As per our analysis report, the global fitness app market size is forecasted to grow at a remarkable compound annual growth rate of 27.45% from 2021 to 2026. The global fitness app market size is estimated to be worth USD 17.66 billion by 2026 from USD 5.25 billion in 2021. Companies such as Adidas, Nike, and Fitbit, Inc. accounted for most of the global fitness app market share in 2020.
The world has now fully become technology-driven, and with this, the use of smartphones and smart devices has increased the penetration of fitness apps into people's lives. People nowadays are more health-conscious and want to keep a regular check on their physical health. The use of technology has made these tasks more comfortable, more reliant, and less time-consuming. Today we can see our mobile app store having many types of fitness apps catering to almost all user needs and making them self-sufficient in maintaining their health.
Recent technological advances have created enormous opportunities for developing applications that support home-based training, particularly for older adults who are often socially more isolated, physically less active, and have fewer gym training opportunities. Thousands of fitness-related smartphone applications ('apps') are available for free and purchase, but there is uncertainty about whether these apps help individuals achieve and maintain their fitness. The use of technology attrition is also a concern of research studies on health technologies. Physical activity is simply a part of a healthy lifestyle. In the modern world, there are multiple barriers to exercise. The fitness App is an application that can be downloaded from any mobile device and used anywhere to fit. As of 2015, more than 165,000 health-related apps were released on the two leading platforms, iPhone operating system (iOS) and Android. For easier accessibility, fitness apps may combine with wearable devices to synchronize their health data to third-party devices.
MARKET DRIVERS:
Y-O-Y growth in the geriatric population worldwide, increasing incidence of chronic diseases such as diabetes & obesity are majorly accelerating the global fitness app market growth.
Almost half of all high blood glucose deaths occur before the age of 70. As per the statistics published by the WHO, diabetes was the seventh leading cause of death in 2016. Between 2000 and 2016, the prematurity mortality rate due to diabetes increased by 5%. Diabetes prevalence has risen tremendously in low-and middle-income countries than in high-income countries. An estimated 1.6 million deaths were directly caused by diabetes in 2016. Over 1.9 billion adults, 18 years of age and older, were overweight in 2016. Of these, more than 650 million were obese.
The spread of the COVID-19 pandemic contributed to national lockdowns and norms of social distancing. This has led to a move from conventional studios and gyms to virtual fitness. In exchange, this has increased the downloading and use of fitness apps. The COVID-19 pandemic, moreover, has increased awareness of health and hygiene. Daily Active Users (DAUs) have increased in fitness apps.
High smartphone and tablet penetration across all ages has led to high fitness app adoption, which is a major factor driving the fitness app market growth. Fitness is a software program that can be accessed from any mobile device, such as a smartphone or tablet device. These applications are primarily developed to assist users with exercise and other types of physical training, diet & nutrition, health tracking, or other topics related to fitness. Adoption of fitness APP among the geriatric population in the pandemic period is expected to boost the opportunity in the future.
Also, changing lifestyles, increasing consumer disposable income, and the availability of different health & fitness applications are other key factors that boost the growth of the fitness app market.
The growing trend of maintaining physical health has driven the growth of the fitness app market worldwide. With the increase in usage of smartphones, more and more people have started using fitness apps. These apps are very easy to use as their interface is built so that a not-so-technology friend can use them. Fitness apps save a lot of time for their users. These fitness apps may also include diet charts, which, when recommended by Nutritionists, are used by the app's users, increasing its usage.
MARKET RESTRAINTS:
A key factor expected to restrict the fitness app market growth is the high cost involved in the making of fitness apps and trackers.
High initial investments needed for technological upgrades and changing user preferences & techniques are both major factors expected to impact the growth of the demand for fitness apps. Very few online fitness programs allow the teacher, based on your results, to see you, review your form, and give adjustments or corrections. This means that, without understanding it, you may unintentionally execute exercises improperly or even unsafely.
Low recommendations in the apps are another significant factor, which is expected to hamper the fitness app market. These apps are most often notorious for recommending lower calorie consumption than appropriate. Many of them suggest a calorie intake of 1,300 calories, which can not be sustained, especially when exercising.
Another significant challenge for the fitness apps market is the need to be innovative in the market. With many apps in the market providing various services, the apps need a better interface, engaging physical activities, and tips from well-known health experts. New apps take time to improve their content to this level and thus struggle first in the market. People also believe that going to the gym or fitness centers is better as they get motivated to work out when they see others doing physical exercises.
Impact of COVID-19 on the global fitness app market:
As the coronavirus pandemic has disrupted the world, many businesses bear the brunt of the pandemic. In this COVID-19, however, sectors such as fitness and healthcare are growing rapidly with positive effects through their apps.
