Comparison

Stronglifts 5x5 Workout Plan vs Thrive by Katie

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

Thrive by Katie

This app offers a comprehensive women's fitness and wellness experience with diverse workout programs, simple nutrition guidance, and an exclusive community for support. It caters to various fitness levels and goals, including prenatal and postnatal care, with effective and efficient routines.

Highlights
  • Pilates, strength, and weight loss programs
  • Prenatal & postnatal workouts
  • Home & gym workout options
  • Video demonstrations
  • Activity & progress tracking
  • Healthy recipes with macronutrient breakdowns
  • Exclusive community support
Features
Read full description

Thrive is more than just a workout app—it’s a women’s fitness and wellness community designed to help you become the strongest, healthiest, and most confident version of yourself. Whether you’re into Pilates, strength training, weight loss workouts, or prenatal/postnatal fitness, there’s a program built just for you. You don’t need to spend hours in the gym—every workout is designed to be effective, efficient, and empowering so you can train with confidence and see real results. Workouts for Every Woman - Pilates, Strength Training & Weight Loss Programs to fit your goals - Prenatal & Postnatal Workouts for pregnancy & postpartum recovery - Home & Gym Workouts – Choose what fits your lifestyle - Daily Workout Categories (Upper Body, Lower Body, Abs, No Equipment & More) - Full Video Demonstrations to take the guesswork out of your training - Activity & Progress Tracking to stay motivated Nutrition & Healthy Eating Made Simple - Easy, Delicious Recipes with step-by-step instructions - Macronutrient Breakdowns to support your goals - Daily Featured Meal to keep healthy eating fun and exciting Thrive’s Exclusive Community – Your Support System - Ask questions & connect with Katie and other members - Share your progress, workouts & favorite recipes - Learn from expert guides on fitness, nutrition & wellness topics Ready to Start Your Journey? Join thousands of women worldwide who are thriving! Get started with a 7-day free trial and unlock full access to workouts, meal plans & community support. Download Thrive by Katie today and take the first step toward becoming your best self! Monthly Premium membership is an auto-renewal monthly subscription for $14.99 Yearly Premium membership is an auto-renewal yearly subscription for $114.99. Payment is handled by your iTunes Account. Subscription automatically renews unless auto-renew is turned off at least 24-hours before the end of the current period. Account will be charged for renewal within 24-hours prior to the end of the current period, and identify the cost of the renewal. Subscriptions may be managed by the user and auto-renewal may be turned off by going to the user's Account Settings after purchase. Terms of Use: https://thrive.web.app/terms_and_conditions Privacy Policy: https://thrive.web.app/privacy_policy

Screenshots

Stronglifts 5x5 Workout Plan4 screens
Thrive by Katie4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is monetization model: Stronglifts 5x5 Workout Plan at free with in-app purchases against Thrive by Katie's subscription. Stronglifts 5x5 Workout Plan also leads on ratings volume (77K vs 432). Thrive by Katie's advantage is review sentiment (100% vs 63%) and iOS requirement (15.0 vs 18.0). On price, rating, update cadence and ads 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 Thrive by Katie sells 6 in-app purchases, starting at $12.99 per month. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

On the App Store both sit at effectively the same score — 4.9 for Stronglifts 5x5 Workout Plan against 4.9 for Thrive by Katie. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Stronglifts 5x5 Workout Plan has 77K ratings behind it against 432, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews are what separate them: 63% of Stronglifts 5x5 Workout Plan's written reviews are positive against 100% of Thrive by Katie's.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Stronglifts 5x5 Workout Plan ships an update every 2 weeks, Thrive by Katie weekly. The most recent releases landed on November 1, 2026 and October 25, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard4 real differences · 6 level
Stronglifts 5x5 Workout Plan versus Thrive by Katie: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterStronglifts 5x5 Workout PlanThrive by Katie
PriceFreeFree
Rating4.9 (77K ratings)4.9 (432 ratings) — better
Positive reviews62.6% of reviews100.0% of reviews — better
Number of ratings77K — better432
Update frequencyEvery 2 weeksWeekly — better
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesYesYes
MonetizationFree with in-app purchases — betterSubscription
DevicesiPhone, iPad, Apple WatchiPhone, iPad, iPod, Apple Watch — better
Requires iOS18.015.0 — better
Further details — not scored
Size172 MB417 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperStrongLiftsKatharine Yovin

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%

Thrive by Katie

All ratings427 ratings
Positive99.1%
Neutral0.7%
Negative0.2%
Written reviews86 reviews
Positive100.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative0.0%

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

Thrive by Katie

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
6 purchases

Thrive by Katie

Subscriptions6
  • Monthly Subscription$12.991 Month
  • Monthly Subscription7 Days trial$24.991 Month
  • Monthly Subscription7 Days trial$34.991 Month
Show 3 more
  • Yearly Subscription$114.991 Year
  • Yearly Subscription7 Days trial$189.991 Year
  • Annual Subscription7 Days trial$229.991 Year

Questions

Is Stronglifts 5x5 Workout Plan free?
Stronglifts 5x5 Workout Plan is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Is Thrive by Katie free?
Thrive by Katie is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Which has better reviews, Stronglifts 5x5 Workout Plan or Thrive by Katie?
Thrive by Katie is rated higher. Stronglifts 5x5 Workout Plan averages 4.9 out of 5 from 77K ratings, while Thrive by Katie averages 4.9 from 432 ratings.
Do Stronglifts 5x5 Workout Plan or Thrive by Katie have ads?
Neither Stronglifts 5x5 Workout Plan nor Thrive by Katie shows ads.
Which is updated more often, Stronglifts 5x5 Workout Plan or Thrive by Katie?
Stronglifts 5x5 Workout Plan ships an update every 2 weeks, and Thrive by Katie weekly. Most recently, Stronglifts 5x5 Workout Plan was updated on November 1, 2026 and Thrive by Katie on October 25, 2026.

Other comparisons