Apple Fitness+ vs BODi (2026)

Inside Apple Fitness+ and BODi

Quick yes/no comparison

Feature	Apple Fitness+	BODi
Dedicated perimenopause programme	No	Yes (Belle Vitale, 12 weeks)
Daily calendar plan	No (3-week cycles)	Yes (long-form programmes)
Built-in nutrition guidance	No	Yes (Portion Fix)
On-screen modifier in every session	Yes (three-trainer format)	No (varies by programme)
Live classes	No	No
Android app	No	Yes
Web browser support	No	Yes
Annual pricing plan	Yes ($79.99)	Yes ($179)
Family sharing (one subscription, multiple users)	Yes (up to 5)	No
Free trial	1 month (3 with new Apple device)	7 days
Real-time heart rate metrics on screen	Yes (Apple Watch required)	No
Apple One Premier bundle eligibility	Yes	No

At-a-glance comparison

Feature	Apple Fitness+	BODi
Her Daily Fit score	6.7 / 10	8.1 / 10
Price (US)	$9.99/month or $79.99/year	$179/year ($14.92/month) or $19/month
Price (UK)	£9.99/month or £79.99/year	£179/year
Free trial	1 month standard (3 months with new Apple device)	7 days
Ecosystem	iPhone, iPad, Apple TV only	iOS, Android, web, Apple TV, Roku, Fire TV
Session length	5 to 45 min, designed to stack	20 to 45 min in most programmes
Perimenopause content	None labelled	Belle Vitale (12-week programme)
Strength programmes	3 Weeks of Strength, Strength Basics in 3 Weeks	LIIFT4 (8 weeks), LIIFT More, 4 Weeks for Every Body
Nutrition guidance	None	Portion Fix container system (protein-focused)
Modification quality	Three trainers on screen, dedicated modifier in every session	Varies: strong in Belle Vitale, LIIFT4; weak in 21 Day Fix, Insanity
Family sharing	Yes (Apple Family, up to 5)	No
Cancellation	Apple ID settings, straightforward	Self-serve online, ~1 minute
Women Over 40 Specificity	4.5 / 10	8 / 10

Her Daily Fit scoring breakdown

Category	Weight	Apple Fitness+	BODi	Winner
Time Efficiency	15%	9	8.5	Apple Fitness+
Muscle Potential	15%	7.5	8.5	BODi
Women Over 40 Specificity	15%	4.5	8	BODi
Joint Friendliness	12%	8	5.5	Apple Fitness+
Recovery Compatibility	10%	7	8.5	BODi
Programme Structure	10%	7.5	8.5	BODi
Value for Money	8%	7	8.5	Apple Fitness+
UX and Design	8%	7.5	8.5	BODi
Nutrition Integration	7%	0	9	BODi
Overall	100%	6.7 / 10	8.1 / 10	BODi

BODi takes the overall win on the 15%-weight perimenopause category, the 10%-weight programme structure, and the 7%-weight nutrition where it scores at the top of the comparison series and Apple Fitness+ scores at the bottom. Apple Fitness+ pushes back on time efficiency, joint friendliness and value, but those wins are at lower-weighted categories. The 1.4-point overall gap reflects how perimenopause-relevant categories are weighted: collectively, Women Over 40 Specificity (15%) plus Programme Structure (10%) plus Nutrition (7%) plus Recovery (10%) is 42% of the scoring rubric, and BODi wins all four.

Perimenopause programming: BODi wins clearly because Apple Fitness+ has nothing

This is the category where the score gap reflects the largest content gap in the comparison.

What perimenopause programming actually means

Three physiological changes during perimenopause shape what training should look like. Oestrogen decline accelerates loss of muscle and bone, which makes resistance training (training where you push against load) more important. Maltais 2009 documents the muscle and strength loss trajectory after menopause, and a 2022 systematic review on resistance training for postmenopausal women confirms structured progressive loading is the most effective intervention.

Baseline cortisol tends to elevate during perimenopause. Training that spikes cortisol further can worsen the symptom profile: fatigue, sleep disruption, mood changes, weight redistribution toward abdominal fat. Sustainable intensity matters more than maximum intensity at this stage.

