Comparison

BUFF | Gym Workout Tracker vs Shaw Elite

Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.

Head to head
About

BUFF | Gym Workout Tracker

This app helps users track gym workouts, log sets and reps, and monitor personal records. It offers video demonstrations for exercises, customizable workout plans, and community features to share progress and stay motivated.

Highlights
  • Dynamic workout and progress tracking
  • Extensive exercise library with video demonstrations
  • Customizable workout routines and pre-designed plans
  • Detailed progress graphs and muscle usage visualization
  • Community and social sharing features
  • Gamified progress with achievements and medals
Features
Read full description

Buff Gym Workout: Dynamic Tracker, Log & Planner Level-Up Your Fitness Goals. Simplify and supercharge your fitness journey with Buff. Whether you're a beginner or an advanced lifter, our dynamic workout tracker gives you everything you need to log your sessions, master your form, connect with friends, and push for new personal bests. WHAT USERS ARE SAYING - "Buff is an absolute game-changer... From the moment you open the app, you’re greeted with an intuitive interface that makes navigating through its features effortless." - elm84$ - "The Buff app was key in helping me to prepare for my first bodybuilding competition. With its help, I placed 1st in two categories!" - H. White - "I really enjoy the achievement system—it adds a nice motivational boost and keeps me engaged. One of the best parts is the workout videos; every exercise has a clear demonstration..." - Mythoriir WHAT MAKES BUFF YOUR BEST LIFTING PARTNER? 1. Dynamic Workout & Progress Tracking - Detailed Gym Log: Easily track every set, rep, and weight. Log total volume, total reps, and monitor your PRs (Personal Records) instantly. - Bodyweight Trends: Track your bodyweight evolution and key performance metrics (average reps, sets, and weight) with colorful, detailed graphs. - Visualize Muscle Usage: Our unique Anatomy Highlights show you exactly which muscles you've worked and provide an intensity percentage breakdown to ensure balanced training. 2. Master Your Form & Plan Your Training - Extensive Exercise Library: Explore a wide range of 500+ exercises with free, high-quality video demonstrations featuring real people to ensure perfect technique, maximum results, and safety. - Customization is Key: Create your own personalized workout routines or choose from our pre-designed, goal-oriented plans. - Seamless Tracking: Maintain your consistency with a Daily Streak counter that helps you stay on track and build unbreakable habits. 3. Get Motivated & Stay Accountable - Community & Social Sharing: Join the active Buff Community! Share results, follow friends' progress, celebrate your milestones, and inspire others directly within the app. - Gamified Progress: Earn Experience Points (XP) and Medals by hitting new achievements in key categories like Strength, Endurance, and Stamina. Make tracking fun and rewarding! BY HUMANS, FOR HUMANS (A NO-AI APPROACH) - Most fitness apps rely on AI, but Buff uses none of it. Every workout plan, exercise tutorial, and piece of artwork was created by real people, with the singular goal of making fitness accessible and effective for you. KEY FEATURES AT A GLANCE - Track workouts and exercises with an easy-to-use interface. - Access video demonstrations for proper exercise technique. - Thoughtfully crafted plans for every fitness level (Beginner to Advanced). - Create custom workouts and routines. - In-depth progress graphs for total volume, reps, PRs, and bodyweight. - Muscle usage visualization with anatomy highlights and percentage breakdowns. - Social sharing and community features. - Experience Points & Achievements to gamify your fitness journey. Subscriptions: Yearly Plan • Duration: 1 year • Price: $99.99/year • Payment charged to iTunes Account at purchase confirmation • Renewal charged within 24 hours before the current period ends • Manage or turn off auto-renewal in Account Settings • Unused trial period (if any) is forfeited upon subscription purchase Monthly Plan • Duration: 1 month • Price: $12.99/month • Payment charged to iTunes Account at purchase confirmation • Renewal charged within 24 hours before the current period ends • Manage or turn off auto-renewal in Account Settings • Unused trial period (if any) is forfeited upon subscription purchase Terms and conditions: https://www.buffdudes.us/pages/buff-app-terms-conditions Privacy policy: https://www.buffdudes.us/pages/buff-app-privacy-policy

About

Shaw Elite

Access expert-designed training and nutrition plans from a world-renowned strongman. Build strength, improve performance, and connect with a supportive fitness community. Get insider tips and motivation.

