Comparison

Strive Timer vs Gym Reel

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

Head to head
About

Strive Timer

This privacy-focused app simplifies workout recording with a distraction-free interface. Easily film your sessions, add custom details to exports, and quickly identify key moments on your video timeline. Your footage remains securely on your device.

Highlights
  • Effortless workout recording
  • Distraction-free interface
  • Customizable video exports
  • Add name and description to videos
  • Keyframes on video timeline
  • Privacy-first design
  • No sign-up required
Read full description

The Ultimate Workout Companion! Maximize your workout sessions with our streamlined, privacy-first recording app. Designed with simplicity in mind, our app helps you stay focused on what truly matters—your workout. Key Features: • Effortless Recording: Jump straight into recording with a clear and distraction-free interface. No clutter, just what you need to capture every moment of your workout. • Customizable Exports: Enhance your videos by adding your name and a workout description or a qualifier event name. Tailor each export to fit your needs and keep track of your progress. • Quickly spot key moments with keyframes right on your video timeline. • Privacy First: No sign-up required, and we don’t have access to your videos. Your workout footage stays on your device, where it belongs. Stay focused, stay private, and make every workout count with Strive Timer.

About

Gym Reel

Effortlessly organize and revisit your workout videos. This app automatically sorts clips by date, allowing you to tag exercises, mark personal records, and create highlight reels of your fitness journey. Keep your progress visual and easily accessible.

Highlights
  • Automatic video organization by date
  • Tag exercises and personal records
  • Create highlight reels
  • Smooth, social-media-like video playback
  • Syncs across devices via iCloud
  • Privacy-focused, videos remain in photo library
Features
Read full description

Gym Reel is the simplest way to organize, relive, and now share your workout videos with your gym crew. Stop scrolling endlessly through your camera roll looking for that PR deadlift — Gym Reel organizes everything by date, and your lifts are always one swipe away. YOUR GYM CREW — NEW • Add friends by simply tapping phones together at the gym • See your crew's latest lifts and stories on your home screen • React to your friends' PRs and hype them up • Private by design: only mutually-connected friends see your clips — no public feed, no strangers AUTOMATIC ORGANIZATION • Videos from your photo library are grouped by workout date • No manual sorting, just import and go • Quick access to recent sessions TAG YOUR LIFTS • Label videos with exercises: Squat, Deadlift, Bench Press, and more • Create your own custom exercise tags • Mark your Personal Records (PRs) and save favorites • Browse your whole library with instant search and filters CREATE HIGHLIGHT REELS • Combine your best clips into collections • Build transformation compilations • Share your progress journey with your crew SMOOTH, INSTANT PLAYBACK • Story-style player with double-tap to like • Cloud videos stream instantly — no waiting for downloads • Swipe vertically through your clips like social media BUILT FOR ATHLETES • Supports CrossFit, Powerlifting, Bodybuilding, Olympic Lifting, and more • Track your training style and goals • Metric or imperial units YOUR VIDEOS, YOUR CONTROL • Videos stay on your device by default • Optional cloud backup keeps clips safe and syncs across devices • Sharing is opt-in and friends-only; block and report controls built in • Delete your account and data anytime Whether you're documenting your first gym session or tracking years of gains, Gym Reel keeps your fitness journey organized — and now you don't have to train alone. Download Gym Reel and turn your camera roll chaos into a visual record of your progress.

Screenshots

Strive Timer4 screens
Gym Reel4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is in-app purchases: Gym Reel at none against Strive Timer's 1. Strive Timer's advantage is update cadence (every 3 weeks vs every 4 months). On price, rating, ratings volume 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. Strive Timer sells 1 one-off in-app purchase. Gym Reel asks for nothing beyond the download.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

On the App Store both sit at effectively the same score — 5.0 for Strive Timer against 5.0 for Gym Reel. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 1 and 1 respectively.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Strive Timer ships an update every 3 weeks, Gym Reel every 4 months. The most recent releases landed on November 4, 2026 and November 5, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard3 real differences · 7 level
Strive Timer versus Gym Reel: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterStrive TimerGym Reel
PriceFreeFree
Rating5.0 (1 ratings)5.0 (1 ratings)
Positive reviews100.0% of reviews—
Number of ratings11
Update frequencyEvery 3 weeks — betterEvery 4 months
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesYesNo — better
MonetizationFree with in-app purchasesFree — better
DevicesiPhoneiPhone, iPad — better
Requires iOS16.216.0 — better
Further details — not scored
Size5 MB22 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperAlejandro Fernandez MaciasYohanes Woldegerima

Customer experience

Strive Timer

All ratings1 ratings
Positive100.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative0.0%
Written reviews4 reviews
Positive100.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative0.0%

Gym Reel

All ratings1 ratings
Positive100.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative0.0%

In-app purchases

1 purchases

Strive Timer

One-time1
  • Strive Center Premium$2.99
None

Gym Reel

No in-app purchases

Questions

Is Strive Timer free?
Strive Timer is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Is Gym Reel free?
Gym Reel is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Which has better reviews, Strive Timer or Gym Reel?
Strive Timer and Gym Reel are both rated 5.0 out of 5 on the App Store, from 1 and 1 ratings respectively.
Do Strive Timer or Gym Reel have ads?
Neither Strive Timer nor Gym Reel shows ads.
Which is updated more often, Strive Timer or Gym Reel?
Strive Timer ships an update every 3 weeks, and Gym Reel every 4 months. Most recently, Strive Timer was updated on November 4, 2026 and Gym Reel on November 5, 2026.

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