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If you’ve been a fan of the Marvel movies since the cinematic universe began in 2008, then you know quite a few of the lead actors went through pretty intense fitness programs to build muscle and transform into superheroes on the big screen. One of the earliest examples was Chris Hemsworth, who has played the Norse god Thor since 2011.
After playing a buff hero for years, Chris Hemsworth has created a workout app revolving around building muscle, eating right, and practicing mindfulness called the Centr app. In addition to offering an abundance of strength training programs developed by a panel of experts, there are also meal plans and meditation sessions available.
But the big question is: Is Centr worth your time? In our Centr review, we’ll go over the app’s features and standout pros and cons so you can determine if this app is right for you and your fitness goals.
Worthy of Expert Product Testing
No one on our GGR panel of experts has been worthy enough to pick up Thor’s hammer Mjolnir like Chris Hemsworth…yet. However, our testing team of certified personal trainers, lifting coaches, and competitive athletes has proven worthy in giving you top reviews on fitness products on the market, from strength and cardio equipment to supplement stacks and health and wellness apps. Our combined decades of experience makes us a source you can rely on.
We’ve tested over 50 other workout apps, giving each app scores based on our testing methodology, which cover aspects such as:
- Trial period and pricing
- App setup
- Ease of use
- Accountability and interactive features
- Level of instruction
- Equipment demands and workout variety
For this Centr app review, we took the app through the same methodology, having two people test it out: GGR Performance Editor Anthony O’Reilly, CPT, and GGR Social Media Manager Brittany Combs. And even though Brittany is a self-proclaimed fan girl of the Thor actor, both of our product testers gave honest feedback in their testing of the app.
Centr
Centr Fitness App
Product Highlights
- Fitness, nutrition, and mental health app
- Vast library of workouts and programs
- Healthy recipe database
- Track both workouts and recipes
- Meditations guided by Chris Hemsworth
Pros & Cons
Pros
- Affordable monthly price
- More than just workouts
- Ultra thorough instruction using text and photos
- Private Facebook community
- Easy-to-use app
Cons
- No interactive coaching
- No suited for beginners
Bottom Line
CENTR Fitness app is everything you need in one place: workout library, nutritious recipes, and mental health resources. The app is also easy-to-use well organized so you can keep track of your workouts and recipes. It’s also pretty affordable with all three billing options under $30 per month. You can pay monthly, quarterly, or annually.
A Quick Look at Centr
Centr began in 2019, founded by Chris Hemsworth. He was inspired to create the app after spending several years getting in shape to play a superhero in Hollywood movies. During his time as Thor, he became connected with personal trainer Luke Zocchi, as well as several other fitness and health experts to prepare him for roles and to improve his general well-being.
Centr shares that goal of self-improvement by giving users access to Hemsworth’s expert team of nutritionists and personal trainers who can help guide you on your fitness or weight loss journey.
It’s important to note, however, that this won’t directly connect you to a one-on-one personal coach, like the Future app does. Instead, daily workouts are led by an expert trainer, or they’re self-guided workouts, programmed by an expert team of fitness professionals.
Centr takes a holistic approach to health, by also having part of the app dedicated to meal planning. After an initial quiz, the app will recommend meals and recipes, and then create a shopping list based on those meals. GGR performance editor Anthony O’Reilly says of the recipes offered, “I can’t stress enough how much I like the recipe section—their food is kickass.”
Although Chris Hemsworth has sold the company since its creation, he remains a shareholder and is still heavily involved in its marketing and strategy.
Before You Buy
- Although this app has good strength training programs suitable for home gyms, there are a variety of other workouts and features available: recipe planning, pilates, yoga, bodyweight exercises, HIIT, functional training, and meditation exercises for mental health.
- The biggest lacking feature of Centr is a lack of interactivity and accountability features. If you’re looking for a fitness app that will help hold you accountable, or that has a social presence to keep you motivated, this is probably not the best app for you.
Is Centr Worth It?
Compared to other fitness apps, Centr is middle-of-the-road price-wise, at $29.99 for one month. However, you can save with three- and 12-month subscriptions, which come out to $19.99 or $7.50 per month, respectively. Additionally, Centr offers a seven-day free trial. Because of this, we give the pricing and trial period both a 3 out of 5.
However, the app has decent value, as there is a lot you can do with it. Along with high-intensity workouts and resistance training, the meal plans can help you eat better long-term. In addition, there are meditation exercises and sleep visualizations all used to better your mental health.
GGR Social Media Manager Brittany Combs says of the value, “If you’re going to commit to using it for a longer term, the three-month or one-year option makes it a great value, especially if you take advantage of the healthy meal suggestion planner and automated grocery list.”
Anthony sees the value of the app as well, but warns that it’s not for everyone; since there’s little accountability or interactive features, you have to utilize all of the app to make it worth your money. “I wouldn’t recommend it for weekend warriors,” he says. “Fitness has to be your life for this to be worth it.” Overall, we give the value a 4 out of 5.
