Exercise API comparison table (2026)
The table compares the four exercise data sources developers most often shortlist. WorkoutX figures come from our published docs and pricing. Competitor cells use well-known public facts only; where a number depends on a marketplace listing or project policy, we say "check listing" instead of guessing.
| Criteria | WorkoutX | ExerciseDB | wger | free-exercise-db |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hosting / access | Hosted REST API at api.workoutxapp.com/v2 (v1 also on RapidAPI) | RapidAPI marketplace listing only | Open source; public instance or self-hosted | Static JSON + images on GitHub; no hosted API |
| Exercise count | 1,900+ (2,700+ clips, male and female models) | ~1,400 | Community-maintained; varies | Static dataset; check repository |
| Media type | 600×720 MP4 video per exercise, 30 fps (v1: GIFs) | Animated GIFs | Static images | Static image sequences (no GIFs) |
| Free tier | 500 requests in total, 30 req/min, no credit card; watermarked previews | Varies / check listing | Free, open source | Free download |
| Paid pricing | Starter $19, Growth $39, Scale $79 per month; Enterprise custom | Varies / check listing | No paid API tiers; self-hosting costs are yours | None |
| Calorie / MET data | Yes, MET and calories per minute | Not standard | Limited | No |
| AI workout generation | Yes: /v2/workout/generate (Growth and Scale), /v2/workout/program (Scale) | No | No | No |
| Multi-language | English plus TR, DE, ES, FR, zh-SG, zh-HK via ?lang= | Not standard | Varies | English only |
| Commercial-use notes | Included on all plans, incl. Free (watermarked); media is streaming-only; see Terms of Service | Governed by the RapidAPI listing and marketplace terms | Varies per contributed asset; check each license | Per the repository's license file |
ExerciseDB and wger are both legitimate, widely used options. The differences above are about distribution, media and extra endpoints, not overall quality. For licensing detail, read the exercise GIF API licensing guide.
Which exercise API should you choose?
If you need animated demonstrations and a direct commercial license
Choose WorkoutX or ExerciseDB; both serve animated demonstrations — WorkoutX v2 as 720p MP4 video, ExerciseDB as GIFs. WorkoutX is reachable directly with an X-WorkoutX-Key header and includes commercial use on every plan, while ExerciseDB's terms and limits live in its RapidAPI listing. The head-to-head is in WorkoutX vs ExerciseDB.
If you want open source and are happy to self-host
Choose wger. You get an open-source project you can run yourself and a community-contributed database. Plan for static images rather than GIFs, and check the license of each image or text entry before shipping commercially.
If you only need a one-time static dataset
Choose free-exercise-db. It's a JSON dataset with image sequences you download and bundle, so there is no API, rate limit or uptime to depend on — but also no updates unless you pull them, no calorie data and English only.
If you are building an AI workout generator or fitness chatbot
Choose WorkoutX Growth or Scale. /v2/workout/generate returns a full session (warmup, exercises with sets/reps/rest, cooldown) and Scale adds multi-week programs, so you don't write workout-assembly logic. Already on ExerciseDB? The ExerciseDB migration guide maps the endpoints.
How we compiled this comparison
Disclosure: this page is published by WorkoutX, one of the providers compared. WorkoutX data (exercise count, plans, prices, endpoints, languages) was checked against our live documentation on October 13, 2026. Competitor information is limited to widely known, publicly documented facts about how each project is distributed. We did not publish competitor prices or rate limits because they are set by marketplace listings or project policies that change; cells marked "Varies / check listing" should be verified with each provider. Spot an error? Contact us and we will correct it.
Frequently asked questions
What is the best exercise database API in 2026?
It depends on your needs. WorkoutX suits apps that want 720p exercise animations, direct API access, calorie data and AI workout generation; ExerciseDB suits teams already using RapidAPI; wger suits open-source, self-hosted projects; free-exercise-db suits apps that only need a static dataset.
What is the difference between ExerciseDB and wger?
ExerciseDB is a GIF-based exercise API distributed exclusively through RapidAPI. wger is an open-source project with a community-contributed exercise database that uses static images and can be self-hosted or used via a public instance.
Is there a free exercise API with GIFs?
ExerciseDB has GIFs; its free tier terms are set by its RapidAPI listing, so check the current listing. WorkoutX's Free plan includes 500 requests in total and 30 requests per minute with no credit card, but WorkoutX v2 delivers MP4 video animations instead of GIFs (watermarked previews on Free): a GIF at the same quality is several times larger, and every platform plays MP4 natively.
Which exercise APIs include calorie or MET data?
WorkoutX includes MET values and calories per minute for every exercise, plus a calorie estimate endpoint (/v2/exercises/{id}/calories). Calorie data is not a standard field in ExerciseDB, is limited in wger, and is not included in free-exercise-db.
Is free-exercise-db an API?
No. free-exercise-db is a static, open dataset of JSON and image sequences that you download and host yourself. There is no hosted API, so there are no rate limits, but also no live updates.
Try the API in the comparison
Get a free WorkoutX key with 500 requests in total and no credit card, then compare responses yourself.