Comparison

Forge vs Plate Calculator

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

Head to head
About

Forge

Features
Read full description

Forge brings your lifting, running and daily habits together in one simple training log. STRENGTH PROGRAMS Start a cycle from proven programs: 5/3/1 and 5/3/1 Boring But Big, nSuns (4, 5 and 6 day), Greyskull LP, the Arnold Split, the Classic Menzer Cycle, Push Pull Legs and Upper Lower splits. 5/3/1 and nSuns calculate your working weights from your training maxes, rounded to the plates and barbell you actually own, in lbs or kg. Tick off sets as you go, log AMRAP reps, and watch your estimated one-rep max climb. RUNNING Follow Couch to 5K, 5K to 10K or a Half Marathon plan. Interval runs come with a guided timer that tells you when to run and when to walk. Log single runs, record race results for 5K, 10K, half and full marathon, and track your personal bests. TODAY Every day in one view: your step count from Apple Health, daily bodyweight work like push-ups and chin-ups, stretching routines, and personal challenges to tick off. PROGRESS See your consistency at a glance with activity grids for workouts, runs, step goals, daily work and stretching. Earn badges for streaks and yearly totals. Strength and running goals tick themselves off when you hit them. PRIVATE BY DESIGN Your training stays on your iPhone. Forge only reads your step count from Apple Health and never writes to it.

About

Plate Calculator

Effortlessly determine the exact barbell plates needed for any weight. This app eliminates mental math and guesswork, providing a clear visual breakdown for accurate loading in pounds or kilograms. It's designed for lifters seeking speed and precision without distractions.

Highlights
  • Fast barbell plate calculations
  • Reverse mode for target weight
  • Supports pounds and kilograms
  • Multiple bar options
  • Clean, distraction-free design
  • Works offline
Read full description

Quickly calculate exactly which plates to load on your barbell with no mental math and no guesswork. Whether you’re lifting in pounds or kilograms, Plate Calculator shows a clear, visual breakdown of plates per side so you can load the bar correctly every time. Features • Fast barbell plate calculations • Reverse mode to calculate plates for a target weight • Supports LB and KG • Multiple bar options • Clean, distraction-free design • Works offline Built for lifters who want fast, accurate plate math without unnecessary clutter.

Screenshots

Forge4 screens
Plate Calculator4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is in-app purchases: Plate Calculator at none against Forge's 1. Forge's advantage is update cadence (every 4 days vs every 4 months). On price, ads, device support and iOS requirement 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 sells 1 one-off in-app purchase. Plate Calculator asks for nothing beyond the download.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Forge ships an update every 4 days, Plate Calculator every 4 months. The most recent releases landed on November 5, 2026 and October 31, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard2 real differences · 8 level
Forge versus Plate Calculator: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterForgePlate Calculator
PriceFreeFree
Rating—5.0 (2 ratings) — better
Positive reviews—100.0% of reviews
Number of ratings—2 — better
Update frequencyEvery 4 days — betterEvery 4 months
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesYesNo — better
Monetization—Free
DevicesiPhone, iPadiPhone, iPad
Requires iOS18.417.0 — better
Further details — not scored
Size3 MB9 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperMatthew BunceMARCUS DANIEL WILLIAMS

In-app purchases

1 purchases

Forge

One-time1
  • Forge Plus$6.99
None

Plate Calculator

No in-app purchases

Questions

Is Forge free?
Forge is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Is Plate Calculator free?
Plate Calculator is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Do Forge or Plate Calculator have ads?
Neither Forge nor Plate Calculator shows ads.
Which is updated more often, Forge or Plate Calculator?
Forge ships an update every 4 days, and Plate Calculator every 4 months. Most recently, Forge was updated on November 5, 2026 and Plate Calculator on October 31, 2026.

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