The 9 best stretching apps for loosening up muscles and cooling down in 2024, tested by us

Believe it or not, one of the best stretching apps can take you from sore to shining in just a few minutes. Whether you're a stretching pro looking for a new flexibility challenge or want to touch your toes, we have a platform for you. 

Most people (and we'll include ourselves in this) don't stretch nearly enough. For some, the challenge comes with not knowing what our bodies need to alleviate a particular ache or pain, while for others it's just not having the motivation to put the time into stretching. 

The benefits of stretching are endless though, from reducing the risk of injury after exercise to boosting mobility and flexibility and even improving workout performance. Just like the best workout apps can help you figure out what exercise works best for you and the best yoga and Pilates apps can lead you through a routine, the best stretching apps can support you in building a stretching habit from scratch. 

Best stretching apps 2024 

The best stretching app overall

Bend helps you create a stretching routine that fits within your lifestyle, sending you reminders every day at your chosen time with exercises catered to your experience (beginner, intermediate or pro), your focus (from fully body to hips and more), and based on your goals (whether that’s to increase mobility or reduce stress - because yes, stretching can really support our emotional wellbeing, too). The app also has pre and post-workout routines, strength training exercises, and movements you can do from your office desk if you only have a few minutes to stretch. 

When testing this pick of the best stretching apps, I loved how easy Bend's stretching routines were to follow. Each one has detailed instructions on how to do the movement and a list of the benefits. However, for those used to video workouts and tutorials, it’s worth bearing in mind that the stretches are demonstrated with graphic illustrations in the app. As they're also without audio guidance, this could be a real deal breaker for those who prefer to see and hear real people taking through the routines.

The best stretching and yoga app

Down Dog is one of our best yoga apps - and for good reason. No two Down Dog routines are the same, which is something I love about the app. There are over 60,000 different configurations and each yoga-based stretching session will be catered to your chosen practice, experience, and pace with your chosen instructor and music genre. So whether you do yoga every day or you're looking for the best yoga stretches for beginners, you're sorted. What's more, the Boost feature allows you to choose an area of the body that needs a little more attention and in response Down Dog creates a practice that ensures this focus is well stretched by the end of your routine. 

When I first used this app, I added a 'Boost' of neck stretches and I loved how it was seamlessly incorporated into the rest of my yoga routine. For yogis who want to improve their mobility and flexibility, or those who want a yoga-focused warm-up pre-workout, this 2-in-1 app is all you need. The only downside is you can't access the other Down Dog routines (such as HIIT, barre, or prenatal yoga) via the app. For each workout type, you'll need to download the individual apps. 

The best stretching app for pros

Designed for athletes, Pliability has a huge library of on-demand stretching videos with new videos uploaded every day, each one focusing on a different movement or goal. If you loved the idea of Bend but want more video focus, Pilability could be for you. 

Pliability explores how stretching supports both the body and mind, making it one of the best strength training apps overall as well, and helps to improve your mobility and boost recovery from exercise, while also promoting feelings of calm. 

Although some sessions require foam rollers, massage balls, or a set of the best resistance bands, there are plenty of equipment-free routines to get started with. However, this app is best suited to pros, those who already stretch, and anyone looking to take it up a notch.

The best stretching app for beginners

If you're not quite ready for equipment-based stretching routines as featured in Pilability, try Start Stretching. It's a must-try for those who want to improve their mobility and boost flexibility without complicated routines or equipment. 

It features easy-to-do stretches, with detailed descriptions and graphics to illustrate. While I didn’t mind the graphics, if you prefer video demos or real people showing you how to do each movement, this one might not be for you. I'd recommend you try another one of the best stretching apps, like GoWOD, instead. 

While the app is free to download, it only features nine stretches so can feel quite repetitive after some use. However, if you are new to stretching and want simple, free guidance, this should be your starting point. 

The best stretching app for daily movement

If you're someone who spends most of their day sitting down at a desk, Stretch Club could be the pick of the best stretching apps for you. Of all the programs available on the app, of which there are many, I found the most unique ones were those that focused on realigning posture and issues relating to desk work. While this is similar to Bend in many ways, there is more focus on this here. 

Accompanying these desk-based stretching routines were other useful programs in the same format - such as Full Body, Sleep, Expert, Quick Stretch, and Lengthen. Plus, plenty of stretching for runners sessions. Also on the homepage, you'll find programs to target specific areas of the body such as lower back and hip stretching routines, which is ideal if you're looking to strengthen a particular area. 

If you're looking for a stretching app that works as one of the best habit tracker apps too, Stretch Club may be for you. As well as jumping into different stretching programs as you like, you can create your own routine through the app. You'll need the PRO membership to do this unfortunately but it's well worth it, in my opinion, if you're someone who wants to make stretching part of their daily routine. When you start to build consistency, you'll then be able to see your progress on the weekly and monthly analytics pages. 

