Comparison

GymNotes vs DIY Gains

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

Head to head
About

GymNotes

Features
Read full description

GymNotes is a clean and minimalistic workout tracker with rich functionalities built for people who want to plan better, log every set, and see real progress over time. Create workout plans or start an empty workout anytime. Add exercises from a searchable library, build your own custom exercises, and track weight, reps, or duration with kg/lb support. GymNotes also gives you a full view of your training history and progress. Review completed workouts, edit saved sessions, and explore statistics like streaks, workout frequency, volume, sets, reps, duration, muscle group distribution, neglected muscle groups, exercise rankings, detailed exercise performance, and plan usage. Features: - Detailed analytics for workouts, muscle groups, exercises, and plans so you can see your progress and how you’re getting stronger over time - Workout history with editable completed sessions to track consistency, review past performance, and measure improvement - Log strength and cardio workouts with set completion tracking for accurate progress tracking - Create, edit, reorder, and update workout plans as your training evolves - Start workouts from saved plans or build empty workouts on the fly - Search exercises by name or muscle group, and create custom exercises to match your training style - Built-in timer and stopwatch with workout timer notifications to keep your sessions moving Some of these features are only available with a Pro subscription. Privacy: https://aziri-dev.github.io/gymnotes-legal/privacy Terms: https://aziri-dev.github.io/gymnotes-legal/terms

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 β€” helps you track your workouts and see your progress over time. What you can do: β€’ Build your own workouts with any exercises you choose β€’ Log sets, reps, and weight as you train β€’ Track your progress with clean, easy-to-read charts β€’ See volume, max weight, reps, and sets over time β€’ 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 β€” 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

GymNotes4 screens
DIY Gains3 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is in-app purchases: DIY Gains at none against GymNotes's 2. GymNotes's advantage is ads (none vs shown). On price, update cadence, device support and iOS requirement there is nothing between them.

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. GymNotes sells 2 in-app purchases, starting at $1.99 per 7 days. DIY Gains asks for nothing beyond the download.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

GymNotes ships an update every 2 weeks, DIY Gains every 11 days. The most recent releases landed on October 18, 2026 and October 14, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard2 real differences Β· 4 level
GymNotes versus DIY Gains: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterGymNotesDIY Gains
PriceFreeFree
Update frequencyEvery 2 weeksEvery 11 days β€” better
AdsNo β€” betterYes
In-app purchasesYesNo β€” better
DevicesiPhone, iPodiPhone, iPod
Requires iOS15.115.1
Further details β€” not scored
Size98 MB37 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperANDY AZIRIJonathan Searle

In-app purchases

2 purchases

GymNotes

Subscriptions2
  • Weekly$1.997 Days
  • Yearly$29.991 Year
None

DIY Gains

No in-app purchases

Questions

Is GymNotes free?
GymNotes is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Is DIY Gains free?
DIY Gains is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Do GymNotes or DIY Gains have ads?
DIY Gains shows ads; GymNotes does not.
Which is updated more often, GymNotes or DIY Gains?
GymNotes ships an update every 2 weeks, and DIY Gains every 11 days. Most recently, GymNotes was updated on October 18, 2026 and DIY Gains on October 14, 2026.

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