Comparison

Heavy Protocol vs Top Set

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

Head to head
About

Heavy Protocol

Features
Read full description

BRIEF. INTENSE. INFREQUENT. Stop living in the gym. Start growing. THE PROBLEM Most training programs focus on volumeβ€”more sets, more days, more hours in the gym. But biologically, intensity and duration are inversely proportional. You can train hard, or you can train long. You cannot do both. THE SOLUTION Heavy Protocol is a precision tracker designed for High Intensity Training (HIT). It enforces the "One Set to Failure" philosophy, ensuring you stimulate maximum muscle growth with the minimum effective dose of exercise. KEY FEATURES: β€’ THE 72-HOUR TIMER Growth happens when you rest, not when you train. The app tracks your recovery window and tells you exactly when your nervous system is recharged and ready for the next session. β€’ FOCUS-FIRST LOGGING No clutter. See your previous lift, beat it, and get out. β€’ SMART ROUTINES Includes the classic Ideal Routine (4-Day Split) and the advanced Consolidated Routine. β€’ HEALTHKIT INTEGRATION Automatically closes your Activity Rings and saves workouts to Apple Health. β€’ PROGRESSIVE OVERLOAD Clear visual history ensures you are always beating your last log. β€’ STRICT FORM GUIDE Built-in 4-2-4 cadence instructions and anatomy guides to ensure perfect execution. β€’ PHILOSOPHY Training before you have fully recovered is like picking at a scab. It prevents healing. Heavy Protocol prevents overtraining by managing your frequency based on your intensity. β€’ PRIVACY FIRST Your data stays with you. There is no usage tracking or any other data that leaves your device. Download Heavy Protocol today and master the logic of lifting.

About

Top Set

Features
Read full description

Top Set helps powerlifters train with structure, confidence, and less guesswork. Follow a complete strength program, see what is planned for each session, and log your work as you train. Top Set keeps your training focused on the lifts that matter while giving you enough flexibility to adjust exercise selection around your needs. Built for lifters who want more than a generic workout tracker, Top Set combines guided programming, fast workout logging, movement preferences, and progress insights in one place. Features: - Follow structured powerlifting-focused training - See your current week, upcoming workouts, and long-term program path - Log top sets, backoffs, accessories, reps, load, and RPE - Track workout history and estimated maxes - Review analytics for strength, volume, and training progress - Tune movement preferences for exercises you want to prioritize, avoid, or exclude - Keep training organized without managing spreadsheets Whether you are building strength, preparing for a meet, or trying to make your training more consistent, Top Set gives you a clear plan for what to do next.

Screenshots

Heavy Protocol3 screens
Top Set3 screens

Verdict

The call

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

Scored on Price Β· Rating Β· Positive reviews Β· Number of ratings Β· Update frequency Β· Ads Β· In-app purchases Β· Monetization Β· Best chart rank Β· Devices Β· Requires iOS

CostPrice Β· In-app purchases Β· Ads Β· Monetization

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

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Heavy Protocol ships an update every 8 days, Top Set every 10 days. The most recent releases landed on September 23, 2026 and September 10, 2026 respectively.

ScorecardNo meaningful differences
Heavy Protocol versus Top Set: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterHeavy ProtocolTop Set
PriceFreeFree
Update frequencyEvery 8 days β€” betterEvery 10 days
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesNoNo
DevicesiPhone, Apple WatchiPhone, iPad
Requires iOS17.6 β€” better18.0
Further details β€” not scored
Size9 MB5 MB
Age rating4+17+
DeveloperGopalarathnam VenkatesanAlex Padgett

In-app purchases

None

Heavy Protocol

No in-app purchases

None

Top Set

No in-app purchases

Questions

Is Heavy Protocol free?
Heavy Protocol is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Is Top Set free?
Top Set is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Do Heavy Protocol or Top Set have ads?
Neither Heavy Protocol nor Top Set shows ads.
Which is updated more often, Heavy Protocol or Top Set?
Heavy Protocol ships an update every 8 days, and Top Set every 10 days. Most recently, Heavy Protocol was updated on September 23, 2026 and Top Set on September 10, 2026.

Other comparisons