The Best Online Barre Classes for Beginners to Barre Pros

Deciding to start an at-home workout is the easy part — butactually finding the right online workout for you is another story, especially if you are unsure what you are looking for in an at-home sweat sesh. You know you want to sweat, but on your own terms (and schedule). You want a challenge, but it needs to be low impact. Oh, and you also don't want to injure yourself, spend hundreds of dollars on necessary equipment, or get duped into signing up for an exercise program that promises to change your whole body in just a few workouts.

If this sounds like you, we've got the perfect online workout experience: barre classes.

"Online barre classes…can help build muscular endurance, improve posture by creating alignment awareness, build core strength, and improve flexibility," says Danny Saltos, a personal trainer based in Los Angeles. "Barre classes are great for any individual looking for a challenging, fun, low-impact workout."

The even better news is that nearly everyone is well-suited to virtual barre classes, from athletes and cardio aficionados to people nursing an injury and people just plain nursing (i.e., prenatal and postpartum moms), adds Saltos. But not all barre classes are created equal; the best barre classes make themselves available to you on nearly any internet-connected platform, offer free trial periods so you can test them out, and align well with your budget, time constraints, and ability level.

We researched more than a dozen online barre workouts, reviewing them for accessibility, affordability, and usefulness. Here are the eight best virtual barre classes of 2022.

Best Online Barre Classes of 2022

Best Overall: Barre3
Best for Beginners: The Bar Method
Best for Intermediate and Advanced: Pure Barre
Best for Dancers: Ballet Beautiful
Best for Improving Strength: Booty Barre
Best on a Budget: Booya Fitness
Best for Variety: The Dailey Method
Best for Busy Schedules: Physique 57

01 of 08

Best Overall: Barre3

Barre 3

Key Specs

Pricing: $29/month or $199/year
Platforms: iOS, Android, web-based, Roku, Samsung TV
Experience Level: All

Why We Chose It

There is something for everyone in this accessible catalog of barre classes, and we love that Barre3 prioritizes cardio, strength training, and mindfulness equally, eliminating the need for multiple at-home workout platforms.

Pros & Cons

Pros

All experience levels
Available on multiple platforms
Barre classes for cardio, stretching, strengthening, and more

Cons

No livestream classes
Limited educational resources or "extras" online

Overview
If you're looking for a barre workout that virtually eliminates your need to do any other type of at-home exercise, Barre3 has it all. It incorporates strength training, cardio, and mindfulness into its program, making it our best overall pick for this list. Because Barre3 was created to be an accessible form of fitness for anyone, regardless of their ability level or limitations, it offers classes for basic barre techniques; classes focusing on specific body areas (think glutes and core); and classes for cardio, stretching, breath work, and literally everything in between.

"[Barre3 classes are] such a good blend of strength training, cardio, mobility, and breathwork — I feel like I'm really covering all my bases well," says Rachel Low, N.D., a Barre3 user in Connecticut. "As someone who spends most of the day sitting at a desk, I really enjoy combining large-range exercises that allow my body to move big, while also giving a lot of attention to postural muscles." Related: 9 Posture Exercises to Try If You Sit at a Desk All Day

Barre3 initially opened as a barre studio in 2008 in Oregon; since then, it's expanded into a comprehensive online program, with more than 500 online workouts centered on barre techniques. The classes are available via an app, web browser, or smart TV, making Barre3 as accessible as it gets.

Speaking of accessibility, the classes are designed for everyone, regardless of experience or fitness level. There are even prenatal and postpartum classes.

Considering the broad class offerings, the easy-to-use platform, and the blend of cardio, strength training, and mindfulness, we can't think of a more well-rounded program than Barre3.

Plans & Pricing

$29/month or $199/year
14-day free trial

02 of 08

Best for Beginners: The Bar Method

The Bar Method

Key Specs

Pricing: $30/month
Platforms: iOS, Android, web-based, live/streaming
Experience Level: All

Why We Chose It

Barre beginners may need some extra help, and The Bar Method's livestream classes are a great way to learn with a group and receive personalized barre tips from an experienced instructor.

