5 Top Calisthenics Programs For Best Results In 2023

Hey, fellow calisthenics enthusiast. Let’s examine the 5 top calisthenics programs in 2023.

When I started with calisthenics, I didn’t know what I should do. I haven’t even heard about calisthenics progressions and how to use them. I found some videos on youtube, but it was nothing systematic. You can jump from one video to another guessing which exercise might be right for you and your current fitness level.

You will be left in the dark trying to guess what to do in each workout session. I was in the same situation when I started out. I wanted a systematic approach that will help me choose the right exercises for each training session.

So, I turned to ready-made calisthenics programs available online. I tried a few and kept exploring. This is what I was able to find to be the 5 top calisthenics programs in 2023.

Program	Best For	Cost	Rating
1. The Movement Athlete Academy	Top Pick	$497 One-time payment	4.5/5
2. Calimove Complete Calisthenics	Second Pick	$312.49 One-time payment	4/5
3. Athlean XERO	No Equipment	$79.95 One-time payment	3.5/5
4. Gymnastics Method	Perfect Execution	$333 Yearly	3.5/5
5. ThenX	Free Trial	$89.99 Yearly	3/5

What Are The 5 Top Calisthenics Programs

After going blindly from one youtube video to another trying every skill I thought I might be able to pull off, it was time to find a real solution to my problem. The problem was, getting each workout session planned ahead with every exercise, set, and rep programmed.

I was searching for a program that will be flexible enough. I wanted to start from my current level of ability and progress step by step to the most impressive calisthenics skills out there.

As you might guess it was not an easy task. Everyone starts from a different place. Some are at the beginner level, some are at the intermediate level and some are more advanced. Now you can start to see how difficult finding the right program might get.

I researched top calisthenics programs that seemed suited for me.

I ranked them by their flexibility to meet you at whatever fitness level you might be. It was important it can adapt to your progress, and to whatever equipment you have access to at the moment you can train.

1. The Movement Athlete Academy

Overview

The Movement Athlete Academy starts with an assessment. It will help to prepare the first workout that should be exactly at your level of capability. It’s not perfect, but it’s a pretty good tool for the job.

The program itself adapts as you move on through the skills. So even if the initial assessment was not 100% correct the program will adapt to your fitness level as you work through the exercises.

It’s also great that you can create various equipment profiles. This will help you select equipment that you have at your disposal in whatever situation you may find yourself in. You can create an equipment profile when you don’t have access to any equipment, or when you are working out at your local calisthenics park, or gym.

Key Benefits

The most important benefits of The Movement Athlete Academy app are:

• Removes all guesswork when preparing your first workout by first going through an initial assessment
• It’s flexible and adapts to your current capability level as you go through it (if you feel tired this day you will do fewer reps and the app will note this and even offer easier exercise if the current one is too hard)
• You can use different equipment profiles so you can do your workouts wherever you are and whichever equipment you have around you (this makes it perfect to work at your home, on vacation, at your local calisthenics park, or at the gym)
• It has a gamified skill mastery, so it’s fun working on achieving skills and seeing your progress (progress is shown in percentages to a full mastery for each skill)
• You can select the default duration you have for your workouts, so the app will spit out the exercises you can do in the time you have for the workout

Pricing

The Movement Athlete app is flexible so is its pricing. You can pay for the access monthly, quarterly, or yearly. You can also choose to pay for lifetime access all at once.

Pricing:

• $24.97/m
• $49/q
• $157/y
• $497/lifetime access

Pros & Cons

2. Calimove Complete Calisthenics

Overview

The Calimove program is split into 5 different levels. Each level with defined prerequisites. The first level is suited for beginners and will have no prerequisites to start.

Exercises are explained in detail with queues to right and wrong execution. Exercise explanation videos are separate from the training you have to do.

Everything is organized well inside a training portal. The training portal is actually a teachable portal. If you ever used Teachable, you will find a familiar interface.

Calimove will help you build a well-balanced physique. It won’t let you progress with lagging muscle groups.

Key Benefits

Here are the most important benefits of a Calimove program:

• Building a well-balanced muscular body step by step
• Access to a program from any device you have. If you have internet access you have access to a Calimove program.
• A detailed explanation of right and wrong exercise execution will help you execute moves with precision. So, you can have the fastest progress possible.

Pricing

There are two options for buying a Calimove program. One is a monthly payment for 10 months and the other is a one-time payment. Both options will give you unlimited access to the Calimove program.

Pricing:

• $36.24/m (10 monthly payments)
• $312.49 one-time payment

Pros & Cons

3. Athlean XERO

Overview

Athlean XERO is a 6-week training program. It is a classic program with predefined exercises, sets, and reps for each training session. This is also the first workout program I ever bought. I went through it three times. It felt really cool when I was finally able to do wall handstand push-ups that are part of this program.

