Comparison

Ascend vs DIY Gains

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

Head to head
About

Ascend

Features
Read full description

https://ashtonalva.github.io/portfolio-site/

About

DIY Gains

Features
Read full description

DIY Gains is the no-nonsense workout tracker built for people who just want to lift. No sign-up. No subscription. No bloat. Just open the app, log your workout, and get back to the gym floor. Simple by design Most fitness apps are overloaded with features you'll never use. DIY Gains does one thing well โ€” helps you track your workouts and see your progress over time. What you can do: โ€ข Build your own workouts with any exercises you choose โ€ข Log sets, reps, and weight as you train โ€ข Track your progress with clean, easy-to-read charts โ€ข See volume, max weight, reps, and sets over time โ€ข Switch between light and dark mode Your data stays on your device Everything is stored locally. No cloud account required, no data sent anywhere. Your training history is yours. Built for the gym floor Designed to be fast to navigate with one hand between sets. No distractions, no upsells โ€” just the information you need. Whether you're a beginner building your first programme or an experienced lifter who wants a simple log, DIY Gains keeps it straightforward.

Screenshots

Ascend4 screens
DIY Gains3 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is ads: Ascend at none against DIY Gains's shown. DIY Gains's advantage is iOS requirement (15.1 vs 26.0). On price, in-app purchases 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

CostPrice ยท In-app purchases ยท Ads ยท Monetization

Both are free to download. Neither carries in-app purchases, so what you see is what you pay.

Scorecard2 real differences ยท 4 level
Ascend versus DIY Gains: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterAscendDIY Gains
PriceFreeFree
Update frequencyโ€”Every 11 days
AdsNo โ€” betterYes
In-app purchasesNoNo
DevicesiPhone, iPadiPhone, iPod
Requires iOS26.015.1 โ€” better
Further details โ€” not scored
Size2 MB37 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperASHTON DARRYL ALVAJonathan Searle

In-app purchases

None

Ascend

No in-app purchases

None

DIY Gains

No in-app purchases

Questions

Is Ascend free?
Ascend is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Is DIY Gains free?
DIY Gains is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Do Ascend or DIY Gains have ads?
DIY Gains shows ads; Ascend does not.

Other comparisons