Is there a business case for building a fitness app in 2022? How much does it cost to make a fitness app? What is the target audience for modern fitness apps? How to create a fitness app and be successful? Why are fitness apps still popular?
The pandemic has changed the world. People now understand that health is a priority and needs to be cared for every day, not just when you or your family are already in the hospital. Users downloaded health and fitness apps 593 million times in the first quarter of 2020.
Polaris Market Research states that the market for fitness apps will grow by 20% a year for the next five years, and revenues from such apps will grow by 5% a year. That is why it is now worthwhile to create your own application. In this article, we will look at the steps and nuances of this process.
Fitness application type
First, you need to understand the type of fitness application. This will help determine the concept, design, and functionality. There are usually three categories:
For training. Sworkit acts as a kind of personal trainer, makes a workout program, keeps track of what exercises have already been done, together with him set goals and objectives, and where to find videos of experts plus real step-by-step instructions for each exercise. For example, going to the site, you specify the type of workout (strength, cardio or stretching), the time and workout, the goals you would like to achieve in that time.
To track activity. Count physical activity for the day or for a specific period of time: number of steps, stairs, sleep time, speed when running, calories burned, and more. Integrating phone functions (GPS, gyroscope) and fitness tracker (Apple Watch, Fitbit, Xiaomi Mi Band). The apps can track physical activity and develop customized workouts based on the user’s goals and preferences. An example of such an app is Fitbod, with built-in artificial intelligence.
For diet and nutrition. These apps help you track your diet, monitor your weight and your exercise levels and encourage you to eat healthily and exercise. They track what you eat and how active you are, and the app’s trackers help you meet food and exercise goals. More sophisticated diet and nutrition apps, like GrowFit, allow you to communicate with professionals in human nutrition and health. They can direct you to nutritional guidance from them, such as meal plans and recommendations about what to eat.
Main functions of the fitness app
Basic features are present in almost all fitness apps, regardless of their type or niche. Features such as registration, profiles, social media integration, notifications, goal setting, scheduling, workout log, recommendations, geolocation, and so on. And they’re usually created using a standard template, so users immediately understand what to do and how to do it.
Some types of fitness apps may have additional features as well, such as yoga or meditation apps, weight loss apps, and traffic apps. Here are a few of the most popular:
Activity tracking. Typically, this utilizes the HealthKit API, Apple Heartbeat, and Google Fit to get health-related data.
Educational content. Content that will help you understand the mechanics or technique of performing exercises, nutrition and principles of good nutrition, exercise regimens and the difference between types and types of physical activity
Voice control. A feature that helps you control the app without unlocking the screen or opening the app again
Calorie counting. Users often use calorie counting apps to regulate the weight loss, muscle building process. To do this, you have to count calories burned and calories consumed. It would be cool to do this for the user
Integration with AR. In the not-too-distant future, this will be a very popular thing. People will be able to go to the gym without leaving home. And your app could be the first on the list of those.
Music online. The music function can be built into your app immediately. It will be convenient for the user to have everything at their fingertips.
Monetizing fitness apps
Workouts can be obtained from fitness apps in a multitude of ways. Apps like Fitbit Coach, which offers ongoing personal training sessions, allow for $80 a year. Others include Fitocracy, which offers a real personal trainer, customized workout and meal plans for $1 a day, and Pact, which charges for skipping a workout. Other apps offer a separate brand or operate as retailers.
All of these and other ways can be boiled down to five monetization models:
Freemium model. You get the basic functionality of the app for free, but you have to pay extra for additional or premium features. The most common way is to disable advertising and maximize customization of the training process: personal trainer, diet, and workouts.
Paid apps.The user has to buy the app or subscribe to get access to the functionalities. In this case the user is usually given a trial period so that he can get acquainted with the features, evaluate them, get used to them and get attached to the fitness service.
Ads. In the app, you can sell advertising banners to other brands. Everyone will be happy and get their own benefit: you will earn on advertising, users will get a free app, and brands will get recognition and sales.
In-app purchases. It can be goods or services ranging from clothing to consultations of highly specialized professionals trainers or even doctors
Third-party integrations. Usually, these are partnerships with apps or food delivery sites, fitness centers, gyms, spas, or cab services.
How much does it cost to make a fitness app?
Perpet.io’s MDP development cost for a simple fitness app is $21,000, regardless of whether the fitness app refers to Android or iOS. However, the cost of a more advanced mobile fitness app starts at $76,000 and the development time increases from 3 – 6 months to one year.
Results
Create a new fitness app. Perpet.io can help create an extremely valuable app for you. We can work with you to develop a prototype in a few weeks and then start working on the final version of the app
