Stronglifts 5x5 Workout Plan vs Built With Science+
Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.
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.
- Proven 3x/week strength program
- Automated progression
- Guided workouts with timers
- Progress charts
- Simple interface
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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/
Built With Science+
This intelligent fitness companion offers personalized workouts and nutrition plans based on scientific insights. It adapts to your progress with real-time adjustments and provides detailed exercise tutorials and AI-powered meal scanning. Achieve your body goals with science-backed guidance.
- Hyper-Personalized Workouts
- Progressive Overload Guidance
- Real-Time Diet Adjustments
- AI-Powered Meal Scanner
- 250+ Exercise Tutorials
- Daily Knowledge Boosters
- AI Fitness & Nutrition Assistant
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Reach your goals faster with BWS+ all-in-one fitness coach. Frustrated with cookie-cutter workout plans and confusing nutrition advice? BWS+ is your intelligent coach and complete fitness companion for achieving the body you've always wanted. The app integrates insights from leading fitness scientists, coaches, and dietitians, offering personalized advice based on your unique body and goals. It evolves with you, adapting your workouts and nutrition based on real-time feedback, encapsulating decades of experience into a dynamic coach that tailors itself to your needs. The latest science, personalized to you - Hyper-Personalized Workouts: Built with Science's advanced algorithm creates a workout plan specifically for your body, goals, and schedule. Whether you're hitting the gym or training at home, we've got you covered. - Progressive Overload Guidance: Never plateau again. BWS+ tells you exactly how to adjust your weights and reps each session for continuous gains. - Real-Time Diet Adjustments: As your body changes, so do your nutritional needs. Our app adapts your meal plan weekly, ensuring you're always on track. All-in-One Fitness and Nutrition Solution - 250+ In-Depth Exercise Tutorials: Master proper form with our detailed video guides, packed with science-based insights. - AI-Powered Meal Scanner: Say goodbye to tedious calorie counting. Simply snap a photo of your meal, and our AI does the rest, accurately tracking your nutrition in seconds. - Daily Knowledge Boosters: Unlock 200+ bite-sized lessons to build your fitness IQ and make informed decisions about your health. One App is All You Need - AI Fitness & Nutrition Assistant: Get personalized answers to your fitness and nutrition questions, as if you're talking directly to Jeremy Ethier. - Muscle Group Prioritizer: Focus on specific muscles that need extra attention for balanced development. - Recomp Detector: Track simultaneous fat loss and muscle gain with our advanced body composition analysis. - Step Tracking and Daily Activity Goals: Seamlessly integrate with Apple Health and Google Fit to optimize your overall activity levels. We've combined cutting-edge technology with years of scientific research to create an app that delivers real, lasting transformations. No more guesswork, no more wasted time in the gym. BWS+ provides the structure and guidance you need to finally achieve the body you deserve. Download now and take the first step towards the best version of yourself! This app requires an active BuiltWithScience+ membership or an in-app subscription purchased through the App Store to access its features and content. Subscription details and terms are available within the app.
Screenshots
Verdict
Stronglifts 5x5 Workout Plan and Built With Science+ both sit at 4.9 stars, but that hides the real split: 80% of Built With Science+'s written reviews are positive against 63% of Stronglifts 5x5 Workout Plan's. Built With Science+ also leads on iOS requirement (16.4 vs 18.0). Stronglifts 5x5 Workout Plan's advantage is ratings volume (77K vs 5.4K) and chart position (#181 vs unranked). 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
Both are free to download. Stronglifts 5x5 Workout Plan sells 8 in-app purchases, starting at $4.99 per 7 days and Built With Science+ sells 4 in-app purchases, starting at $29.99 per month. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.
On the App Store both sit at effectively the same score — 4.9 for Stronglifts 5x5 Workout Plan against 4.8 for Built With Science+. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Stronglifts 5x5 Workout Plan has 77K ratings behind it against 5.4K, 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 80% of Built With Science+'s.
Both ship on a similar rhythm, roughly every 2 weeks. Both last shipped on November 11, 2026.
| Parameter | Stronglifts 5x5 Workout Plan | Built With Science+ |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | 4.9 (77K ratings) — better | 4.8 (5.4K ratings) |
| Positive reviews | 62.6% of reviews | 80.3% of reviews — better |
| Number of ratings | 77K — better | 5.4K |
| Update frequency | Every 2 weeks | Every 2 weeks |
| Ads | No | No |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | Free with in-app purchases |
| Best chart rank | #181 — better | — |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, Apple Watch | iPhone, iPad, Apple Watch |
| Requires iOS | 18.0 | 16.4 — better |
| Further details — not scored | ||
| Size | 172 MB | 273 MB |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | StrongLifts | Built With Science Holdings Corp |
Customer experience
Stronglifts 5x5 Workout Plan
Built With Science+
User reviews
Stronglifts 5x5 Workout Plan
From 77K App Store ratingsWhat we love
- 💪 Effective strength-building program
- 📈 Tracks progress and helps with consistency
- 🤖 Automatic weight progression and plate calculation
- ⏱️ Convenient timer and rest period tracking
- 📚 Helpful exercise form videos
Room to improve
- 🐛 Occasional bugs and syncing issues
- 💰 Subscription model can be expensive for some
- 🔒 Limited customization options in free version
- ⚠️ Weights may not be accurate for all users
- 🕰️ Workouts can be time-consuming for some
Built With Science+
From 5.4K App Store ratingsWhat we love
- 👍 Comprehensive fitness and nutrition tracking
- 🚀 Convenient all-in-one app
- 📚 Helpful educational lessons
- 💪 Science-backed program
- 🎯 Customized and adaptive workouts
Room to improve
- 🐛 Occasional performance issues and bugs
- 🔍 Limited food database and recipe options
- 📱 Lack of integration with other fitness apps and devices
- 🕰️ Inflexible workout scheduling
- 💬 Limited human interaction and coaching support
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
Built With Science+
Reported bugs
4 issues- Workout data sometimes gets lost or marked incomplete
- App takes a long time to open
- Login and sign-up issues for existing customers
- Inconsistent exercise recommendations and adjustments
Requested features
5 requests- Add ability to create and save custom recipes
- Integrate with Apple Health and other fitness platforms
- Provide more flexibility in workout scheduling
- Enhance human coaching and support features
- Improve performance and stability
In-app purchases
Stronglifts 5x5 Workout Plan
- Pro Weekly$4.997 Days
- Pro Monthly2 variants$11.991 Month
- Pro Quarterly2 variants$29.993 Months
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- Pro Yearly$59.991 Year
- Pro Yearly1 Year trial$59.991 Year
- Pro Yearly7 Days trial$59.991 Year
- StrongLifts Pro 5 Years$199.99
- StrongLifts Pro 5 Years$239.99
Built With Science+
- Monthly Membership14 Days trial$29.991 Month
- Annual Membership14 Days trial$189.001 Year
- Intermediate Program Unlock$49.00
- Beginner Program Unlock$49.00
Questions
Is Stronglifts 5x5 Workout Plan free?
Is Built With Science+ free?
Which has better reviews, Stronglifts 5x5 Workout Plan or Built With Science+?
Do Stronglifts 5x5 Workout Plan or Built With Science+ have ads?
Which is updated more often, Stronglifts 5x5 Workout Plan or Built With Science+?
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