Should My Fitness App Be Free With Ads or Paid With Premium Features?

Choosing the right pricing model for your fitness app is one of the most critical decisions you'll make as a developer. I've worked with countless fitness app creators over the years, and this question comes up in nearly every initial consultation—should we charge upfront or offer the app for free and find other ways to make money? The answer isn't straightforward, and that's exactly why so many developers struggle with this choice.

The fitness app market is incredibly competitive; users have endless options at their fingertips, from simple step counters to comprehensive workout platforms. Your monetisation strategy will directly impact how many people download your app, how long they stick around, and most importantly, how much revenue you can generate. Get it wrong, and you might find yourself with either no users or no income—neither scenario is particularly appealing!

The best pricing model isn't the one that makes the most money immediately; it's the one that builds a sustainable relationship between your app and your users

What makes this decision even trickier is that user expectations around fitness apps have shifted dramatically. People expect a certain level of functionality for free, but they're also willing to pay for premium features that genuinely add value to their fitness journey. The key is understanding where that line sits and how to structure your offering accordingly. Whether you opt for a freemium approach, stick with traditional paid downloads, or explore ad-supported models, each path comes with its own set of challenges and opportunities that we'll explore throughout this guide.

Understanding Different Pricing Models for Fitness Apps

When you're planning a fitness app, one of the biggest decisions you'll face is how to charge for it. There are several different ways to make money from fitness apps, and each one works differently depending on what your app does and who you want to use it.

The most common pricing models fall into four main categories. Free apps with adverts show users promotional content whilst they use the app—think banner ads between workout sets or video ads after completing a session. Paid apps require users to pay upfront before they can download and use the app, usually ranging from 99p to £10 or more. Then there's the freemium model, which gives users basic features for free but charges for premium content like advanced workouts or nutrition plans.

The Four Main Approaches

• Free with advertisements—users see ads whilst using your app
• One-time purchase—users pay once to own the app forever
• Subscription model—users pay monthly or yearly for access
• Freemium—basic features are free, premium features cost extra

Subscription models have become increasingly popular with fitness apps because they provide steady income. Users might pay £4.99 monthly for access to new workouts, meal plans, or personal training features. Some apps combine multiple approaches—offering a free version with ads, plus a premium subscription that removes ads and adds extra features.

The model you choose will depend on several factors: your target audience, the type of content you're offering, and how much ongoing support your app needs. A simple workout timer might work well as a one-time purchase, whilst a comprehensive fitness platform with regular content updates suits a subscription model better.

The Free-with-Ads Approach—Benefits and Drawbacks

The free-with-ads pricing model is probably the most straightforward approach you can take with your fitness app. Users download your app without paying anything upfront, and you make money by showing them advertisements. Sounds simple, right? Well, it is and it isn't.

Let's start with the good stuff. The biggest advantage is that there's no barrier to entry—people can try your app without reaching for their wallet. This means you'll likely see much higher download numbers compared to a paid app. When someone's browsing the app store looking for a new workout routine, they're far more likely to tap "Get" than they are to pay £2.99 for something they've never used before.

The Revenue Reality

Here's where things get interesting. To make decent money from ads, you need lots of users who spend proper time in your app. We're talking about thousands of active daily users, not just downloads. The revenue per user from advertising is typically quite low—sometimes just pennies per month per person.

Most fitness apps need at least 10,000 daily active users to generate meaningful ad revenue. Plan your user acquisition strategy accordingly.

User Experience Considerations

Ads can be annoying. There's no getting around that fact. Show too many and users will delete your app faster than you can say "burpee." Show too few and you won't make enough money to keep the lights on. Finding that sweet spot is tricky and requires constant testing and adjustment.

