What to look for in a strength training app
Most lifting apps can log a set. The differences show up after a few months of use. Check these points before you commit, because moving years of history between apps is not always easy.
| Criterion | Why it matters | What good looks like |
|---|---|---|
| Logging speed | You log between sets, often with sweaty hands | A set takes a tap or two; last session's numbers are pre-filled |
| Exercise history | Progress lives in the history | Every past set per exercise, easy to scroll and compare |
| Progression help | Knowing what to lift next is the hard part | Suggests the next weight or reps from your log |
| Programs and plans | Beginners need a structure | Ready-made programs, or a simple way to build your own split |
| Progress charts | Shows whether training works | Estimated 1RM, volume or best sets over time |
| Exercise library | Correct form and finding alternatives | Clear instructions and the muscles each exercise trains |
| Free version | Lets you try it properly | Core logging usable without paying; check what is limited |
| Data export | Your history is yours | Export to a file such as CSV |
If you are not sure what you need, start with the question of who decides your workouts. You (a logger), a program written by a coach (a program app), an algorithm (a generator), or a coach you follow along with (a coach-led app).
Well-known workout apps by type
Below is a short, neutral overview of popular apps, grouped by how they work. Features and plans change often, so check the App Store or Google Play listing for the current version. We do not rank them: each one fits a different kind of lifter.
Workout loggers: Strong and Hevy
Strong is a long-running, minimal workout tracker. You build routines, log sets, and see history and charts per exercise. It is known for a clean interface and fast logging, and it works with Apple Watch. It suits lifters who already know what program they follow.
Hevy is also a workout logger with routines, history and charts, and it adds a social side: you can follow friends and see their workouts in a feed. It is a common choice for people who like training with or alongside others.
Generated workouts: Fitbod
Fitbod builds each workout for you based on your goals, the equipment you have, your past training and which muscles it estimates are recovered. It suits people who want to walk into the gym and be told what to do, and who are happy to let an algorithm vary the exercises.
Programs: Boostcamp
Boostcamp is built around a library of structured programs, including well-known strength programs and plans from coaches and creators, with tracking built in. It suits lifters who want to follow an established program without writing it into a spreadsheet.
Coach-led training: Ladder
Ladder is built around coaches. You join a coach's training program and follow their workouts with video guidance. It suits people who want someone else to plan everything and like a coached, class-like feel.
All-in-one: JEFIT
JEFIT is one of the older workout apps. It combines a large exercise database, workout plans and logging in one app. It suits people who want many exercises and plans to choose from in one place.
Which workout app fits you?
| You are... | Look for | Examples |
|---|---|---|
| Following your own program or a classic like 5/3/1 | A fast logger with good history | Strong, Hevy |
| Training with friends and liking to share | A logger with social features | Hevy |
| Not wanting to plan at all | Generated or coach-led workouts | Fitbod, Ladder |
| Wanting a proven program to follow | A program library with tracking | Boostcamp, JEFIT |
| A beginner | A simple plan plus clear exercise instructions | Any of the above with a beginner program |
Whatever you pick, the app only helps if you use it every session. A simple app you open every time beats a feature-rich one you forget about.
Best free workout app: what free usually means
Most workout apps use a freemium model: the basics are free, and some features sit behind a subscription. What is limited differs from app to app, for example the number of routines, how far back charts go, or access to programs.
- Try the free version for 2 to 3 weeks before paying. You will know by then whether logging feels quick enough.
- Check what happens to your history if you stop paying, and whether you can export it.
- A free workout app without a subscription is possible: a notes app or spreadsheet with your program and every set works. You just lose charts and suggestions.
Best workout app for women
Strength training works the same way for women and men: compound lifts like the bench press and deadlift, a sensible split and progressive overload. So the best gym app for women is mostly the same as for anyone else, chosen by the criteria above.
What differs is often the goal. Many women prioritise lower body and glute strength, so it is worth checking that an app has good coverage of glute exercises like the hip thrust, Romanian deadlift and Bulgarian split squat, and that you can build or follow a plan with the training days you actually have.
About Gripp (coming soon)
Gripp is the app this site belongs to. It is not available yet, so it is not part of the comparison above. If you want to know what it will do, here is the short version.
- Logs the reps and weight of every set
- Tells you what to lift next session, using double progression: hit your reps in every set and the weight goes up
- Keeps an estimated 1RM per exercise with a progress chart, like the 1RM calculator on this site
- Rates your strength per muscle group against people of your age and bodyweight, in the spirit of the squat strength standards
- Weekly training schedule, for example 3 gym days and 1 run
- Exercise pages with a muscle map; rehab can be a goal
Gripp also has an AI coach that knows your plan and training history, answers questions and can suggest changes to your plan that you approve. What Gripp does not do: calorie tracking or a social feed. If those matter to you, one of the apps above may suit you better.
Gripp is coming soon to iPhone
A strength training app built around one idea: always know what to lift next. Join the waitlist to hear when it launches.
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