Pros & Cons

Pros

10 or more live classes every week
Large library of on-demand classes
Easy-to-learn moves for beginners

Cons

Unclear how long the classes are
Hard to see instructor and class options without registering

Overview
It can be intimidating to figure out barre movements and techniques from the privacy of your home if you've never taken a class before. Without in-person help from an instructor, how do you know if you're tucking or pulsing properly? The Bar Method offers at least 10 classes are livestreamed per week, meaning you get to take part in the studio experience of a group class and receive on-the-spot corrections from the instructor.

In addition to the livestreamed classes, The Bar Method has a library full of hundreds of prerecorded and on-demand classes, so you can workout whenever it suits you. Pause, change classes, stop, and come back later; the accessibility of the platform is perfect for beginners, and the instructors make note of places where you can modify the movements if you aren't quite there yet. You can stream the videos or live classes on pretty much any device and no special equipment is needed, making it easy for beginner barre users to experiment with the workout and see if it's right for them.

Plans & Pricing

$30/month or $275/year
14-day free trial

03 of 08

Best for Intermediate and Advanced: Pure Barre

Pure Barre

Key Specs

Pricing: $30/month
Platforms: iOS, Android, web-based
Experience Level: All

Why We Chose It

You'll need some equipment for Pure Barre classes, but you'll get a variety of intense workouts — ideal for more experienced barre participants — in return.

Pros & Cons

Pros

Shorter and longer classes
Familiarity among instructors
Easy to meet your experience level

Cons

Requires some equipment
No annual plan

Overview
If you've taken barre classes before and are ready for a more challenging at-home workout experience, Pure Barre can help you level up with its massive variety of barre workouts. They're separated into "collections" so you can focus on target goals from one week to the next. Or for more variety, you can skip around to keep your muscles guessing.

All of Pure Barre's online classes are total body workouts that focus on strength training, cardio, and functional movement. They range in length from 20 to 45 minutes, so advanced users can really get into the flow. You can also choose among six different instructors, so you can switch it up for variety or find one you want to stick with.

Pure Barre also features a few different ways to search for classes, organizing them into similarly-focused programs and collections (such as "Getting Started" and "Empower," a HIIT cardio approach to barre).

Classes are available on smart devices through an app and on your computer or laptop via the web. You will need some equipment to effectively take these classes, so you'll want to have resistance bands, dumbbells, ankle weights, and a home barre (or a makeshift replacement, such as a chair) on hand.

Plans & Pricing

$30/month
7-day free trial
Subscription-based

04 of 08

Best for Dancers: Ballet Beautiful

Ballet Beautiful

Key Specs

Pricing: $40/month
Platforms: Web-based, live/streaming
Experience Level: All

Why We Chose It

Ballet Beautiful won't turn you into a Swan Lake-worthy ballerina, but its ballet-inspired barre workouts will make you feel stronger and more graceful.

Pros & Cons

Pros

Appealing to fans of ballet
Emphasizes body awareness
Lots of customization options

Cons

Less cardio-focused than others
No annual plan

Overview
Most barre classes incorporate elements of ballet, but few of them are as dancer-centric as Ballet Beautiful. It was created by prima ballerina Mary Helen Bowers to be a "ballet-inspired" fitness program for users of all experience and comfort levels. Ballet Beautiful is more ballet-focused than traditional barre classes, so it's ideal for anyone looking to use barre to enhance their ballet skills, explains Marissa Miller, ACE-certified personal trainer.

Ballet Beautiful centers itself around bodyweight movements, which enhances the mind-body connection in a way that using dumbbells or resistance bands might not, adds Miller. That also means you don't need any special equipment for these classes. Expect plenty of yoga-style floor work, upper- and lower-body strength, posture- and core-building, and even some cardio tossed in for good measure.

There are both livestreamed monthly workouts and hundreds of on-demand classes available to subscribers, allowing you to customize your experience. There are also private online training packages if you're really serious about advancing your dance skills. Although Ballet Beautiful's classes can be used by anyone (and even include prenatal and postpartum classes), this program is especially great for users looking to get back to their ballet roots.

Plans & Pricing

$40/month
No free trial
Option to pay for individual classes instead of a monthly access plan

05 of 08

Best for Improving Strength: Booty Barre

Booty Barre

Key Specs

Pricing: $22/month
Platforms: iOS, Android, web-based, Roku, Apple TV
Experience Level: All

Why We Chose It

An intense focus on the posterior makes this program a great choice for anyone hoping to strengthen and tone those targeted areas.

