Comparison

James Smith Academy vs PUMP

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

Head to head
About

James Smith Academy

Access a comprehensive fitness education platform with personalized workout plans, instructional videos, and nutritional guidance. Track your progress, connect with trainers, and join challenges to achieve and maintain your health goals.

Highlights
  • Educational and instructional videos
  • Personalized exercise programs
  • Daily workouts
  • Recipe library and meal planner
  • Trainer support
  • Progress tracking
  • Three-month challenges
Features
Read full description

The James Smith Academy (JSA) is where quality online coaching meets affordability. The JSA aims to educate its members in fitness and provide them with all the tools necessary to reach and sustain their fitness goals. Features (depending on your membership type) include hundreds of educational and instructional videos, personalised exercise programs, daily workouts, a Daily Step Count (which integrates with the Health app to access your daily steps, if you choose), hundreds of recipes, a meal planner, trainer support, progress tracking, and three-month challenges. The James Smith Academy is free to download. Our free trial, which begins when you create an account with us, does not expire and does not require a purchase to activate. If you would like to access content and features which are not available on the free trial, you must upgrade to a paid subscription. You may pay for a subscription using In-App Purchase found on the pricing page of the app. The James Smith Academy subscription automatically renews monthly (at the price depending on your location) unless it is canceled at least 24h before the current period ends. Your Apple ID will be charged for renewal within 24h prior to the end of the current period. You can manage or turn off auto-renew by going to your Account Settings on the App Store after purchase. Read our terms of service here: https://www.jamessmithacademy.com/terms/ Read our privacy policy here: https://www.jamessmithacademy.com/privacy/

About

PUMP

Features
Read full description

PUMP is a simple, fast workout logger. Log every set with its own reps and weight, run interval timers, and track cardio — all in one app, all on your phone. No account. No tracking. No ads. No cloud servers. Just your workouts, exactly where you left them. WHAT IT DOES • SETS — Tap a big counter to log each set as you do it. You choose how much to track, set by set: – Just count sets. A bare tap logs a set — nothing else required. Perfect for warm-ups, stretches, or keeping it simple. – Sets + weight. Add the weight and PUMP tracks your personal bests. A Settings toggle hides reps entirely if you never use them. – Sets + reps + weight. Every set records its own numbers, so 8 reps at 80 then 10 at 90 is two taps, not a note-taking session. Values stick between taps and pre-fill from your last session with that exercise, so the common case is: walk in, tap, lift. • EQUIPMENT-AWARE PBs — Tag each exercise with how you lifted it: barbell, dumbbell, machine, Smith, cable, bodyweight, or kettlebell. Personal bests are tracked separately for each combination, so your dumbbell bench PB doesn't get buried under your barbell number. PB tags mark your milestones in History. • TIMER — Configurable interval timer for Tabata, HIIT, and any work/rest pattern. Built-in presets (20/10, 30/30, 40/20, 45/15) plus save your own. Audio beeps and haptic phase cues. Optional exercise label so the timer remembers what you're doing. • CARDIO — Steady-state cardio with a live running clock, duration in mm:ss, and optional distance with km/mi toggle. Covers gym machines (treadmill, rower, bike) and outdoor activities (walk, run, hike, swim). • HISTORY — Every session archives automatically when you tap Finish, or when the date rolls over. Tap any row to edit set by set — fix a typo, adjust a weight, add a note. Editing your log never changes your PB milestones. SIX FREE THEMES Default (pink/cyan/lime), Forge, Graphite, and Midnight — plus true-black OLED versions of Graphite and Midnight. All six free, no unlocks. PRIVACY-FIRST BY DESIGN PUMP runs entirely on your device. No servers, no accounts, no analytics. Your workout history stays in the app's local storage and never leaves your phone unless you choose to export it. Back up to JSON or export a CSV spreadsheet any time, straight to the share sheet — save to Files, AirDrop it, or email it to yourself. DESIGNED FOR ONE-HANDED USE Everything you need to log is one or two taps away. Big targets, generous touch zones, and a set counter calibrated for thumb use mid-set — with an undo button for the taps that weren't. WHAT'S COMING Rest timer between sets, richer History analytics, and share-your-workout cards are on the roadmap. Local-only stays the default forever — anything that would send data off your device will be strictly opt-in. QUESTIONS Email contact@holdenerp.ca. We aim to respond within five business days.

Screenshots

James Smith Academy4 screens
PUMP4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is in-app purchases: PUMP at none against James Smith Academy's 3. PUMP also leads on iOS requirement (13.0 vs 15.1). On price, update cadence, ads 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

CostPrice · In-app purchases · Ads · Monetization

Both are free to download. James Smith Academy sells 3 in-app purchases, starting at $9.99 per month. PUMP asks for nothing beyond the download.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

James Smith Academy ships an update every 5 days, PUMP weekly. The most recent releases landed on October 19, 2026 and October 13, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard2 real differences · 8 level
James Smith Academy versus PUMP: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterJames Smith AcademyPUMP
PriceFreeFree
Rating4.8 (93 ratings) — better—
Positive reviews75.9% of reviews—
Number of ratings93 — better—
Update frequencyEvery 5 days — betterWeekly
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesYesNo — better
MonetizationFree with in-app purchases—
DevicesiPhone, iPodiPhone, iPod
Requires iOS15.113.0 — better
Further details — not scored
Size82 MB3 MB
Age rating17+4+
DeveloperAffordable Online Coaching Pty LtdHolden ERP Solutions Inc.

Bugs and requests

James Smith Academy

Reported bugs

3 issues
  • Workout progress not saving properly
  • Inability to update weights and reps
  • Onboarding process issues

Requested features

3 requests
  • Apple Watch integration
  • Ability to filter workouts by equipment
  • More personalized nutrition and meal planning

PUMP

Not enough reviews yet to summarise bugs or requests.

In-app purchases

3 purchases

James Smith Academy

Subscriptions3
  • Base Plan$9.991 Month
  • Standard Plan$10.991 Month
  • Premium Plan - Subscription$89.991 Month
None

PUMP

No in-app purchases

Questions

Is James Smith Academy free?
James Smith Academy is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Is PUMP free?
PUMP is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Do James Smith Academy or PUMP have ads?
Neither James Smith Academy nor PUMP shows ads.
Which is updated more often, James Smith Academy or PUMP?
James Smith Academy ships an update every 5 days, and PUMP weekly. Most recently, James Smith Academy was updated on October 19, 2026 and PUMP on October 13, 2026.

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