Comparison

Pump It Better vs Compound Theory

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

Head to head
About

Pump It Better

Features
Read full description

PUMP IT BETTER — Workout Tracker & Strength Programs The offline-first lifting tracker built for people who take training seriously. Every rep, every PR, every program — stored on your device and available anywhere. WHY LIFTERS CHOOSE PUMP IT BETTER Works Completely Offline No gym WiFi required. Your data lives on your device first, syncs to the cloud second. Built-In Strength Programs Run 5/3/1, Madcow 5x5, nSuns, PPL, and more — with automatic weight progressions calculated for you. Your Data, Your Terms No ads. No data selling. No forced account creation to get started. FREE FOREVER - Unlimited workout logging - One active program with up to four templates - Auto-progression with % of max calculations - 580+ exercise library - Up to 7 custom exercises - Progress charts (last 3 months) - Cloud sync across all your devices - Rest timer and plate calculator - No ads, ever PREMIUM - Unlimited programs and templates - Full access to all community strength programs (5/3/1, Madcow, nSuns, PPL, and more) - Unlimited custom exercises - Full graph history — all-time data and advanced analytics - Priority support Subscription options: - Monthly: $2.99/month (auto-renewing) - Yearly: $19.99/year (auto-renewing) — save 44% vs monthly - Lifetime: $49.99 one-time payment PERFECT FOR - Powerlifters running 5/3/1, Texas Method, or Madcow - Bodybuilders tracking volume and progressive overload - Anyone who wants their workout history to actually belong to them PRIVACY FIRST Your workouts are stored on your device using offline-first architecture. Cloud sync is optional and requires an account. We will never sell your data or show you ads. Terms of Use (EULA): https://app.pumpitbetter.com/terms-of-service Privacy Policy: https://app.pumpitbetter.com/privacy-policy

About

Compound Theory

This strength training tracker offers a vast library of proven workout programs and allows users to build their own custom routines. It provides insights into muscle recovery, strength standards, and integrates with Apple Health for a comprehensive view of fitness progress.

Highlights
  • Extensive library of pre-built strength programs
  • Customizable workout routine builder
  • Muscle recovery tracking with visual indicators
  • Strength standards comparison
  • Apple Health integration for recovery insights
  • One-tap set completion and auto-progression
  • Apple Watch workout tracking
Features
Read full description

