Comparison

Stronglifts 5x5 Workout Plan vs Kanu Optimize Training App

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

Kanu Optimize Training App

This app provides structured strength and muscle-building programs designed by experienced coaches. It offers a private exercise library, technique feedback, and direct access to coaches and a supportive community for training and nutrition guidance.

Highlights
  • Strength and muscle-building programs
  • Exercise demo library and technique guidance
  • Video submission for technique feedback
  • Direct coach and community access
  • Automatic training metrics tracking
  • Customized macro calculator
  • Nutrition target tracking and app syncing
  • HealthKit integration
Features
Read full description

Kanu Optimize Training App is used to deliver effective strength and muscle-building training programs for all experience levels. Kanu Optimize isn't just a training app; it's a community. You don’t just get programs. You get access to the team of Kanu Optimize Coaches to ask any and all questions. You also join a community of like-minded lifters from all backgrounds and experience levels. You become a part of the Team Kanu Optimize! Features to highlight include: Training programs built by coaches with decades of experience and background in Exercise Science Private exercise demo library and detailed exercise parameters to perfect your technique Submit videos for technique feedback Direct access to Kanu Optimize Coaches and the community for questions about training, nutrition, recovery, and anything else Automatic tracking of all your training metrics to ensure maximized progress Customized macro calculator built with performance and recovery in mind Set and track nutrition targets, and sync with integrations to your favorite apps and much more… Sync your account with HealthKit to track all your health and fitness data in one place including nutrition, steps and bodyweight. and much more…

Screenshots

Stronglifts 5x5 Workout Plan4 screens
Kanu Optimize Training App4 screens

Verdict

The call

Stronglifts 5x5 Workout Plan and Kanu Optimize Training App both sit at 4.9 stars, but that hides the real split: 100% of Kanu Optimize Training App's written reviews are positive against 63% of Stronglifts 5x5 Workout Plan's. Kanu Optimize Training App also leads on in-app purchases (none vs 10) and iOS requirement (15.1 vs 18.0). Stronglifts 5x5 Workout Plan's advantage is ratings volume (77K vs 3). 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 8 in-app purchases, starting at $4.99 per 7 days. Kanu Optimize Training App asks for nothing beyond the download.

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 5.0 for Kanu Optimize Training App. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Stronglifts 5x5 Workout Plan has 77K ratings behind it against 3, 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 Kanu Optimize Training App's.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Stronglifts 5x5 Workout Plan ships an update every 2 weeks, Kanu Optimize Training App weekly. The most recent releases landed on November 6, 2026 and November 3, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard5 real differences · 5 level
Stronglifts 5x5 Workout Plan versus Kanu Optimize Training App: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterStronglifts 5x5 Workout PlanKanu Optimize Training App
PriceFreeFree
Rating4.9 (77K ratings)5.0 (3 ratings) — better
Positive reviews62.6% of reviews100.0% of reviews — better
Number of ratings77K — better3
Update frequencyEvery 2 weeksWeekly — better
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesYesNo — better
MonetizationFree with in-app purchasesFree — better
DevicesiPhone, iPad, Apple WatchiPhone, iPad, iPod
Requires iOS18.015.1 — better
Further details — not scored
Size172 MB75 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperStrongLiftsKanuOptimize

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%

Kanu Optimize Training App

All ratings3 ratings
Positive100.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative0.0%
Written reviews3 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

Kanu Optimize Training App

Not enough reviews yet to summarise bugs or requests.

In-app purchases

8 purchases

Stronglifts 5x5 Workout Plan

Subscriptions6
  • Pro Weekly$4.997 Days
  • Pro Monthly2 variants$11.991 Month
  • Pro Quarterly2 variants$29.993 Months
Show 3 more
  • Pro Yearly$59.991 Year
  • Pro Yearly1 Year trial$59.991 Year
  • Pro Yearly7 Days trial$59.991 Year
One-time2
  • StrongLifts Pro 5 Years$199.99
  • StrongLifts Pro 5 Years$239.99
None

Kanu Optimize Training App

No in-app purchases

Questions

Is Stronglifts 5x5 Workout Plan free?
Stronglifts 5x5 Workout Plan is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Is Kanu Optimize Training App free?
Kanu Optimize Training App is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Which has better reviews, Stronglifts 5x5 Workout Plan or Kanu Optimize Training App?
Kanu Optimize Training App is rated higher. Stronglifts 5x5 Workout Plan averages 4.9 out of 5 from 77K ratings, while Kanu Optimize Training App averages 5.0 from 3 ratings.
Do Stronglifts 5x5 Workout Plan or Kanu Optimize Training App have ads?
Neither Stronglifts 5x5 Workout Plan nor Kanu Optimize Training App shows ads.
Which is updated more often, Stronglifts 5x5 Workout Plan or Kanu Optimize Training App?
Stronglifts 5x5 Workout Plan ships an update every 2 weeks, and Kanu Optimize Training App weekly. Most recently, Stronglifts 5x5 Workout Plan was updated on November 6, 2026 and Kanu Optimize Training App on November 3, 2026.

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