Tendon and ligament elasticity decreases. Watt 2018 reviews the increased musculoskeletal pain frequency around menopause and the role of oestrogen deficiency in predisposing women to joint and tendon issues. High-impact loading carries more risk during this transition.

A perimenopause-specific programme designs around these three realities. Belle Vitale on BODi does. Apple Fitness+ does not engage with this physiology at all.

What Belle Vitale delivers

Belle Vitale on BODi is a 12-week hormone-focused programme built around three pillars: Track Pilates (a low-impact Pilates format with rhythmic flow), low-impact strength, and a cortisol-reduction philosophy that pervades the pacing throughout. The session structure avoids the cortisol spikes that worsen perimenopause symptoms. Loading is low-impact throughout, which respects tendon and ligament changes. The structure assumes you are managing variable energy across the week, not training as if you had 25-year-old recovery capacity.

In my testing, Belle Vitale sessions sat appropriately in my week without leaving me undertrained or wrecked the next day. That balance is harder to get right than it sounds.

Why Apple Fitness+ has nothing here

Apple Fitness+ has no perimenopause or menopause content. No hormonal education, no symptom-aware programming, no perimenopause-labelled category. The “Workouts for Older Adults” category I asked my mum (68) to test was both too basic and incorrectly targeted: most women aged 40 to 55 are not “older adults”, they are active women managing specific hormonal changes that affect how they should train.

The Apple Fitness+ library does contain content that suits perimenopause well: the modifier system, the recovery library, the strength programmes. Nothing is grouped or designed for this audience. Apple has the production budget. It has not yet built the perimenopause story.

What this means for your decision

For women actively managing perimenopause symptoms, this category alone is the decision. BODi has it; Apple Fitness+ does not. The price gap ($179 vs $79.99) is small set against this difference for women who would benefit from Belle Vitale.

Time efficiency: Apple Fitness+ wins on stacking design built for busy perimenopausal women

Apple Fitness+ takes time efficiency because the platform is built around the constraint perimenopausal women actually face: short, predictable training windows between work and family responsibilities, often with the cognitive load of perimenopause brain fog reducing focus during the day.

Why short stackable sessions matter more for perimenopausal women

The “ideal” 45-minute workout assumes a level of free time and energy that most women in their 40s with full-time work and family do not have. Perimenopause adds variable energy across the cycle (or what is left of it), poor-sleep mornings, and the cognitive load of symptom management. The training window that actually exists is often 20 to 30 minutes, not 45 to 60.

Apple Fitness+ is built around this constraint. Every session is 10 to 30 minutes. The stacking design (the app auto-queues the next session) means a 20-minute strength block plus a 10-minute mindful cooldown gives you a complete workout in 30 minutes, with warm-up and cool-down baked into the runtime.

Apple Fitness+ delivered this in my testing

Working full-time with two school-aged children, fitting in a 20-minute workout was genuinely achievable in a way that a 45 to 60-minute commitment every day was not. The stacking model is the single biggest reason I kept coming back during five weeks of daily testing.

How BODi compares

BODi sessions run 20 to 45 minutes within fixed programme schedules. The structure is an adherence advantage (you don’t decide the length) but it is less flexible when life only allows 15 minutes. 4 Weeks for Every Body has shorter sessions. LIIFT4 sessions are 30 to 40 minutes. Belle Vitale sessions are programme-set and tend to be 30 minutes plus. None offer the explicit stacking design Apple Fitness+ does.

For women whose perimenopause schedule has predictable training windows, BODi’s structure works. For women whose training window varies wildly day to day, Apple Fitness+’s stacking is more accommodating.

Strength training: BODi for long-form, Apple Fitness+ for short-cycle, both retain muscle through perimenopause

Both platforms deliver real progressive strength training. They differ in the time horizon.

Why progressive overload matters more after 40

Progressive overload is the principle of gradually adding load over time. After 40, oestrogen decline accelerates loss of muscle and bone, which makes resistance training more important. The 2022 systematic review on resistance training for postmenopausal women is clear: training works, but it only keeps working if the load progresses. Doing the same 4kg shoulder press for a year stops producing change after the first few weeks.