Compound Theory is a no-nonsense strength training tracker built for lifters who already know what they're doing, and the ones who want to. PROVEN PROGRAMS, BUILT IN Linear: StrongLifts 5×5, Starting Strength, Greyskull LP, GZCLP, Reddit PPL, Reddit Basic 3×5. Intermediate: Madcow 5×5, Texas Method. Peaking: Candito 6 Week, Juggernaut Method 2.0. Full 5/3/1 family: Original, BBB, FSL, SSL, Triumvirate, Monolith, Leader/Anchor, Beginner, 2 day Minimalist. Power/hypertrophy: PHUL, PHAT, nSuns 4 Day, Jacked & Tan 2.0, Powerbuilding Template, Juggernaut Base. Not sure where to start? The Find Your Program quiz picks the best match for your goal, experience, and schedule in under a minute. MUSCLE FRESHNESS Every exercise row carries a recovery dot, green, yellow, or red, so you know which movement patterns are ready for another hard session. Tap in for a per pattern recovery bar, last loaded time, and the workouts that contributed. STRENGTH STANDARDS See where your Squat, Bench, Deadlift, and Overhead Press rank against the rest of the lifting population, adjusted for your bodyweight, age, and sex. Per lift progress bars show how far you are from Intermediate, Advanced, or Elite. RECOVERY INSIGHTS Connect Apple Health and the app watches your HRV, sleep, and recent training load. When recovery looks reduced, a banner on Home suggests a lighter day. Every past alert stays in Progress so you can scroll back through the data that drove every recommendation. LIFT, LOG, DONE One tap set completion with a crisp haptic click. Auto calculated warmups. Plate math that respects the plates you actually own. Rest timer that auto starts when you finish a set. Weight auto progresses after every workout. Supersets drawn as paired cards with rest pause timer behavior. BUILD YOUR OWN Have a program the presets don't cover? Custom Programs now lets you design anything from a flat StrongLifts-style linear plan to a multi-week wave with per-set percentages of your training max, AMRAP markers, and auto TM advancement on 5+ rep finishers. Nest LEVIASUNS, an nSuns variant, or your own coach's block in minutes. Export the whole program (or a program + history bundle) as a single .ironprog file, share it, and import on another device without losing a set. BODYWEIGHT, DONE RIGHT Pull ups and dips accept signed weights (+25 for a belt plate, −40 for band assistance) and factor your real bodyweight into total volume. Push ups and planks just track reps. WATCH + HEALTH Track workouts on Apple Watch: start a set on your wrist, see the rest timer tick down, end the workout without pulling out your phone. Optional auto RPE suggestion from heart rate recovery (beta). Workouts sync to Apple Health as strength training sessions. Body weight, heart rate, and calories flow both ways. STREAK THAT UNDERSTANDS YOUR SCHEDULE A 3×/week program means Tuesday is a rest day, not a gap. Your streak only breaks when you miss a scheduled session. iCLOUD SYNC + IMPORT Your workouts live on every device signed into your iCloud account. Coming from StrongLifts, Strong, or a spreadsheet? One tap CSV import brings years of workouts with you. MAKE IT YOURS Seven themes. 29 app icons including Terminal, Space, Matrix, Holographic, Neon, Gold, Carbon Fiber, Blueprint, and more. WHAT YOU WON'T FIND No social feed. No trainer DMs. No push notifications begging you to open the app. No dark pattern paywalls gating basic set tracking. Pro unlocks advanced analytics (Muscle Freshness, Strength Standards, Recovery Insights), every program template, premium themes, and alternate icons. Available as a monthly or yearly subscription, or as a one-time lifetime unlock. Built for the barbell. Designed for the people who lift it. Terms of Use (EULA): https://www.apple.com/legal/internet-services/itunes/dev/stdeula/ Privacy Policy: https://compoundtheory.x90sky.sh/privacy

Screenshots

Pump It Better4 screens
Compound Theory4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is update cadence: Pump It Better at daily against Compound Theory's every 4 days. Pump It Better also leads on iOS requirement (15.0 vs 17.0). On price, ads, in-app purchases 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. Pump It Better sells 3 in-app purchases, starting at $2.99 per month and Compound Theory sells 3 in-app purchases, starting at $3.99 per month. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Pump It Better ships an update daily, Compound Theory every 4 days. The most recent releases landed on September 30, 2026 and October 14, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard2 real differences · 8 level
Pump It Better versus Compound Theory: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterPump It BetterCompound Theory
PriceFreeFree
Rating—5.0 (1 ratings) — better
Positive reviews—100.0% of reviews
Number of ratings—1 — better
Update frequencyDaily — betterEvery 4 days
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesYesYes
Monetization—Freemium
DevicesiPhone, iPad, iPodiPhone, iPad, Apple Watch
Requires iOS15.0 — better17.0
Further details — not scored
Size10 MB16 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperPump It Better LLCShane Young

In-app purchases

3 purchases

Pump It Better

Subscriptions2
  • Premium Monthly$2.991 Month
  • Premium Yearly$19.991 Year
One-time1
  • Premium Lifetime$49.99
3 purchases

Compound Theory

Subscriptions2
  • Compound Theory Pro7 Days trial$3.991 Month
  • Compound Theory Pro7 Days trial$29.991 Year
One-time1
  • Compound Theory Pro$99.99

Questions

Is Pump It Better free?
Pump It Better is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Is Compound Theory free?
Compound Theory is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Do Pump It Better or Compound Theory have ads?
Neither Pump It Better nor Compound Theory shows ads.
Which is updated more often, Pump It Better or Compound Theory?
Pump It Better ships an update daily, and Compound Theory every 4 days. Most recently, Pump It Better was updated on September 30, 2026 and Compound Theory on October 14, 2026.

Other comparisons