# Stronglifts 5x5 Workout Plan vs GymNotes

Stronglifts 5x5 Workout Plan and GymNotes both sit at 4.9 stars, but that hides the real split: 100% of GymNotes's written reviews are positive against 66% of Stronglifts 5x5 Workout Plan's. GymNotes also leads on iOS requirement (15.6 vs 18.0). Stronglifts 5x5 Workout Plan's advantage is ratings volume (77K vs 6). On price, rating, update cadence and ads there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. Stronglifts 5x5 Workout Plan sells 12 in-app purchases, starting at $4.99 per 7 days and GymNotes sells 3 in-app purchases, starting at $3.99 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 5.0 for GymNotes. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Stronglifts 5x5 Workout Plan has 77K ratings behind it against 6, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews are what separate them: 66% of Stronglifts 5x5 Workout Plan's written reviews are positive against 100% of GymNotes's.

Stronglifts 5x5 Workout Plan ships an update fortnightly, GymNotes every 3 weeks. The most recent releases landed on September 25, 2026 and September 21, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Stronglifts 5x5 Workout Plan | GymNotes |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [4.9 (77K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/stronglifts-5x5-workout-plan/id488580022/reviews) | **[5.0 (6 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/gymnotes-gym-exercise-notes/id6447488441/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | **77K** | 6 |
| Positive reviews | 65.8% of reviews | **100.0% of reviews** |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | **Fortnightly** | Every 3 weeks |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | Free with in-app purchases |
| Size | 161 MB | 53 MB |
| Requires iOS | 18.0 | **15.6** |
| Devices | **iPhone, iPad, Apple Watch** | iPhone, iPod |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [StrongLifts](https://appshunter.io/developer/916468093) | [Mykyta Subotin](https://appshunter.io/developer/1692788648) |

## What reviewers say

### Stronglifts 5x5 Workout Plan

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/stronglifts-5x5-workout-plan/id488580022)

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:** macOS Compatibility, Family Sharing, Apple Watch app, Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases (12)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Pro Weekly | $4.99 | per 7 days |
| Pro Monthly | $11.99 | per month |
| Pro Quarterly | $29.99 | per 3 months |
| Pro Yearly | $59.99 | per year |
| Pro Yearly | $59.99 | per year |
| Pro Yearly | $59.99 | per year |
| Pro Quarterly | $99.99 | per 3 months |
| StrongLifts Pro 5 Years | $199.99 | one-time |
| Pro Lifetime | $199.99 | one-time |
| StrongLifts Pro 5 Years | $239.99 | one-time |
| Pro Family Lifetime | $299.99 | one-time |
| Pro Family Lifetime Upgrade | $299.99 | one-time |

**What reviewers like**

- 💪 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

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 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

**Reported bugs**

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

**Requested features**

- 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


### GymNotes

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/gymnotes-gym-exercise-notes/id6447488441)

Log and track your gym workouts with this comprehensive planner and exercise log. Visualize progress with detailed graphs and build custom routines. Ideal for strength training and fitness enthusiasts.

**Highlights:** Workout planner, Workout tracker, Exercise log, Custom routine builder, Progress graphs, Rest timer, Superset support

**Features:** macOS Compatibility

**In-app purchases (3)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Monthly | $3.99 | per month |
| Yearly | $22.99 | per year |
| GymNotes: Log & Track Workouts | $49.99 | one-time |


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Stronglifts 5x5 Workout Plan free?

Stronglifts 5x5 Workout Plan is free to download, with in-app purchases available.

### Is GymNotes free?

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

### Which has better reviews, Stronglifts 5x5 Workout Plan or GymNotes?

GymNotes is rated higher. Stronglifts 5x5 Workout Plan averages 4.9 out of 5 from 77K ratings, while GymNotes averages 5.0 from 6 ratings.

### Do Stronglifts 5x5 Workout Plan or GymNotes have ads?

Neither Stronglifts 5x5 Workout Plan nor GymNotes shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, Stronglifts 5x5 Workout Plan or GymNotes?

Stronglifts 5x5 Workout Plan ships an update fortnightly, and GymNotes every 3 weeks. Most recently, Stronglifts 5x5 Workout Plan was updated on September 25, 2026 and GymNotes on September 21, 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.*