the hype about creating a custom fitness app?
Market statistics show that there is a real demand for fitness apps. The competition is fierce, with industry giants also competing. People are looking for tips and advice on how to maintain a fitness routine, as well as workouts and other exercises. You need to not only offer solutions to the problems of your users but also find ways to keep up with the competition. The latter is key to the first.
What is the best way to create a fitness application that will leave a lasting impression on your target audience, and give you an edge over other industry competitors?
The fitness journey is filled with challenges. A tailor-made app can help you resolve these challenges. Below is a list of some of the most common challenges people face, and how a custom-made app can help them overcome these:
Lack of time and motivation
The majority of people lead a busy life and spend their time on household chores, personal obligations, and office jobs. They quit when they can’t find the time to exercise. Fitness app development can help people make time for themselves, and develop healthy habits.
You’re Stuck with Strenuous Exercise
Many people believe that fitness can only be achieved through heavy exercise. Even small things can make a difference. You can walk or bike around your block. You can send them notifications that remind them of these opportunities and present them with them.
Unable to see progress
Many people stop exercising because they can’t see their progress. Your app can inform them of every milestone they reach in their fitness journey, and allow them to celebrate.
Gyms are affordable
Not everyone can afford to go to the gym. However, they may still be motivated and have the time. Your app could offer gym training for a small fee.
A Gym Trainer
A personal trainer is not always the best option. Your app could make an on-demand coach available via video, calls, chats, etc. This could be a game-changer for your app.
What Types of Fitness Apps Can You Build?
We are a mobile application development company and we have a lot of clients who want to develop fitness apps. The majority are not sure what type of app they want. You must have a clear idea of what you want before you hire developers. Consider these popular fitness apps:
Health and Fitness Tracker
The apps allow users to track fitness goals, such as weight loss or getting fit, and receive regular updates on their health. The apps allow users to track their heart rate and calories burned, as well as other metrics.
Workout Apps
Many people use apps to improve their health or maintain their fitness. These apps offer customized workout plans and reminders as well as progress tracking. These apps have a lot of interesting features, such as workout programs, and walking, running, and swimming trackers. You can adjust the features to suit a wider audience if you want.
Diet and Nutrition Apps
Without a healthy diet, a fitness program is incomplete. Your app can provide a diet and nutrition plan that is suitable for beginners and other users based on their fitness goals. Diet plans and consultations can be tailored to each individual’s needs to encourage them to make healthier food choices.
Yoga and Meditation Apps
More ways to relax and unwind are needed. Your app can provide users with tips for mental and physical well-being. Yoga and meditation are available from home.
Sleep Tracker
Sleep can have a significant impact on an individual’s overall health and fitness. Sleep-tracking apps can help users better understand their sleep cycles and improve the quality of their sleep.
There are many fitness apps, and they can also be classified in different ways. This small glimpse will give you an idea about the app that you would like to create.
Features Can Be Game Changers
While your competitors may be using a similar fitness concept, the features of your app can help users solve certain problems differently. It’s ultimately all about how easy and enjoyable your fitness app is. Do not rush through this process. Make sure that your app contains all of the basic features necessary to help users solve their problems in real-time.
What are the essential features of a fitness application?
Here is a list that includes all the features you need to make your fitness app complete.
1. Create a User Profile
You will always need to collect certain details from users to offer personalized services. Users can create a profile by sharing their basic information such as name, age, and gender. They can also share height, weight, height, and any medical conditions. This allows your app to generate a customized diet/workout plan.
2. Fitness Tracking
It is an essential feature of your app. Users will stay motivated if they can track their progress and their workouts. It also provides the algorithm of the app with essential data that helps it give the best fitness advice.
3. Goal Setting
The goal feature helps users adopt a healthier lifestyle and become accustomed to a fitness regimen. This feature allows users to set both short-term goals and long-term goals for fitness and track their progress.
4. Workout Programs
Your app should provide workout programs tailored to the users’ fitness levels. These workouts should be easy to follow, and tailored to their needs.
5. Set Reminders
There are always people who need extra motivation to exercise. Reminders are a great tool to motivate users and keep them focused on their fitness and workout goals.
6. Nutrition Tracking
Exercise without a proper nutrition plan can be a waste. The nutrition tracking feature of your fitness app development ensures that users will make better food decisions and get the most out of their workouts.
7. Social Sharing
Users can share their progress and workouts with friends using social sharing features. This will increase engagement and motivate users.
8. Customer Support
It is important to provide customer support for users who might have questions or be stuck on a feature. You need to be available at all times to avoid users becoming frustrated and leaving your app with bad feedback.
You can add more features to your app than these core features.
- Wearables compatible with the wearable
- GPS tracking for outdoor workouts
- Heart rate monitoring for calorie counting
- Reward or Badges
- Forums and message boards
- Blogs, meal plans, and recipes
We should also pay attention to some of the modern aspects of fitness app development. These advancements can be a great way to improve your app and benefit both you and your users. AI (Artificial Intelligence) is one such element.