• Banner ads are less intrusive but generate lower revenue
• Video ads pay better but interrupt the user experience
• Native ads blend in well but require careful implementation
• Rewarded ads work brilliantly for fitness apps—users watch an ad to unlock a premium workout

The free-with-ads model works best when you have a large audience and can keep users engaged for extended periods. If your fitness app is more of a quick-reference tool that people use for just a few seconds, this monetisation approach might not be right for you.

The Paid Premium Model—What You Need to Know

The paid premium model is exactly what it sounds like—people pay upfront to download your fitness app and get access to everything straight away. No adverts popping up during workouts, no locked features taunting users, just a complete experience from day one. It's the traditional way apps used to work before freemium took over the market.

This approach works best when you've got something genuinely special to offer. Think apps with unique workout programmes designed by celebrity trainers, or fitness tools that solve specific problems really well. Users are more willing to pay upfront when they can see clear value that they can't get elsewhere for free.

The biggest benefits of going paid

Your users are immediately invested in your app because they've already spent money on it—this means they're more likely to actually use it and stick with it. You'll also get higher quality users who are serious about fitness rather than casual browsers. The revenue is predictable too; once someone buys your app, that's money in the bank without relying on advertising partnerships or complicated subscription systems.

But there are real challenges

Getting people to pay before they've tried your app is tough. Really tough. Most people scroll right past paid apps in app stores, especially when there are decent free alternatives available. You'll need brilliant app store screenshots, compelling descriptions, and probably some serious marketing budget to convince people your app is worth the upfront cost. The user acquisition costs can be quite high, and you're competing against countless free fitness apps that might be "good enough" for most people.

Freemium Strategy—Combining Both Worlds

The freemium pricing model has become incredibly popular in the fitness app space, and for good reason. It lets you offer a basic version of your app for free whilst charging for premium features—giving users a taste of what you offer before asking them to pay.

With a freemium approach, users can download your app and start using core features straight away. They might get access to basic workout routines, simple tracking, or limited progress monitoring. The premium tier then unlocks advanced features like personalised training plans, detailed analytics, or exclusive content from fitness experts.

Getting the Balance Right

The tricky part with freemium is deciding what to give away for free and what to charge for. Give away too much and nobody will upgrade; give away too little and people won't stick around long enough to see the value in paying. You need that sweet spot where free users get genuine value but premium users feel they're getting something significantly better.

The best freemium apps make their free tier useful enough that users would recommend it to friends, but compelling enough that they eventually want more

Revenue Streams Working Together

Many successful fitness apps combine freemium with other monetisation strategies. You might show ads to free users whilst offering an ad-free premium experience. Or perhaps you include basic features for free but charge for advanced meal planning or one-to-one coaching sessions.

This pricing model works particularly well for fitness apps because people often want to test whether they'll actually stick to a fitness routine before committing money to it. The freemium approach reduces that initial barrier whilst still giving you multiple opportunities to generate revenue as users become more engaged with your app.

User Psychology and Pricing Expectations

People are funny when it comes to money and apps. We'll happily spend £5 on a coffee that lasts ten minutes, but baulk at paying £2.99 for an app we might use for months. This mental quirk shapes everything about how users approach fitness apps—and it's something you need to understand if you want your pricing strategy to work.

Most users expect fitness apps to be free. That's their starting point. They've been conditioned by years of free social media, free email, and free everything digital. When they see a price tag upfront, their first instinct is to look for alternatives. But here's where it gets interesting: once people are invested in an app, once they've logged their workouts and built up their data, they become much more willing to pay.

What Users Really Value

Users don't mind ads if the core functionality remains intact. They'll tolerate banner ads during rest periods or video ads between workout sessions. What they won't tolerate is ads that interrupt their actual exercise—nothing kills motivation faster than a pop-up mid-plank.

Premium features that users consistently pay for include:

• Personalised workout plans based on their progress
• Detailed analytics and progress tracking
• Access to premium content like nutrition guides
• Ad-free experiences during workouts
• Integration with wearables and other health apps

The Trust Factor

Trust plays a massive role in pricing psychology. Users are more likely to pay for apps that have proven their worth first. They want to see that the basic features work well, that the app is reliable, and that the company behind it isn't going to disappear next month. Building this trust takes time—which is why freemium models often work better than upfront paid downloads for fitness apps.

