Getting fit on your bike? Bicycle tracking app Cyclemeter (for iPhone) collects a wealth of data about your bicycle ride, such as distance, route, time, and speed. It's very accurate, contains several well thought out features, and appeals to fitness enthusiasts who participate in more than one sport. In other words, you can use Cyclemeter for running, walking, and other activities, too. If you prefer to have a separate app for running, the same company makes an app called Runmeter, which is just as good. Either way, this is a great app to motivate you to keep riding, running, and staying active overall.

Available on: iPhone


Runtastic PRO

Don't be fooled by Runtastic's name. The Runtastic PRO app tracks much more than just running. It can also measure hiking, skiing, kayaking, and other sports. This app spits out a wealth of information about your activities and routes, and you can use it to train as well, with voice feedback offered to help keep you motivated.

Available on: Android, BlackBerry, iOS, Windows Phone


Map My Fitness/Map My Run/Map My Ride+

Most tech-connected bicycle nerds have heard of the iPhone app Map My Ride+ ($2.99; limited free version also available), made by the same company that developed the equally well-known Map My Run and more general Map My Fitness. All the apps offer the same core experience. They track your route during activity via GPS, and show you on a map where you went after you're done. It also displays length, in both time and distance, as well as pace, maximum speed, and a few other statistics. The Map My series of apps has a wonderful online community of people who share their routes, so if you're in a new college town and don't know the trails, it's a great source to figure out safe and challenges outdoor places to run, walk, and cycle.

Available on: Android, BlackBerry, iOS


The free Fitbit app is really meant to be used with the Fitbit line of products—such as Fitbit One which tracks your daily activity and sleep, and Fitbit Aria Wi-Fi Smart Scale for automatically tracking your weight—but you don't have to. Whether you use the gadgets or not, the Fitbit app is a great tool for keeping vigilant on your food intake, water consumption, sleep habits, and activity. It has additional tools for recording your blood pressure, heart rate, glucose levels, and other metrics if they are important to your overall health and diet. It's also good to know that Fitbit can connect to MyFitnessPal and Lose It!, so if you like tracking food better in one of those apps than in Fitbit (and you might), then you can continue using it and have the data automatically ported into your Fitbit account.

Available on: Android, iOS, Web



If you're flirting with buying an expensive fitness tracker, such as the Withings Pulse or Fitbit Flex, but aren't yet sold on the concept, try the iPhone app Argus. It tracks your daily steps and miles traveled at zero cost to you … except your iPhone's battery, which drains quickly because the app runs the GPS in the background all day long. The app reminds you to drink water throughout the day and helps you log other fitness factors, too.

Available on: iPhone