Basic features are missing
I love the Barbell Medicine programs, and was excited to try out the official app to make tracking of workouts easier. However I found that it is missing basic features like pausing workouts and managing already logged workouts, and probably others.
I logged a workout with dummy data to see how the app works, only to find it impossible to delete it afterward?! Logged workouts should be fully editable to allow mistakes to be corrected.
I work out at home and occasionally life happens and I have to pause my workouts for an hour or two, or sometimes longer. I need the app to reliably cater for this scenario. The Liftin app implements this perfectly, and I would love to see something similar here.
Another concern of mine is that this app does not seem to be receiving regular, meaningful updates. The UI is still, after several years, very rough looking and not much thought seems to have to into the UX design like into some of the other apps in this space.
I desperately want an app that makes tracking of the truly excellent BBM programs easy, but this is not it.
I logged a workout with dummy data to see how the app works, only to find it impossible to delete it afterward?! Logged workouts should be fully editable to allow mistakes to be corrected.
I work out at home and occasionally life happens and I have to pause my workouts for an hour or two, or sometimes longer. I need the app to reliably cater for this scenario. The Liftin app implements this perfectly, and I would love to see something similar here.
Another concern of mine is that this app does not seem to be receiving regular, meaningful updates. The UI is still, after several years, very rough looking and not much thought seems to have to into the UX design like into some of the other apps in this space.
I desperately want an app that makes tracking of the truly excellent BBM programs easy, but this is not it.
Show more
Life changing program and great application
I’ve been using the BBM for a couple years now, starting with the free beginner program then checking out the free trials of other programs and buying several (hypertrophy, powerbuilding) and since the beginning of 2024 for personal coaching. I was a coach potato (and looked like one) when I started with BBM and now I look pretty jacked and am the strongest and healthiest I’ve ever been in my life. 100/10 would recommend and check out BBM’s free podcast and seminars if you want to dive deeper!
Show more
Recent bugs. But amazing overall.
Not sure if it’s iOS 18 or if it’s the new screen size of the iPhone 16 pro but the app now has bugs on my new phone. The buttons on the bottom “home, history, and the button and “programs” “profile” are now skewed and unresponsive Which limits my ability to fully access everything I need on the app. When it’s fully functional it’s a 5 star app.
Show more
Great programs. Just needs minor tweaks
The programs are great. Worth the purchase. I rerun old ones all the time. The user flow doesn’t get in the way, very easy to jump into the next workout and see what’s you need to do. Also easy to look back at previous sets of an exercise, whether the exercise is part of the current template or not.
Only gripe is the button and box extents are too small and should extent beyond the outline if possible. As in, I miss hit the number pad 20-50% of the time. And I will record 58 reps instead of 5 reps at RPE 8 because I miss hit the next box with my thumb. There is a next arrow for navigation (it’s also too small), but that’s not how people use phones. You touch the open box to go there.
Otherwise, it’s a solid app.
Only gripe is the button and box extents are too small and should extent beyond the outline if possible. As in, I miss hit the number pad 20-50% of the time. And I will record 58 reps instead of 5 reps at RPE 8 because I miss hit the next box with my thumb. There is a next arrow for navigation (it’s also too small), but that’s not how people use phones. You touch the open box to go there.
Otherwise, it’s a solid app.
Show more
Best app, Great programs
This is hands down the best strength training app. Plenty of free programs to see if like their methods. Plenty of paid programs to keep it interesting and piling on gains for years.
Solid
I just want to start off saying I’m a huge fan of Barbell Medicine and their mission, with an emphasis on health outcomes. The app is solid and Barbell Medicine has hands down, the best programming I’ve ever done. The RPE calculator is a really nice tool to use. With all of that being said, I would like to see a warm-up calculator, plate calculator, and rest timer. That would make the app 3 times better. I’m currently using 4 apps to do my template(BBM, a warmup calculator, a plate calculator, and a rest timer). It’d be really helpful if this was all packaged in one app. It’s taking every fiber of my being not to switch to Juggernaut AI, but I feel like Barbell Medicine has a bigger emphasis on health, and I’m not a powerlifter. Regardless of what happens I’m super grateful for Barbell Medicine!
Show more
iOS 17.0.3
App only launches for me when the 24-Hour Time setting is turned on..
App crashing after iOS 17.0.3
Only my iPhone 13 mini running iOS 17.0.3, the app is crashing and cannot be open when my phone is set to non 24-hour time format. And it will work again when it is set back to 24-hour format. Annoying bug, hope that can be fixed.
Another thing is ALL my template purchased from the website shows in the app, but my in-app purchases don’t show up in download tab on the website. I hope that can also be fixed.
Otherwise, this app offers useful resources. I hope the above issues can be addressed because the whole point of using the app is convenience. It isn’t as convenient as it can be at the moment.
Another thing is ALL my template purchased from the website shows in the app, but my in-app purchases don’t show up in download tab on the website. I hope that can also be fixed.
Otherwise, this app offers useful resources. I hope the above issues can be addressed because the whole point of using the app is convenience. It isn’t as convenient as it can be at the moment.
Show more
Lots of potential
When I am reason to be in the app, it’s great. Easy access to all the tools I need to effectively and efficiently run training. My biggest problem is that the app serves little utility to me unless running a BBM program (coached or template). Without the ability to create and run custom programs, I am no longer in the app (prior I was daily). I highly recommend creating the ability to self program. I’d suspect this would lead to higher user retention as well as create more conversion opportunities. For example, how cool would it be if you were to recognize a plateau and intelligently recommend a training template? There’s a gold mine of data being created with training sessions. But now you’re not getting mine since I can’t program.
Show more
Great programs, great performance
Really good programs that have given me better results than anything else I’ve found and they’ve fixed all the performance issues, making the app very slick to use.
