Comparison

5/3/1 Workout vs Five/Three/One

Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.

Head to head
About

5/3/1 Workout

This app simplifies strength training by automatically calculating and tracking progress for the 5/3/1 program. It focuses on key compound lifts and offers a guided approach for beginners and advanced users alike. The first two weeks are free to help you start building strength.

Highlights
  • Automated 5/3/1 progress calculation
  • Focus on compound movements
  • Guided workouts for beginners
  • Progress tracking with graphs
  • Warmup calculator
  • Weight and rep calculator
Features
Read full description

● Easiest program to calculate and track your 5/3/1 progress. ● Focuses on key compound movements. Bench, Squat, Deadlift. ● This program is not affiliated with Wendler and is adjusted for efficiency. 531 Workout is designed to be friendly for first time lifters, but can also be tailored towards veterans. The workouts focus on 4 movements. Squats, bench press, deadlifts, and overhead press. Getting started in weight training can be intimidating, but we've taken out the guesswork and doubt. There are many flavors of 3x5, 5x5, 531, and other powerlifting programs. At the very core of the these lifting programs, they share the same proven elements. Results have been proven time and time again for the past decades since the original 5x5 by Mark Berry in the 1930s, Reg Park in the 1950s, Bill Starr in the 1970s, and the many versions you see today. 531 Workout by Zen Labs Fitness includes the simplest version to make getting started easy. We've broken down the process into one workout a day. Guaranteed results. This program includes your first 2 weeks for free! ≈ Only 4 Simple Workouts ≈ Day 1 - Squat Day 2 - Bench Press Day 3 - Deadlift Day 4 - Overhead Press ≈ Starting is EASY ≈ 1. Enter your current 1RM (1 rep max) for Bench, Squat, Deadlifts. (or press beginner) 2. Our app will automatically calculate your program tailored you 3. Press start and start building strength! ≈ FEATURES ≈ ◉ First 2 weeks are free! Get started today! ◉ Workout 4 days a week. ◉ Workout weeks are grouped into "blocks". Each "block" is 4 weeks. ◉ Entire program is 7 blocks. Guaranteed gainz! ◉ Core program is only 1 workout per day. Simple! We focus on compound movements for efficiency. ◉ Progress graph to keep track of your PRs (personal records) ◉ Multiple cycles. After you finish 7 blocks, deload and start a new cycle! ◉ Warmup calculator to help you properly warm up and prevent injury. ◉ Weight and reps calculator ◉ Accessory workouts to add more volume for advanced users ◉ Apple Health integration ≈ NEW Zen Unlimited Pass - Try it for free! ≈ ◉ Award winning music curated from top DJ's! ◉ Scientifically proven to increase motivation by 35% ◉ Unlimited access to all pro features across ALL Zen Labs Fitness apps Questions/comments regarding the app? Please email us at contactus@zenlabsfitness.com or visit us at www.zenlabsfitness.com. ≈ Connect ≈ Facebook: @C25Kfree Twitter: @C25Kfree Instagram: @officialc25k Hashtag: #C25K https://forums.zenlabsfitness.com Subscription pricing and terms: The subscription will automatically renew unless turned off in your iTunes Account Settings at least 24 hours before current period ends. You can go to your iTunes Account settings to manage your subscription and turn off auto-renew. Your iTunes Account will be charged when the purchase is confirmed. If you subscribe before your free trial ends, the rest of your free trial period will be forfeited as soon as your purchase is confirmed. Privacy Policy & Terms of Use: https://www.zenlabsfitness.com/privacy-policy/ Legal Disclaimer This app and any information given by it or by Zen Labs LLC are for educational purposes only. You should always consult your healthcare provider before beginning any fitness program.

About

Five/Three/One

This app helps weightlifters follow Jim Wendler's 5/3/1 program by automating cycle calculations, plate suggestions, and progress tracking. It eliminates the need for paper logs or spreadsheets, focusing on strength gains. Features include rest timers, workout scheduling, and Apple Health integration.

Highlights
  • 5/3/1 cycle planning and scheduling
  • Progress charting
  • Rest timer with notifications
  • Automatic plate calculation
  • Next cycle calculation based on performance
  • Home screen widget
  • Apple Health integration
Features
Read full description

The latest app for weightlifters doing Jim Wendler's 5/3/1 program! Five/Three/One is a focused and intuitive app helping you achieve what really matters: Getting Stronger. No more bringing a crumbled workout sheet to the gym, no more messing around spreadsheets to update your weights. From calculating your cycles, to telling you what plates to put on the bar, Five/Three/One does it all. Features include: - Planning and scheduling your whole 5/3/1 cycle - Charting your progress - Rest timer with notifications - Automatic plating calculation - Calculating your next cycle based on your performance - Notes associated with each sets - Home screen widget showing your your current and upcoming workouts - Lbs/kg support Optional paid features: - Customize which plates you're using and change your barbell's weight - Customize templates assistance work and define your own exercises - Beyond 5/3/1 templates and options, from Joker Sets to FSL, Pyramid and much more! Integrates with Apple Health : The app saves the workouts you've performed as well as the calories you've burnt in Apple Health. As weightlifters doing 5/3/1 ourselves, we made the app we wanted after being dissatisfied with what was out there. More than just a glorified spreadsheet, we designed it to be focused on each task at hand. With even more great features in the pipeline, we're stoked to release the app for others to use and can't wait to hear your feedback! We use it, we love it, and we're sure you will too.