Artificial Intelligence for Fitness Apps
Over the last few years, artificial intelligence has revolutionized many industries. AI can make a significant difference in your efforts to provide something unique and valuable to users. It can be used in fitness apps to benefit users in many ways.
- Real-time data allows for a highly personalized user experience
- Accurate recommendations that lead to greater user satisfaction
- Use data to drive marketing and expansion
- Online and offline fitness guidance can be managed seamlessly
AI allows for a client-centric approach to be pursued with the vast data that it collects. With the right algorithms and the smart use of data, you can reach the target audience, and offer them a personalized, exclusive experience.
Understanding the Fitness App Development Process
Do you find it difficult to absorb so much information at once? You’ve made it this far. We don’t wish for you to miss important information or make mistakes you will regret in the future. We can only advise you to continue reading.
Many clients have made rash decisions and started the development process before they were fully informed, only to find themselves stuck in the middle. Understanding the development process is important when you are looking for fitness app development services.
The process of developing a fitness application is similar to that of any other mobile app, except for a small difference in the industrial concept. Many companies also prefer to develop an MVP (Minimum-Visible Product) to make sure that everything is going well.
In one of our earlier blogs, we discussed the process of developing a mobile app in great detail. For now, let’s just give you a brief overview of the process, along with a few additional steps to help you monetize your app and expand it in the future.
Here are a few key steps to building a fitness application:
Step 1: Analyze the App Idea and other Requirements
Fitness apps are widely available. Before you start developing your app, it’s important to do thorough research and analyze the idea. This step will require you to classify your app in the industry and determine what it can do for users. In addition to deciding on the goal of your app, you will also need to determine which platforms are compatible. Then, you will need to hire developers.
Step 2: Finalize your fitness app’s features
You should have a good idea of what you need to do now. Sort your ideas and decide on the essential features to complete your app. Features of an app can be divided into three general categories:
- Fitness essentials: What you need to know
- Specifications of the app
- They give you a competitive advantage
Using this classification, choose the most appropriate ones for your app.
Step 3: Select a Monetization Technique
You might develop a fitness application to support an existing gym or brand. You can earn revenue in many ways.
In-App Purchases
You could sell fitness equipment through your app. However, a custom-made fitness app development offers more in-app options, such as special workouts and tutorials from celebrities.
Freemium Model
This model is based on a ‘try-before-you-buy’ concept. The model allows users to use the premium features for a limited period. If the users wish to access these premium features in the future, they can buy a plan.
Model Ads-Based
In-app advertisements are another way to monetize your app. Ensure that the ads you show are relevant for your users, and don’t irritate them.
Partnerships and sponsors
You can collaborate with sports brands, celebrities, and gyms by creating flawless fitness app development. This would be a great card to have for your business and could bring you some amazing results.
Step 4: Design the UX and UI of your App
This step has all to do with the appearance and feel of your fitness app. Be sure that the designers do market research and then share the best designs of your fitness app. It’s important to keep users engaged. A design should be attractive, yet simple and easy to use.
Step 5: Mobile App Development (Coding)
Now that you have a mobile app developer, it’s time for the real work. You will need to discuss the technology that you want to use with your team. The developers who have the relevant skills can then start to code the app.
You do not want your users to be inconvenienced by a slow-loading application that contains bugs and glitches. Make sure that the company also offers a quality analysis. Before launching an app, it must be thoroughly tested.
Step 6: Launch the App and analyze its performance
Launching the app will be possible once it has been fully developed, tested, and free of bugs and errors. It’s important to evaluate the performance of the app at this stage. Be sure to ask for feedback from users and update the app accordingly. Be sure to discuss all of these issues with your partner before you start.
Step 7: Integrating your App with Wearable Devices
Wearable devices are a great way to ensure that your audience has easy access to your fitness app. This is one of the most effective ways to keep users engaged with your application.
If you are focusing on the user experience and accessibility, then integration with wearables will likely play a significant role. Wearables are a growing market, so you should not ignore this.
We did not mention the cost of developing an app in this discussion. It’s a very important question and clients want an exact answer. However, it is difficult to estimate the cost of developing a fitness application or any other app. Many factors will affect your expenses. The technologies used, the time taken to develop, and any updates made after development are all factors that can affect your expenses. It’s essential to discuss the details of your project with your developer to determine the cost.
Artoon Solutions offers fitness app development
Artoon Solutions has a team of over 350 IT experts, including designers, developers, and quality analysts, who work together to deliver reliable tech solutions. In the 14+ years we’ve been thriving in this business, we’ve served over 1500 clients from 50+ countries, with 100% customer satisfaction.
We are the fitness app developers you can trust. We will discuss your project and provide the best solution based on your needs and budget. Please feel free to contact us for any questions or services.