With a digital drive, the fitness industry is seeking new ways to target audiences. Several gyms and training centers provide online courses, live streaming fitness sessions, and perform personal training sessions via video applications. The fitness industry, particularly brick-and-mortar gyms and fitness studios, was hit by the COVID-19 outbreak, closing down several facilities and causing huge revenue losses for the industry worldwide. This accelerated the growth of at-home fitness apps as a result. At the outset of the opportunity, fitness app developers promoted their strategic plans to develop more premium exercise content with technology companies. To create innovative apps, they ramped up investment. Post-COVID, even though some brick-and-mortar gyms and fitness studios open their doors, virtual workouts remain a major part of routines, industry analysts claim. Implementing a hybrid model of online/brick-and-mortar gyms is likely to be maintained when the pandemic recedes. Also, product demand is expected to increase in countries worldwide following the uplift of the lockdown. To use Apple Watch metrics, the service will have virtual fitness courses. It would support individuals at home, during COVID-19, with a wide variety of physical activities.
REPORT COVERAGE:
|
REPORT METRIC |
DETAILS |
|
Market Size Available |
2020 to 2026 |
|
Base Year |
2020 |
|
Forecast Period |
2021 to 2026 |
|
Segments Covered |
By Type, Platform, Device, and Region |
|
Various Analyses Covered |
Global, Regional & Country Level Analysis, Segment-Level Analysis, Drivers, Restraints, Opportunities, Challenges, PESTLE Analysis, Porter’s Five Forces Analysis, Competitive Landscape, Analyst Overview on Investment Opportunities |
|
Regions Covered |
North America, Europe, Asia Pacific, Latin America, Middle East, and Africa |
This market research report on the global fitness app market has been segmented and sub-segmented based on the type, platform, device, and region.
Fitness App Market – By Type:
Based on the type, the exercise and weight loss apps segment accounted for more than 50% of the share in the global fitness apps market in 2020. These apps are now generally used more due to people's inability to go to gyms and fitness centers. The future of this segment is also forecasted to be promising during the forecast period.
The Diet and nutrition apps segment registered a share of 36% in the global fitness app market in 2020. People of all ages are using these apps through proper diet. People want to maintain their physical health and improve immunity.
The activity tracking segment is estimated to perform well during the forecast period due to its limited reach as people right now are not so concerned about their activities management.
Fitness App Market – By Platform:
Based on the platform, the Android segment is expected to grow at the highest rate during the forecast period due to the increased adoption of this platform, especially in countries such as Egypt, India, Brazil, Ireland, Portugal, Turkey, and South Africa. Many apps are Android-based only due to this reason. The IOS platform is popular in the American and European regions because these areas' purchasing capacity is more as IOS-based devices are more expensive than Android-based devices. The number of people using IOS is still less than the android market; thus, many popular apps come on Android and ios platforms.
Fitness App Market – By Device:
The Smartphone segment is projected to grow at the fastest rate in the forecast period based on the device. The majority of this growth is due to an increase in smartphone usage. Apps are now built to be more compatible with smartphone features like video calling and alarms, which help the user get a better experience.
Tablets mostly work on the same platforms like smartphones, and thus they are also compatible with using the apps. It is expected to be second in place in terms of its market growth. Tablets are bulky compared to smartphones, limiting their use during strenuous physical exercises where there is a need to carry the device.
Wearable devices are picking up pace in the market due to the increase in wearable fitness devices. These devices can monitor the heart rate, Blood pressure, etc., of the user, and the apps are then used to track personal health. These apps also alert the user about any unusual activity in the body. These devices are tiny in size because, with a large size, they will restrict the movement of users.
Fitness App Market – By Region:
Geographically, North America led the race in the global fitness app market with a 30% share in 2020. More people in these areas are familiar with the platforms and devices used by these apps to operate. Many USA and Canada-based companies are investing in the global fitness apps market as they have seen its future potential.
The European market was second in terms of accounting for the major share in the global market and the fitness apps market in the European region is strongly driven by the growth in smartphones and wearable devices due to high purchasing power than other countries.
The fitness apps have started picking up pace with Japan and India in the Asia Pacific region, leading the front and china. China and India are the two most populated countries globally, and growth in users in these areas will drive the global fitness apps market's growth.
KEY MARKET PARTICIPANTS:
MyFitnessPal Inc., Motorola Mobility LLC, Azumio, WillowTree, Inc., Under Armour, Dom and Tom, Grandapps, Fitbit, ASICS, WillowTree, Inc., and Appster are some of the major companies leading the global fitness app market.
Related Reports
Apr 2021
Apr 2021
