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‘I Tried the Ladder Fitness App for 30 Days-Here's My Honest Review'

By Alexa Mellardo Parade - Health Stories

Updated June 6, 2026 2:30 PM

One of the most common struggles home workout enthusiasts face is finding a fitness app that actually keeps them motivated and yields real results. Home workouts come with plenty of benefits. You can ditch the pricey gym membership and feel completely at ease exercising in your own private environment. But without a diligent routine or a process that holds you accountable, it's too easy to push workouts off until later-and you may end up skipping them altogether. Ugh. As someone who works from home and works out at home, I know that struggle all too well.

There are so many days when I wake up feeling motivated to tackle a brand-new day, brew my cup of joe, open up my laptop and then get completely immersed in emails and deadlines. Before I know it, it's already 4 p.m. and time to start preparing an early dinner-and then pick my husband up from the train.

My busy routine is exactly why I was so eager to try the Ladder app. I'd seen so many videos of Ladder coaches promoting it on TikTok and wanted to find out if it lived up to the hype. The brand also recently partnered with one of my favorite celebs, Hilary Duff, to help women improve their strength game. The "Hilary Duff Trains on Ladder" campaign is the brand's very first celebrity partnership and comes at the ideal time when many women are trading in classic treadmill workouts for weight-lifting routines to build strong, healthy bodies.

Ladder has received many rave reviews from customers. One user rated the app as life-changing and wrote, "I've had in-person personal trainers in the past, but this is even better! The app is super easy to use, the workouts are challenging and change every day, and every Sunday new workouts drop so you can plan your whole week!"

I tested the Ladder app for 30 days-here's how it went.

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What To Know About the Ladder App

If you're curious about the Ladder app, I'll take you through my experience signing up and testing out the app so you can see if it's the right fit for you and your needs.

Signing up involves a series of questions, which ultimately helps Ladder curate the best plan for you. It's based on your main fitness goal, how many workouts you typically do per week, your strength training experience, how often you lift weights and whether you fall into beginner, intermediate or advanced level.

You can choose up to three exercise preferences, from bodybuilding to kettlebell training to functional training. I chose yoga, Pilates and strength/conditioning workouts.

The next step is to choose the type of equipment you'd like to train with, taking into consideration what you have at home. I selected dumbbells, resistance bands and bodyweight exercises, but basically every type of equipment is listed.

The app then compiles the perfect training plan-and pairs you with a coach-based on your goals and preferences. Ladder recommends up to three "teams," which are coaches and programs inspired by your responses.

I was matched up with Coach Maia, who is a strength and Pilates instructor, and Apple Watch users can easily check performance stats right from their device.

Ladder Fitness App Review: My Honest Thoughts

I wanted to be realistic with my capabilities and not over-extend myself. Because of this, I aimed for three workouts per week during my test period. In this way, I was able to make my routine sustainable. I think this is truly essential in any fitness regimen, because if something isn't seamless to keep up with, it's all too easy to quit. (I surprised myself one day and felt motivated to even fit in another session without pressure!)

It's flexible

The Ladder app's flexibility makes it a perfect fit for my ever-changing but always-busy workload. It's so convenient to leave my home office and hit up my home gym for a 30-minute session, depending on what time of each day works best for me.

Plus, Ladder genuinely makes me feel like I'm achieving real results, whereas many other fitness apps I've tried leave me feeling like I'm simply going through the motions without knowing whether they're helping or not.

It serves as a great accountability partner

Another appealing aspect that's basically a necessity is that Ladder holds me accountable. It sends me push notifications so I don't forget to work out or put it off altogether. It's like your best friend/workout pal who you love to hate. Without them, you might not get the job done!

It doesn't feel completely antisocial

One of the things I miss most about going to the gym is the social aspect. It's a great way to engage with other like-minded fitness enthusiasts. That said, I really appreciate the convenience of training in my own private space.

The presence of an on-screen coach on the Ladder app makes me feel like I have a workout buddy. My coach is virtually in the room with me, guiding each movement.

It takes any guesswork out of the equation

Designing your own workouts at home can be quite overwhelming. With Ladder, there's no guesswork involved or time wasted. Each workout is put together to achieve results and best suit your time parameters and needs. All you have to do is show up and follow your coach's instructions. All of your energy is put into your workout-the app does the rest.

It's easy to make changes

If you'd like to try something different, it's easy to switch teams. This means testing out another coach or training modality that better fits what you're looking for. This is a refreshing switch-up from the gym, where it may be difficult or feel awkward to switch classes or instructors/trainers you simply aren't vibing with.

It's cost-effective

Who doesn't love a fitness app that offers a seven-day free trial? It's a good way to see if it will work for you. If it does, Ladder offers several packages to choose from, starting as low as $14.99 per month with an annual rate of $179.99-much more cost-effective than a gym membership.

It helped me build strength

I'm not the type of workout enthusiast who enjoys lifting heavy kettlebells and barbells in the weight room. I much prefer working with resistance bands, lighter free weights and my own body weight in order to get results-in the comfort of my own home. Ladder helps me do exactly that without feeling the pressure to work with heavier equipment. (That said, if you prefer heavy lifting, you can absolutely go that route! The app is very tailored to your personal goals.)

One of my main fitness goals this year is to build strength and sculpt lean muscle tone, and I feel Ladder is helping me work toward that-on my own terms. Even after my 30-day trial, I felt noticeably stronger than I did before starting, which makes me feel inspired and motivated to keep going and see where this can really take me.

Ladder App Pricing Structure

Here's what to know about pricing. You can kick things off with a seven-day free trial with no payment information collected until after you complete the trial. From there, if the app seems like the right fit for you, Ladder offers a monthly Pro Plan ($29.99/month), which includes access to one Ladder team, with the ability to change two times per month.

The other membership is an annual Pro Plan, which is discounted at $14.99/month ($179.99 for the whole year). It grants you access to all Ladder teams and workouts with unlimited team changes each month.

Ladder vs. Other Fitness Apps

For comparison, workout apps with a coaching/personal trainer element typically range from free (like the Caliber Strength Training app) to $119.99 per year (like the SHRED app) and $199 per month, after one month free (like the Future App, which connects you with an expert fitness coach for one-on-one sessions).

Ladder's free trial allows you to test out all of the features before committing. What sets Ladder apart from many other fitness apps is it really feels personalized and high-quality, like you're working with a trainer from the comfort of your own home-without breaking the bank.

While you may not have in-person time with them, your Ladder coach is virtually always in your ear every step of the way, guiding you through each pre-recorded session and sending reminders to help keep you on track.

Final Takeaways

During the warmer months, I love bringing my workouts outdoors. This means taking a brisk morning and post-dinner walk, hiking and bike riding.

While I may not continue to use it as much this summer, I think Ladder will be a perfect fit for me during the rest of the year, when I don't look forward to braving the cooler temps and leaving my house if I don't have to.

Luckily, I have a variety of fitness equipment easily accessible at home, so I'm able to simply sign up for an app like this and get started!

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This story was originally published June 6, 2026 at 2:25 PM.