Forge vs Stark
Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side โ with what reviewers say about each.
Forge
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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.
Stark
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Stark. Workout Tracker Stark is a simple and powerful workout tracker built for lifters who want structure, consistency, and real progress. No ads. No account required. No subscription. Start training instantly. Track workouts, log sets and reps, and follow your progress over time without distractions. Create custom workout routines for push, pull, legs, full body, or your own split. Log every set and rep with ease and keep your training consistent. Progressive overload tracking See your training volume increase over time. View full workout history, track personal records, and monitor strength progression clearly. Streak tracker Stay consistent with a streak system that keeps you accountable. Miss a week and it resets. Keep going and build momentum. Quickly calculate how to load the bar. Enter your target weight and get the exact plates needed instantly. Automatic rest timer starts after each set. Stay on track with countdown alerts so you never lose focus between sets. Exercise library and workout log Access your full exercise library, log weights, track progress per movement, and review your lifting history anytime. Fast, minimal interface designed for training sessions. Works in dark or light mode depending on your environment. Stark is free to download and requires no account or subscription. Just open and start lifting. FEATURES Workout Templates โ Build reusable routines for any split and launch them in one tap. Set & Rep Logging โ Log every set with weight and reps as you train, in real time. Rest Timer โ Auto-starts after each set with a visual countdown and "Get Ready" alert. Plate Calculator โ Enter your target weight and instantly see which plates to load. Exercise Library โ Browse a full exercise database with per-exercise history and personal records. Session History โ Review every past workout with full set-by-set detail. Weekly Report โ Get a clear summary of your training each week, including volume, progress, and consistency. Training Streaks โ Stay accountable with a streak that resets if you skip a week. Progress Charts โ Visualize strength gains and volume trends across time. Exercise Swaps โ Quickly swap exercises mid-workout if equipment is taken or you want a change. Dark & Light Mode โ Full support for both โ looks sharp either way. No ads. No subscriptions. โ Free to download, nothing locked away. Fully functional offline!
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Verdict
The clearest difference is in-app purchases: Stark at none against Forge's 1. Stark also leads on iOS requirement (15.0 vs 18.4). Forge's advantage is update cadence (every 4 days vs every 10 days). On price, ads and device support there is nothing between them.
Scored on Price ยท Rating ยท Positive reviews ยท Number of ratings ยท Update frequency ยท Ads ยท In-app purchases ยท Monetization ยท Best chart rank ยท Devices ยท Requires iOS
Both are free to download. Forge sells 1 one-off in-app purchase. Stark asks for nothing beyond the download.
Forge ships an update every 4 days, Stark every 10 days. The most recent releases landed on November 8, 2026 and November 9, 2026 respectively.
| Parameter | Forge | Stark |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Free | Free |
| Update frequency | Every 4 days โ better | Every 10 days |
| Ads | No | No |
| In-app purchases | Yes | No โ better |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad | iPhone, iPad, iPod โ better |
| Requires iOS | 18.4 | 15.0 โ better |
| Further details โ not scored | ||
| Size | 3 MB | 50 MB |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | Matthew Bunce | Anton Larsson |
In-app purchases
Forge
- Forge Plus$6.99
Stark
No in-app purchases









