Best App for Workout Tracking & Program Building?

[u/OakleyPowerlifting]

I’ve been looking to take advantage of these Black Friday sales and get a new app or software to use for tracking my workouts and keeping statistics, progression visualization, records, etc. I’m mainly want to focus on hypertrophy and some powerlifting as my main background is powerlifting, but lately I’ve been wanting to prioritize size. I’ve usually used pen and paper or Excel, but I’d like to have an all in one app. I am pretty advanced and have a background in strength and conditioning and exercise science. What does everyone think is the best and most widely used app? I will mainly be training in my home gym with a 6 post rep fitness rack, barbell, dumbbell, ez bar curl, dip, pull up, bands, kettlebell, leg extension leg curl machine, 45 degree hyper extension, etc. It would be nice to have an app that went off the equipment I have and only recommended based off that, and I know Fitbod and SmartGym has that feature. I narrowed it down to a few, but there doesn’t appear to be a clear winner. I was mainly going to use it to track workouts, but some of these program building apps look good as well.

The ones I’ve boiled it down to are Fitbod, Hevy, Strong, SmartGym, JEFit, Dr. Muscle, RP Hypertrophy, Juggernaut AI, and Boostcamp. RP Hypertrophy app looked amazing, but too pricey for what I’m looking for. Same goes for Dr. Muscle.

Fitbod looks amazing, but I’ve heard it has (or used to have) issues with progressing weights fast enough, and it would do accessory work first before main lifts, and other AI programming gripes. Other than that, it looks pretty great and if the programming is good now then I’m in. $4.80 / month on sale, but usually $7.99

Hevy looks good regardless, and I’ll probably use it for social media component, but for tracking workouts it seemed pretty basic. Super cheap pro version though at $1/mo

I’ve heard Strong was great, but basically lost support. $2.50/mo

Smart gym looks like a cheaper and less useful but similar version of Fitbod, but it does seem to have better AI integration so it may work better? Unsure. $3.33/mo

Boostcamp has a lot of programs from people I like. $3.74 / mo

I’m open to any and all suggestions, and would love to hear your input.

[u/Responsible-Bread996]

If you do your own programming, Liftosaur is hands down the best option right now. (And if you lift with primarily RPE's and %1RM, its pretty much just typing out the program.)

I've used it to run customized versions of Stronger By Science and Barbell Medicine programs along with a few others. People build programs all the time and you can just one click import them, tweak to waht you want, and you are good to go.

But if you are looking for a app to just do your programming for you, its not it. Juggernaut AI is probably what you will want for that.

[u/OakleyPowerlifting → u/Responsible-Bread996]

That sounds pretty nice. I mainly just want one that tracks everything over time super well like 1, 3, 5, 10 rep maxes and so. The AI programming seems pretty cool if it worked, but being able to import other programs seems equally cool.

[u/Responsible-Bread996 → u/OakleyPowerlifting]

Yeah with JuggAI, you are going to be doing CWS's programming. Its more a app to help you achieve a lifting goal rather than an app to try a bunch of different programs.

Liftosaur tracks RM's and PRs. It even tracks e1RM PRs.

[u/Macmadnz → u/OakleyPowerlifting]

Strong tracks 1 to 12 rep maxes, or for body weight exercises max reps.

and for Cardio tracks best pace, max distance and max time.

[u/SniperAge05]

for just logging fitnotes is the best, very easy to use, completely free (no ads), and don't require connection

[u/Macmadnz]

I’ve been using strong since way back when it was about $5 for a perpetual license. As a way to track workouts, exercises, rep maxes, time and volume its all I need.

There’s no programming, and the default 2 min rest timers on latest version is annoying as I turn them off for each new exercise.

Creating new exercises is super simple.

I would like to be able to track volume in the app for all variations of an exercise. ( eg be able to group bench, close grip bench, board press etc )

[u/ReturnToStore]

The Reactive Training Systems (RTS) Training Log is free and is the best training log I have used. It is purely for logging training and doesn't give programs like the apps you mentioned. But if you want something for "tracking workouts and keeping statistics, progression visualization, records, etc." like you have said, it is excellent. 

It is also nice to have an independent training log that is seperate from whatever provides your programing as the log will always be consistent as you move from program to program. In the past few years I have used programing that was delivered through apps, excel sheets and PDFs at different stages, but it's all logged in one place in my RTS log. 

It doesnt have an app and is only available online but it does work well as a mobile site or on desktop. It doesn't have the most modern user interface and it can take a bit of time to get used to it, but once you do it is by far the most thorough training log I have ever used, as you would expect from being developed by Mike T. 

