531 Strength vs Built to Scale
Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.
531 Strength
This app simplifies tracking your progress on the 5/3/1 strength training program. It calculates and displays weights, reps, and sets based on your one-rep max, allowing you to easily plan and execute your workouts. Rounding options help match available gym plates.
- Calculate 5/3/1 weights
- Track 1RM for exercises
- View cycle step weights
- Round weights to available plates
- Full overview of weights, reps, sets
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Makes it quick and easy to get a full overview of all weights, reps and sets based off your 1RM when you’re following the 5/3/1 program. - Save your current 1 RM for each of the four exercises - View calculated weights for each step in the cycle - Round the weight to match the plates you have available This app is made for people who are familiar with the structure of the 5/3/1 program and who needs simple access to the calculated weights for each exercise.
Built to Scale
This app helps you log and track your fitness workouts, focusing on your personal progress and consistency. It analyzes your training patterns to help you maximize each session and earn achievements for building habits. The app captures your actual performance without prescribing specific routines or judging modifications.
- Log workouts and track movements
- Analyze workload trends and demand signals
- Earn achievements for consistency
- View effort across movement groups
- No prescribed programming or judgment
- Personal data privacy and cloud backup option
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Most workout apps were built for athletes who go Rx. Built to Scale was built for the rest of us. Log your workouts, track your movements, and see how each session compares to your own personal baseline. Built to Scale surfaces your real training patterns through workload trends and demand signals, so you can get the most out of every WOD. Earn achievements as you build consistency, and see your effort across entire groups of movements, not just single lifts. Built to Scale doesn't prescribe programming, tell you what to do, or judge your modifications. It captures what you've actually done so you can see the progress you're already making. The first 30 days are entirely free, no payment method required. Your workouts are your own, your data should be too. Built to Scale has no ads, does not track users, and only stores your workout data if you choose to use cloud backup. Happy Training! Terms & Conditions of Use: https://www.builttoscale.fit/terms-conditions
Screenshots
Verdict
The clearest difference is in-app purchases: Built to Scale at none against 531 Strength's 4. Built to Scale also leads on ads (none vs shown) and update cadence (weekly vs every 2 months). 531 Strength's advantage is ratings volume (12K vs 2). On price, rating, review sentiment and device support there is nothing between them.
Scored on Price · Rating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings · Update frequency · Ads · In-app purchases · Monetization · Best chart rank · Devices · Requires iOS
Both are free to download. 531 Strength sells 4 one-off in-app purchases. Built to Scale asks for nothing beyond the download.
On the App Store both sit at effectively the same score — 4.9 for 531 Strength against 5.0 for Built to Scale. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: 531 Strength has 12K ratings behind it against 2, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews are what separate them: 94% of 531 Strength's written reviews are positive against 100% of Built to Scale's.
531 Strength ships an update every 2 months, Built to Scale weekly. The most recent releases landed on November 6, 2026 and October 31, 2026 respectively.
| Parameter | 531 Strength | Built to Scale |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | 4.9 (12K ratings) | 5.0 (2 ratings) — better |
| Positive reviews | 94.0% of reviews | 100.0% of reviews — better |
| Number of ratings | 12K — better | 2 |
| Update frequency | Every 2 months | Weekly — better |
| Ads | Yes | No — better |
| In-app purchases | Yes | No — better |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | Free — better |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad | iPhone, iPad, iPod — better |
| Requires iOS | 18.0 | 15.4 — better |
| Further details — not scored | ||
| Size | 26 MB | 14 MB |
| Age rating | 4+ | 17+ |
| Developer | Henrik Jachobsen | Steven Gill |
Customer experience
531 Strength
Built to Scale
Bugs and requests
531 Strength
Reported bugs
2 issues- Rest timer stops when app is backgrounded
- Plate calculator not flexible enough
Requested features
4 requests- Ability to adjust training max separately from 1RM
- Option to track rep PRs and estimated 1RM
- Accessory exercise tracking and planning
- Sync progress across devices
Built to Scale
Not enough reviews yet to summarise bugs or requests.
In-app purchases
531 Strength
- Additional exercises$1.99
- Adjustable set$1.99
- Plate calculator$1.99
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- Progress log$6.99
Built to Scale
No in-app purchases
Questions
Is 531 Strength free?
Is Built to Scale free?
Which has better reviews, 531 Strength or Built to Scale?
Do 531 Strength or Built to Scale have ads?
Which is updated more often, 531 Strength or Built to Scale?
Other comparisons
