Forge 5/3/1 vs The Plus Set
Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.
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.
- 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
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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.
The Plus Set
This app simplifies tracking your Wendler 5/3/1 workouts, including Boring But Big assistance. It automatically calculates weights, tracks progress, and features a built-in rest timer. Focus on your training with smart progression and flexible customization.
- Automatic weight calculation
- Plate loading guidance
- Warmup and working set tracking
- AMRAP set prompts
- Estimated 1RM calculation
- Built-in rest timer
- Calendar workout history
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The Plus Set is a clean, focused app for tracking Wendler 5/3/1 workouts with Boring But Big (BBB) assistance work. SIMPLE WORKOUT TRACKING • Automatically calculates weights for each set based on your training maxes • Shows exact plate loading for every weight (no more mental math) • Tracks warmup sets, working sets, and BBB assistance work • Tap to log reps, with special prompts for AMRAP sets SMART PROGRESSION • Calculates estimated 1RM from your AMRAP performance using the Epley formula • Automatically suggests new training maxes after each cycle • Training maxes only go up, never down BUILT-IN REST TIMER • Automatic rest timer starts after each set • Configurable durations for warmup, working sets, and BBB • Choose from 8 different chime sounds • Access timer anytime from the dedicated Timer tab TRACK YOUR PROGRESS • Calendar view shows workout history at a glance • Personal records tracked automatically • PR celebrations when you hit new bests • Export your full workout history for backup or analysis FLEXIBLE TRAINING • Choose which exercise to start each session • Change exercises mid-workout if needed • Customize exercise order to match your schedule • Adjustable training max percentage (80-100%) SYNCS ACROSS DEVICES • iCloud sync keeps your data backed up • Access your workout history on all your devices NO SUBSCRIPTIONS • One-time purchase, no recurring fees • No ads, no tracking, no accounts required Whether you're new to 5/3/1 or a seasoned lifter, The Plus Set helps you focus on what matters: putting in the work and getting stronger.
Screenshots
Verdict
The clearest difference is in-app purchases: The Plus Set at none against Forge 5/3/1's 1. Forge 5/3/1's advantage is iOS requirement (13.0 vs 17.0). On price, rating, ratings volume and update cadence 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. Forge 5/3/1 sells 1 one-off in-app purchase. The Plus Set asks for nothing beyond the download.
On the App Store both sit at effectively the same score — 5.0 for Forge 5/3/1 against 5.0 for The Plus Set. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 1 and 1 respectively.
Forge 5/3/1 ships an update every 3 weeks, The Plus Set every 2 weeks. The most recent releases landed on October 2, 2026 and October 5, 2026 respectively.
| Parameter | Forge 5/3/1 | The Plus Set |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | 5.0 (1 ratings) | 5.0 (1 ratings) |
| Positive reviews | 100.0% of reviews | — |
| Number of ratings | 1 | 1 |
| Update frequency | Every 3 weeks | Every 2 weeks — better |
| Ads | No | No |
| In-app purchases | Yes | No — better |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | Free — better |
| Devices | iPhone, iPod | iPhone, iPad, Apple Watch — better |
| Requires iOS | 13.0 — better | 17.0 |
| Further details — not scored | ||
| Size | 26 MB | 2 MB |
| Age rating | 12+ | 17+ |
| Developer | Dev IT Digital LLC | Vishal Agrawal |
Customer experience
Forge 5/3/1
The Plus Set
In-app purchases
Forge 5/3/1
- Premium Features$4.99
The Plus Set
No in-app purchases
Questions
Is Forge 5/3/1 free?
Is The Plus Set free?
Which has better reviews, Forge 5/3/1 or The Plus Set?
Do Forge 5/3/1 or The Plus Set have ads?
Which is updated more often, Forge 5/3/1 or The Plus Set?
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