Apple Fitness+’s short-cycle progression

Apple Fitness+ delivers genuine progressive overload inside its 3 Weeks of Strength programme. During my five weeks of testing, I went from 4kg/6kg dumbbells in week 1 with Sam, slowed the tempo and increased the load in week 2 with Kyle, then bumped to 5kg/7.5kg by week 3 with explosiveness added on some movements. The structured 3-week programmes produced visible toning.

The ceiling is the 3-week cycle. After three weeks, you choose your own continuation with no guided multi-month arc. For self-directed women this works. For women who want a coach to tell them what comes next, it leaves a gap.

BODi’s longer programme arcs

LIIFT4 is Joel Freeman’s 8-week strength programme targeting one muscle group per session with systematic progressive loading. LIIFT More extends the format with longer training arcs. These are properly designed strength programmes, not circuits with dumbbells. The longer programme arcs are particularly well-suited to perimenopausal muscle retention because the slower progression respects recovery capacity while still driving meaningful adaptation.

The shared advantage and the BODi extra

Both platforms work for muscle retention. BODi’s extra is the Portion Fix nutrition system’s protein emphasis, which supports muscle protein synthesis (the process where your body builds new muscle tissue from dietary protein). After 40, when oestrogen decline reduces the efficiency of protein utilisation in women, this nutritional support compounds the training benefit. Apple Fitness+ has no equivalent. For women whose primary goal is muscle retention through perimenopause, BODi’s combined programme plus nutrition is more complete.

Joint friendliness: Apple Fitness+ wins on per-session reliability; BODi wins if you pick the right programme

This is the category where the average score does not tell the whole story for women managing perimenopause-related joint sensitivity.

Why joint friendliness matters more during perimenopause

As oestrogen drops, tendons and ligaments lose elasticity. Watt 2018 documents the increased frequency of musculoskeletal pain and arthritis around menopause and the role of oestrogen deficiency in predisposing women to these conditions. For women with any joint history (knee, hip, back, shoulder), this matters more. For women whose perimenopause symptoms include joint aches, it matters even more.

Apple Fitness+’s structural advantage: the on-screen modifier in every class

Every Apple Fitness+ class has three trainers on screen: a lead coach who explains and demonstrates, one trainer at full intensity, and one consistently showing modifications throughout (lower pace, less impact, easier on joints). This is the most consistent modifier system I have tested across forty-plus platforms.

The practical difference for perimenopausal joints is what this looks like in real time. On most platforms, the instructor might say “modification: step rather than jump” once at the start of a sequence and never reference it again. The user has to remember and self-direct. On Apple Fitness+, the third trainer is physically performing the lower-impact version of the move for the full duration. You see what to do, not just hear it described once. If you start the session at full intensity and a movement starts to twinge a knee mid-set, you simply shift your eyes to the modifier and follow her instead. No pausing, no searching for an alternative track.

With my meniscus history (a tear in the cartilage cushion inside the knee from years ago) I followed every Apple Fitness+ strength and Pilates session without knee pain during five weeks of testing. The modifier is on screen for every class, so you do not need to know in advance which sessions are joint-safe. For perimenopausal women whose tendon and ligament elasticity has decreased and whose joint reactions to load are less predictable than at 30, this kind of always-available downshift is more valuable than the score gap suggests.

BODi’s split joint profile

BODi scores 5.5 / 10 overall. The split: 21 Day Fix and Insanity are jump-heavy and high-impact. LIIFT4 has a substantially better joint profile. 4 Weeks for Every Body uses slow eccentric dumbbell movements with zero jumping. Belle Vitale avoids high-impact loading entirely.

The risk on BODi is the platform’s tendency to surface 21 Day Fix as the default entry recommendation. For perimenopausal women, this is the wrong starting point. The fix is deliberate programme selection: LIIFT4, 4 Weeks for Every Body or Belle Vitale, never 21 Day Fix.

What this means for your decision

For perimenopausal women who want to press play on any session without worrying about impact load: Apple Fitness+. For perimenopausal women who can commit to selecting joint-safe BODi programmes deliberately: BODi (Belle Vitale or LIIFT4). The on-screen modifier on Apple Fitness+ is the most reliable joint-safety mechanism I have tested; the BODi defaults require more user vigilance.

