# Forge 5/3/1 vs Compound Theory

The clearest difference is update cadence: Compound Theory at every 4 days against Forge 5/3/1's every 3 weeks. Forge 5/3/1's advantage is iOS requirement (13.0 vs 17.0). On price, rating, review sentiment and ratings volume there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. Forge 5/3/1 sells 1 one-off in-app purchase and Compound Theory sells 3 in-app purchases, starting at $3.99 per month. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

On the App Store both sit at effectively the same score — 5.0 for Forge 5/3/1 against 5.0 for Compound Theory. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 1 and 1 respectively. Written reviews split almost evenly too, at 100% and 100% positive.

Forge 5/3/1 ships an update every 3 weeks, Compound Theory every 4 days. The most recent releases landed on October 18, 2026 and October 14, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Forge 5/3/1 | Compound Theory |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [5.0 (1 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/forge-531/id6740412067/reviews) | [5.0 (1 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/compound-theory-lifting/id6762104851/reviews) |
| Number of ratings | 1 | 1 |
| Positive reviews | 100.0% of reviews | 100.0% of reviews |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | Every 3 weeks | **Every 4 days** |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | Freemium |
| Size | 26 MB | 16 MB |
| Requires iOS | **13.0** | 17.0 |
| Devices | iPhone, iPod | **iPhone, iPad, Apple Watch** |
| Age rating | 12+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Dev IT Digital LLC](https://appshunter.io/developer/1789824321) | [Shane Young](https://appshunter.io/developer/1892931800) |

## What reviewers say

### Forge 5/3/1

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/forge-531/id6740412067)

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:** macOS Compatibility, Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases (1)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Premium Features | $4.99 | one-time |


### Compound Theory

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/compound-theory-lifting/id6762104851)

This strength training tracker offers a vast library of proven workout programs and allows users to build their own custom routines. It provides insights into muscle recovery, strength standards, and integrates with Apple Health for a comprehensive view of fitness progress.

**Highlights:** Extensive library of pre-built strength programs, Customizable workout routine builder, Muscle recovery tracking with visual indicators, Strength standards comparison, Apple Health integration for recovery insights, One-tap set completion and auto-progression, Apple Watch workout tracking

**Features:** macOS Compatibility, Family Sharing, Apple Watch app

**In-app purchases (3)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Compound Theory Pro | $3.99 | per month |
| Compound Theory Pro | $29.99 | per year |
| Compound Theory Pro | $99.99 | one-time |


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Forge 5/3/1 free?

Forge 5/3/1 is free to download, with in-app purchases available.

### Is Compound Theory free?

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

### Which has better reviews, Forge 5/3/1 or Compound Theory?

Forge 5/3/1 and Compound Theory are both rated 5.0 out of 5 on the App Store, from 1 and 1 ratings respectively.

### Do Forge 5/3/1 or Compound Theory have ads?

Neither Forge 5/3/1 nor Compound Theory shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, Forge 5/3/1 or Compound Theory?

Forge 5/3/1 ships an update every 3 weeks, and Compound Theory every 4 days. Most recently, Forge 5/3/1 was updated on October 18, 2026 and Compound Theory on October 14, 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.*