Great for:
- Those looking for an app to take a holistic approach to wellness
- Athletes wanting a muscle-building program
- Fitness enthusiasts who also want help in meal planning
Not recommended for:
- Fitness lovers looking for a free workout app
- People only wanting fitness workouts, without mindfulness training
- Those needing accountability in their fitness program
Centr Specs
| Price | $29.99 monthly, $59.99 for 3 months, or $89.99 yearly |
| Trial period | 7 days |
| Type of training | Strength training, HIIT, yoga |
| Equipment demands | Bodyweight, home gym, and commercial gym options |
| Availability | Android, iOS, Apple Watch |
Using the Centr App
When you sign up for Centr, you get a lot of daily activities at your fingertips: daily Centr workouts personalized to your fitness level, whether you’re a beginner, intermediate, or advanced gym goer; meal plan suggestions that will cater to your needs, as well as auto-populate a shopping list; and mindfulness exercises to help you retain a positive attitude during workouts and rest days alike.
Let’s take a deeper dive into the features of Centr, and what our product testers thought of the workout program.
Pricing and Trial Period
Centr offers a seven-day free trial to try out the app, which in our opinion isn’t a lot of time—especially with the variety of features Centr has—earning a 3 out of 5 for trials. Prices start at just under $30 per month, with three-month and one-year options, which will significantly reduce the monthly cost. With that in mind, the pricing also gets a 3 out of 5, although getting the yearly option can drop your cost to just $7.50 per month.
For these extended subscription lengths though, make sure you’re committed to using the app’s full features, such as the meal planning, workout tracking, and meditation guides. “That’s where you’ll get your money’s worth,” says performance editor Anthony O’Reilly, CPT.
App Setup and Ease of Use
The app is very easy to get started with, earning a 5 out of 5 in our testing. GGR social media manager Brittany Combs explains, “It’s a quick setup. Make an account, and then you have a quiz in the beginning asking for basic fitness information and what your fitness goals are.”
The app also scores highly for its ease of use, earning a 4.5 out of 5. While Anthony had no problems navigating the app, Brittany had some issues with the meal planning at first. “I didn’t have any trouble following the workouts and figuring out how to navigate the programs, and using the logbook is great,” she explains, adding, “One thing I don’t love about the meal planning section though is that you cannot add your own meals to it.”
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The meal planning section only gives recommendations, so you can’t use it to add your own meals and track macros in that manner. “If you’re wanting an app to track workouts and your own meals, this probably isn’t the right app for you,” Brittany remarks.
Instruction
Both of our testers were impressed with the level of instruction for each workout, giving the level of instruction a 5 out of 5. Workouts aren’t live, but are self-guided or led by one of the expert trainers on the Centr staff. They ensure in the coached workouts, that they are guiding you along the entire way.
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A few workouts are even led by Chris Hemsworth himself. Brittany says, “Those are my favorite workouts, because…well, who doesn’t want to feel like Thor himself is talking right at you?” (We promise her fan status didn’t affect the review.)
Anthony adds that the instructions are “very thorough. It spells out just about everything through text, photos, and video instructions.”
Programming
The flagship program, Centr Power, is designed by both Hemsworth and personal trainer Luke Zocchi. The program is available in two formats, either for at-home workouts or commercial gym use. Both variations follow the muscle-building concept of progressive overload over the 13 weeks of the program, earning a 5 out of 5 in progressive overload.
There’s more than just the strength training program, however. While the workouts are geared toward resistance and strength training, the app still provides a variety of bodyweight, yoga, pilates, and HIIT workouts to do each day. Workouts also vary by length and fitness level. Brittany explains, “The programs range from three to 13 weeks, but the majority are 6 or 8 weeks. The programs can be repeated too with increasing weights.” With a good balance of beginner and advanced workouts as well, she gives the workout variety a 3.5 out of 5.
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Equipment Demands
Because of the variety of workouts available, the equipment demands can vary depending on the training program. While many workouts will require dumbbells, Olympic barbells, or other free weights, there are a good amount of workouts requiring little to no equipment, too. You’re also able to filter out equipment you may not have access to. The app earns a 4 out of 5 for the ability to customize your equipment needs.
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Accountability
Anthony rated the accountability of the Centr app a 4 out of 5, saying, “You need to sign up for a specific program before it sends you push notifications that remind you to workout. If you don’t do that, you might get nothing.”
To his point, Brittany stuck to daily workouts, not opting for a program, and never saw any push notifications during her time with the app. While the app has great programs, there isn’t much else for staying accountable aside from notifications, which you’ll have to turn on to actually get. For a self-motivated individual, this shouldn’t be an issue, but if you need that push extrinsically, you’ll need a better app that can give you a push beyond a notification.
Interactive Features
The weakest point in the Centr app is its lack of interactive features, earning just a 1 out of 5 here. You’re basically on your own when you use the app, with no connection to a personal coach or an online community. For anyone who needs support from an online community to achieve their fitness goals, they may want to try a different app out.