Programme structure: BODi wins on long-form, Apple Fitness+ wins on short-cycle

Programme structure is one of the underrated categories for perimenopausal women because cognitive load matters. Every time you have to decide what to train today, the decision can become the reason you skip.

Why decision fatigue matters more in perimenopause

Perimenopause includes cognitive changes most women describe as brain fog: reduced executive function, harder mornings, more friction with routine decisions. Layer that on a full-time job, household logistics, and the existing mental load of managing your own symptoms, and the daily question “what should I train” becomes a real reason workouts get dropped.

The platform that removes the most decisions wins this category for the perimenopausal audience.

BODi’s long-form calendar advantage

BODi’s calendar removes the daily decision across the full programme arc. You commit to LIIFT4 at the start; the next 8 weeks of sessions are decided. You commit to Belle Vitale at the start; the next 12 weeks are decided. Open the app, press play, the decision is made.

For perimenopausal women whose brain fog makes routine choices harder, this kind of structural decision-removal across months is meaningfully more valuable than the alternative of choosing each session yourself.

Apple Fitness+’s 3-week-cycle ceiling

Apple Fitness+ delivers similar decision-removal but only inside its 3-week cycles. Strength Basics in 3 Weeks, 3 Weeks of Strength, 3 Perfect Weeks of Pilates: each cycle is good for committing to and finishing. The gap is what happens at the end of three weeks. You choose the next thing. For self-directed women this works; for women whose mental energy is stretched, the recurring “what comes next” decision every three weeks is exactly the friction the platform is otherwise trying to remove.

You can build a custom plan that stitches multiple 3-week programmes together, but that requires planning at the start which itself is a decision-load that BODi’s pre-built 8 and 12-week programmes do not impose.

What this means for your decision

For perimenopausal women whose primary friction is decision-fatigue and who want long-form structure: BODi. For women who manage decisions well but want shorter time-bounded commitments to maintain motivation: Apple Fitness+. Both reduce decision-load compared to library-based alternatives; BODi reduces it for longer.

Recovery: BODi wins on programme-managed cadence

Recovery capacity decreases through perimenopause. Sleep quality often declines. Baseline cortisol elevates. For women in their 40s and 50s, building in rest is structural rather than optional.

BODi’s recovery is built into programme schedules through scheduled rest days and active recovery sessions. Belle Vitale specifically designs recovery into the weekly cadence with cortisol-aware pacing. Apple Fitness+’s recovery library (meditation, mindful cooldown, yoga, gentle walking) is functional but not built into a programme structure. For perimenopausal women managing variable energy, BODi’s calendar-managed rest is more reliable.

Nutrition: BODi has it, Apple Fitness+ doesn’t, and after 40 this matters

This is one of two categories where the gap is decisive.

Why nutrition matters more after 40

Oestrogen decline changes body composition (the ratio of fat to muscle in your body) even when training is consistent. Adequate protein intake becomes more important, not less. Blood sugar regulation changes through perimenopause, making meal structure more relevant than at prior life stages.

BODi’s Portion Fix is genuinely useful

The Portion Fix container system is a practical, colour-coded portion control approach developed by a registered dietitian. The system emphasises protein at every meal and balances carbohydrate and fat in proportions that support muscle retention and blood sugar stability. During my 28-day testing of 21 Day Fix, I lost 1.5kg primarily through the Portion Fix system rather than the workouts themselves.

For perimenopausal women rebuilding the eating side alongside training, Portion Fix gives a structured framework without demanding a complete diet overhaul.

Apple Fitness+ has nothing

Apple Fitness+ has no nutrition content. None. For women over 40 where nutrition is a primary lever for body composition, this is a real gap. If body composition is a primary goal, Apple Fitness+ on its own is not a one-stop solution; you would need a separate nutrition approach alongside the workouts.

Value: Apple Fitness+ wins for households on a typical budget

Apple Fitness+ at $9.99/month or $79.99/year is substantially cheaper than BODi at $179/year. The annual plan saves about $40/year, which is a real saving. Apple Family sharing across up to 5 household members widens the value gap further: one $79.99 subscription covers a partner and grown children on Apple devices. Apple One Premier at $37.95/month bundles Apple Fitness+ with iCloud+, Music, TV+ and Arcade.