If getting started with the main Athlean XERO program is too hard for you, there are two easier options that are included in this program. You can start with 2 degrees below XERO or 1 degree below XERO. Both are 4 weeks long. Those programs will help you prepare for the main Athlean XERO training program.

When you start, you take an assessment. After the assessment, the wizard will tell you which is the best-suited option for your level of capability.

You won’t need any equipment for any of those Athlean XERO training programs.

You will be doing 5 training sessions per week. There will be 2 strength workouts and 2 conditioning workouts. The week ends with a challenge.

Key Benefits

The most important benefits of the Athlean XERO program are:

• You can start right away without buying any equipment
• If you are starting as a complete beginner from 2 degrees below XERO, you are actually getting 14 weeks of workouts. It will keep you busy for quite a while.
• You can use the program from any device you have. You just need internet access.

Pricing

There is only a one-time payment option that will give you access to your workouts.

Pricing:

• $79.95 one-time payment

Pros & Cons

4. Gymnastics Method

Overview

I’ve been following Adam Godrosi (the name behind this program) on his YouTube channel for quite a while. I really admire the precision of exercise execution from this guy. This is the main reason I wanted to check out his program.

His program is chopped out into several 4-6 weeks chunks from prehab – primal one (routines to help you strengthen your joints and improve your flexibility) and through primal two and three. They are all important to master before jumping into advanced skills and exercises.

There are several advanced-level programs and skills you can master individually. There are also 12-week home workout programs and an 8-week ultimate core program. You can tackle each of those one by one.

But, there is no way of knowing which level you are on if you are not an absolute beginner. It’s hard to know where you should start if you are not starting from the beginning. Adam will want you to start from the prehab exercises regardless of where you are starting from.

So, you have to go from beginning to end. It doesn’t matter where you are starting from.

Key Benefits

The main benefits of the Gymnastics method program are:

• Adam will show you all exercises perfectly. If you want to improve your form, try to copy Adam as close as you can.
• There is a 4-week Gymnastics method intro course you can try for free. You can check it out and see if you like the format, and style before you buy.
• The prehab program is great if you want to come back from injury or work on basics. This will help you solidify any weak points you may have, before jumping to more advanced skills.
• Warm-up and cool-down routines are included in each workout (as they should be in every program)

Pricing

There is a monthly and yearly membership payment for Gymnastics Method program access. There is no one-time payment option.

Pricing:

• $37/m
• $333/y

*There is no one-time payment option for this program.

Pros & Cons

5. ThenX

Overview

The great thing about ThenX is you can try it for free. The beginner level is pretty hard, so if you are an absolute beginner, you might be better off with some other program.

ThenX programs are divided into beginner, intermediate, and advanced sections. All three have several programs inside:

• The main program for the level
• No equipment home program
• Calisthenics and weights

All of the programs have a few training days you can check out for free. So, there is no harm in checking those out and seeing how it fits your needs.

Key Benefits

There are a few things that are great about ThenX. Here are the main ones:

• You can check out the free content and see for yourself if it’s worth your time and money
• The short video exercise demo will help you get a general idea of how to do the exercises
• You can select the program that you can do with the equipment you have

Pricing

It’s a good idea to check out the free content before investing in ThenX. There are two payment options you can select – monthly or yearly. If you find ThenX fits your needs and your current fitness level, you can select the payment you like best.

Pricing:

• $9.99/m
• $89.99/y

*There is no one-time payment option for this program.

Pros & Cons

Top Calisthenics Programs Buyers Guide

When I was searching to find the top calisthenics programs available today I was looking for several key factors to get the score and select the best programs:

• Flexibility: Ability to start at different levels, adaptability to your progress, and equipment you have access to. There is a program that doesn’t require any equipment but it’s also the limiting factor because you can’t work all muscles as you would with equipment. There is a program that lets you choose the equipment you currently have access to, but it also limits what you can do in a workout.
• Pricing: It’s not only about the price but also about the various payment options. Options like monthly, yearly, or one-time payment. Free access to a part of the program is great if you want to get the feeling for the program before actually buying.
• Pros: What are the greatest advantages compared to other programs
• Cons: What are the disadvantages

Top Calisthenics Programs Conclusion

There you have it. Top calisthenics programs you can get today. From the flexible where you can tweak every little detail, to the rigid with each set and rep predefined. From free to over $400.

I’ve been working out for more than 5 years so I tried it all. From top calisthenics programs to creating my own custom workouts. I tested all those programs out so you don’t have to. All you have to do is to decide which of the top calisthenics programs will suit you best.

Now, go and pump those reps out.