What is a Tabata workout?
Tabata is a form of high-intensity interval training: eight rounds of 20 seconds of hard work separated by 10 seconds of rest, four minutes in total. It comes from research by Dr. Izumi Tabata into short, very intense interval protocols. Because the intervals are fixed and unforgiving, the whole thing lives or dies on the timer — which is why it is worth having one that keeps you honest and, ideally, entertained.
This app runs that protocol with push-ups. You need no equipment and no gym, just a floor and four minutes. Every interval is adjustable if you want something longer, shorter or gentler.
What you get
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A coach with a pulse
A voice coach counts you down, announces the rounds and cheers you on by name. Male, female or random, speaking any of 14 languages.
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A rep counter that watches, not records
Point the front camera at yourself and it counts your push-ups as your upper body rises and falls. All of it happens on the device with Apple's Vision framework. Nothing is recorded, nothing is uploaded, nothing leaves your phone.
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A rep goal worth chasing
Set a target for each set. Hit it mid-round and the entire pile of arms detonates off the screen.
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Synthwave in the box
Licensed synthwave ships with the app, so there is music from the first launch with no subscription of any kind. Prefer your own? Turn on Apple Music and train to any playlist in your library.
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A victory selfie
Finish a workout and the camera opens with the neon title and a heap of arms over the shot. One tap sends it to the share sheet.
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Proof, by the month
Every finished workout stamps a flexed arm on the calendar, stored on your device. Fill a month and see what it looks like.
Frequently asked questions
How long is a Tabata workout?
Four minutes for the classic protocol: eight rounds of 20 seconds of work and 10 seconds of rest. In this app the rounds, work seconds and rest seconds are all adjustable, so you can run anything from a single round to twenty.
Do I need any equipment?
No. Push-ups need a floor and nothing else. Put the phone on the ground in front of you — that is also the position the rep counter expects.
How does the rep counter work, and is it private?
The front camera watches your upper body rise and fall, using Apple's Vision framework entirely on the device. No video is recorded, stored or uploaded, and there is no server involved at any point. The rep counter is optional and off until you turn it on; the camera permission is only requested at that moment.
Is there a subscription?
No. You pay once and the app is yours. There are no ads, no in-app purchases, no accounts and no newsletter.
Do I need Apple Music?
No. Synthwave tracks are built into the app and play from the first launch. Apple Music is an optional toggle for training to your own playlists, and permission is only requested if you switch it on.
Does it work on iPad?
Yes. The app is universal and runs on iPhone and iPad, in portrait and landscape.
What languages does it speak?
Fourteen: English, Swedish, Spanish, French, German, Italian, Portuguese, Japanese, Korean, Simplified and Traditional Chinese, Dutch, Polish and Turkish. The interface and the voice coach both follow your phone's language, and you can override it in settings.
What does it need to run?
iOS 26 or later, on iPhone or iPad.