Some people (mistakenly) think that yoga is just glorified stretching. However, it's really a moving meditation focused on increasing flexibility, strength, and centering yourself in the process. It’s a true mind, body, and spirit connection, which we could all use a little bit more of these days.
Yoga apps allow you to bring the studio home with you (and avoid the small spaces and seasoned show-offs in the process). To help you create your own digital yoga studio right in your home, we’ve rounded up our favorite apps, which range from yoga services that provide a safe, inclusive space to classes for HIIT-loving yogis. All you need is a mat, some space, and an open mind. The zen and pose-perfecting will come with time.
The 6 Best Yoga Apps of 2023
- Best Overall: Glo
- Best for Casual Yogis: Find What Feels Good
- Best for New Yogis: Yoga for Beginners
- Best for Inclusivity: The Underbelly
- Best for Spirituality: Gaia
- Best for Breaking a Sweat: Asana Rebel
Best Overall: Glo
Why We Chose It: Users point to the detailed instruction and quality of the classes as reasons they love it, and it’s a great option for yogis of all levels.
What We Like
- Curates classes and teachers to fit your needs
- A wide range of courses offered
- Good for all levels
What We Don’t Like
- The cost can be a deterrent
- Can sometimes be buggy and slow to load
Glo is a combined yoga, meditation, and Pilates program that focuses on improving the mind and body.
Once you sign up, the app asks you a series of questions to determine your skill level, what you’re looking for (be it prenatal, energy, focus, productivity, back care, or the basics), and what kind of teacher you prefer (challenging, non-traditional, and so on), and then helps you design your unique practice. The app is meant to “meet you where you are.”
There are self-guided programs for those who prefer to do their own thing, live group classes where you can practice with others in real-time, as well as hundreds of downloadable ones that you can save to your library and revisit whenever you like. There are also guided programs to help you reach a particular goal, or you can create and curate your own collection.
For $24 per month, you can access more than 4,000 on-demand classes and the program options are wide-ranging.
Best for Casual Yogis: Find What Feels Good
Why We Chose It: Classes are accessible and tailored to your mood and goals, with no added pressure. The classes emphasize the importance of having fun with yoga.
What We Like
- Accessible and approachable
- Range of options
- Fun, often untraditional style
What We Don’t Like
- Might not be intense enough for seasoned yogis
- Some users report technical issues
- Only one instructor
Find What Feels Good mobilizes content from the online library of Yoga With Adriene, which has emerged as one of the go-to platforms for online yoga. The founder and teacher behind the program is "the reigning queen" Adriene Mishler.
Her sessions are approachable, accessible, and sometimes oddly specific (like yoga for chefs or yoga for vulnerability), but the real draw is Mishler herself—she doesn’t take her classes or herself too seriously and truly encourages watchers to tap into the mantra of finding what feels good.
She offers up helpful modifications depending on your level of comfort and often bursts out into song mid-position with a beloved but forgotten ‘90s track. Oh, and the presence of Benji (Mishler’s dog) is always a welcome delight.
You can find hundreds of Adriene's free videos on YouTube, but for those looking to dedicate themselves further to their practice, the app offers up unique practices for $13 per month. And, just as convenient as YouTube, the videos can be downloaded and watched offline. Plus, it provides a better chance to connect with the global community that reaches beyond just the comment section.
Best for New Yogis: Yoga for Beginners
Why We Chose It: Yoga for Beginners isn't pretentious and it provides the added guidance newbies need for learning postures.
What We Like
- A number of easy classes
- Affordable compared to other apps
- Ability to customize your practice
What We Don’t Like
- Talking can sometimes be excessive and distracting
- Could use more variation in poses and routines
If you’re just starting out and don’t know your child’s pose from your crow, then Yoga for Beginners is perfect for you. By providing class options morning, noon, and night, with the choice of long sessions or short, Yoga for Beginners makes yoga accessible to all.
You can expect the app to play soothing music in the background with the addition of helpful voice guidance. And, you can even sync the app with Apple Health so you can keep track of your progress and learn how many calories you burn per session.
A ton of classes are free, and if you want to buy into a subscription, it will only set you back about $3 per month. So, if at some point, you want to roll your mat up for good, you haven't squeezed your budget too much by trying it out. If you decide to stick around, you'll save with a 1-year subscription at $30. Overall, it’s a solid, well-rounded choice for those looking to cultivate a practice who don’t know where to start.
Best for Inclusivity: The Underbelly
Why We Chose It: The Underbelly is a welcoming and inclusive space for all races, genders, and bodies.
What We Like
- Clearly defined sections
- Welcoming and inclusive
- Helpful guided instruction
What We Don’t Like
- No variety of instructors
- Limited amount of content
More often than not, yoga teachers (and class attendees) come in the form of skinny, white women. Not only is that not reflective of the practice's Indian roots, but it also creates an environment that lacks diversity and inclusion.
Created by author and yoga sensation Jessamyn Stanley, who also teaches every class with positivity and grace, The Underbelly has helped to change that image. It’s coined as being “yoga for the rest of us,” and the sessions are rooted in self-love.