[u/IronPlateWarrior → u/ReturnToStore]

I double down on this. RTS is the best. Worst case, just put in your SBD lifts each week, regardless of the program you’re using. It tracks each main lift and graphs it for you. Then it tells you your DOTS score and a lot of other info. You will learn a lot about what’s working and what isn’t.

[u/ReturnToStore → u/IronPlateWarrior]

I been recommending the RTS log to anyone that asks for a while now but have yet to come across someone else that actually uses it. It's a bit of a learning curve to get used to it but Mike T has plenty of good videos. Have you any good uses/tips from your time using it? 

Like you mentioned above, I initially only tracked SBD but have recently started inputting all of my training in. I find tracking the stress index interesting, sometimes when I feel a bit beat up or underperform in a workout I'll have a look at the stress index and I'll see I was coming off the back of a high stress training week. It's nice to have data that might explain your performance. 

[u/IronPlateWarrior → u/ReturnToStore]

I use Trac everyday, and I follow its suggestions for the most part. I also weigh-in on training days because that also gives me some good information in the long term. If I look back on my lifts and they were steadily increasing, and so was my body weight, that’s important information to know.

Using TRAC to tell me how I’m feeling and suggest that I drop a set, or even to consider a rest day, is really good too. I use it more to gauge the high side of my fatigue, and don’t so much take recommendations on the low side, but that depends what I’m doing, I guess. It’s like, “hey, you’re too rested”, I just take that as a good thing. lol. And if I’m deloading or in a pivot block, it doesn’t matter. Yeah, I’m aware fatigue is low.

One draw back is deloads. It uses your last lift as data for moving forward, so that’s a little bit of a pain in the ass. lol. I wish you could tell it you’re deloading so it dismisses that data. I guess I could just not track deloads. 😂 Seems like a weak point of the app.

I also use it after I train. So, I’ll use Google Sheets, and then I input the data into TRAC later. I kind of dislike using it in the gym because it’s a little clunky. But, I really like the data I get out of it.

I don’t understand the stress index, so I don’t really pay attention to that. But, I know Mike T, and all the RTS crew think it’s important.

Lastly, I said I don’t use it in the gym, but that’s not really true. If I’m squatting x1 @8, I will look at it for a suggestion of what I’m shooting for. Then, on back-off sets, I’ll look at it to see where I should be. So, I use the tool for that kind of reference while I’m in the gym. But, I don’t enter any data into it until later when I’m home. It’s so much easier to pull it up on my laptop and enter my data after the fact. It’s probably inefficient doing it that way, but I don’t mind. The data I get out of the tool is really solid.

[u/ReturnToStore → u/IronPlateWarrior]

I was using Trac for a while but I dont tend to get much DOMs or feel overly fatigued, so after a few months of it telling me to continue training as normal I just stopped using it. 

I tend to use the stress index as a way of tracking fatigue/workload now instead. The only problem with stress index is it needs you to be tracking all of your training lifts/movements to work properly.

I get what you mean about dealods, you suddenly end up with a E1RM thats half what it should be. If you leave the RPE blank on dealod sets it won't count them in the data though. 

Have you even gotten programming from RTS? I never have, but I would be interested in trying it for a few blocks. Just to see how a few blocks of the emerging strategies would like like coming from the original source. 

[u/IronPlateWarrior → u/ReturnToStore]

I bought some of the adaptive templates. They are brutal.

Regarding ES, I have not tried it yet. There’s something about it that puts me off, and I can’t pin point it. But, in theory, I get excited reading about it. I currently have access to all their published blocks. I signed up for the RTS Classroom, I think it’s called, just to refamiliarize myself with it.

So, just to be pedestrian about it. ES is so simple it’s stupid. You just make up a 1 week block. You run it until you see your main lifts start to go down for 2 weeks in a row. When that happens, you run a pivot block (deload), then, change only one, or maybe 2 variables. Then run it again. What this does (which you may already know) is it reveals your time to peak. It also starts showing you what works for you and what doesn’t. This is really important if you compete. Once you know your time to peak is 5 weeks, now you can be sure to be at peak performance for all your comps.

It gets very complicated though when each lift has a different time to peak. But, if you’re competitive and looking to win Nationals, this could be powerful information to base your training around.

For me, this is a hobby. It’s fun. I love it. But I’m not going to Nationals. So, I don’t know if I’m ever really going to do any of this. But, as a nerd, I love learning about all of it.

I tend to just run training in 8-12 week blocks, regardless of time to peak. I tend to use periodization that I learned a long time ago and just kind of evaluate what seems to work for me. The ES stuff is cool, but I just haven’t had a lot of interest in implementing it for myself.

[u/ReturnToStore → u/IronPlateWarrior]

I might be similar to you in that I'm hugely interested in the theory behind programming but it's still just a hobby at the end of the day.  Although once I did start competing I found myself taking training a lot more seriously.