BODi has no family sharing. The $179/year is per single user.

Why family sharing matters more in perimenopause households

For perimenopausal women with families, the budget conversation is rarely just about your subscription. Households at this life stage typically include a partner who may be looking at home fitness for their own goals (often weight management or cardiac health), and teenage or grown children who use the same devices and may also want fitness content. Paying for separate platforms for each person quickly compounds into $400+ per year.

Apple Family Sharing flips this maths. One $79.99/year Apple Fitness+ subscription covers everyone on your Apple Family plan, up to five members. A perimenopausal woman, her partner training for general fitness, a teenager doing dance classes, and a grandparent doing the Workouts for Older Adults can all use the same subscription. The per-person cost for a household of three drops to about $27/year.

BODi has no equivalent. Each user pays $179/year. For households where multiple people will use the platform, the value calculation tilts heavily toward Apple Fitness+ even before you account for the Belle Vitale advantage.

The fairer comparison for individual perimenopausal women

If you are the only person in your household who will use a fitness subscription, the family sharing argument disappears. The fairer question becomes: does BODi’s perimenopause content, calendar structure and nutrition justify the $99/year price gap over Apple Fitness+? For women specifically managing perimenopause symptoms and wanting nutrition guidance, yes. For everyone else, Apple Fitness+ is the better individual value too.

UX and design: BODi wins on cross-device consistency

BODi delivers a consistent app experience across phone, tablet, web and Smart TV. Same calendar visible on the home screen regardless of device. Navigation requires minimal effort.

Apple Fitness+ is ecosystem-locked to Apple devices: iPhone, iPad, Apple TV. If you live inside Apple, the integration is seamless. If you do not, you cannot use it at all. During my testing I experienced intermittent screen blackouts when projecting from iPhone to TV, requiring a session restart. Filtering across activity types is also inconsistent.

For perimenopausal women whose household uses mixed devices (Android phones with Apple TVs, for example), BODi’s cross-ecosystem support is the practical answer.

Who wins for…

Who wins for active perimenopause symptom management

BODi. Belle Vitale is the strongest argument for BODi over Apple Fitness+. Cortisol-reduction philosophy and Track Pilates structure directly address perimenopause physiology.

Who wins for the lowest monthly price

Apple Fitness+. $9.99/month vs BODi at $14.92/month effective annual. Family sharing widens the gap.

Who wins for short stackable sessions that fit a busy perimenopausal schedule

Apple Fitness+. 10 to 30 minute sessions designed to combine. The stacking model is the strongest time-efficiency design I have tested.

Who wins for daily calendar accountability through perimenopause brain fog

BODi. Open the app, today’s session is decided. The decision-free path is more valuable when cognitive bandwidth is reduced.

Who wins for joint-friendly daily browsing

Apple Fitness+. On-screen modifier in every session. BODi works for joint friendliness only if you pick the right programme.

Who wins for nutrition to support body composition during perimenopause

BODi. Portion Fix is the structured nutrition system Apple Fitness+ does not have.

Who wins for long-form strength programmes for muscle retention

BODi. LIIFT4 and LIIFT More are 8-week and longer arcs with progressive loading.

Who wins for short-cycle strength progression

Apple Fitness+. 3 Weeks of Strength delivers visible progression inside three weeks.

Who wins for households sharing one subscription

Apple Fitness+. One subscription, up to five household members through Apple Family. BODi has no family sharing.

Who wins for women on Android or who train via web browser

BODi. Apple Fitness+ is Apple-ecosystem only.

Who wins for women over 50 post-menopause

BODi. Belle Vitale extends naturally into post-menopause; LIIFT4 builds the muscle that becomes harder to retain after 50 when oestrogen baselines stabilise low.

Who wins for true beginners over 40

Apple Fitness+ for short on-ramp, BODi for full guidance. Apple Fitness+’s Strength Basics in 3 Weeks is a clean beginner programme. BODi’s 4 Weeks for Every Body is specifically designed for beginners with zero jumping. Either works.

Who wins for women with diastasis recti or pelvic floor concerns

Neither is ideal. Both have some content that suits but neither has dedicated postnatal or pelvic floor programming. The Sculpt Society is the stronger choice for this specific need.

