6 November 2026 · 6 min read

Best app to save workout videos: a buyer's checklist

Saving is not the same as training

Most of us already save workout videos. They pile up in a folder and rarely get used, because a video is hard to follow with a barbell in your hands. An app that fixes this should turn each video into a list of exercises, sets and reps, then let you follow it and record what you lift. The checklist below is built around that job.

The checklist

1. Which platforms does it read? Check that it handles the places you actually save from, such as Instagram, TikTok, YouTube or Facebook, and which kinds of post (Reels, carousels, Shorts).
2. Does it handle more than links? Ask whether screenshots, screen recordings, a photo of a gym whiteboard and pasted text work too, because not every video can be shared as a link.
3. How are mistakes flagged? Reading a video is not perfect. Look for an app that marks what it is unsure about, rather than quietly guessing numbers.
4. How easy is it to fix them? You should be able to correct an exercise, set or rep count quickly before you train.
5. Can you log sets and see progress? A saved workout is only useful if you can record weight and reps and see what you did last time.
6. What is free, and what are the limits? Find out which imports are free, which need a paid plan, and whether there is a monthly cap.
7. What does it cost? Compare monthly and yearly prices, and check whether there is a free trial.
8. What does it do with your data? Read the privacy policy. Check what stays on your phone, what is sent to servers, which services read it, and what you can switch off.
9. Can you export your data? You should be able to take your history with you if you leave.
10. Do you need an account? Some apps require one before you can do anything. Others work without it.

Also credit the creators. Workouts belong to the people who made them, so a good app keeps the creator credited and links back to the original post.

How FollowSet does on that list

1. Platforms. Workout videos you can share from Instagram (Reels, posts and photo carousels), TikTok, YouTube (regular videos and Shorts) and Facebook. FollowSet reads a YouTube video itself up to about 3 minutes; for a longer one it can still read a workout written in the description. It is an iPhone app and needs iOS 26 or later.
2. More than links. Yes. You can import a video link (your first 3 are free, then it is part of Pro), screenshots, screen recordings, a photo of a gym whiteboard, or pasted text. Importing screenshots, recordings, a whiteboard photo and text is available on the free plan.
3. Flagging mistakes. Unsure exercises and sets are highlighted for a one-tap check. Numbers are only filled in when the video actually says them, never guessed.
4. Fixing them. Unsure exercises and sets are marked, so you fix them in one tap before you train. FollowSet can get things wrong, so check every workout before you train with it.
5. Logging and progress. It logs weight and reps for every set, shows last time and suggests what to try next, and has a rest timer, personal records, charts, a calendar, badges and streaks.
6. Free and limits. Free: follow and log workouts, import screenshots, recordings and text (a few a month), progress, records and badges, and 252 exercise demos. Your first 3 video links are free, after that importing from a video link is part of Pro, with no limit on imports.
7. Price. Pro Monthly is $4.99 a month. Pro Yearly is $34.99 a year, with a 1-week free trial. These are US prices, and your App Store shows the price in your currency. Subscriptions renew automatically unless cancelled at least 24 hours before the end of the period.
8. Privacy. Screenshots, photos and screen recordings are read on your iPhone. Shared links are read by our servers (Google Cloud), and a screen recording only goes there if you allow it. See how imports work and our Privacy Policy.
9. Export. You can export your history any time from Settings.
10. Account. Not needed. Signing in with Apple or email is optional, if you want your settings and Pro to follow you to a new phone.

Try before you pay

Whichever app you pick, test it on a workout you actually saved. Import one video, check how many things it flags, fix them and run the session. If you want to see how FollowSet does this, our guide to turning Instagram workout Reels into a gym log walks through it, and the pricing section shows what is free and what is Pro.

Questions