Are Online Fitness Platforms Worth It for Midlife and Older Adults?

Impressions of Video Library Sites

I’ve been interested in exercise libraries for some time. I recall, more than a decade ago, paying to download a Pilates and a yoga video I still return to today. Simple, practical, and durable—those videos held up over time.

Since then, things have changed. Exercise libraries have become more sophisticated, more subscription-based, and often tied to their own branded equipment. Maybe it was Covid that kicked the “train from home” trend into high gear—or maybe it’s just the appeal of working out whenever you want, on your own schedule. Whatever the case, we’re now living in an era where you can subscribe to a fitness library instead of going to a gym.

My current interest is a bit different. I’m focused on building a platform designed for people in their 40s, 50s, and 60s who are thinking about how to stay strong, mobile, and adventurous as they transition from midlife into retirement. That got me wondering: does anything like that already exist? Are video-based training tracks aimed at this age group already out there?

To find out, I explored a few of the more visible exercise library sites. Here are my impressions.

Daily Burn

Stream full-body workouts anytime, anywhere — from HIIT to yoga, for every fitness level.

Daily Burn positions itself as a high-energy, high-variety workout platform with everything from strength training to yoga and dance. But before you even get to the content, you’re hit with a big wall: the site is entirely geared toward funneling you into a subscription. No sample videos. No sneak peeks. Just a 30-day risk-free trial—with a required credit card—hoping, perhaps, that you’ll forget to cancel.

They make sweeping claims like, “Thousands have transformed their physical, mental, and emotional well-being,” but there’s no real evidence to support this. And while they do have a broad fitness blog filled with articles on workouts and wellness, much of the content seems AI-generated and a little fluffy—think “5 Ways to Make a Protein Bar” or “10 Life Hacks to Kickstart Your Workout.”

Navigation isn’t easy, and the design feels more focused on marketing than substance. There’s no clear target audience—they offer a little of everything, but nothing is curated specifically for aging adults or people with different needs. Gimmicky endorsements from media outlets don’t help either.

Verdict: All sizzle, very little steak—especially for those looking for age-specific programming.

Pvolve

 Pvolve is exercise programs tightly integrated with its own line of branded equipment.

Pvolve makes no secret about what it’s selling: it’s a platform tightly integrated with its own line of branded equipment. Resistance bands, ankle weights, and what they call their “P.ball” are all front and center. The promise? Buy our gear, and our method—functional movement plus resistance—will reshape your body.

To their credit, Pvolve does give you access to a number of sample videos before you commit. That’s a plus. But the workouts themselves are not groundbreaking; they just repackage familiar tools like bands and sliders under new branding. The equipment is also expensive compared to similar items on the market.

Their language is full of bold (and questionable) claims, including “clinically proven to help women live younger, longer.” The site also clearly skews toward a female demographic. There’s a personalized quiz that supposedly customizes a program, but in the end, it mostly funnels you toward buying a bundle of gear.

Verdict:  The pic of Jennifer Aniston marketing the program should be all you need to know. Slick and polished, but feels more like an e-commerce site than a true community or training platform. Better suited for affluent, wellness-focused women than for older adults training for functional aging.

The Ready State

A great site for helping with Mobility, but not for the beginner.

This is the brainchild of Dr. Kelly Starrett, a name many in the fitness world will recognize. Unlike the marketing-heavy sites above, The Ready State is about performance and pain-free movement.

Their Mobility App offers daily mobilization routines (ranging from 5 to 30 minutes), prep and recovery protocols tailored to activities like running or lifting, and self-assessment tools for gauging joint mobility. There’s also a 12-week Longevity Program, which touches on the aging body more directly.

This site isn’t for everyone—it’s not about hand-holding beginners—but if you’ve been active for years and want to stay that way, it’s one of the best mobility resources out there. I’ve used it personally and can vouch for the clarity and utility of the content.

Verdict: Ideal for active midlifers who want to maintain movement quality and recover better. Less of a lifestyle brand, more of a precision tool.

Age Bold

Focused on the 70+ crowd with limited movement

Finally, one that actually focuses on older adults. Age Bold offers low-impact workout programs aimed at improving balance, strength, and reducing chronic pain. Their real emphasis? Fall prevention, mobility, and joint-friendly movement—especially for those over 70.

They include assessments in the program, such as measuring upper body strength via 30-second arm curls. Their classes cover everything from strength and mobility to Tai Chi, meditation, and even dance. All are beginner-friendly and equipment-optional.

A lot of their model is oriented around integration with health plans or insurance, which means it’s often pitched as preventative healthcare more than performance training.

Verdict: Great for true beginners or those with serious mobility issues, but probably too gentle for active 50- and 60-somethings looking to build power, agility, or high-functioning independence.

So… Are These Libraries Worth It?

The truth? It depends on who you are, what stage of life you’re in, and what you're training for.

If you’re looking for a range of options, Daily Burn might do, but you get no videos to sample.  Its pure gives us your card and cancel if you don’t like it. If you love accessories and don’t mind paying for them, Pvolve could work. If your joints are aching and you want smart recovery and movement restoration, The Ready State is a top-tier resource. And if you’re over 65 and want a beginners introduction to fitness, Age Bold could be perfect.

But none of these are designed for people in their 40s to 60s who are concerned about losing muscle mass, VO2, grip strength, and fast twitch muscles.  What I call the people who want to maintain strength, balance, and mobility— well into their 60s, 70s and beyond,   not just to look better, but to keep hiking, swimming, skiing, and chasing grandkids.

A Final Thought: What’s Missing?

What I haven’t found yet is a training library designed for people in midlife who want to enable their Go-Go years as long as possible, and avoid the traps of muscle mass and fast twitch muscle loss and VO2 and grip strength declines. To develop training that uses low-cost tools—like Bosu balls, sliders, resistance bands, and mini-bands—to challenge stability and coordination.

Would a video library using certain niche tools, like Bosu, Resistance Bands, etc. to help people in midlife and beyond stay strong and mobile be of interest? 

The question FutureFitYou asks now is would a focused video library using these tools—and designed around the realities of aging bodies that still want to play—be of interest?

Let me know what you think. Hit reply, drop a comment, or just keep following along.