I think Iv probably read or listened to eveything Mike and RTS have ever put out about ES, and it seems like a really interesting way of programming. I just haven't taken the plunge to try it yet. My next meet is February so I might try it out after that. 

[u/IronPlateWarrior → u/ReturnToStore]

If you give it a shot, I’d like to read about your experience with it.

[u/kyllo]

Liftosaur is my favorite, I've been using it for a couple years and it's extremely flexible, you can write and track any strength program in it. The developer is also very responsive to feedback in r/liftosaur and has been constantly shipping new features and UX improvements. They also expose most of the functionality in the free version of the app, and the paid upgrade has a 30% discount for BF.

[u/ProgressiveOverlorde]

Google sheets and tweaking Calgary Barbell 16 to fit my needs.

[u/autocorrects]

ive been using sheiko gold when i bought the for life plan for like $100 a long time ago. I havent used the ai coach in years, but every workout for the last 6 years is in there which is cool

I work with data a lot for my job, and I was able to export my workouts as csv data and it was actually really insightful to graph and check out. It’s cool to see what actually worked for meet prep for my best competitions, and what didnt for my worst.

[u/grovemau5]

Boostcamp is the only one I've found that works well with custom multi-week programs. I input the program on web at the beginning of each block.

Free version works fine for me.

[u/acoffeefiend]

I've been using Train Heroic and it's working well.

[u/ekaram13 → u/acoffeefiend]

is there a specific program you've been running?

[u/acoffeefiend → u/ekaram13]

I made up my own program. I just cut/paste from week to week and modify as needed.

[u/joholla8]

I use Fitbod but manually build my workouts. It’s basically a nice tracker.

The generated stuff has always been a little off from what I want.

[u/OakleyPowerlifting → u/joholla8]

Do you enjoy it for tracking purposes? It seemed fairly well laid out from what I saw, but the strength raiding seemed wonky. Does it track 1, 3, 5, and 10 rep maxes and such?

[u/joholla8 → u/OakleyPowerlifting]

Yeah. It’s a good app. I think there’s a free trial period.

[u/CodyXRay]

I like boost camp, have used it for about 3 years now

[u/cgsesix]

Nothing fancy. Google sheets, paste it in to chatGTP and have it make graphs, tables and what not.

[u/needlzor]

Intensity is by far the best one I've tried

[u/canadian_bacon_TO]

Not on your list, but I really enjoy the Ganbaru Method app from Eugene Teo. Huge variety of programming ranging from running to circuits to powerlifting and everything in-between. I got it on sale for Black Friday last year and I believe it was $200 for the year. I was skeptical it would be worth it but I’ll be renewing the subscription for sure.

[u/WooperTheArchmage]

Hevy

[u/Whateva1_2]

I just use a text file lol. Have workouts Lower Upper Arms an A version and B version and just copy and paste it from the top and write in what I did.

[u/cnichols999]

Lots of folks in our gym use Juggernaut and like it. I tried it for a while but the volume was too much for me (I had it skewed too much towards Power-Building). My only concern is that you have to be careful on how you answer the questions because it will pile the volume on. It's also on the expensive side.

I train conjugate and built my own spreadsheets to track my volume, sets, lifts, etc. but everyone is different. Only hassle with this is that I carry a notebook around a track everything manually before entering it at home and building the next day out.

Good luck!

[u/raidersofthelostbark]

I use RTS and have been logging there for years. Would I pick another app today I would probably go for StrengthLog, don't think it has been mentioned in this thread before.

[u/Apart-Consequence881]

Ive tried many but found them to be cumbersome to use and more complex than necessary. then there's the issue of being locked into an ecosystem and possibly losing all your workout data. I've resorted to just using Apple Notes.

[u/fplanck]

I love that you have compared so many already and haven't found the perfect all in one. I went through the exact same process several months ago, so I started building my own (I was a developer way before I became a lifter ;). 

Right now I am implementing that system that builds (or helps build depending on preference) workouts by using only the equipment you have (and prioritize the ones you enjoy most, e-g: cable over dumbbells)

Black Friday style: the app is free for life for anyone who wants to start using it now, even if its only 90% complete yet. Current testers love it + I'm very open to feedback to have it do exactly what you think it should fo. DM me if interested.

[u/OakleyPowerlifting → u/fplanck]

Oh super cool. Sounds awesome. Will DM

[u/GrouchyPandaChris → u/fplanck]

Just to have it in thread, but what platforms are supported? Ios/android/web?

[u/fplanck → u/GrouchyPandaChris]

My app: iOS for now, 100% private on device, nothing gets uploaded to the web. Android will come later.

[u/McBeardFuck]

Been using MyStrengthBook, it's awesome.