# Forma vs Barbell App

The clearest difference is rating: Forma at 4.8 against Barbell App's 4.3. Forma also leads on update cadence (weekly vs every 6 weeks) and ratings volume (268 vs 4). Barbell App's advantage is ads (none vs shown) and iOS requirement (16.4 vs 18). On price, review sentiment, in-app purchases and monetization model there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. Forma sells 4 in-app purchases, starting at $3.99 per month and Barbell App sells 1 in-app purchase, starting at $3.99 per month. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

Forma holds the better App Store score, 4.8 against 4.3. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Forma has 268 ratings behind it against 4, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews complicate that: 94% of Forma's written reviews are positive against 100% of Barbell App's, so the app with the better star average is not the one people write more warmly about.

Forma ships an update weekly, Barbell App every 6 weeks. The most recent releases landed on October 27, 2026 and October 24, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Forma | Barbell App |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | **[4.8 (268 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/forma-workout-tracker-gym-log/id1506898151/reviews)** | [4.3 (4 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/barbell-app-workout-tracker/id6737130840/reviews) |
| Number of ratings | **268** | 4 |
| Positive reviews | 93.7% of reviews | **100.0% of reviews** |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Ads | Yes | **No** |
| Update frequency | **Weekly** | Every 6 weeks |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | Freemium |
| Size | 51 MB | 1 MB |
| Requires iOS | 18 | **16.4** |
| Devices | iPhone | **iPhone, iPad** |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Pavel Chernikov](https://appshunter.io/developer/1506898150) | [Andreina Friedman](https://appshunter.io/developer/1636938886) |

## What reviewers say

### Forma

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/forma-workout-tracker-gym-log/id1506898151)

This app provides a minimalist and intuitive way to track your workouts, whether at the gym or at home. You can create and customize your own exercises, log your results quickly, and monitor your progress. The free version has a limit on the number of workouts, which can be removed with a premium subscription.

**Highlights:** Minimalist and intuitive interface, Offline functionality, Create custom exercises, Log results in few clicks, Track progress, Form your own exercise database

**In-app purchases (4)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Monthly subscription | $3.99 | per month |
| Yearly subscription | $17.99 | per year |
| Yearly subscription | $17.99 | per year |
| Buy forever | $49.99 | one-time |

**What reviewers like**

- 👍 Simple and easy to use
- 🚀 Straightforward interface
- 📊 Helpful statistics and tracking
- 💰 Affordable one-time purchase
- ✨ Customizable exercises

**What reviewers complain about**

- 💰 Paid subscription required for full functionality
- 🔍 Limited search functionality for exercises
- 📝 Lack of note-taking feature for exercises

**Reported bugs**

- Occasional data loss or sync issues
- Inconsistent user interface elements

**Requested features**

- Add a notes section for each exercise
- Implement a timer or rest timer feature
- Expand exercise database with more options
- Include a dark mode option
- Improve data export and backup capabilities


### Barbell App

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/barbell-app-workout-tracker/id6737130840)

Easily log and track your weightlifting or CrossFit workouts with a simple interface. Quickly create custom routines by typing or pasting, and generate workouts based on your goals. Ideal for serious gym-goers focused on progress.

**Highlights:** Effortless workout logging, Copy-paste workout routines, AI workout generation, Percentage tracking for weightlifters, CrossFit AMRAP support, Customizable exercise input

**Features:** macOS Compatibility, Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases (1)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Premium Features | $3.99 | per month |


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Forma free?

Forma is free to download, with in-app purchases available.

### Is Barbell App free?

Barbell App is free to download, with in-app purchases available.

### Which has better reviews, Forma or Barbell App?

Forma is rated higher. Forma averages 4.8 out of 5 from 268 ratings, while Barbell App averages 4.3 from 4 ratings.

### Do Forma or Barbell App have ads?

Forma shows ads; Barbell App does not.

### Which is updated more often, Forma or Barbell App?

Forma ships an update weekly, and Barbell App every 6 weeks. Most recently, Forma was updated on October 27, 2026 and Barbell App on October 24, 2026.

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*Compared by [AppsHunter](https://appshunter.io/) from daily US App Store data. Review summaries are generated from verbatim App Store reviews.*