Comparison

Forge 5/3/1 vs Progressive 5

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

Head to head
About

Forge 5/3/1

This powerlifting app helps users follow the Wendler 5/3/1 Boring But Big program with personalized workouts. It offers detailed tracking, history, and gym-ready features, with optional premium upgrades for advanced customization and data management.

Highlights
  • Personalized 5/3/1 BBB workouts
  • Classic Wendler progression
  • Log sets, reps, and weights
  • Volume and estimated 1RM tracking
  • Offline functionality
  • Plate calculator
  • Customizable training percentages
Features
Read full description

Forge 531 is your powerlifting companion for Wendler 5/3/1 Boring But Big—built for lifters who want precision, customization, and privacy. No ads-driven onboarding and no required account. PROGRAM & WORKOUTS (included) • Enter one-rep maxes for squat, bench press, deadlift, and overhead press—Forge generates personalized 5/3/1 BBB sessions from your training maxes • Classic Wendler progression with Boring But Big assistance work • Four-week cycles including deload; intuitive week navigation and cycle management • Metric or imperial units—switch anytime in Settings TRACKING & HISTORY (included) • Log sets, reps, and weights for every workout • Volume totals (weight × reps) • Estimated 1RM from AMRAP sets (Brzycki) • Full history with analytics so you can see progress over time GYM-READY DESIGN (included) • Optional keep screen awake during sessions • Dark theme suited to dim floors • Fast movement between weeks and workout detail PRIVACY & SIMPLICITY (included) • No account—ever. Nothing to register; nothing you must log into later • Your data stays on your device—not tied to a Forge cloud profile • Works offline for everyday training PREMIUM — SMART PLATES & LOADS (14-day free trial, then one-time purchase — no subscription) • Plate calculator — visual plate combinations for any target weight • Plate settings — barbell weight and inventory that match your gym • Full calculator access lines up with your metric/imperial choice once Premium is active PREMIUM — TRAINING CONTROL (same trial / purchase model) • Training max % adjustments — tune percentages off Wendler defaults • Progressions customization — adjust weekly progression percentages • Warm-up sets — bar-only and configurable percentage warm-ups before working sets (deload options in Settings) PREMIUM — DATA PORTABILITY (Not included in the free trial — unlocks with Premium purchase) • Import/export — backup and restore workout history via CSV HOW PREMIUM WORKS New users receive a 14-day trial for most Premium features listed above.** Import/export requires a Premium purchase and is not part of the trial.** After the trial ends, Premium remains available as a one-time purchase—no subscription.

About

Progressive 5

This app guides users through the 5•3•1 strength training program, automatically calculating percentages and training maxes. It offers various templates and allows for customization of cycles and auxiliary sets, with optional in-app purchases for advanced logging and timers.

Highlights
  • Built-in 5•3•1 templates
  • Customizable training cycles
  • Minimalist and intuitive design
  • No account required for basic use
  • Smart rest timer (in-app purchase)
  • Workout logging and progress tracking (in-app purchase)
  • Plate calculator (in-app purchase)
Features
Read full description

Train with purpose using the proven 5•3•1 method. Progressive 5•3•1 is designed for lifters who want structured, sustainable strength gains without distractions. Whether you’re new to the 5•3•1 method or a longtime follower, this app helps you stay focused and make progress week after week. Key Features: • Built-in 5•3•1 Templates — Automatically calculates your percentages and training maxes. • Custom Cycles — Switch between 5s PRO, Boring But Big, First Set Last, and more. • Minimalist Design — Clean and intuitive, with nothing you don’t need. • No Account Required — Get started instantly without signing up or syncing. Upgrade When You’re Ready (In-App Purchase): • Smart Rest Timer — Auto-starts when your set is completed, remembers your preferred rest. • Log Workouts — Track sets, reps, and weights over time, keep notes , see progress over time. • Plate Calculator — Input what weights and bars you have, app tells you what to load. • Add Additional Lifts — Add other lifts besides the Big 4. • Add Auxiliary Sets — Add BBB, FSL, SSL, joker, pyramid, and drop sets. Why 5•3•1? Developed by Jim Wendler, the 5•3•1 method is one of the most respected strength programs in the world. It’s simple, effective, and built to last. Terms of Use (EULA): https://www.apple.com/legal/internet-services/itunes/dev/stdeula/

Screenshots

Forge 5/3/14 screens
Progressive 54 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is update cadence: Forge 5/3/1 at every 3 weeks against Progressive 5's every 8 months. Forge 5/3/1 also leads on iOS requirement (13.0 vs 18.0). 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. Forge 5/3/1 sells 1 one-off in-app purchase and Progressive 5 sells 5 one-off in-app purchases. 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 — 5.0 for Forge 5/3/1 against 5.0 for Progressive 5. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 1 and 2 respectively.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Forge 5/3/1 ships an update every 3 weeks, Progressive 5 every 8 months. The most recent releases landed on October 2, 2026 and October 15, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard2 real differences · 8 level
Forge 5/3/1 versus Progressive 5: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterForge 5/3/1Progressive 5
PriceFreeFree
Rating5.0 (1 ratings)5.0 (2 ratings)
Positive reviews100.0% of reviews—
Number of ratings12 — better
Update frequencyEvery 3 weeks — betterEvery 8 months
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesYesYes
MonetizationFree with in-app purchasesFree with in-app purchases
DevicesiPhone, iPodiPhone, iPad
Requires iOS13.0 — better18.0
Further details — not scored
Size26 MB2 MB
Age rating12+4+
DeveloperDev IT Digital LLCFrancisco Alcala

Customer experience

Forge 5/3/1

All ratings1 ratings
Positive100.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative0.0%
Written reviews1 reviews
Positive100.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative0.0%

Progressive 5

All ratings2 ratings
Positive100.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative0.0%

In-app purchases

1 purchases

Forge 5/3/1

One-time1
  • Premium Features$4.99
5 purchases

Progressive 5

One-time5
  • Plate Calculator$0.99
  • Additional Sets$0.99
  • Additional Exercises$0.99
Show 2 more
  • Rest Timers$0.99
  • Workout Log$1.99

Questions

Is Forge 5/3/1 free?
Forge 5/3/1 is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Is Progressive 5 free?
Progressive 5 is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Which has better reviews, Forge 5/3/1 or Progressive 5?
Forge 5/3/1 and Progressive 5 are both rated 5.0 out of 5 on the App Store, from 1 and 2 ratings respectively.
Do Forge 5/3/1 or Progressive 5 have ads?
Neither Forge 5/3/1 nor Progressive 5 shows ads.
Which is updated more often, Forge 5/3/1 or Progressive 5?
Forge 5/3/1 ships an update every 3 weeks, and Progressive 5 every 8 months. Most recently, Forge 5/3/1 was updated on October 2, 2026 and Progressive 5 on October 15, 2026.

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