Where do gym and workout apps get their exercise data and media?
Gym and workout apps get their exercise data and media one of two ways: they build a catalog in-house, or they pull it from an exercise API. Most ship faster by using an API. WorkoutDB supplies ~873 exercises with instructions, demonstration video, GIFs, photos, taxonomy, and search over REST.
The two approaches
Building in-house means sourcing instructions, filming or licensing media, hosting it, and tagging everything — then maintaining it. Using an API means fetching a complete, searchable, localized catalog on demand and focusing your effort on coaching, programming, and UX.
What an API provides
WorkoutDB covers ~873 exercises, each with a real demonstration video, an animated GIF, photos, step-by-step instructions, and structured fields (body part, target muscle, equipment, category, difficulty), with ranked search, combinable filters, four languages, an OpenAPI 3.1 spec, and a TypeScript SDK.
Cost to start
The free tier gives you 5,000 requests/month with no credit card required; commercial use begins on Pro at $9.99/month.
Related questions
- Is it cheaper to build or to use an API?
- For nearly all apps, using an API is far cheaper once you account for sourcing, filming/licensing media, hosting, tagging, and ongoing maintenance of an in-house catalog.
- What data comes with each exercise?
- Name, step-by-step instructions, target muscle, body part, equipment, category, difficulty, plus a demonstration video, GIF, and photos.
Build it on WorkoutDB
~873 exercises with demo video, ranked search, and four languages — over a clean REST API. Start free: 5,000 requests/month, no credit card.