Who wins for women managing perimenopause-related sleep disruption

Apple Fitness+ (marginally) for the meditation and mindful cooldown library; BODi for the cortisol-managed Belle Vitale pacing. Different angles on the same problem.

Screenshots from our full reviews

More screenshots: Apple Fitness+

See the full Apple Fitness+ review for methodology and pricing.

More screenshots: BODi

See the full BODi review for methodology and pricing.

Decision tree for women over 40

• Actively managing perimenopause symptoms (joint aches, sleep, fatigue, mood): BODi (Belle Vitale).
• Budget caps at around $10/month: Apple Fitness+.
• Sessions must be under 30 minutes: Apple Fitness+.
• You want a daily calendar that tells you what to do: BODi.
• You have joint history (meniscus, knee, hip, back, shoulder): Apple Fitness+ for on-screen modifier consistency; BODi only if starting with LIIFT4, 4 Weeks for Every Body or Belle Vitale.
• You want nutrition guidance integrated: BODi (Portion Fix).
• You share a household with multiple Apple users: Apple Fitness+ family sharing across up to 5.
• You are on Android or train via web browser: BODi.
• You want long-form progressive strength: BODi (LIIFT4, LIIFT More).
• You are post-menopausal with bone density priorities: BODi (Belle Vitale plus LIIFT4 combo).
• You are a true beginner who wants short clear technique sessions: Apple Fitness+ (Strength Basics in 3 Weeks).

What I did not test

• Apple Watch integration with Apple Fitness+. Tested without an Apple Watch. The watch adds real-time heart rate, Burn Bar and Activity Rings on screen.
• BODi Shakeology. Declined the upsell throughout testing.
• Every BODi programme. Tested four (21 Day Fix, LIIFT4, 4 Weeks for Every Body, Belle Vitale) of more than 100.
• Every Apple Fitness+ programme. Tested 3 Weeks of Strength, sampled Strength Basics, Pilates with bands, dance with Jhon, treadmill walking.
• Long-term adherence beyond five weeks for Apple Fitness+.

Personal testing and observations

Apple Fitness+ testing

I am a woman in my mid-forties, currently in perimenopause, working full-time with two children and training daily. I tested Apple Fitness+ over five weeks of structured daily use on iPhone projected to TV and computer monitor. No Apple Watch. I built a four-week custom plan and ran the 3 Weeks of Strength programme. I sampled dance classes (Latin Grooves with Jhon), Pilates with bands and ankle weights, and treadmill walking. I also asked my mum (68) to test the Workouts for Older Adults category.

Coming back from a month of inactivity, I dropped from 9kg dumbbells to 4kg/6kg in week 1. By week 3 I was at 5kg/7.5kg with explosiveness added on some movements. My weight went up 1kg in the first week (water retention from new training stimulus: when resistance training creates micro-tears in muscle fibres, the body holds onto extra water around the damaged tissue while it repairs, and glycogen in newly-worked muscles binds with water, adding 0.5 to 1.5kg temporarily). By the end of five weeks the scale was down by a net 0.5kg with visible toning.

The standout was the three-trainer format with a consistent modifier on screen. With my meniscus history I followed every strength and Pilates session without knee pain. The dance classes (Latin Grooves with Jhon) made 20 minutes disappear in a way HIIT never does for me. The gap was guidance: nothing labelled or structured for perimenopause, no hormonal education, no symptom-aware programming. The Workouts for Older Adults series my mum tested had too few sessions and the difficulty was too low.

BODi testing

I tested four BODi programmes across several months.

21 Day Fix (28 days, full programme). Lost 1.5kg with the Portion Fix system driving most of the result. Jump-heavy cardio; modifications too unclear for knee issues in real time. Would not recommend to perimenopausal women with joint history.

LIIFT4. Joel Freeman’s 8-week strength programme. Four days a week, 30 to 40 minutes per session. Properly structured strength training with progressive loading across 8 weeks. By week 6 I was visibly more toned. The BODi programme I would direct most perimenopausal women to.

4 Weeks for Every Body. Slow eccentric dumbbell movements with zero jumping. Used as active recovery. Joint-considerate enough for women managing knee, hip or back history.