Pros & Cons

Pros

Start with the basics and advance
One trainer for consistency
Builds a strong back and core

Cons

More limited class offerings than others
Hard to find a full library of workouts

Overview
Booty Barre by Pilates Anytime will kick your butt into shape in more ways than one. Its barre workouts involve a lot of dancing, strength, and ahem pumping of certain areas (looking at you, glutes). With a workout playlist devoted to toning your entire body by focusing on your back and core, Booty Barre prioritizes muscle strength above all else. However, it doesn't neglect cardio, posture, or balance, either.

"Strengthening the posterior kinetic chain, or backside of our bodies, is extremely useful for daily functioning, preventing low-back pain, promoting overall efficient movement, and enhancing athletic performance," says Miller.

Booty Barre classes are fast-paced workouts, but they do scale up; you can start with the basics class, then move on to more expert classes. The classes are 35 to 45 minutes, so you're getting a comprehensive workout, and they all feature one instructor, Tracey Mallett, certified personal trainer and nutritionist and founder of Booty Barre. There's no special equipment needed and you can stream Booty Barre classes on any smart device or internet-connected computer.

There are other barre classes offered through your Pilates Anytime subscription. So if you get tired of working out your rear end, you can move on to other class genres, such as your arms or lower body, improving your posture, or elevating your heart rate.

Plans & Pricing

$22/month or $240/year
15-day free trial

06 of 08

Best for Variety: The Dailey Method

The Dailey Method

Key Specs

Pricing: $40/month
Platforms: Web-based, live/streaming
Experience Level: All

Why We Chose It

This well-rounded barre program is appropriate for all users, including people with chronic pain, prenatal people, and advanced athletes, and it's based on proper spinal alignment and posture.

Pros & Cons

Pros

Multiple barre approaches to choose from
Daily recorded and livestream classes
Accessible for many types of users

Cons

No app availability
Lots of classes to filter for what you want

Overview
If you're not sure what kind of barre you'll like best — cardio-focused, ballet-inspired, posture-improving — it's a good idea to sign up for a program that offers a little bit of everything, such as The Dailey Method.

"The program features a nice blend of both barre-inspired resistance movements that target small and large muscle groups, along with yoga postures to both aid in balance and flexibility," says Miller. "It's overall a very well-balanced program."

Created by kinesiologist Jill Dailey and originally opened as a San Francisco-based barre studio in 2000, this online barre catalog consists of multiple tracts (i.e., areas of focus) to give you ample options to choose from depending on what kind of barre mood you're in. There's barre with cycling, barre basics, barre express, barre meditation, barre baby and prenatal, and more.

Classes vary in length and intensity, so you always have a choice of workout experience, whether you're a beginner or advanced. You can also choose to watch prerecorded or livestream classes through your desktop or smart TV (but no app for this one).

Lastly, The Dailey Method's inclusive offerings extend to people needing gentler or slower-paced workouts. The focal point of the program is centered on proper spinal alignment, so it's a great choice for people with chronic pain or injuries.

Plans & Pricing

$40/month or $360/year
7-day free trial

07 of 08

Best on a Budget: Booya Fitness

Booya Fitness

Key Specs

Pricing: $10/month
Platforms: iOS, Android, web-based, most smart TVs
Experience Level: All

Why We Chose It

A low monthly cost, creative mashups of classes, and a long free trial period make Booya Fitness an awesome "bang for your buck" investment in online barre workouts.

Pros & Cons

Pros

Unique classes combining barre with other techniques
30-day free trial
Low monthly and annual costs

Cons

Limited number of barre-specific classes
Requires a broad interpretation of "barre"

Overview
Minimal necessary equipment and a wallet-friendly cost combined with a long free trial and a decent variety of workout classes makes Booya Fitness a great budget-friendly pick. You're not paying $10 a month for three classes here; the full Booya Fitness catalog includes more than 60 workouts, and many of them intersect with barre workouts in unique ways (think: ballet/Pilates "Flex & Flow" and lower body "FlexPilates").