Highlights
  • Expert training programs
  • Customizable nutrition plans
  • Exclusive content from Brian Shaw
  • Supportive fitness community
  • Strength building workouts
  • Performance enhancement
Features
Read full description

Transform your fitness journey with the Shaw Elite app, created by 4x World’s Strongest Man, Brian Shaw. Whether you're aiming to build strength, improve performance, or enhance your overall fitness, the Shaw Elite app offers everything you need to succeed. Paid app subscribers can access: Expert Training Programs Access expertly designed workout routines tailored to your fitness goals, from strength-building to functional fitness. Customizable Nutrition Plans Fuel your performance with personalized nutrition plans that complement your training. Exclusive Content Gain insider tips, motivation, and behind-the-scenes access from Brian Shaw himself. Supportive Community Join a thriving community of fitness enthusiasts and connect with others on their fitness journeys. Download Shaw Elite today and start your journey to elite fitness with guidance from one of the world’s strongest athletes. Shaw Elite offers two auto-renewing subscription options to provide you with access to premium app content: Monthly: $24.99 Annually: $249.99 Subscriptions are subject to. standard Apple Terms of Use: https://www.apple.com/legal/internet-services/itunes/dev/stdeula/ Privacy Policy: https://shawstrength.com/pages/privacy-policy-evolution-athletics Terms and Conditions: https://shawstrength.com/pages/terms-conditions-evolution-athletics

Screenshots

BUFF | Gym Workout Tracker4 screens
Shaw Elite4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is monetization model: BUFF | Gym Workout Tracker at free with in-app purchases against Shaw Elite's subscription. BUFF | Gym Workout Tracker also leads on ratings volume (261 vs 10). Shaw Elite's advantage is review sentiment (100% vs 85%). 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. BUFF | Gym Workout Tracker sells 2 in-app purchases, starting at $12.99 per month and Shaw Elite sells 14 in-app purchases, starting at $8.99 per month. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

On the App Store both sit at effectively the same score — 4.8 for BUFF | Gym Workout Tracker against 4.9 for Shaw Elite. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: BUFF | Gym Workout Tracker has 261 ratings behind it against 10, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews are what separate them: 85% of BUFF | Gym Workout Tracker's written reviews are positive against 100% of Shaw Elite's.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

BUFF | Gym Workout Tracker ships an update fortnightly, Shaw Elite monthly. The most recent releases landed on September 23, 2026 and July 27, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard3 real differences · 7 level
BUFF | Gym Workout Tracker versus Shaw Elite: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterBUFF | Gym Workout TrackerShaw Elite
PriceFreeFree
Rating4.8 (261 ratings)4.9 (10 ratings) — better
Positive reviews85.1% of reviews100.0% of reviews — better
Number of ratings261 — better10
Update frequencyFortnightly — betterMonthly
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesYesYes
MonetizationFree with in-app purchases — betterSubscription
DevicesiPhone, iPodiPhone, iPod
Requires iOS15.614.0 — better
Further details — not scored
Size225 MB47 MB
Age rating17+4+
DeveloperBuff Dudes LLCShaw Strength Inc

Customer experience

BUFF | Gym Workout Tracker

All ratings261 ratings
Positive94.6%
Neutral0.4%
Negative5.0%
Written reviews114 reviews
Positive85.1%
Neutral2.6%
Negative12.3%

Shaw Elite

All ratings10 ratings
Positive100.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative0.0%
Written reviews5 reviews
Positive100.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative0.0%

Bugs and requests

BUFF | Gym Workout Tracker

Reported bugs

3 issues
  • Failure to load or save workouts
  • Unresponsive login button
  • White screen issue on iOS

Requested features

4 requests
  • Apple Watch integration
  • Garmin/MyFitnessPal integration
  • Ability to delete workout history
  • Replacement exercises for home gym equipment

Shaw Elite

Not enough reviews yet to summarise bugs or requests.

In-app purchases

2 purchases

BUFF | Gym Workout Tracker

Subscriptions2
  • Monthly7 Days trial$12.991 Month
  • Yearly7 Days trial$99.991 Year
14 purchases

Shaw Elite

Subscriptions2
  • Monthly Subscription7 Days trial$8.991 Month
  • Annual7 Days trial$89.991 Year
One-time12
  • Feb 2026 Consistency Challenge$0.99
  • May 2025 Challenge$7.99
  • March 2025 challenge$29.99
Show 9 more
  • Video from Brian Shaw$99.99
  • 30 min Meeting with House$174.99
  • 30 min Meeting with Keri Shaw$249.99
  • 60 min Meeting with House$299.99
  • 30 min Meeting with Nathan$299.99
  • 30 min Meeting with Brian Shaw$499.99
  • 60 min Meeting with Keri Shaw$499.99
  • 60 min Meeting with Nathan$499.99
  • 60 min Meeting with Brian Shaw$1000.00

Questions

Is BUFF | Gym Workout Tracker free?
BUFF | Gym Workout Tracker is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Is Shaw Elite free?
Shaw Elite is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Which has better reviews, BUFF | Gym Workout Tracker or Shaw Elite?
Shaw Elite is rated higher. BUFF | Gym Workout Tracker averages 4.8 out of 5 from 261 ratings, while Shaw Elite averages 4.9 from 10 ratings.
Do BUFF | Gym Workout Tracker or Shaw Elite have ads?
Neither BUFF | Gym Workout Tracker nor Shaw Elite shows ads.
Which is updated more often, BUFF | Gym Workout Tracker or Shaw Elite?
BUFF | Gym Workout Tracker ships an update fortnightly, and Shaw Elite monthly. Most recently, BUFF | Gym Workout Tracker was updated on September 23, 2026 and Shaw Elite on July 27, 2026.

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