Start Apple Health Workouts from Shortcuts
Log workouts without opening an app. Start and stop real Apple Health workout sessions invisibly from Shortcuts, Siri, Control Center, or the iPhone Action Button.
No accounts, no social feeds, no coaching subscriptions, and no screens to tap through. TapWorkout does one job: it provides the missing automation actions to start and stop HealthKit workout sessions inside your personal workflows.
The Missing Automation Primitive
If you build personal automations on iOS, you have likely run into this wall: you want a single tap to start a bike commute home, switch on directions, and launch a playlist. But logging that workout in Apple Health required opening an app, waiting for it to load, selecting an activity from a picker, and tapping start manually.
Every commercial fitness app treats workouts as an engagement vehicle. They want you opening their feed, reviewing AI coaching advice, or paying a monthly subscription. None of them wanted to be an invisible step inside an automation someone else built.
TapWorkout is built specifically for people who build automations. It is not a competitor to Strava, Nike Run Club, or FitHalo. It has no feed, no social layer, no coaching, and no user accounts. It exists solely to let Apple Health workouts start and stop from outside the app.
Single-Tap Commute Shortcut
How TapWorkout chains cleanly with existing actions in the iOS Shortcuts app:
How It Works
Built directly on Apple HealthKit and App Intents for reliable, background execution.
Headless App Intents
Uses native iOS App Intents with dedicated actions for each supported activity type. Say "Start a cycling workout in TapWorkout" to Siri, or drop pre-configured actions into Shortcuts with zero prompts.
Live Activity Confirmation
Since there is no app UI to view, the Lock Screen widget and Dynamic Island Live Activity serve as immediate visual confirmation that your session is actively recording.
Controls & Action Button
Built with the iOS Controls API. Place Start and Stop controls directly into Control Center or bind them to the iPhone Action Button for instant physical-switch triggering.
Activity Types & Metrics
TapWorkout supports 8 core activity types. Outdoor workouts record GPS route, distance, elevation gain, and speed. Indoor workouts track duration.
| Activity | Tier | Location Tracking | Live Metrics |
|---|---|---|---|
| Walking | Free | GPS route + distance | Duration, distance, speed, elevation |
| Yoga | Free | None (indoor) | Duration |
| Running | Paid | GPS route + distance | Duration, distance, speed, elevation |
| Cycling | Paid | GPS route + distance | Duration, distance, speed, elevation |
| Hiking | Paid | GPS route + distance | Duration, distance, speed, elevation |
| Strength Training | Paid | None (indoor) | Duration |
| Functional Strength | Paid | None (indoor) | Duration |
| Pilates | Paid | None (indoor) | Duration |
Plain Pricing. No Subscriptions.
We do not charge recurring subscriptions for software that runs entirely on your own device.
Free Tier
$0Walking and Yoga are free forever. Start and stop workouts from Shortcuts, Siri, and the Action Button with full Live Activity support. No ads, no data collection, no account required.
Unlock All Activities
$6.99A single one-time in-app purchase unlocks all remaining activity types: Running, Cycling, Hiking, Strength Training, Functional Strength, and Pilates. One purchase, unlocked forever.
Local Architecture & Privacy
TapWorkout runs on your iPhone as a standalone client using Apple's HKWorkoutSession API. Workouts are written straight into your device's Apple Health store.
- Zero Accounts: No sign up, no email, no password.
- Zero Backend Servers: Your workouts never leave your iPhone.
- Zero Tracking: No analytics libraries, no crash telemetry, and no ad SDKs.
- On-Device GPS: Location is accessed strictly during active outdoor workouts to log route and distance to Apple Health.
System Requirements
Operating System: iOS 26.0 or later
Supported Devices: iPhone with Apple Health
Permissions: Apple Health (Workout write/read), Location (Always / While in Use for outdoor GPS tracking)
Note: Apple Watch is supported via Apple Health syncing, but not required to start or log workouts.
Frequently Asked Questions
How is TapWorkout different from Strava, Nike Run Club, or FitHalo?
TapWorkout is an automation utility, not a fitness platform. It has no feed, no leaderboards, no training advice, and no user accounts. Its only purpose is to start and stop real Apple Health workouts from Shortcuts, Siri, and the Action Button with zero required UI interaction.
Why does the app briefly open when triggered?
On iPhone, starting a primary HKWorkoutSession requires a brief foreground transition by system design. TapWorkout initiates the session immediately and steps out of the way; ongoing monitoring is handled by your Lock Screen and Dynamic Island Live Activity.
Do I need an Apple Watch?
No. TapWorkout runs standalone on your iPhone. Workouts log directly to Apple Health on your phone, with GPS routes tracked via iPhone location hardware.
Which iOS version is required?
TapWorkout requires iOS 26 or later, which enables standalone primary workout sessions on iPhone.
What happens if I trigger a locked activity type without purchasing?
In accordance with our headless-first design, a locked workout type in a Shortcut will quietly do nothing rather than interrupting your automation with a purchase popup sheet. You can unlock all activities at any time inside the app settings.
Are there any subscriptions?
No. Walking and Yoga are free forever. Unlocking the remaining 6 activities is a single, one-time purchase of $6.99. No subscriptions ever.
When will TapWorkout launch?
TapWorkout is currently in active development. Enter your email above to receive a notification as soon as it launches on the App Store.