Belle Vitale. The hormone-focused 12-week programme. Track Pilates, low-impact strength, cortisol-reduction philosophy. Feels like a different product from the rest of the BODi library. The cueing explicitly references perimenopause physiology. For perimenopausal women, this is the programme that justifies BODi’s existence over the cheaper Apple Fitness+.

Which is better for women over 50?

For women over 50, BODi is the stronger pick. Belle Vitale extends naturally into post-menopause concerns including bone density (resistance training is the most effective intervention), joint stability and metabolic health. LIIFT4 builds the muscle that becomes harder to retain after 50 when oestrogen baselines stabilise. 4 Weeks for Every Body is joint-considerate enough for any age.

Apple Fitness+ works for active women over 50 who want short stackable sessions and have no perimenopause-specific training need. The “Workouts for Older Adults” category is the weakest part of the platform for this audience: too basic, incorrectly targeted. The general Apple Fitness+ library serves over-50 users well; the dedicated category does not.

Frequently asked questions

Is Apple Fitness+ or BODi better for women over 40?

BODi is the stronger choice for women over 40 managing perimenopause symptoms because of Belle Vitale (a 12-week perimenopause programme), calendar-based daily structure, and included Portion Fix nutrition. Apple Fitness+ wins for women over 40 who want short stackable sessions, the lowest monthly price ($9.99 vs BODi at $14.92/month annual), family sharing across the household, and the on-screen modifier in every session.

Is Apple Fitness+ cheaper than BODi?

Yes. Apple Fitness+ is $9.99/month or $79.99/year. BODi is $179/year ($14.92/month effective) or $19/month. Apple Fitness+ family sharing across up to 5 household members widens the gap.

Does Apple Fitness+ or BODi have a perimenopause programme?

BODi has Belle Vitale, a 12-week perimenopause-focused programme. Apple Fitness+ has no perimenopause-labelled content at all.

Which has better strength training for women over 40?

BODi for dedicated long-form progressive strength (LIIFT4 is 8 weeks, LIIFT More extends further). Apple Fitness+ for shorter strength sessions in 3-week cycles. For perimenopausal muscle retention, BODi’s longer arcs plus Portion Fix nutrition are more complete.

Does BODi or Apple Fitness+ have nutrition guidance?

BODi includes the Portion Fix container system with protein emphasis that supports muscle retention during perimenopause. Apple Fitness+ has no nutrition content.

Which is better for joint-friendly workouts during perimenopause?

Apple Fitness+ on average because every session has an on-screen modifier. BODi’s joint friendliness depends on programme choice: LIIFT4, Belle Vitale and 4 Weeks for Every Body are joint-considerate; 21 Day Fix and Insanity are high-impact and inappropriate for perimenopausal joints.

Can the whole household share Apple Fitness+?

Yes. Apple Fitness+ is included in Apple Family Sharing across up to five household members at no additional cost. BODi has no family sharing.

Does Apple Fitness+ work without an Apple Watch?

Yes. Apple removed the Apple Watch requirement on 24 October 2022 with iOS 16.1. You can use Apple Fitness+ on iPhone, iPad and Apple TV without a watch. The watch is required for real-time heart rate, Burn Bar and Activity Ring metrics on screen during workouts.

About this review

Reviewed by Katy Cole. Apple Fitness+ tested personally across five weeks of structured daily use on iPhone projected to TV (no Apple Watch). BODi tested personally across four programmes (21 Day Fix, LIIFT4, 4 Weeks for Every Body, Belle Vitale) over several months with the Portion Fix nutrition system applied throughout. Prices verified against apple.com/apple-fitness-plus and bodi.com in May 2026.

Katy is the lead reviewer at Her Daily Fit. Fifteen years personally testing online fitness platforms. Mid-forties, currently in perimenopause, UK-based. Every claim on this page is either personally tested or attributed to peer-reviewed research. See how we score every programme using 9 weighted criteria.

Medical disclaimer: The content on this page is for informational purposes only and is not medical advice. Consult your GP or a healthcare provider before beginning a new exercise programme, particularly if you are managing perimenopause, menopause, or any existing health condition or injury.