You will need to expand your definition of "barre" a little here to include more Pilates- and yoga-heavy classes, but not to worry, you'll still find plenty of classic barre classes on the the platform.

The online barre classes are for a wide variety of experience and fitness levels, and are accessible through most devices with an internet connection, including smart TVs. A huge bonus is that Booya Fitness offers a 30-day free trial so you have plenty of time to decide if the selection of classes is worth the $10 per month, which just adds to its budget appeal.

Plans & Pricing

$10/month or $100/year
30-day free trial

08 of 08

Best for Busy Schedules: Physique 57

Physique 57

Key Specs

Pricing: $25 monthly
Platforms: iOS, Android, web-based, Roku, Android TV, Amazon Fire TV
Experience Level: All

Why We Chose It

No more "I don't have time for a workout" excuses with Physique 57 — since all classes are under 30 minutes and some are just five minutes, there's always time to fit in a quick session.

Pros & Cons

Pros

Almost all classes are 30 minutes or less
Videos are easily filtered by experience, goal, and more
Strong community feel

Cons

Advanced users may not like shorter workouts
Shorter free trial period than others

Overview
The virtual workouts with Physique 57 are perfect for people with busy schedules who want to try barre but also want barre to fit into their chaotic lifestyles. Most of Physique 57's online barre classes clock in between five and 30 minutes. The recorded library of short but effective barre classes means you don't have to worry about logging on for a scheduled live stream or devoting nearly an hour to class.

You can power sculpt specific areas, strengthen your core, or stretch your way to post-workout recovery in just a few short minutes. Or, if you want something more challenging, opt for a longer full-body sculpt, cardio, or stretching routine. Physique 57 classes can be viewed through nearly any internet-connected platform.

The company has affordable monthly and annual plans with a seven-day free trial so you can see if it's right for you. Physique 57 challenges encourage you to take one online course per day for a set number of days or weeks to achieve a designated goal.

Plans & Pricing

$25/month or $250/year
7-day free trial

Final Verdict

Barre3 won out for best overall platform for virtual barre classes because it takes nearly all the guesswork out of barre. You get a three-pronged approach to fitness combining strength training with cardio and mindfulness; an easy-to-navigate online platform; and multiple opportunities for streaming. The program is designed to be used by nearly everyone, with modifications offered for each exercise to ensure all levels are able to participate in the class.

If you're a more advanced user, you'll love the challenging and equipment-heavy workouts offered at Pure Barre. Or, opt for the slower, more posture-focused approach of The Dailey Method if you're prenatal, recovering from an injury, or just starting out on your barre journey.

Compare the Best Online Barre Classes

Company	Pricing	Free trial	Platforms	Experience Level
Barre3 Best Overall	$30/month or $199/year	Yes	iOS, Android, web-based, Roku, Samsung TV	All
The Bar Method Best for Beginners	$30/month or $275/year	Yes	iOS, Android, web-based, live/streaming	All
Pure Barre Best for Intermediate and Advanced	$30/month	Yes	iOS, Android, web-based	All
Ballet Beautiful Best for Dancers	$40/month	Yes	Web-based, live/streaming	All
Booty Barre Best for Improving Strength	$22/month or $240/year	Yes	iOS, Android, web-based, Roku, Apple TV	All
Booya Fitness Best on a Budget	$10/month or $100/year	Yes	iOS, Android, web-based, most smart TVs	All
The Dailey Method Best for Variety	$40/month or $360/year	Yes	Web-based, live/streaming	All
Physique 57 Best for Busy Schedules	$25/month or $250/year	Yes	iOS, Android, web-based, Roku, Android TV, Amazon Fire TV	All

Guide for Choosing the Best Online Barre Classes

Are Online Barre Classes Worth It?

Online barre classes can be a great way to strengthen muscles, build your core, burn some calories, and get a solid workout without the risk of injury. Online barre classes can serve as an active recovery day workout for athletes, a safe prenatal workout for pregnant people, a coordination-boosting workout that improves flexibility and body awareness, and a way to get some low-impact cardio, according to Saltos.

