HOW TO get fit FOR FREE

Forget paying hundreds of dollars a year to stay physically active With the right fitness apps and channels you can enjoy structured, guided workouts for free.

- Karen Fittall

If you feel like you're spending more on necessities these days, including things like food, housing and insurance, you're not the only one. Recent research from Monash University confirmed that most people in Australia are, often at the expense of discretionary items.

If that's meant you've recently quit spending money on exercise, it's understandable, given the average gym membership in Australia costs more than $60 a month. Then there are pilates classes, personal trainers and workout apps that require monthly subscriptions to access content.

Now for the good news. Getting and keeping fit doesn't have to cost a cent – and no, we don't just mean the obvious free options like heading outdoors for a walk or going for an ocean swim. Those activities are great, and definitely 'count' as physical activity, but it's also possible to enjoy expert-designed workouts and routines without opening your wallet.

Here are some of the best free exercise apps and YouTube channels to consider taking for a spin.

For an all-in-one app, try FitOn. Choose between cardio and strength training to high intensity interval training (HIIT), yoga, pilates and more. There are even guided meditations to try anda function that allows you to build customised workout plans tailored to your ability and goals. And while there is an option to pay for and upgrade to the app’s pro content, there's really no need to – FitOn's tagline is ‘fitness is always free’ and it more than delivers on that promise.

If you want to improve your flexibility, try