Bar Path vs Heavy Loads
Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.
Bar Path
This app helps you analyze the quality of your training by tracking barbell trajectory, range of motion, and power output. Understand your weakest points and identify when your form breaks down for smarter workouts.
- Barbell trajectory plotting
- Range of motion analysis
- Identify weakest lift points
- Measure power generation
- Rep consistency tracking
- Form breakdown detection
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Instead of simply tracking only the quantity of your training, you can now also track the QUALITY. Bar Path helps you answer fundamental questions about your training. * Plot the path of the barbell. Did it have an unexpected trajectory? * Did your exercise travel through the complete range of motion? * Where is your weakest point in the lift? * How much power can you generate? * Do your reps look consistent across a set? * At what intensity does your form start to break down? * And much more… Get it now and start training smarter.
Heavy Loads
This app simplifies barbell loading for weightlifters. It offers multiple modes to calculate plate combinations based on target weight, percentages, or existing bar loads, ensuring accurate weight every time. Customize your plate inventory and barbells for precise gym sessions.
- Auto calculation mode for target weight
- Percentage-based calculations
- Manual (reverse) mode for existing loads
- Custom barbell support
- Unit conversion (kg/lb)
- Customizable plate inventory
- Clean, minimal UI
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Heavy Loads - Plate Calculator: Whether you’re chasing PRs, training for a meet, or just need fast and accurate plate math, Heavy Loads helps you load the bar with confidence. Designed for lifters, by lifters, this streamlined calculator ensures your barbell is always loaded correctly—no more guesswork, mental math, or second-guessing your plates. 3 POWERFUL LOADING MODES: 1. AUTO CALCULATION MODE Set your target weight, and Bars N Plates calculates the optimal plate combination based on your customized inventory. Add or remove plates in your collection and the app will always find the best match using the plates you actually own—no unnecessary math, no missing weights. 2. PERCENTAGE BASED MODE Perfect for programming and progressive overload. Set a base weight (like your training max or 1RM) and instantly calculate common percentage targets like 60%, 75%, 90%, or any custom value. The app handles the plate math so you can stay focused on training. 3. MANUAL (REVERSE) MODE See a bar already loaded and want to know what it weighs? Use Manual Mode to add plates in any order—just like they’re on the bar—and Heavy Loads instantly calculates the total barbell weight. Great for coaches, training partners, or quick checks at the gym. KEY FEATURES • Custom Barbell Support: Create and select from multiple barbells, each with their own weight and name—ideal for switching between women’s, men’s, youth, or specialty bars. You can even assign a custom color to each bar to keep them visually distinct on screen. • Unit Conversion at a Glance: Lift in kilograms but stuck with lb plates? No problem. Heavy Loads displays both units at once—your primary unit in large text, and the secondary unit in smaller text. You’ll always know how much you’re lifting, no matter the gear. • Fully Customizable Inventory: Add, remove, and reorder the plates you actually own. From calibrated competition sets to budget bumper plates, you decide what’s available, and the app calculates accordingly. • Clean, Minimal UI: No clutter, no distractions. Built with focus and clarity in mind, Heavy Loads gives you the info you need, right when you need it. • Fast Switching Between Modes: Toggle between loading strategies with a tap—whether you’re preparing for your next working set or reviewing your last lift. • Supports Both Sides Loading: All calculations are done with per-side logic in mind, so what you see is what you load. Heavy Loads is designed for powerlifters, Olympic weightlifters, CrossFit athletes, strength coaches, and anyone serious about barbell training. Whether you’re in your home gym or the weight room at your local gym, Heavy Loads makes it easier to focus on what matters: lifting heavy, with precision.
Screenshots
Verdict
Bar Path and Heavy Loads both sit at 3.0 stars, but that hides the real split: 100% of Heavy Loads's written reviews are positive against 50% of Bar Path's. Heavy Loads also leads on price ($0.99 vs $4.99). Bar Path's advantage is update cadence (fortnightly vs every 16 months) and iOS requirement (11.0 vs 17.6). On rating, ratings volume, ads and in-app purchases 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
Bar Path costs $4.99 and Heavy Loads $0.99 up front. Neither carries in-app purchases, so what you see is what you pay.
On the App Store both sit at effectively the same score — 3.0 for Bar Path against 3.0 for Heavy Loads. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 5 and 2 respectively. Written reviews are what separate them: 50% of Bar Path's written reviews are positive against 100% of Heavy Loads's.
Bar Path ships an update fortnightly, Heavy Loads every 16 months. The most recent releases landed on October 8, 2026 and October 24, 2026 respectively.
| Parameter | Bar Path | Heavy Loads |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $4.99 | $0.99 — better |
| Rating | 3.0 (5 ratings) | 3.0 (2 ratings) |
| Positive reviews | 50.0% of reviews | 100.0% of reviews — better |
| Number of ratings | 5 — better | 2 |
| Update frequency | Fortnightly — better | Every 16 months |
| Ads | No | No |
| In-app purchases | No | No |
| Monetization | Paid | Paid |
| Devices | iPhone, iPod | iPhone, iPad |
| Requires iOS | 11.0 — better | 17.6 |
| Further details — not scored | ||
| Size | 21 MB | 4 MB |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | Robert Frederick | Francisco Alcala |
Customer experience
Bar Path
Heavy Loads
In-app purchases
Bar Path
No in-app purchases
Heavy Loads
No in-app purchases