You won't get a group class experience with most online barre workouts —though some are livestreamed and give you more of that "in class" feeling. In most cases, you also won't be able to get spot corrections from an instructor. Still, taking an online barre class is better than not doing any barre at all; for example, a 2019 review found that apps are effective at increasing physical activity.

How to Choose an Online Barre Class

If there were only a handful of online barre workout programs available, it would be easy to choose which one suits you best. But the reality is there are hundreds, making it tougher to decide. Here are some things to consider:

Pricing: Some barre classes cost more than others — and what you're spending doesn't always match what you get in return. If a subscription to an online barre program costs more than $40 per month, be sure you'll have access to more than the standard perks (which usually include a large library of prerecorded lessons, customer support, qualified instructors and trainers, educational resources, and a number of streaming/app options).
Type of workouts: If you want your barre classes to come with a healthy dose of cardio, for example, make sure the program you choose offers those types of classes. Some barre classes focus more on strength training, while others prioritize flexibility and balance.
Free trial: This is especially important if you've never taken barre classes before and don't know if they're right for you. A free trial is a great way to experiment with barre (or a specific class or program) before making a monthly or yearly commitment.
Experience level: Many virtual barre classes have workouts tiered for every level of experience, from beginner to advanced. Be sure that the program you're choosing offers enough class options for your experience level.
Accessibility: You'll always need an internet connection to take an online barre class, but it's worth looking at how the classes are made available. Can you stream them to your desktop? Access them through your smart TV? Do you want to be able to open up an app on the go? Think about where and how you want to do your barre workouts, and make sure you can access the classes that way.

Be wary of "outrageous" health claims, recommends Saltos. "If an online barre class is promising life-changing, body-altering results, run (or just exit the browser window)," he says.

Frequently Asked Questions

What Are Online Barre Workouts?

Barre is a low-impact workout that blends techniques from yoga, ballet, and Pilates into one exercise routine that involves strength training, building the core, and promoting balance. Different barre classes will focus on different elements, with some being more dance-focused and high-intensity than others.

Online barre workouts are the same as in-person workouts as far as the movements and general approach, but you can do them right from your living room through an app, desktop, or smart TV. Some classes are prerecorded while some are livestreamed; all require an internet connection, and most need little to no specialized equipment.

How Much Do Online Barre Classes Cost?

Prices range, just as they do for any other online fitness course, but most barre class subscriptions cost anywhere from $20 to $40 per month. The annual costs can vary more, with some programs offering steep discounts for signing up for one year at a time.

Is Barre Similar to Ballet Classes?

There are some similarities, but while ballet is a classic style of dance, barre is a type of workout that combines elements of yoga, Pilates, and ballet. It heavily emphasizes repetitive small movements (sometimes borrowed from ballet, such as the plié) and low-impact strengthening, flexibility, and balance. Some barre classes also incorporate the use of the trademark ballet barre — hence the name — but that's not mandatory, especially for classes that use more yoga and Pilates movements.

In other words, you won't become a ballerina by taking barre classes, but taking barre classes could improve your ballet.

Can Online Barre Classes Improve Your Health?

Barre is based on many small, repetitive movements that lengthen and strengthen your muscles. These are also referred to as isometric movements, and they have been shown to improve fitness performance across multiple metrics.

The isometric movements performed in barre classes can also increase physical endurance, flexibility, posture, and strength. Due to the low-impact nature of barre exercises, the classes are generally considered beneficial for people with chronic pain or injuries.

Are Online Barre Classes Effective for Strengthening and Cardio?

Since barre classes focus on isometric movements, which lengthen and tone muscles, they are a great choice for strength training. And they can be a good cardio workout, but that's not a given — it depends on whether or not your course incorporates dance and movement or high-intensity interval training (HIIT). Otherwise, your barre class may not be enough to get your heart really pumping.

Methodology

We reviewed around 15 different virtual barre programs to come up with this list of the best online barre workouts. We looked at key features such as accessibility and affordability, as well as their overall appropriateness for users of all fitness and experience levels.

If a program cost more than the average amount for a monthly or annual subscription without offering extra features to users, if it was more for a niche demographic (e.g., only advanced participants), or if you could only take the classes through one particular app, we chose not to feature it. Given the wide range of available programs, we ultimately selected those with classes that are budget-friendly and suitable for everyone.

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