Comparison

Stronglifts 5x5 Workout Plan vs FitNotes

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

Head to head
About

Stronglifts 5x5 Workout Plan

This app guides you through a proven barbell strength training program with no guesswork. It plans every exercise, set, and weight for you, allowing you to focus on lifting and see consistent progress. Ideal for beginners or those returning to strength training.

Highlights
  • Proven 3x/week strength program
  • Automated progression
  • Guided workouts with timers
  • Progress charts
  • Simple interface
Features
Read full description

Get stronger with the world’s simplest, most proven barbell program: the 5×5 workout. No guesswork. Just follow along and see real results, in just 3 workouts a week. StrongLifts is made for lifters starting or returning to barbell strength training. The app removes all confusion and complexity by guiding you through every 5×5 workout. It plans every exercise, set, and weight so you always know exactly what to do. The time-tested 5×5 workout gets you stronger, week after week. No experience needed. ▸ Proven 3×/week strength program: Structured workouts, all planned for you. ▸ No guesswork: Fully automated progression for consistent strength gains. ▸ Just follow along: Simple interface with timers. Focus on lifting, not fiddling. ▸ Stay motivated. See your strength go up every week with clear progress charts. ▸ Easy to stick with. Simple, guided 3×/week program. No decisions, just results. Over 3 million lifters worldwide have started or restarted their strength journey with StrongLifts since 2007. The app has been featured and reviewed in the British Journal of Sports Medicine. StrongLifts is the best strength app, with more than 200,000 five-star reviews worldwide. StrongLifts is built on the classic 5×5 workout made famous by legends like Reg Park, Bill Starr, and Glenn Pendlay. For more than 70 years, the 5×5 workout has been proven to get new and returning lifters stronger, quickly and safely. Download StrongLifts today and join millions getting stronger. StrongLifts is free to download, but requires a subscription to use. All new users get a 7-day free trial for the yearly plan. Monthly and quarterly plans are also available without a free trial. Subscription renews automatically unless canceled at least 24 hours before the end of each period. Manage or cancel your subscription any time in your App Store account settings. https://www.apple.com/legal/internet-services/itunes/dev/stdeula/

About

FitNotes

This app simplifies tracking weightlifting and cardio workouts. Create multi-day routines with auto-incrementing exercises and manage complex CrossFit WODs. Ideal for all fitness levels to stay organized and monitor progress towards goals.

Highlights
  • Weightlifting workout tracking
  • Cardio exercise tracking
  • Multi-day workout creation
  • Auto-incrementing exercises
  • CrossFit WOD management
  • Progress monitoring
Features
Read full description

Track your workouts. See your progress. Know what to do next. FitNotes makes it easy to log strength training and cardio, organize your routines, and follow your progress over time. Whether you're starting your first routine or refining an established training plan, keep your workouts and results together in one place. TRAIN YOUR WAY Create routines that span multiple days, organize exercises into supersets, and build workouts of the day for CrossFit-style training. Set progression rules to adjust your targets for future workouts as you progress. LOG THE DETAILS THAT MATTER Record sets, reps, weight, time, and distance. Track warm-up sets, add notes, and use rest timers to stay focused between sets. Review previous sessions when planning your next workout. SEE WHAT YOU ACHIEVED Finish each workout with a summary of new personal records, goal progress, and training volume compared with your previous session. Get suggestions for next time that take your progression rules into account. FOLLOW YOUR PROGRESS Explore your training history with charts and a workout calendar. Set exercise goals and track body measurements over time, without needing to enter a measurement every session. KEEP YOUR TRAINING ORGANIZED Customize exercises, equipment, and categories to match the way you train. Export workout logs as CSV, import compatible CSV files, and create backups of your FitNotes data. From your first set to your next personal best, FitNotes helps you keep track of the work you put in. EULA: https://www.apple.com/legal/internet-services/itunes/dev/stdeula/

Screenshots

Stronglifts 5x5 Workout Plan4 screens
FitNotes4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is rating: Stronglifts 5x5 Workout Plan at 4.9 against FitNotes's 4.5. Stronglifts 5x5 Workout Plan also leads on ratings volume (77K vs 1.5K) and iOS requirement (18.0 vs 26.0). FitNotes's advantage is update cadence (every 5 days vs every 2 weeks). On price, review sentiment, 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