Classes are divided into 3 themes: Air, Earth, and Fire. Air classes focus on breathing and connecting that breath to movement; Earth classes give an introduction to the different postures; and Fire classes feature elements that get you moving and create some heat.
As a package, The Underbelly is a safe space for all, but especially those who often feel like they don’t belong. You can test the app out in a 14-day free trial, but otherwise, it costs $10 per month.
Best for Spirituality: Gaia
Why We Chose It: Gaia is a solid option if you're looking to focus more on the mental benefits of yoga, as opposed to the physical ones.
What We Like
- Helps you learn about and understand the roots of yoga
- Abundance of yoga videos to choose from
- Bonus educational videos and films
What We Don’t Like
- Might be too slow for more experienced yogis
- Can be too spiritually focused for some
- Needs improvement with organization
If you’re seeking a more holistic practice, Gaia is great for tapping into your inner zen. For $12 per month or $99 a year, you’ll have access to more than 8,000 videos taught by the best of the best.
Physical activity is definitely incorporated through asanas, or poses, but the app is less about training the body and more about training the mind. With that said, there are a ton of videos and films from spiritual leaders as well as meditation practices to choose from.
Just be forewarned that these classes are not as modern or Western as you might be used to, which will give you a chance to understand the philosophies behind these different practices and, hopefully, help you appreciate them even more. So, come with an open heart and an appetite for some mindfulness.
Best for Breaking a Sweat: Asana Rebel
Why We Chose It: If getting a workout, turning up the heat, and losing weight is what you're looking for in a yoga practice, Asana Rebel is a stellar pick.
What We Like
- Provides a workout that reaches beyond yoga
- Focuses on strengthening
What We Don’t Like
- Not much variety in offerings
- Lack of navigation
- Users have reported glitches
If you’re looking for a chill practice that is primarily centered around meditation and mindfulness, then this isn’t necessarily the app for you. Yes, there are slow, easy flows to choose from, but the bulk of the Asana Rebel app is meant to turn up the heat and help you with strengthening and weight loss.
Asana is the physical practice of yoga poses or simply the physical aspect. Though the program is centered on yoga, it also includes high-intensity moves like planks, push-ups, and squats. And, depending on how much time you have, class lengths range from 5 to 60 minutes. Along with customized workouts, the app offers nutritional plans, recipes, and sleep sounds, all meant to help promote well-rounded health.
If you’re looking to break a sweat, sharpen your mind and body, and really amp up and diversify your yoga practice, this is a great option. You have to sign up to be quoted a price, which is about about $30 for a year subscription, or $16 if you pay month- to-month.
Final Verdict
Final Verdict
There are hundreds of yoga apps on the market, with many offering similar classes. We tried to focus on services that not only provide an assortment of classes for every level and personal preference but also offer up something unique. Asana Rebel is for the HIIT-loving yogi while Yoga for Beginners is much more chill. Most include a number of classes to choose from, while others go the extra mile and allow you to customize your own workout and tailor your practice to your needs and skill level. A majority of the apps offer a more modern approach to yoga, which will appeals to beginners or younger generations, while Gaia is rooted in tradition, which might be more preferable for someone more experienced. A big part of the yoga experience is the teacher since this can be the difference between loving and hating a class. Those who prefer to shop around for a favorite might have better luck with apps that have multiple instructors, like Glo or Asana Rebel, versus ones with a dedicated leader like Yoga With Adriene or The Underbelly.
What Are Yoga Apps?
Yoga apps are portable programs that allow you to practice on-the-go, anytime, and anywhere. Regular yoga practice is said to improve heart health, decrease anxiety, and reduce inflammation. And, sessions often include a meditation component which helps to relax and calm your mind.
How Much Do Yoga Apps Cost?
Prices vary depending on the app and what’s offered. Prices can range from $3 per month (like Yoga for Beginners) to around $99 per year (like Gaia). Many apps include a free trial, which allows you to try out classes for a few of days before the app starts charging you.
Who Would Benefit From a Yoga App?
Anyone looking for a little zen in their life would benefit from the practice of yoga and having access to it anywhere via an app. Whether you’re just starting out or looking to deepen your practice, there’s an option for every level.
How We Chose the Best Yoga Apps
Yoga apps were reviewed based on a variety of factors, including the number and range of class options, the quality of the content, and the overall presentation, while considering the searchability, organization, and functionality of the app. Pricing and user reviews were also taken into consideration.
The Underbelly was recognized for its inclusion and focus on body positivity. Gaia stood out for its unique traditional, spiritual, and holistic approach. Find What Feels Good was included for the range of classes available and Adriene Mishler’s light-hearted teaching style. Asana Rebel stood out for its commitment to strengthening both the body and mind. Yoga for Beginners is the best at what it does: making yoga easy and affordable for those new to the practice. Glo took home the title of best overall for its ease of navigation, variety of classes for varying levels, and ability to customize your practice. We also loved that it was one of the most recommended and highest-rated apps of the bunch.