The best personalised stretching app

To get started with StretchIt, I answered a series of questions based on my experience, mobility, lifestyle and stretching goals to generate a personalised program. This was my favourite thing about this app that isn't offered by many of the others on our list, making StretchIt one of the best health apps to try as well. If you have particular stretching needs, such as pain relief, then this could be the app for you.

Thanks to the seven-day free trial, you can explore everything StretchIt has to offer and your program before committing to a subscription. However, it's worth noting that even at sign-up you need to input your contact details and payment information. 

I liked that I could track my stretching workouts and progress in the app, much like Stretch Club, and even upload progress photos as I took on different challenges. Plus, having an instructor talk through each move kept me on track. As well as accessing my personalised program, I appreciated that I could watch other sessions, for example, on days when my shoulders felt tense and needed extra support.  

The only downside for me was that there weren't as many classes available to watch on StretchIT as there are with some of the other apps on our list. But, that being said, if you're new to stretching or currently doing yoga for beginners then this might be all that you need. 

The best free stretching app

GoWOD was designed by CrossFit athletes and health experts to help people get the most out of their mobility before and after sessions. As such, you can take mobility tests and access more than 240 stretching videos completely for free. However, it's accessible for anyone working out regularly to use, not just CrossFit athletes. 

This app is one that focuses on long-term goals, with an overview of your data so you can track your stats and progress as you go, much like Stretch Club. There are three types of personalised programs on offer, including Daily, Pre-WOD and Post-WOD, and you can tailor them depending on whether you're stretching in the gym or at home. If you're not a CrossFit athlete, it may be helpful to know that 'WOD' stands of Workout Of The Day while using this app. 

This is a brilliant app for free stretching routines led by expert coaches, in my opinion. If you're ready to take it up a notch after exploring the free programs on offer, GoWOD Premium will grant you access to a full mobility program tailored to you, taking into account your lifestyle, training needs, training prep and recovery. 

The best stretching app for videos

If you're always searching YouTube for stretching tutorials, we have the perfect app alternative for you. Stretch features videos on every single kind of stretch, yoga, and flexibility category you could imagine, with multiple stretching routines in each category - including standard daily stretches, stretches for pre-and post-workout, stretches to combat lower back pain, and even pre-flight stretches. 

All videos feature founder, certified stretching & flexibility coach, personal trainer, and yoga instructor, Sam Gach. In each session, Gach takes users through the routine with a calm tone and supportive guidance. On sign-up, the app assesses your current level of flexibility to offer the most tailor-made program for you, and while most classes are available only on subscription, there are a couple you can check out for free. 

The best premium stretching app

Fiit is perhaps known as one of the top workout apps with its professionally-produced classes and range of celebrity trainers. However, it also offers stretching routines for those interested in paying for a premium app and getting state-of-the-art features. 

Signing up for this app will cost you upward of £7.99 per month for the Essential package, or Unlimited starts at £9.99. With this cost though comes an almost limitless number of classes, including everything from classic strength training workouts to be done at home to treadmill workouts you can take into the gym with you. Naturally, yoga, Metcon workouts, and Pilates feature heavily too. Within the stretching categories, you'll find practices designed for a pre- or post-workout flow, such as yoga for runners, mobility drills, full-body stretches, and functional movement patterns. 

While Fiit is undoubtedly the go-to home workout app if your goal is to simply stretch and get flexible, try one of the other best stretching apps. The cost of Fiit, plus the almost limitless number of classes available, means it's much better suited to those who want a multi-functional app - an app that offers a bit of everything from the comfort of your living room. 

Is 20 minutes of stretching a day enough?

Yes, if you live a sedentary life then stretching for 20 minutes a day could be a great way to bring movement and balance back into your daily routine, explains yoga practitioner Maud Eeckman. "However, if you're hyper-mobile, 20 minutes of stretching could aggravate and cause instability in the body," she warns. "In those circumstances, strengthening exercises would be better."

Yoga teacher Georgie Davies agrees. "I would say the most important thing is to move your body every day, whether that be through stretching, yoga, running, swimming as a workout, or other forms of exercise. It's having a variety of movements that's important," she tells woman&home. "If you're taking part in a lot of cardio or strength training without stretching, I would recommend building this into your routine so your body has a combination of strength and mobility."

What happens to your body when you start stretching? 

If you've just started mobility work, you should start to see some physical and mental changes occur pretty quickly, our experts agree. "Stretching helps to create flexibility in the body and so helps to increase mobility within the joints," says Davies, who is also the founder of Yogipod. "The phrase 'use it or lose it' is also totally applicable to stretching, muscle health, and mobility, so the more we use our bodies the stronger they become. If you start stretching every day then it's likely you'll notice more range of motion, less muscular aches after exercise, and when combined with strength training as well, a reduced risk of injury."

Although, stretching is about more than just improved mobility. It's about finding the balance of mind as well. As Eeckman explains, "It can help the body begin to release stored emotions. These are the emotions stored under the fascia, a connective tissue which surrounds all the muscles in your body. With a consistent stretching routine people can expect to feel less stiff, feel calmer, and have a better ability to respond to situations rather than react to them."