CostPrice · In-app purchases · Ads · Monetization

Both are free to download. Stronglifts 5x5 Workout Plan sells 12 in-app purchases, starting at $4.99 per 7 days and FitNotes sells 3 in-app purchases, starting at $0.99 per month. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

Stronglifts 5x5 Workout Plan holds the better App Store score, 4.9 against 4.5. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Stronglifts 5x5 Workout Plan has 77K ratings behind it against 1.5K, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews point the same way: 63% of Stronglifts 5x5 Workout Plan's written reviews are positive against 59% of FitNotes's.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Stronglifts 5x5 Workout Plan ships an update every 2 weeks, FitNotes every 5 days. The most recent releases landed on October 25, 2026 and October 24, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard4 real differences · 6 level
Stronglifts 5x5 Workout Plan versus FitNotes: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterStronglifts 5x5 Workout PlanFitNotes
PriceFreeFree
Rating4.9 (77K ratings) — better4.5 (1.5K ratings)
Positive reviews62.6% of reviews — better59.3% of reviews
Number of ratings77K — better1.5K
Update frequencyEvery 2 weeksEvery 5 days — better
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesYesYes
MonetizationFree with in-app purchasesFree with in-app purchases
DevicesiPhone, iPad, Apple WatchiPhone, iPad, Apple Watch
Requires iOS18.0 — better26.0
Further details — not scored
Size172 MB28 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperStrongLiftsEvgeny Uralsky

Customer experience

Stronglifts 5x5 Workout Plan

All ratings76,863 ratings
Positive97.6%
Neutral1.1%
Negative1.3%
Written reviews1,428 reviews
Positive62.6%
Neutral3.9%
Negative33.5%

FitNotes

All ratings1,480 ratings
Positive86.9%
Neutral4.3%
Negative8.8%
Written reviews376 reviews
Positive59.3%
Neutral10.1%
Negative30.6%

Bugs and requests

Stronglifts 5x5 Workout Plan

Reported bugs

3 issues
  • Workout data loss and reset issues
  • Inconsistent Apple Watch connectivity
  • Inability to edit or delete custom exercises

Requested features

5 requests
  • Ability to customize core exercises
  • Menstrual cycle tracking and programming
  • More pre-built program options
  • Integration with other fitness apps and devices
  • Recommended meal plans and nutrition guidance

FitNotes

Not enough reviews yet to summarise bugs or requests.

In-app purchases

12 purchases

Stronglifts 5x5 Workout Plan

Subscriptions7
  • Pro Weekly2 variants$4.997 Days
  • Pro Monthly2 variants$11.991 Month
  • Pro Quarterly2 variants$29.993 Months
Show 4 more
  • Pro Yearly$59.991 Year
  • Pro Yearly1 Year trial$59.991 Year
  • Pro Yearly7 Days trial$59.991 Year
  • Pro Quarterly$99.993 Months
One-time5
  • StrongLifts Pro 5 Years$199.99
  • Pro Lifetime$199.99
  • StrongLifts Pro 5 Years$239.99
Show 2 more
  • Pro Family Lifetime$299.99
  • Pro Family Lifetime Upgrade$299.99
3 purchases

FitNotes

Subscriptions2
  • FitNotes PRO (1 Month)$0.991 Month
  • FitNotes PRO (1 Year)$4.991 Year
One-time1
  • FitNotes PRO$9.99

Questions

Is Stronglifts 5x5 Workout Plan free?
Stronglifts 5x5 Workout Plan is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Is FitNotes free?
FitNotes is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Which has better reviews, Stronglifts 5x5 Workout Plan or FitNotes?
Stronglifts 5x5 Workout Plan is rated higher. Stronglifts 5x5 Workout Plan averages 4.9 out of 5 from 77K ratings, while FitNotes averages 4.5 from 1.5K ratings.
Do Stronglifts 5x5 Workout Plan or FitNotes have ads?
Neither Stronglifts 5x5 Workout Plan nor FitNotes shows ads.
Which is updated more often, Stronglifts 5x5 Workout Plan or FitNotes?
Stronglifts 5x5 Workout Plan ships an update every 2 weeks, and FitNotes every 5 days. Most recently, Stronglifts 5x5 Workout Plan was updated on October 25, 2026 and FitNotes on October 24, 2026.

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