I love this app, would highly recommend
This is a FANTASTIC app, especially for beginner and intermediate people, it will get you started the right way and you will learn a lot with the guided resources. 10/10
Great templates, unsatisfactory app
I’m a fan of BBM. Their philosophy, technical quality, templates, etc. are all great. The app just isn’t there though. It’s OK, but that’s it. A recent update took 6 months between versions, and it doesn’t seem like there’s much functionality added other than some big performance bugs fixed, which I’m guessing should have never been there given how new the app is. Adding videos was clearly a priority, but I can’t see this being hugely useful, at least not for me.
Maybe I’m being unfair and too impatient but by now I would have hoped that data exports, better customisation of templates, timers for EMOMs, etc. would be available.
I keep considering whether I should pay for a different app and use their custom program options to input BBM templates (there are a couple out there that work well for this). It would also mean that I don’t have to keep inputting my tweaks and preferences every session.
I hope updates come faster so that the app can match the quality BBM has elsewhere.
Maybe I’m being unfair and too impatient but by now I would have hoped that data exports, better customisation of templates, timers for EMOMs, etc. would be available.
I keep considering whether I should pay for a different app and use their custom program options to input BBM templates (there are a couple out there that work well for this). It would also mean that I don’t have to keep inputting my tweaks and preferences every session.
I hope updates come faster so that the app can match the quality BBM has elsewhere.
Show more
Best training app around!
Templates easy to follow 👍🏾
Couldn’t be happier
Before this app, I used google sheets on my phone to track my numbers while at the gym. It was cumbersome to have to scroll through an excel document and struggle to tap on the tiny squares.
This app is such a breath of fresh air. I really appreciate its ease-of-use and versatility. The ability to make substitutions from the large database of exercises has been a game-changer for me.
Being able to visualize my progress with the graphs on the home screen motivates me to continue training consistently.
This app is such a breath of fresh air. I really appreciate its ease-of-use and versatility. The ability to make substitutions from the large database of exercises has been a game-changer for me.
Being able to visualize my progress with the graphs on the home screen motivates me to continue training consistently.
Show more
Needs data export
The app was better than I expected. I think it makes my training better in subtle ways. I like seeing the 1rpe of each set, like the motivational training messages after finishing a workout. The customisable dash board is great, although why limit to only 4 RPE graphs?
It absolutely must get a data export functionality though. I can track my workout logs from my own spreadsheets going back a decade, which i kind of like for reviewing things or just reading what I used to do for fun. I dont want the app to be the single source of the data and might stop using it eventually without this feature.
Other than that, its great.
One other thing: add more congratulatory workout completion quotes to keep it interesting. I have only seen 3 so far.
3.5/5 as is.
5/5 with easy and simple/minimalist (CSV probably) data export.
It absolutely must get a data export functionality though. I can track my workout logs from my own spreadsheets going back a decade, which i kind of like for reviewing things or just reading what I used to do for fun. I dont want the app to be the single source of the data and might stop using it eventually without this feature.
Other than that, its great.
One other thing: add more congratulatory workout completion quotes to keep it interesting. I have only seen 3 so far.
3.5/5 as is.
5/5 with easy and simple/minimalist (CSV probably) data export.
Show more
Amazing company fantastic app
Great to have all these templates in one place, easy to track progress, love everything these guys put out into the world!
Clean and serviceable with needed tweaks
Nice looking clean app typical of BBM merch. Knocking some stars off because when I’m using the workout log the arrows to cycle the exercises are finicky for big banana fingers. However the biggest downside is that every day I resume a new day of the Low Fatigue Strength template I have to re-enter all my chosen exercises. It doesn’t carry them forward from last week’s chosen exercises. This of course is where the finicky scrolling arrows are also a pain.
Show more
Nice App, but missing features.
I like that all my prior templates sync to the app, but it’s missing a few features. -Weight calculator -Apple health integration -Ability to see prior workout’s weights and RPE rating For that reason, I will continue logging my workouts in the Strong app. But would love to make the switch once these changes have been implemented!
Show more
Worthwhile
I’ve enjoyed their templates for a while, and love the pairing of actual science with strength. The app is much better than spreadsheeting at the gym 😅
Simply laid out, easy to navigate.💪
Caveat, it’s a new app so there are little details being fixed, but I’m regularly seeing improvements to the user experience. It’s got some nuance 🤙
Simply laid out, easy to navigate.💪
Caveat, it’s a new app so there are little details being fixed, but I’m regularly seeing improvements to the user experience. It’s got some nuance 🤙
Show more
Great app for BBM followers, needs bug fixes and easier viewing of past workouts
I really like the concept, but if I leave a session unfinished (hitting finished) and return to it (hitting continue program), my workout data for the exercises I’ve completed is empty. There should also be an easier way to view past workouts, as I use those numbers along with how I’m feeling during warmups to pick my top set numbers for the day. In addition I’ve faced some intermittent scrolling problem on some of the home pages that I’ve only been able to fix by closing and restarting the app.
Show more
Response from developer
When you tap the "finish" button in a workout you're indicating that you've completed it. Then, when you head back in to edit a completed workout, it's as if you're editing a document on your computer – if you don't tap "save" then your changes are lost. However, incomplete workouts will always auto-save the data you've entered, in case you e.g. force quite the app before completing the workout. As such, please leave actually-incomplete workouts incomplete in the app, and only tap "finish" when you have actually completed it. Regarding prior workouts, you can absolutely view this. If you're in the middle of a workout, simply tap the name of the exercise; or if you're looking for a specific workout, head to the history screen to find the one in question; or if you're looking for the entire history of a specific exercise, head to the side menu. Lastly, feel free to write to support@barbellmedicine.com to get issues like the one you've mentioned (scrolling) addressed. Thanks!
