Marvel-ous: After 7 years, Chris Hemsworth’s Centr app has quietly transformed into one of the best fitness platforms on mobile
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Center: 1 minute review
Few fitness apps are named after a real Hollywood star. Chris Hemsworth, the actor who plays Thor, is putting his money where his muscles are with Centr, a holistic workout app that manages just about every aspect of your fitness journey. The app has content about food to help you plan rest days and, of course, the workouts themselves, and it does a really good job in all aspects.
Daily workout classes can be accessed within the app, as well as self-guided workout plans incorporating both strength training and cardio, with ratios based on your chosen goal. I was impressed by the diversity of workouts offered; Although I’ve primarily used Fitbod for the past couple of years, this particular app essentially just keeps spinning exercises and workouts forever, with no real plan aside from the user setting a goal.
This made Centr’s method of working, with exercise programs spanning days and weeks, much easier for me to follow, especially since it does a great job of layering in rest or active recovery days. Centr can work with whatever equipment you have, whether it’s bodyweight-only exercises, a full gym, or anywhere in between, and the whole app seems carefully designed to make it easy to switch out exercises or replace them with different amounts of weight.
Besides the workouts, there is a really impressive recipe section that made me want to invest more in meal plans and mindfulness tools to unwind after a hard day at work. One of my favorite features is that your plan is viewable online through the Centr website, making it easy to track your progress or prepare the included recipes on your laptop.
The problem is that all of this comes with a hefty price tag, at least if you pay monthly. $30 a month will be a tough pill to swallow for many casual users, but you can save a lot by opting for the $139.99 / £114.99 / AU$360 annual plan. There is a free trial, but you can only enjoy it for a week, so make sure you get the most out of it.
For those looking for a holistic fitness and wellness tool, Centr will check a lot of boxes. Not only is it packed with features, but the app is much easier to navigate than some competitors that do less.
Center: Prices and availability
- The monthly cost is steep at $29.99 / £19.66 / $29.99 per month
- Annual plan significantly reduces costs to $11.67 / £9.58 / AU$13.33 per month
- iOS and Android
Centr is available globally on the App Store and Play Store, which means it’s ideal for iOS and Android users.
That works out to $29.99 / £19.66 / $29.99 per month, which is more than many of its competitors like Fitbod or PUSH, but paying for a year brings that down to $11.67 / £9.58 / AU$13.33 per month, a significant drop.
Center: Dashboard
|
Category |
Comment |
Score |
|
Value |
Expensive per month, which means an annual subscription is the only real solution. |
4/5 |
|
Design |
The initial quiz is handy for setting things up and the app is easy to use. |
5/5 |
|
Features |
Wide variety of programs (including no-equipment options), mindfulness, and even recipes. |
5/5 |
|
Performance |
No body scan exercises, but very detailed and therefore very easy to follow instructions. |
4.5/5 |
Center: Should I buy?
Buy it if…
Don’t buy it if…
Also consider
| Row 0 – Cell 0 |
Center |
Fitbod |
Push |
|
Platforms |
iOS/Android |
iOS/Android |
iOS/Android |
|
Price |
$29.99 per month, $120 per year |
$15.99 per month, $95.99 per year |
$15.49 per month, $89.99 per year |
|
Devices |
iPhone, Android phone, Apple Watch |
iPhone, Android phone, Apple Watch |
iPhone, Android phone |
|
Guided content |
No |
No |
Yes |
|
Video content |
Yes |
Yes |
Your |
How I tested
I took Centr to the gym for three weeks, working out with the app installed on my iPhone 15 Pro Max and then on an iPhone 17 Pro Max. I also used the web interface to more easily read the recipe guides.
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