Alive by Whitney Simmons

What it does

Alive is a fitness and wellness app designed to provide users with structured workout programs, daily challenges, and tools for mental well-being. It offers a library of guided workouts across various categories like Mat Pilates and strength training. Beyond physical exercise, the app integrates a journaling feature for daily thoughts and gratitude, and allows users to track their physical progress with weight logs and photos.

Where it shines

Alive excels at making fitness feel both flexible and holistic. The ability to customize a program's weekly workout frequency (03:25) or drag-and-drop the schedule in a challenge (04:45) shows a deep understanding that users need adaptability. Another highlight is the integrated Journal feature (05:44), which elevates the app beyond a simple workout log into a comprehensive wellness tool. This blend of physical and mental health support is a powerful combination.

UX highlights

Pre-Workout Control: Before starting any workout, a detailed screen (01:26) allows users to preview all exercises, favorite the routine, and adjust settings like background music. This gives users confidence and control.
Real-time Validation: During sign-up, password requirements are validated with a live checklist (00:31), reducing friction and potential errors.
Intuitive Navigation: The app uses a standard bottom tab bar for core sections like Home, Programs, Journal, and Progress, making it easy to navigate.
Clear Visual Hierarchy: Screens like the program schedule (01:15) use color and iconography effectively to distinguish between workout days and rest days.
Direct Manipulation: Features like reordering challenge days with a simple drag gesture (04:45) make the app feel responsive and user-friendly.
Contextual Actions: The floating action button in the Journal (05:49) smartly expands to offer different entry types, keeping the interface clean.

Monetization & growth

Monetization is handled upfront. After a brief, mandatory sign-up, the user encounters a soft paywall at 00:55. It offers a 7-day free trial for both monthly and annual subscription plans. There is no option to skip this screen, meaning all users must make a subscription decision to access the app's content. The app also features sharing capabilities for completed workouts (02:50) and journal entries (06:40), which can act as a social growth loop.

Who it’s for

Alive appears to be for individuals seeking a structured yet flexible approach to at-home fitness and overall wellness. The focus on programs like "Mat Sculpt" suggests a target audience interested in toning and low-impact strength training. The inclusion of a journal and progress tracking also caters to users who are motivated by seeing their physical and mental journey documented over time.

Notes & opportunities

The app forces users through a full sign-up and paywall before they can browse any content. While this likely maximizes trial conversions, it could be a point of drop-off for users who want to explore before committing. A small opportunity could be to allow browsing of program descriptions before hitting the paywall. Additionally, the process to customize a program's schedule is slightly buried in a settings menu (03:19), and could be made more discoverable on the main program screen.