Apple will begin offering its new subscription-based fitness program, primarily designed to work in conjunction with the Apple Watch, on December 14th. Apple Fitness+ was initially revealed during the company’s iPhone presentation in September and will provide guided exercise routines accessible on iPhone, iPad, and Apple TV, utilizing real-time health data from the Apple Watch’s monitoring capabilities.

At its debut, the fitness program will encompass 10 distinct workout categories, such as High Intensity Interval Training (HIIT), strength training, yoga, dance, core exercises, cycling, indoor walking and running, rowing, and cooldown sessions. These sessions will be led by certified trainers chosen by Apple to deliver the interactive experiences, and will feature music from popular contemporary artists, according to the company.

The interactive features are largely driven by data from the Apple Watch, displaying metrics like heart rate, timers, and visual cues to celebrate the completion of Activity rings. This represents a similar level of integration to services like Peloton, but doesn’t necessitate the purchase of specialized equipment like a connected stationary bike or treadmill.

Key features of the service also include a personalized recommendation system. This system utilizes user data, including completed Fitness+ courses, Apple Watch Workout App activity, and information from integrated third-party health and fitness applications through Apple Health, to suggest new workouts, trainers, and exercise plans. Apple’s utilization of third-party integrations is noteworthy, as it leverages its platform to enhance service personalization.

Apple plans to consistently update the service with fresh content across all workout types on a weekly basis, offering a range of intensity and difficulty levels. Users of Fitness+ will also have the option to share their workouts with friends and family, and participate in competitive challenges within the app.

An optional integration with Apple Music allows users to save favorite songs and playlists discovered during workouts to their personal libraries. However, an Apple Music subscription is not required to enjoy the music featured in the training videos, which are categorized into different selectable styles or genres.

Apple Fitness+ will be available starting December 14th, priced at $9.99 per month, or $79.99 for a full year paid in advance. The service is also included as part of Apple’s new Apple One Premier subscription bundle.

This launch represents a significant challenge to established subscription fitness services, including Peloton. Apple’s bundled offerings, combined with the flexibility and seamless synchronization across its devices, may appeal to beginners and those new to more dedicated training regimens, although the absence of live classes could be a drawback for some users.