Stronglifts 5x5 Workout Plan vs SETWAVES
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
Read full descriptionHide 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/
SETWAVES
Read full descriptionHide full description
Stop overthinking your workouts. Get in, get out. SETWAVES generates superset-based workouts designed how you like them in seconds. No complicated programs. No endless scrolling. Just tap, get your workout, and go.Break out of gym-boredom, routine ruts, and wasted time. BUILT FOR PEOPLE WHO ALREADY KNOW HOW TO EXERCISE This isn't a beginner-friendly app with form tutorials and hand-holding. SETWAVES is for people with exercise experience who understand the movements but hate spending mental energy planning their sessions. WHY SUPERSETS? Supersets pair two exercises back-to-back, cutting your workout time while maximizing results. SET WAVES intelligently pairs antagonist muscle groups (push/pull, quads/hamstrings) so you train efficiently without sacrificing intensity. HOW IT WORKS 1. Tell us your goal, equipment, and time 2. Tap "Generate" 3. Get a complete workout with warmup, supersets, and cooldown 4. Don't like something? Regenerate instantly or swap exercises on the fly SMART WORKOUT GENERATION - Workouts adapt to YOUR goals: strength, hypertrophy, endurance, or fat loss - Filter by equipment: full gym, home gym, minimal, or bodyweight only - Sessions from 20-60 minutes - Automatic variety — the app tracks recent workouts to keep things fresh - Antagonist superset pairing for maximum efficiency - Set movements as favorites for the algorithm to prioritize - Set movements to avoid (injuries, preferences, etc.) so they aren't included WHAT'S INCLUDED - Unlimited workout generation - 70+ exercise library - Full customization (goals, equipment, duration, focus areas) - Regenerate as many times as you want ALSO INCLUDED - Swap individual exercises or entire supersets - Full workout history - Log weights and reps to track progress (or don't) - Weekly planner with quick workout generation - Body metrics tracking WORKS WITH YOUR SCHEDULE Whether you have 20 minutes or a full hour, SETWAVES builds the right workout to your liking. Morning sessions, lunch lifts, or evening grinds — generate what you need, when you need it, and get on with your life. PRIVACY FIRST All your data stays on your device. No accounts. No internet. No cloud sync. No tracking. Just you and your workouts. --- Stop overthinking it. Download SET WAVES and get your first workout in seconds.
Screenshots
Verdict
The clearest difference is in-app purchases: SETWAVES at none against Stronglifts 5x5 Workout Plan's 15. SETWAVES also leads on iOS requirement (15.1 vs 18.0). Stronglifts 5x5 Workout Plan's advantage is chart position (#163 vs unranked). On price, ads and device support 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 12 in-app purchases, starting at $4.99 per 7 days. SETWAVES asks for nothing beyond the download.
| Parameter | Stronglifts 5x5 Workout Plan | SETWAVES |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | 4.9 (77K ratings) — better | — |
| Positive reviews | 62.6% of reviews | — |
| Number of ratings | 77K — better | — |
| Update frequency | Fortnightly | — |
| Ads | No | No |
| In-app purchases | Yes | No — better |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | — |
| Best chart rank | #163 — better | — |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, Apple Watch | iPhone, iPad, iPod |
| Requires iOS | 18.0 | 15.1 — better |
| Further details — not scored | ||
| Size | 172 MB | 39 MB |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | StrongLifts | Ethan Orenstein |
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
SETWAVES
Not enough reviews yet to summarise bugs or requests.
In-app purchases
Stronglifts 5x5 Workout Plan
- Pro Weekly2 variants$4.997 Days
- Pro Monthly2 variants$11.991 Month
- Pro Quarterly2 variants$29.993 Months
Show 4 moreShow fewer
- Pro Yearly$59.991 Year
- Pro Yearly1 Year trial$59.991 Year
- Pro Yearly7 Days trial$59.991 Year
- Pro Quarterly$99.993 Months
- StrongLifts Pro 5 Years$199.99
- Pro Lifetime$199.99
- StrongLifts Pro 5 Years$239.99
Show 2 moreShow fewer
- Pro Family Lifetime$299.99
- Pro Family Lifetime Upgrade$299.99
SETWAVES
No in-app purchases
Questions
Is Stronglifts 5x5 Workout Plan free?
Is SETWAVES free?
Do Stronglifts 5x5 Workout Plan or SETWAVES have ads?
Other comparisons















