Comparison

Gym Note Plus vs SetBySet

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

Head to head
About

Gym Note Plus

Effortlessly transform your workout notes into a structured fitness journal. Automatically track exercises, weights, sets, and reps from your shorthand entries. Visualize your progress with insightful graphs and celebrate personal records.

Highlights
  • Automatic workout logging from notes
  • Progress tracking with graphs
  • Personal record (PR) tracking
  • Offline functionality
  • Support for various workout splits
  • Imperial and metric unit support
Features
Read full description

Freeform notes into workout logs, unlock your progress! Type "bench 225lbs - 8,8,6" and you've just logged a workout. No dropdowns, no menus, no tapping through screens. Just your notes, and now they count. Gym Note Plus is the fastest workout tracker and gym log for people who already write their workouts down. Type your notes in the app, or keep your pen and paper logbook and snap a photo. Either way, no clunky workout planner to tap through between sets. Join 2,213 lifters already using Gym Note Plus to turn simple notes into a powerful gym log, exercise tracker, and fitness journal. "I literally just use it like a notes app, and it automatically turns everything I log into actual data so I can see my progress." "Love it, let's me use my logbook in the gym, once I'm done snap a photo and upload it to the app and I can see my stats" "This has definitely become a vital part of my workout routine." You already write your workouts down. Now they do something. Gym Note Plus turns your messy shorthand into a proper workout log with exercises, weights, sets, and reps automatically tracked. Your notes become a structured fitness journal and weightlifting tracker that shows your real progress over time. Whether you train for strength, bodybuilding, powerlifting, or just to stay consistent, nothing changes about how you train, just the results you can see. ** FEATURES ** Your shorthand, understood • Write "squat 3x5@135" or whatever works between sets, and Gym Note Plus instantly turns it into a structured workout log. Love pen and paper? Keep it • Snap a photo of your paper logbook or workout journal and Gym Note Plus turns it into trackable data. Train your way. Know what to beat • See your last workout for today's muscle group so you walk into the gym already knowing your target. Built for progressive overload. Graphs that show real progress • Track estimated 1RM, total volume lifted, and strength training trends from the notes you were already writing in your fitness journal. PR tracking • Hit a new personal record and Gym Note Plus celebrates it with you. Works with no signal • Use the workout tracker anywhere, the gym basement, garage, or outdoors. Your gym log syncs when you're back online. Any split or routine, your way • Push Pull Legs, Upper/Lower, Bro Split, Full Body, 5x5, or no split at all. Works for gym sessions, home workouts, bodyweight training, and calisthenics. Set types built in • Warm-ups, drop sets, failure sets, AMRAP, supersets, and giant sets. Imperial and Metric support • Track weights in lbs or kg, the app will auto detect it from your workouts. ** PRO FEATURES ** Upgrade for the full experience: Unlock workout translations • Just you and your workouts. Unlimited workout templates • Save and reuse your favourite routines. Full workout history • Unlock longer note translations Full data export • Export your fitness journal whenever you want. Available in 13 languages Download Gym Note Plus today, the fastest workout logger and gym tracker for lifters who take notes. No credit card required. https://www.gymnoteplus.com/

About

SetBySet

Features
Read full description

SetBySet is a focused strength training tracker built for lifters who want to log workouts quickly and effectively. WORKOUT TEMPLATES Create custom workout templates with your favorite exercises. Choose from a built-in exercise library or add your own. Set target reps, time-based goals (for planks, carries, etc.), or train to failure. Customize rest times between sets and exercises. Duplicate templates to create variations fast. Tap any exercise to edit sets, reps, target type, and rest times. TRACK EVERY SET During a workout, log weight, reps, or duration for each set. A built-in rest timer keeps you on pace with customizable rest periods per exercise. APPLE WATCH Sync your templates to Apple Watch and run workouts from your wrist. Adjust weight with the Digital Crown, log sets with a tap, and get haptic alerts when rest is over. Completed workouts sync back to your iPhone and save to Apple Health automatically. PROGRESS & HISTORY View your full workout history with detailed stats. Track body weight over time. See your estimated one-rep max and how your lifts are progressing. Get notified when you hit a new personal record. BUILT-IN TOOLS - Plate Calculator with visual barbell display - One Rep Max calculator with training zone guide - Body Weight tracker with trend charts - Rest timer with background notifications - Workout sharing as text or image cards APPLE ECOSYSTEM - Apple Watch companion with full workout logging - Lock Screen Live Activity during workouts - Home Screen widget showing your streak - Apple Health integration (workouts, heart rate, body weight) - iCloud sync across all your devices EXPORT & BACKUP Export all your data as JSON. Import it back anytime. Your training history is always yours. SETBYSET PRO Upgrade once to unlock unlimited workout templates, progress charts, data export, iCloud sync, and Apple Watch support. No subscriptions — pay once, own it forever. SetBySet is private and built for lifters. No accounts required. Just you and the iron.

Screenshots

Gym Note Plus4 screens
SetBySet4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is update cadence: SetBySet at every 2 days against Gym Note Plus's every 4 days. Gym Note Plus's advantage is iOS requirement (16.0 vs 26.0). On price, ads, in-app purchases and device support 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. Gym Note Plus sells 3 in-app purchases, starting at $4.99 per month and SetBySet sells 1 one-off in-app purchase. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Gym Note Plus ships an update every 4 days, SetBySet every 2 days. The most recent releases landed on September 17, 2026 and September 15, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard2 real differences · 8 level
Gym Note Plus versus SetBySet: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterGym Note PlusSetBySet
PriceFreeFree
Rating4.8 (15 ratings) — better—
Positive reviews100.0% of reviews—
Number of ratings15 — better—
Update frequencyEvery 4 daysEvery 2 days — better
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesYesYes
MonetizationFreemium—
DevicesiPhone, iPadiPhone, iPad, Apple Watch — better
Requires iOS16.0 — better26.0
Further details — not scored
Size83 MB11 MB
Age rating12+4+
DeveloperJOSHUA SAMUEL IBBOTSONPragmaTec

In-app purchases

3 purchases

Gym Note Plus

Subscriptions2
  • Pro Monthly1 Month trial$4.991 Month
  • Pro Annual$39.991 Year
One-time1
  • Gym Note Plus Lifetime$99.99
1 purchases

SetBySet

One-time1
  • SetBySet Pro$5.99

Questions

Is Gym Note Plus free?
Gym Note Plus is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Is SetBySet free?
SetBySet is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Do Gym Note Plus or SetBySet have ads?
Neither Gym Note Plus nor SetBySet shows ads.
Which is updated more often, Gym Note Plus or SetBySet?
Gym Note Plus ships an update every 4 days, and SetBySet every 2 days. Most recently, Gym Note Plus was updated on September 17, 2026 and SetBySet on September 15, 2026.

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