Do you want to get fit and don’t feel like a gym membership? There are a growing number of options that allow you to skip this route entirely. This makes a lot of sense as gyms are often expensive and require ongoing commitment to justify paying for membership. In addition, the opening times in fitness studios are becoming more and more sporadic as the coronavirus pandemic progresses.
Fitness services offer a refreshing variation on the workout theme. The recently released Apple Fitness Plus subscription service is taking over the mighty peloton. With the Nike Training Club there is another important player in this fitness arena. Like the others, this is a subscription-based service that has many workouts online but is now completely free.
We’ve already looked at how Apple Fitness Plus fares against Peloton, while getting an overview of the best of both options. Then how can the Nike Training Club Premium stand out from Apple’s similar new service?
Apple Fitness Plus (Image credit: Apple)
Apple Fitness Plus overview
Apple Fitness Plus has a lot going for it, especially if you are a brand lover. You’ll need an Apple Watch to get the most of it, as well as an iPhone, iPad, or Apple TV so you can view the training coaching online.
If you’ve got yourself an Apple Watch recently, the subscription-based service seems pretty good value for money. It costs $ 9.99 / £ 9.99 / AU $ 14.99 per month or $ 79.99 / £ 79.99 / AU $ 119.99 per year. Better still, if you already have the Apple One Premier plan, you can get the service with Family Sharing for $ 29.95 per month.
If you’ve purchased Apple Watch Series 3 or higher since September 15th, you can use the service for three months for free, while existing owners benefit for one month for free.
Apple Fitness Plus (Image credit: Apple)
Nike Training Club overview
Nike’s expertise in making fitness shoes and workout apparel also makes the Training Club an interesting option, especially if you’re a fan of the brand. Crucially, all Nike Training Club workouts, including those that were previously only available to premium members, are now free for Nike members after the company decided a few months ago to forego subscription fees, which is partly due to Covid -19 was due. It used to be a little more expensive than the Apple Fitness Plus package, but if you can’t use the Nike app for anything, you have nothing to lose.
While early adopters have been heard to whine about how this move to Free has resulted in a less exclusive selection of training content, the selection has certainly opened up Nike’s offering to the masses. And since gyms are inaccessible to many because they’re closed or too expensive, the free route is a welcome one.
In terms of workout options, there is a wide variety of Nike Master Trainers to seduce you with HIIT classes, bodyweight sessions, yoga and cardio to bodyweight and full workouts in the gym. The activity aspect is complemented by a selection of supporting functions such as tips on nutrition and wellness guides.
The Nike app, available for iOS or Android, is at the heart of this service. She can track progress as you exercise and keep track of your fitness goals. There’s an air of competitive fun to it too, as milestones you reach are marked with digital badges and trophies. In the meantime, the spectrum of workouts on offer ranges from short 15-minute burst sessions to comprehensive one-hour workouts.
Nike Training Club (Image credit: Nike)
Apple vs. Nike features
These online workouts form the core of both subscription services. Apple Fitness Plus offers a constantly updated set of streamed videos. You can choose from strength, HIIT, yoga, cycling, and treadmill sessions led by a professional trainer. The big advantage is if you are already interested in Apple Music because the integration is seamless and you have access to a mountain of music.
Regarding the statistics, you can monitor important areas like heart rate and calorie consumption. The ring system, which is also integrated into your training, gives the process an additional touch of dynamism and highlights success when you exert yourself more than normal. The only thing is that the workouts are streamed rather than live, which for some might detract from the appeal.
Apple Fitness Plus (Image credit: Apple)
You could perhaps make the same criticism at the Nike Training Club. You’ll find around 100 workouts here, delivered in a streaming format like the Apple model. You’ll need to download the app and then take a primer quiz that is designed to match you to videos that are most appropriate for your current fitness level.
The good thing about it is how you create a plan of action and how your workout goes on. Work your way through a full program and you will be fitter for four to six weeks. Progress is measured as you sweat your way through the various stages. The handy thing with this is that you can request push notifications to make sure you’re sticking to the program.
The concept of Nike also allows you to choose random workouts from the collection if you don’t want to get caught up in a running plan. These come in handy when you want to try something different or focus on specific muscle groups. Due to the strong brand appeal of Nike, there are options that are also inspired by sports heroes such as Cristiano Ronaldo.
Nike Training Club (Image credit: Nike)
Apple versus Nike judgment
Both of these workout options are worth trying, and since the Nike Training Club’s premium workouts are now free, these may be an idea to start with. It doesn’t seem quite as fancy as its Apple counterpart, with a few drawbacks. You have to play around a bit to see it on a TV, for example, although Nike has tons of help getting you through things tech.
The Nike package doesn’t have the same appeal for people who crave audio while exercising. You can play music, but it’s not the seamless experience you get with Apple that has the added benefit of music service to add to its appeal. Some Nike workouts are expected to require you to have a full home fitness kit. Great when you have it, not so hot when you don’t.
Nike Training Club (Image credit: Nike)
Conversely, there are still many workouts that require little hardware apart from a training mat. Investing in some free weights, however, will be a real boon. Ultimately, both Apple Fitness Plus and Nike Training Club are appealing. However, the latter and its simple format that does not require you to part with money make it the first.
For something free, it’s easy to forgive the Nike package for any shortcomings. Either way, the Apple and Nike packages offer a lonely experience. And that’s very different from Peloton, where you can effectively train in a “living” environment. That could prove to be a deal breaker for some fitness fans who only really succeed when they break a sweat in a competitive arena.
