Comparison

GainBlocks vs OpenBook

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

Head to head
About

GainBlocks

Features
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You train hard and still don't see it. Not because you're lazy โ€” because you try to grow everything at once. Do that, and no muscle gets enough to actually grow. GainBlocks fixes that. Pick a few areas you want to bring up, and it builds a 12-week Block that puts the real work there โ€” while the rest stays trained. Then Auto-Progression picks every set for you โ€” weight, reps and rest โ€” session after session, until those areas finally change. FOCUS WHAT YOU CAN GROW Tell it how often you train โ€” 2 to 6 days โ€” and how long your sessions are. GainBlocks shows how many areas your week can actually grow, and builds your Block around them. Chest, back, shoulders, arms, legs โ€” you choose, it does the math. 12-WEEK BLOCKS One Block. Twelve weeks. Real change in the areas you picked. The rest of your body keeps training, so nothing slides back. When the Block ends, move your focus somewhere new. AUTO-PROGRESSION PICKS EVERY SET After every set you log, GainBlocks reads your weight, reps, and how hard it felt. Next session it tells you exactly what to do โ€” weight, reps and rest โ€” a little heavier as you get stronger. No spreadsheets. No guessing at the rack. IT EASES OFF BEFORE YOU STALL When it sees fatigue building, it gives you a lighter week before your numbers drop โ€” then back to building. The easy week is part of the plan, not a setback. BUILT FOR THE GYM Every plan is built around full-gym training โ€” barbells, dumbbells, machines and cables. Every exercise it picks is one you can do in a regular gym. ONE SCREEN, MID-SET Your set, target weight, reps, and rest timer โ€” nothing else in the way. Log the set, see the next one, keep moving. Personal records flag on their own. SEE IT ADD UP Your weights climbing week over week. How much you train each muscle. A clear picture of what's working โ€” proof you're growing, not just showing up. Your training data stays in your account. AI features need your consent. No ads. No social feed. Pick a few. Grow them. Then the next. SUBSCRIPTION GainBlocks offers an auto-renewable subscription. Payment is charged to your Apple ID and renews automatically unless canceled at least 24 hours before the end of the current period. Manage or cancel anytime in your App Store account settings. Terms of Use (EULA): https://www.apple.com/legal/internet-services/itunes/dev/stdeula/ Privacy Policy: https://exekute-app.com/privacy

About

OpenBook

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OpenBook is a clean, pen-and-paper style workout log. Built to be fast, simple, and flexible. No sign-up, no credit card required โ€” start right away with unlimited exercises and routines, full graph access, and CSV export for your own data. Log up to 28 training days. Subscribe anytime for unlimited logging. With OpenBook, you can: Log any exercise. Track any unit or combination of units. However you train โ€” strength, calisthenics, bodybuilding, powerlifting, yoga, or functional fitness โ€” OpenBook fits around it. For example: โ€ข Bench Press โ€” weight ร— reps โ€ข Zercher Hold โ€” weight ร— time โ€ข Sled Push โ€” weight ร— distance โ€ข Planche Lean โ€” distance ร— time โ€ข Dead Hang โ€” time only โ€ข Stretching โ€” time only โ€ข Arrowhead Lunge โ€” breaths Swipe between days Move between days with a simple swipe to review past sessions. See your training at a glance View your days across a calendar or heatmap. Plan or track anytime Start with a saved routine or log as you go. Time your rest. Add notes. Set custom rest timers and add notes for each session. View your progress with context Track your progress over time, including intensity through % max or %1RM. Compare and periodise Track two metrics on one timeline to support structured, periodised training. Edit or repeat sessions Quickly update past logs or duplicate sessions with a single tap. Download your data Export your data at any time. Back up your data to the cloud Keep your data safe and accessible. โ€”โ€”โ€” Terms of Use (EULA): https://www.apple.com/legal/internet-services/itunes/dev/stdeula/ OpenBook Terms of Service: https://openbook.fit/terms Privacy Policy: https://openbook.fit/privacy

Screenshots

GainBlocks4 screens
OpenBook4 screens

Verdict

The call

GainBlocks and OpenBook are too close to call on the numbers: across 6 compared parameters โ€” price, update cadence, ads and in-app purchases among them โ€” neither pulls far enough ahead to decide it. What separates them is feature set and interface, not measurable difference.

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

CostPrice ยท In-app purchases ยท Ads ยท Monetization

Both are free to download. GainBlocks sells 2 in-app purchases, starting at $6.99 per month and OpenBook sells 2 in-app purchases, starting at $3.99 per month. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

GainBlocks ships an update every 9 days, OpenBook every 2 weeks. The most recent releases landed on August 30, 2026 and September 10, 2026 respectively.

ScorecardNo meaningful differences
GainBlocks versus OpenBook: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterGainBlocksOpenBook
PriceFreeFree
Update frequencyEvery 9 days โ€” betterEvery 2 weeks
AdsYesYes
In-app purchasesYesYes
DevicesiPhone, iPad, iPod โ€” betteriPhone, iPod
Requires iOS15.1 โ€” better15.5
Further details โ€” not scored
Size57 MB55 MB
Age rating17+4+
DeveloperMike HendriksOpenArcX Pty Ltd

In-app purchases

2 purchases

GainBlocks

Subscriptions2
  • GainBlocks Monthly7 Days trial$6.991 Month
  • GainBlocks Annual7 Days trial$44.991 Year
2 purchases

OpenBook

Subscriptions2
  • OpenBook Full Access - Monthly$3.991 Month
  • OpenBook Full Access - Yearly$29.991 Year

Questions

Is GainBlocks free?
GainBlocks is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Is OpenBook free?
OpenBook is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Do GainBlocks or OpenBook have ads?
Both GainBlocks and OpenBook show ads.
Which is updated more often, GainBlocks or OpenBook?
GainBlocks ships an update every 9 days, and OpenBook every 2 weeks. Most recently, GainBlocks was updated on August 30, 2026 and OpenBook on September 10, 2026.

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