Screenshots

5/3/1 Workout4 screens
Five/Three/One4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is review sentiment: Five/Three/One at 78% against 5/3/1 Workout's 33%. Five/Three/One also leads on update cadence (every 2 weeks vs every 2 months) and rating (4.8 vs 4.6). On price, ads, in-app purchases and monetization model 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

CostPrice · In-app purchases · Ads · Monetization

Both are free to download. 5/3/1 Workout sells 3 in-app purchases, starting at $4.99 per month and Five/Three/One sells 6 one-off in-app purchases. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

Five/Three/One holds the better App Store score, 4.8 against 4.6. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Five/Three/One has 1.5K ratings behind it against 213, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews point the same way: 33% of 5/3/1 Workout's written reviews are positive against 78% of Five/Three/One's.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

5/3/1 Workout ships an update every 2 months, Five/Three/One every 2 weeks. The most recent releases landed on October 24, 2026 and October 27, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard5 real differences · 5 level
5/3/1 Workout versus Five/Three/One: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
Parameter5/3/1 WorkoutFive/Three/One
PriceFreeFree
Rating4.6 (213 ratings)4.8 (1.5K ratings) — better
Positive reviews33.3% of reviews78.2% of reviews — better
Number of ratings2131.5K — better
Update frequencyEvery 2 monthsEvery 2 weeks — better
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesYesYes
MonetizationFree with in-app purchasesFree with in-app purchases
DevicesiPhone, iPodiPhone, iPod
Requires iOS14.012.0 — better
Further details — not scored
Size193 MB37 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperZen LabsStrong Pigeon LLC

Customer experience

5/3/1 Workout

All ratings213 ratings
Positive89.7%
Neutral5.2%
Negative5.2%
Written reviews9 reviews
Positive33.3%
Neutral33.3%
Negative33.3%

Five/Three/One

All ratings1,218 ratings
Positive97.5%
Neutral2.0%
Negative0.6%
Written reviews133 reviews
Positive78.2%
Neutral9.0%
Negative12.8%

Bugs and requests

5/3/1 Workout

Not enough reviews yet to summarise bugs or requests.

Five/Three/One

Reported bugs

4 issues
  • Workout data occasionally lost or not syncing properly
  • Calendar and scheduling issues when trying to reschedule missed workouts
  • Plate calculation bugs leading to incorrect weight displays
  • Occasional app freezes and crashes

Requested features

5 requests
  • Allow more flexibility in scheduling and rescheduling workouts
  • Provide customization options for assistance exercises
  • Implement superset and out-of-order exercise completion
  • Add support for Apple Watch integration
  • Incorporate additional 5/3/1 program variations (e.g., Bodybuilder, Monolith)

In-app purchases

3 purchases

5/3/1 Workout

Subscriptions3
  • Zen Unlimited Pass Monthly7 Days trial$4.991 Month
  • Zen Power Playlist 3 Months7 Days trial$29.993 Months
  • Zen Unlimited Pass Annual7 Days trial$74.991 Year
6 purchases

Five/Three/One

One-time6
  • Custom Weight Plates$2.99
  • Tip$4.99
  • Beyond 5/3/1 Pack$5.99
Show 3 more
  • Custom Assistance$8.99
  • Large Tip$9.99
  • Enormous Tip$24.99

Questions

Is 5/3/1 Workout free?
5/3/1 Workout is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Is Five/Three/One free?
Five/Three/One is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Which has better reviews, 5/3/1 Workout or Five/Three/One?
Five/Three/One is rated higher. 5/3/1 Workout averages 4.6 out of 5 from 213 ratings, while Five/Three/One averages 4.8 from 1.5K ratings.
Do 5/3/1 Workout or Five/Three/One have ads?
Neither 5/3/1 Workout nor Five/Three/One shows ads.
Which is updated more often, 5/3/1 Workout or Five/Three/One?
5/3/1 Workout ships an update every 2 months, and Five/Three/One every 2 weeks. Most recently, 5/3/1 Workout was updated on October 24, 2026 and Five/Three/One on October 27, 2026.

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