Revenue Potential and Long-term Sustainability

When choosing your pricing model, you need to think beyond the first few months after launch. The harsh reality is that many fitness apps fail not because they lack users, but because they can't generate enough revenue to keep the lights on. Each monetisation strategy comes with different revenue trajectories and sustainability challenges.

Free apps with ads typically see slower revenue growth in the beginning—you need thousands of active users before ad revenue becomes meaningful. But here's the thing: once you reach that critical mass, the income can be quite predictable. Premium apps, on the other hand, might generate revenue from day one, but user acquisition becomes much harder when you're asking people to pay upfront.

Revenue Comparison by Model

The freemium approach often provides the best long-term sustainability because it combines user acquisition benefits of free apps with the higher revenue per user of premium models. You're building a larger user base whilst converting your most engaged users into paying customers.

Track your lifetime value (LTV) to customer acquisition cost (CAC) ratio from the start. If LTV is at least 3x your CAC, your chosen pricing model is financially sustainable.

Planning for the Long Game

Remember that successful fitness apps often pivot their monetisation strategy as they grow. Starting with one model doesn't mean you're locked in forever—many apps begin free and introduce premium features once they understand what users value most.

Making the Right Choice for Your App

Right, so after everything we've covered, you're probably wondering which pricing model will work best for your fitness app. I get it—there's a lot to think about, and the decision feels pretty big. The truth is, there isn't a one-size-fits-all answer here.

Your choice really depends on a few key factors. What type of fitness app are you building? Who are you trying to reach? How much money do you have to spend on getting users in the first place? These questions matter more than you might think.

Key Factors to Consider

If you're building something simple—like a basic workout timer or step counter—going free with ads might be your best bet. These apps are easy to use and people expect them to be free. But if you're creating something more complex, like personalised training programmes or detailed nutrition tracking, users are often willing to pay for that value.

Your budget plays a big role too. Free apps need loads of users to make money from ads, which means you'll need to spend quite a bit on marketing. Paid apps can be profitable with fewer users, but convincing people to pay upfront is tougher.

The Freemium Sweet Spot

Here's what I've learned from working with fitness apps over the years—freemium often wins. It lets people try before they buy, which builds trust. You can offer basic features for free, then charge for the really good stuff like personal coaching or advanced analytics.

• Start with a clear idea of what features you'll give away for free
• Make sure your premium features are genuinely worth paying for
• Test your pricing with real users before you launch
• Keep an eye on how much it costs to get each new user

Remember, you can always change your pricing model later—but it's much easier to get it right from the start.

Conclusion

After working with fitness app developers for years, I can tell you that choosing between free-with-ads, paid premium, or freemium isn't a decision you make once and forget about. Your pricing model needs to match your app's purpose, your target users, and your business goals—and sometimes that means changing direction as you learn more about what works.

The fitness app market is packed with options, which means users have become quite picky about what they'll download and keep on their phones. If you're targeting casual users who want basic workout tracking, a free-with-ads approach might work brilliantly. But if you're building something specialised for serious athletes or people with specific health conditions, they'll likely pay for quality features without the distraction of advertisements.

What I've noticed is that successful fitness apps often start with one monetisation strategy and evolve. Many begin as simple paid apps, then add subscription tiers as they grow. Others launch free and gradually introduce premium features based on user feedback. The key is staying flexible and watching how your users actually behave—not just what they say they want.

Your pricing model shapes everything from your app's design to your marketing budget to your long-term growth potential. Get it right, and you'll build a sustainable business that genuinely helps people with their fitness goals. Get it wrong, and you might find yourself with an app that nobody wants to use or pay for. Take your time with this decision—your future self will thank you for it.