# StrongFirst vs Starting Strength Official

The clearest difference is rating: Starting Strength Official at 4.5 against StrongFirst's 3.6. StrongFirst's advantage is review sentiment (84% vs 54%). On price, ratings volume, update cadence and ads there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. StrongFirst sells 2 in-app purchases, starting at $19.99 per month and Starting Strength Official sells 7 in-app purchases, starting at $14.99 per month. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

Starting Strength Official holds the better App Store score, 4.5 against 3.6. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 28 and 49 respectively. Written reviews complicate that: 84% of StrongFirst's written reviews are positive against 54% of Starting Strength Official's, so the app with the better star average is not the one people write more warmly about.

StrongFirst ships an update every 3 weeks, Starting Strength Official every 2 weeks. The most recent releases landed on October 24, 2026 and October 28, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | StrongFirst | Starting Strength Official |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [3.6 (28 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/strongfirst/id6451005125/reviews) | **[4.5 (49 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/starting-strength-official/id6753924510/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | 28 | **49** |
| Positive reviews | **84.2% of reviews** | 53.8% of reviews |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | Every 3 weeks | **Every 2 weeks** |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | Freemium |
| Size | 90 MB | 156 MB |
| Requires iOS | **15.0** | 16.4 |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod | iPhone, iPad, Apple Watch |
| Age rating | 4+ | 12+ |
| Developer | [StrongFirst](https://appshunter.io/developer/1696194292) | [Shabu Pty Ltd](https://appshunter.io/developer/1008697835) |

## What reviewers say

### StrongFirst

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/strongfirst/id6451005125)

This fitness app offers personalized strength training programs using kettlebells, barbells, and bodyweight. It provides expert guidance with video demonstrations, progress tracking, and a supportive community. Access educational content to deepen your understanding of strength and conditioning.

**Highlights:** Personalized training programs, Expert guidance with video demonstrations, Progress tracking, Variety of exercises (kettlebell, barbell, bodyweight), Flexible scheduling, Community support, Educational articles and tips

**Features:** Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases (2)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| StrongFirst App Premium | $19.99 | per month |
| StrongFirst App Premium | $156.99 | per year |


### Starting Strength Official

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/starting-strength-official/id6753924510)

This app guides beginners through the proven barbell training program, offering step-by-step instructions, guided workouts, and progress tracking. It supports novice linear progression and allows for custom routines with optional paid form checks.

**Highlights:** Novice Linear Progression workouts, Step-by-step lifting instructions, Progress charts, Searchable training history, Built-in training guide, Optional paid form checks

**Features:** macOS Compatibility, Apple Watch app, Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases (7)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Pro Monthly | $14.99 | per month |
| Pro Quarterly | $29.99 | per 3 months |
| Pro Yearly | $89.99 | per year |
| 1 Priority Form Check | $24.99 | one-time |
| 3 Form Check Credits | $69.99 | one-time |
| Pro Lifetime | $179.99 | one-time |
| 10 Form Check Credits | $219.99 | one-time |


## Frequently asked questions

### Is StrongFirst free?

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

### Is Starting Strength Official free?

Starting Strength Official is free to download, with in-app purchases available.

### Which has better reviews, StrongFirst or Starting Strength Official?

Starting Strength Official is rated higher. StrongFirst averages 3.6 out of 5 from 28 ratings, while Starting Strength Official averages 4.5 from 49 ratings.

### Do StrongFirst or Starting Strength Official have ads?

Neither StrongFirst nor Starting Strength Official shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, StrongFirst or Starting Strength Official?

StrongFirst ships an update every 3 weeks, and Starting Strength Official every 2 weeks. Most recently, StrongFirst was updated on October 24, 2026 and Starting Strength Official on October 28, 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.*