The most-used fitness ecosystem
Why users keep coming back: 3.2x more likely to hit daily step goals when synced with device (2024 Journal of Mobile Health study)
When you open your phone first thing in the morning, what’s the first fitness app you check? For millions of people, it’s not about logging a workout or tracking calories-it’s about seeing that number: daily active users. That number tells you which apps people actually use, not just download. And in the fitness world, one app stands far ahead of the rest.
As of late 2025, Fitbit holds the top spot with an estimated 45 million daily active users globally. That’s more than the combined populations of Australia and New Zealand. It’s not just because Fitbit makes smartwatches-it’s because its app ties everything together. Sleep scores, heart rate trends, step goals, and even stress tracking all sync automatically. People don’t just open it once a week. They check it morning, noon, and night.
Fitbit’s edge comes from its ecosystem. If you wear a Fitbit Charge 6 or Sense 2, the app becomes your health dashboard. It doesn’t ask you to manually log meals or workouts. It just knows. And that’s why users keep coming back. A 2024 study from the Journal of Mobile Health found that users who synced their Fitbit device with the app were 3.2 times more likely to hit their step goal every day compared to those using standalone apps.
Apple Health doesn’t show up on most “top fitness apps” lists-but it should. It’s not a fitness app in the traditional sense. It’s a health hub. And it’s running in the background on over 1.2 billion iPhones worldwide. While Apple doesn’t publish daily active user numbers, third-party analytics firm Sensor Tower estimates that Apple Health has at least 38 million daily active users who actively open or interact with it.
Here’s the catch: Apple Health pulls data from dozens of apps-Fitbit, Strava, MyFitnessPal, even third-party blood pressure monitors. So when someone opens Apple Health to see their weekly activity ring, they’re not using Apple’s own workout tracking. They’re using someone else’s app, but Apple’s system makes it all visible. That’s why it’s the most-used health platform, even if it’s not the most-used fitness app.
If you’re into running or cycling, Strava is probably your go-to. It doesn’t have the broad appeal of Fitbit, but it has something rarer: obsession. Strava has around 28 million daily active users, and nearly 80% of them are active runners or cyclists. Why? Because Strava turns workouts into social events.
Ever seen someone post a “KOM” (King of the Mountain) on Instagram? That’s Strava. The app lets you compete on segments, join challenges, and see how you stack up against friends-even strangers. A 2025 survey from the Running Industry Association showed that 62% of runners who use Strava say they run more often because of the social pressure and motivation from leaderboards. It’s not just tracking. It’s gamification with real-world consequences.
MyFitnessPal used to be the king of calorie tracking. At its peak in 2018, it had over 50 million daily active users. Today, that number has dropped to around 19 million. Why? Because tracking food manually is exhausting. People got tired of scanning barcodes, guessing portion sizes, and logging every snack.
Apple Health and Fitbit now auto-sync nutrition data from smart scales and meal-planning apps. MyFitnessPal still works, but only if you’re willing to put in the work. It’s the app for people who want total control-and the patience to maintain it. For most, it’s become a backup tool, not a daily habit.
Google Fit is everywhere-on Android phones, smartwatches, even some treadmills in gyms. But it’s not used much. Estimates put its daily active users around 12 million. That’s because Google Fit feels like a placeholder. It doesn’t push you. It doesn’t challenge you. It just shows numbers. Without strong integration with wearables or social features, most users open it once and forget it.
There’s one exception: users who pair it with a non-Apple, non-Fitbit wearable. If you’re wearing a Huawei Watch or a Xiaomi band, Google Fit is often the only app that works. But even then, most people switch to third-party apps like Samsung Health or Zepp Life for better visuals and insights.
App stores are full of fitness apps with 10 million downloads. But if only 500,000 people open them each day, they’re not winning. Daily active users tell you what people actually rely on. Fitbit wins because it’s not just an app-it’s a habit. It’s the thing you check when you wake up, after lunch, and before bed. It gives you feedback you can’t ignore: your sleep score dropped, your heart rate spiked, you missed your step goal by 200 steps.
That’s the difference between an app and a companion. The best fitness apps don’t just track. They nudge. They remind. They celebrate. And they make you feel like you’re part of something bigger.
The next big leap isn’t more steps or calories. It’s predictive health. Fitbit is already testing features that warn users of potential illness before symptoms appear, based on overnight heart rate and temperature changes. Apple Health is working with clinics to share anonymized data for early diabetes detection. Strava is using AI to suggest personalized recovery days based on your running patterns.
The apps that will win the next five years won’t be the ones with the fanciest UI. They’ll be the ones that make you feel understood. That know your rhythm. That don’t just ask, “Did you work out?” but “How are you feeling today?”
Right now, Fitbit leads because it’s the most complete package. But the real winner? The one who learns how to listen.
As of late 2025, Fitbit has the most daily active users with an estimated 45 million. It leads because it combines seamless device syncing, automatic tracking, and personalized insights that encourage daily use. Other apps like Apple Health and Strava have large user bases, but Fitbit’s ecosystem keeps users returning every day.
No, Apple Health isn’t a fitness app in the traditional sense-it’s a health data hub. While it doesn’t have its own workout tracking features, it pulls data from dozens of apps, including Fitbit, Strava, and MyFitnessPal. It’s estimated to have 38 million daily active users, making it the most-used health platform, but not the most-used fitness app.
People stop using MyFitnessPal because manual food logging is time-consuming and inaccurate. Tracking every meal, guessing portion sizes, and entering every snack becomes a chore. Modern apps like Fitbit and Apple Health now auto-sync nutrition data from smart scales and meal apps, making manual logging feel outdated. MyFitnessPal still works, but only for users who want total control and don’t mind the effort.
No, Strava has about 28 million daily active users, compared to Fitbit’s 45 million. Strava is more popular among runners and cyclists due to its social features like segment leaderboards and challenges, but it doesn’t have the broad appeal of Fitbit, which serves users focused on sleep, heart rate, and overall wellness-not just workouts.
Using multiple apps can lead to data overload. Most people are better off choosing one primary app that syncs with their device and covers their main goals-like Fitbit for overall health, Strava for running, or Apple Health as a central hub. If you’re serious about tracking, pick one and let it do the heavy lifting. Constantly switching apps creates confusion and reduces consistency.
