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Home › Pay › Common problems › Fitness and diet apps
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Fitness and diet apps

Fitness and diet apps can help you stay on track, but many use long sign-up quizzes that end with a paid plan already selected. Some bill a full year up front after a short trial. Your phone may already count steps and track activity for free, and government nutrition tools are free too. Here is how to spot the common traps and try free options first.

Common problems to watch for

  • A long quiz about your goals that ends with a paywall
  • Trials that convert to a full year billed at once
  • Personalized plans that are mostly generic advice
  • Prices shown 'per day' or 'per week' to seem smaller
  • Cancellation only possible on the company's website, not in the app

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Free and low-cost alternatives

iPhone Health and Fitness appsiPhones include the Health app, which counts steps, and the Fitness app, which can track daily activity goals without an Apple Watch.
Your Android phone's health appMany Android phones come with a free health or step-counting app from the phone maker. Check your apps list before downloading another.
Start Simple with MyPlateThe USDA's free Start Simple with MyPlate app offers simple daily food goals. MyPlate.gov also has free recipes and nutrition tips.
Your public libraryMany libraries lend exercise DVDs and offer free streaming or classes. Ask your local library what is available with your card.

Availability depends on your device and model. AblePro has no relationship with any company named here.

What fair pricing looks like

Basic step counting and activity tracking are commonly free on phones. Paid plans may add coaching or workout videos; a monthly option you can cancel easily is usually safer than a large yearly charge up front.

Before you pay

  • Check what your phone's built-in health app already tracks
  • Look at the plan selected on the paywall before tapping 'Continue'
  • Find out if the trial converts to monthly or yearly billing
  • Read how to cancel and whether it's in-app or on a website
  • Talk with your doctor before following a paid diet plan

How to cancel

  1. On iPhone, open Settings, tap your name, then Subscriptions, and cancel there. Deleting the app does not cancel it.
  2. On Android, open Google Play, tap your profile picture, then Payments & subscriptions, then Subscriptions, and cancel.
  3. If you signed up on the company's website, cancel in your online account there; deleting the app does nothing.
  4. Set a calendar reminder a few days before any trial ends so you can decide in time.

Step-by-step cancel guide for iPhone, Android and PayPal →

Common questions

Do I need a paid app to count my steps?

No. iPhones count steps in the built-in Health app, and many Android phones include a free health app from the phone maker. These apps can also show trends over time. A paid app may add coaching or classes, but basic step counts and activity tracking are already on most phones.

I only did the quiz. Why was I charged?

Some apps end their sign-up quiz with a screen where a trial or paid plan is already selected, and tapping 'Continue' may start it. Check your App Store or Google Play subscriptions, or the company's website account, to see what's active. Cancel there, and ask the store about a refund if the charge was unexpected.

Are there free, trustworthy nutrition tools?

Yes. The USDA's MyPlate.gov website and its free Start Simple with MyPlate app offer food group guidance, simple goals and recipes. Your doctor, a registered dietitian, or your local extension office can also point you to reliable advice. Be cautious of apps promising fast results.

General consumer information, not legal or financial advice. Reports reflect the experiences and opinions of their writers, not AblePro, Inc. We check reports against our posting rules but do not verify them.