Working out alone can be tough, especially when you need that extra push to show up for a run on a cold, rainy day or to power through a rep at the end of a session. Working out alongside a supportive community, though? That can make all the difference. Sharing experiences, learning new routines or taking on a friendly challenge can all be fantastic motivators.

Here’s how some of the most popular fitness apps are leveraging social interactions to keep us moving.

Everyone loves a little bit of recognition for a noteworthy effort. First 5K? Finished a 10K? With Strava, you can celebrate your fellow athletes’ victories by giving them “kudos”. And the more you give, the more likely you are to receive it back!

For a deeper social interaction, you can join an in-app club – or create your own – to participate in group activities and receive some peer encouragement. If you’re feeling competitive, use the Segments feature to test yourself against others in specific portions of roads or trails.

Pro tip: Use Strava’s Global Heatmap when travelling to see the most popular running or cycling routes used by locals, and lessen the likelihood of ending up on a dead-end street or motorway.

Weightlifting planner and tracker Hevy brings the supportive gym atmosphere to your device. Use it to connect with your friends, follow your favourite athletes and like, save and be inspired by other users’ workouts.

Beyond logging your reps, Hevy tracks your progress and presents insightful analytics on metrics such as strength gains and consistency. Curious how your performance stacks up against others’? Check out the leaderboards to see where you stand.

Pro tip: If you’re struggling to get started, tap any workout in the Home and Discover feeds to see similar, recent ones from people you don’t follow. Find a routine you like and save it as a workout template in your Profile.

Komoot isn’t about intense competition; it’s about collaboration. The community here is vital, as the app’s map is continually enriched by user-generated tracks, scenic viewpoints or even great coffee stops and landmarks along a route.

If you’re leading the pack as a hiking or cycling tour organiser, use Group Tours to create, share and manage your routes via a QR code. If there are any changes, all participants will receive instant notifications, ensuring everyone stays on track.

Pro tip: With the Planner feature, you can tailor every adventure to your preferences. Choose your start and end points, opt for a quieter trail, scenic detours, the quickest route and more.

Runna combines personalised coaching with a supportive in-app community to ensure you never feel alone during your training. Head to the Community tab to find local users training for the same race as you, coordinate in-person runs and more. You can also take part in weekly questions and polls to find out your fellow runners’ opinions on running-related topics.

The app supports Parkrun training plans, too. Parkrun is a free, timed 5K run held every Saturday at various locations worldwide – it’s a great way to mix your training with meeting new people. Want to learn more? Ask Runna’s active community about your nearest upcoming event.

Pro tip: Connect your account to Strava to sync your workouts in both apps and generate custom workout overlays for your social-media feed.