Short answer
For strength workout logging, start by comparing Hevy, Strong and Fitbod; if you want iPhone strength logging with a suggested next performance target, also consider LIFT when its public release begins. For GPS activities, look at Strava; for coached workout videos, Apple Fitness+; for a food diary, MyFitnessPal.
Important: LIFT is not publicly available in the App Store yet, and this is a guide from LIFT itself, not an independent “best app” award.
Workout apps compared by what you want to achieve
| Your main goal | Apps worth considering | What to check |
|---|---|---|
| Log weight training | Hevy, Strong | How quickly you can enter sets, reps and weights, reuse routines and review your last lifts. |
| Get adaptive exercise suggestions | Fitbod | How the app adjusts future sessions from recorded workouts. |
| Follow strength progression targets | LIFT (prelaunch) | Record past lifts and attempt a suggested next target; not yet available for public download. |
| Track runs, rides and outdoor activities | Strava | GPS activity records, routes, pace or distance and social sharing. |
| Follow guided fitness classes | Apple Fitness+ | Strength, HIIT, yoga and other on-demand trainer-led workouts. |
| Log calories and protein | MyFitnessPal | Food diary, calorie records and nutrition reporting, rather than primarily gym-set logging. |
Official feature descriptions: Hevy; Strong; Fitbod; Strava; Apple Fitness+; MyFitnessPal; LIFT. Features, prices and regional availability may change.
Which workout app is best for building muscle?
Choose something that makes resistance training easy to follow and record, including exercises, sets, reps and weights. That record helps you compare workouts and notice trends. An app does not replace training, food or recovery; see our step-by-step muscle-building guide and muscle-building app checklist.
What should you compare before installing an app?
- Your sport: Strength, running, cycling, nutrition or guided exercise?
- The logging workflow: Can you enter the data you actually care about without distractions?
- Progress: Can you review past performances and use them to make sensible choices?
- Device and country: Is the app available on your phone and in your region today?
- Cost and data: Is the advertised price clear, and can you access or export the records you want?
What makes LIFT different?
LIFT is aimed at iPhone users who train with weights and want a private record of their workouts, planned splits, progress charts and a specific performance target to attempt when they repeat an exercise. LIFT does not currently offer automatic calorie or sleep tracking, does not have a public Android date, and has not announced its final public price.
The app is still prelaunch, so people who need a publicly available workout tracker right now should choose among apps that they can actually install. For a more detailed comparison of lifting trackers, see LIFT versus Hevy, Strong and Fitbod.
Is a free workout app good enough?
Often, yes: if you can track your training and repeat a suitable plan with a free tool or spreadsheet, that can be a good starting point. The useful question is whether a paid app saves enough time or adds features that help you train consistently. Our free CSV workout log works without buying LIFT.
Other ways to find the right training app
Want a tool focused on your gym progression? See our progressive overload app checklist; for Spanish-speaking visitors, lee esta guía en español.
How this comparison was made
Published by the LIFT team on 5 November 2026; descriptions rely on each maker's publicly available documentation, not hands-on testing, fabricated review scores or undisclosed sponsorship. LIFT is included because we publish it, and we do not claim it is universally the best workout app.