The 10 Best Free Health Apps for iPhone and Apple Watch Users

While you know it's crucial to pursue a healthy lifestyle to the best of your ability, it's not always easy.One of the major obstacles to taking care of your physical and mental health is cost.If you invest in a smartwatch and phone and then subscribe to various apps and programs, the costs can quickly add up.

Fortunately, there are some great solutions for Apple Watch and iPhone users.We take a look at apps that go a step further than free trials or limited functionality and give you huge health and well-being features for free.

About Fitness and Nutrition

There are several iOS and watchOS apps for fitness and nutrition, which you'll find below.

1. AppleFitness

If you're an Apple Watch or iPhone user, the tools Apple offers on your device are just right for you. AppleFitnessis an excellent tool and should be your first choice for your workout needs.

Make sure you're familiar with how to turn off your Apple Watch Activity Ring every day.These iconic colored rings track your movement, workouts and standing patterns throughout the day.See your progress at a glance on the face of your Apple Watch or in the Fitness app on your iPhone.You can also track your trends over time.

Use the Apple Health app withAppleFitnessLogging and tracking together can affect your health.

2. Simply Yoga

While there are several excellent yoga subscription apps that can help you practice this holistic activity,Simply YogaWill let you exercise for free.While there are subscription options, there's a ton of free content here.

Choose from classic routines or the latest routines, choose a time from 20 to 60 minutes, and you're ready to start right away.The routines are clearly demonstrated and explained, although they do develop at a fairly rapid pace.

Download: Simply Yoga (Free, with in-app purchases)

3. MyFitnessPal

MyFitnessPal is one of many great fitness apps for iOS and Android users.It is one of the leading all-in-one fitness and nutrition apps.You can use its vast food database to track your nutrient intake and create meal plans to eat healthily.You can also set fitness goals for yourself, use built-in workouts, and track your progress.

The app syncs with your Apple Watch, as well as more than 30 other apps and fitness devices, so you can switch off those activity rings on your own terms each day.

Subscribe to be ad-free and get enhanced nutrition tracking.

Download: MyFitnessPal (Free, subscription available)

for mindfulness and meditation

There are also several apps on iOS and Apple Watch that can help you improve your mental health.

4. Mindfulness

If you have an Apple Watch, look for the white flower on the turquoise icon.This is the "Mindfulness" feature, perfect for taking a moment to reflect or focus on your breath.

Select the "Reflect" option to see a thoughtful phrase that prompts you to immerse yourself in the positive aspects of your life, then enjoy a beautiful animation that fills your screen.Or, select "Breathe" to instantly access a short breathing exercise with animated instructions.

You can vary the duration of your practice and schedule notifications to make sure you don't forget to do the essential mindfulness practice each day.

5. Aloe Bud

Aloe BudDescribes itself as your "self-care pocket companion" designed to gently remind you to manage your health throughout the day.The free app uses push notifications to remind you to breathe, stay hydrated, take a moment to think, or connect with loved ones.With 11 categories to choose from, the Aloe Bud is so much more than just a great mind tool.

Upgrade for unlimited access to all features.

Download: Aloe Bud (Free, subscription available)

6.Insight Timer

Insight Timer offers a truly comprehensive set of features to help you meditate, practice mindfulness, and relax for sleep.With thousands of guided meditations and content added daily, you're sure to find the perfect resource for your needs.

To help you fall asleep, Insight Timer offers music, sleep meditations, soundscapes and bedtime stories.

Classes, live lectures, and guidance from leading meditation teachers are also available, though some features require a subscription.And you can join the global Insight Timer community through the app.

Download: Insight Timer (Free, subscription available)

7. Stoic

Stoic is a popular mental health tracking app.It offers more than 300 million users an easy way to log their emotions and gain access to exercise to improve their well-being. Stoic encourages you to check in twice a day and answer some questions to help you gain a better perspective on your situation.

Journaling, breathing exercises, meditation, and visualization can all help support your sense of well-being.In many applications, these tools are only available by subscription. Stoic provides these tools for free.Everything syncs perfectly with Apple Health, and your journal entries are safely stored in your personal iCloud storage.

Download: stoic (Free, with in-app purchases)

8.Gratitude

Gratitude is a free app that will provide affirmations and also allow you to journal and create a mood board to reflect your goals.

Affirmative sentences are well presented, including a series of sayings by Louise-Hay.There is also a child section if you want to practice gratitude as a family.

Get daily inspiration from the "Daily Zen" section, which includes quotes, articles, and stories that you can share with others.

Subscribe to get all the features, or just enjoy many free elements.

Download: Gratitude (Free, subscription available)

for breathing exercises

Exercising your breathing can also help improve your health, and there are apps that can help in this regard.

9.iBreathe

iBreathe contains a series of easy-to-follow breathing exercises, all displayed on a cool blue screen with prompts to guide you.The minimalist presentation of this free app means there is nothing to distract you from what it does: help you practice guided breathing.This is a great app to accompany the mind, as iBreathe will teach you many classic techniques such as 4-7-8 and box breathing.

Download: iBreathe (free)

10. Lungy

A free alternative to iBreathe is Lungy, which also offers breathing exercises in an app with a very different interface. Lungy responds to your breath as you practice and has beautiful audiovisual displays.So you might find yourself blowing on a dandelion seed or trying to move a pile of blocks while the soothing sound accompanies your experience.The focus is on fun and games.

While there's a lot of free content, you might be tempted to upgrade to Lungy Deluxe to gain full access to its innovative features.

Download: Lungy (free)

Get the most out of your iPhone and Apple Watch's free Health apps

With so many choices in the health and wellness app market, it can be difficult to make an informed choice.Using these free apps will allow you to improve your health without the cost or commitment involved with subscribing to an app.If you've never tried meditation or breathing exercises, you can use these apps to sample them for free.You might even form a new healthy habit that will last a lifetime.