Comparison to Caliber Strength Training
Caliber
Caliber Strength Training
Product Highlights
- Strength training and nutrition app
- Personalized, data-driven workout programs
- Expert habit coaching
- Free and paid versions
- Private 1:1 coaching available
- Weekly lessons, metric tracking, nutrition syncing
Pros & Cons
Pros
- Scientifically-based training plans
- Individualized coaching for both fitness and nutrition with paid subscriptions is reported to be very thorough
- Free version offers a library of curated workout plans
- Reportedly easy-to-use
Cons
- Personalized macronutrient goals only available with paid versions
Bottom Line
Caliber Strength Training is a fitness coaching program grounded in scientific principles designed to increase strength and improve body composition. The app offers both group and individual training plans which are written and modified by a certified coach based on progress.
I feel that in order to get your money’s worth with Centr, you need to utilize most, if not all, of the entire app. One nice thing about our comparison app Caliber is that you basically pay for the version you feel you’ll use most.
Caliber offers three tiers of payment options:
- A free-forever version that creates personalized strength training workouts for you
- A Pro version, which includes group class sessions
- A Premium version with a one-on-one personal coach
Basically, based on the level of accountability or interaction you need, Caliber can supply that through its different tiers. For an advanced lifter who doesn’t need motivation through a personal coach, the free version will probably work just fine. However, for beginners, the app’s premium version offers personalized programming and coaching.
Centr still has a few features missing from Caliber, which focuses on just strength training. Centr offers a holistic approach, also suggesting meals to prepare and offering mindfulness exercises. However, if you aren’t concerned with those factors quite yet, and need more accountability, Caliber is a great solution.
You can read more in our Caliber app review.
| Centr | Caliber | |
| Price | $29.99 monthly, $59.99 for 3 months, or $89.99 yearly | Free version, $19 monthly (Pro), or $200+ per month (Premium) |
| Trial period | 7 days | Free version available at all times |
| Type of training | Strength training, HIIT, yoga, pilates | Strength training |
| Equipment demands | Bodyweight, home gym, and commercial gym options | Bodyweight, home gym, and commercial gym options |
| Availability | Android, iOS, Apple Watch | Android and iOS |
Customer Experience
Brittany and Anthony didn’t directly have to contact customer service, but from reading customer reviews, the company seems very responsive and quick to help customers, giving the customer experience a 4 out of 5. Additionally, it’s very easy to cancel your subscription, as easy as logging into your app store subscriptions with your iTunes or Google account (depending on whether you’re using an Android or iOS device) and hitting the cancel button.
Customer Reviews
As of this writing, Centr has a customer rating of 4.7 out of 5 stars on the Apple app store from over 16,000 reviews. Most positive reviews like the wholesome approach to health, with one user saying, “I’ve never seen such innovation in balancing a healthy lifestyle. This app raises the stakes for companies and developers alike. This is not a tailored approach to your specific needs. It is a tailored lifestyle guide for anybody to live healthy and wholesome.”
Most negative reviews didn’t find as much satisfaction from the holistic approach to health. One user felt that everything fell a little short, saying in his 3-star customer review, “First of all, the workouts were challenging, but simple and mundane…Most days I would skip [the meditation exercises] because I work out in the afternoon and wouldn’t see them during the day…As for the diet, well, it’s just ridiculous. There was one breakfast recipe that required an hour of preparation? Not even on a weekend day would that make sense.”
Some other customer reviews were upset about not being refunded their subscription after trying to cancel. However, these people didn’t ask for refunds during their seven-day trial. If you’re considering canceling, make sure to do it before the seven-day trial ends.
Final Verdict of Our Centr Review
Centr is a good fitness app backed by many experts in the field of strength training and personal training. Along with a diverse range of workouts, the app also approaches health and fitness from a holistic approach, incorporating meal planning and meditation.
Is it right for you though? It depends; for its price, using all of its features can certainly make it worth your while. Plus, you get workouts from Thor star Chris Hemsworth.
However, if you don’t think you’d use all the features of Centr, it may not be the ideal fit for you. Furthermore, with a lack of interactive features, some users may want a different app to hold themselves accountable.
Full Rating
Centr
CENTR Fitness app is everything you need in one place: workout library, nutritious recipes, and mental health resources. The app is also easy-to-use well organized so you can keep track of your workouts and recipes. It’s also pretty affordable with all three billing options under $30 per month. You can pay monthly, quarterly, or annually.
Product Brand: Centr
Product Currency: $
Product Price: 29.99
Product In-Stock: InStock
3.9
Centr Review: FAQs
How expensive is the Centr app?
Centr costs $29.99 per month. Alternatively, you can pay $59.99 for three months or $89.99 for one year, which will reduce your cost per month.
Is Chris Hemsworth still involved in Centr?
Yes, although Chris Hemsworth sold Centr, he is still a shareholder. Additionally, he is still involved with the making of training programs and marketing as well.
What is included in a Centr subscription?
Centr provides a personalized plan of workouts, meals, and mindfulness exercises to each of its users, to provide a wholesome approach to wellness. Along with that, meal recipes will generate into a shopping list to make buying groceries easy. Furthermore, users can track progress and workouts, as well as integrate fitness trackers, like an Apple watch.
Further reading
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