Best YouTube Channels to Check Out Free Workouts in 2026


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Heidi Phillips

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Heidi Phillips Contributor at CNET

Heidi Phillips is a freelance lifestyle writer based in New York. Although she doesn’t write about topics like living on a budget and city living tips, she can usually be found at a concert or sightseeing in a new city. Over the past 10 years, her bylines have appeared in a number of publications, including POPSUGAR, Hunker, and more.

If you want to get some movement throughout the day but don’t want to commit to a gym membership or… Fitness appThere are a lot of alternatives. Some people like to start their fitness journey by exploring YouTube-based workouts.

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Whether you’re taking your first steps into fitness or looking to keep your daily routine fresh, YouTube fitness channels provide everything you need to stay motivated and active wherever you are.

What is the best free workout channel on YouTube overall?

The best free YouTube channel you can use to work out at home is PS Fit, formerly known as Popsugar Fitness. The channel offers a range of exercises and difficulty levels. With hundreds of exercises to choose from, PS Fit has something for beginners, pros, and everyone in between.

The best YouTube channels for free training

PS Fit (formerly Popsugar Fitness) has a little bit of everything. On this YouTube channel, run by Popsugar (or PS now, with a rebrand), you’ll find cardio, weight training, dance, barre, HIIT and everything in between. Classes come in different lengths, so you can choose what suits the amount of time you have to work out at home. There are also plenty of difficulty levels to choose from, so if you want to try yoga and haven’t done it before, you can choose a beginner’s yoga class and work your way up to becoming a pro. There are hundreds of exercises to choose from, and you can sort them by the exercise or trainer you want. You can also take on a formatted challenge, like the 5-Day Full-Body Blast.

Personal trainer Heather Robertson offers a variety of HIIT exercises on her channel to get you moving. She specializes in workouts that require no equipment and can be done in any amount of time you have. Workouts range in length from 10 minutes, and are designed for a variety of skill levels and muscle groups. I’ve also designed several series and calendars to help you stick to your muscle groups’ workout schedule evenly and effectively.

Gus and Toya have everything you need to do your own weight training at home. In this channel you will find playlists by muscle group and equipment, so you can specifically choose a series of exercises using the weights you have available. These training videos range widely in length from 10 minutes to 30 minutes, and are easy to follow for a variety of skill levels. They also offer modifications if you want to go easier on any section of the exercise.

Sydney Cummings Houdyshell is a YouTube fitness legend. Her videos cover a large number of exercises that focus on working every muscle group in your body, but we recommend them, especially for dumbbell exercises. Sydney is a former track and field high jumper, but her workouts are extensive, and the channel has a ton of videos involving dumbbells, from standard usage to some creative ways to incorporate dumbbells into your workout routine. They also post new exercises regularly, which means that even if you don’t find enough exercises to suit your style from over 2,000 videos, you’ll likely find one in the most recent uploads.

Dance workouts at Fitness Marshall are about more than just shaking your butt. These full-body exercises are designed to raise your heart rate and work all your muscles at the same time. These workouts are set to all kinds of popular songs, and they’re fast, so you can do one, two, or 10 reps, depending on how long you want to sweat it out. Fitness Marshall offers longer 30 or 60 minute workout videos as well.

Move with Nicole offers a ton of Pilates exercises that can be done at home using just a mat. It has something to suit you whether you want to work out for 20 or 60 minutes. You can also find guided workout plans to get you through an entire month. If you’ve never done Pilates before, don’t worry. Nicole also offers beginner videos to help you understand the exercise before diving into anything advanced.

Yoga with Adrienne welcomes practitioners of all skill levels. I’ve created yoga playlists and plans to match your skill levels, goals, and time. You can choose a 10-minute yoga practice, guided meditation, or a yoga basics class to teach you what the workout is all about. This is a great way to start your day – doing 10 minutes of yoga can help you focus before starting the work day.

Pamela Reeve offers a little bit of everything, especially exercise that gets your heart going. There are plenty of quick 10-minute workouts (but you’ll also find longer ones), including dance and full-body exercises. There are playlists organized by workout type so you can jump right to what you’re looking for, and Reif also hosts live-streamed workouts if you want to work out with her in real time.

Global Cycling Network will give you all the tools you need to become a professional cyclist. In this channel you will find cycling tips, exercises to improve your cycling skills, and stationary bike exercises. GCN is an all-in-one channel for cyclists and also includes entertainment – you can watch top cyclists riding different terrains and get inspired to get on your bike and go too.

If you’re looking for a workout that effectively makes you sweat but without being too hard on your body, try Body Project. In this channel you will find low-impact exercises that are gentle on your joints but keep your body moving. The workouts are usually 25 to 30 minutes long and show you how to burn fat without tearing up your joints and muscles too much.

Thenx has many workouts that target specific muscle groups and your entire body. Ideal for working out at home, these workouts start at just 5 minutes – giving you no excuse to stop trying. Chris Herria will show you how to work your muscles from the comfort of your own home, using your body weight, furniture, and the floor as needed.

Studio by Jamie Kinkeade is perfect for anyone who wants to dance. Here you’ll find different types of dance, from barre dances to HIIT cardio sets and even some of your favorite songs. You can find single song workouts or entire classes set to a playlist. Plus, Kinkeade offers live-streamed workouts, so you can dance along in real time, and on-demand workouts to save for later.

Which YouTuber has the best workouts?

Our top pick for the best YouTube channel for workouts is Valid note (formerly known as PopSugar Fitness). It offers hundreds of workouts in different styles and difficulty levels, including cardio, weight training, dance, barre, and HIIT. We’ve also listed other options if PS Fit isn’t your style.

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Do 20-minute workouts really work?

Yes, 20-minute workouts can be effective if you do them with the right intensity and consistency. A 2023 UK study It showed that exercising for 20 minutes a day can reduce the chances of developing heart disease, cancer and diabetes. Short, focused exercise can improve cardiovascular fitness, build strength and burn calories, especially if you incorporate high-intensity intervals.

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Does YouTube have free exercises?

Yes, YouTube has a ton of free workout channels covering everything from yoga and Pilates to HIIT and weight training. We’ve only selected the top 12 channels that provide free, high-quality training content, but there are countless others.

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What is the best free workout program?

If you are looking for the best workout channel, we recommend PS Fit and others mentioned above. If you need an app, we recommend Nike Training Club as our app choice Best workout apps You can use it on your fitness journey.

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Do home exercise programs work?

Yes, home workouts can be very effective in achieving fitness goals, especially when combined with guided, video-based exercises. Our top recommendation for at-home workouts, THINX, is an excellent choice for a full-body workout starting in 5 minutes.

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The information in this article is for educational and informational purposes only and is not intended to provide health or medical advice. Always consult a physician or other qualified health provider with any questions you may have about a medical condition or health goals.



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