Comparison

Forge vs Barbell PlateSense

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

Head to head
About

Forge

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Train smarter, not harder! AI Fitness Coach is your personal AI-powered trainer that creates customized workout plans based on your goals, experience level, and schedule. Track your progress, get exercise demonstrations, and stay motivated with reminders. Perfect for beginners and experienced athletes alike, it combines AI guidance with professional exercise techniques to help you reach your fitness goals faster and safer. Start your journey to a healthier, stronger you today! Terms of Use (EULA): https://www.apple.com/legal/internet-services/itunes/dev/stdeula/

About

Barbell PlateSense

This app calculates barbell plate combinations for any bar and your available plates, automatically factoring in warm-up sets. It features a large, legible display for gym use, a spin-dial rest timer, and tracks personal records. Training data is stored locally with optional iCloud backup.

Highlights
  • Exact plate math for any bar
  • Automatic warm-up set calculation
  • Gym-distance legible display
  • Spin-dial rest timer
  • Workout logging and PR tracking
  • Customizable themes and color-blind support
  • Local data storage with optional iCloud sync
Features
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Know exactly what to load. Every set. Barbell PlateSense does the plate math for any bar and your real plate inventory, times your rest, and tracks every lift — with warm-up sets already calculated. Every screen is legible at arm's length, mid-set, with chalk on your hands. EXACT PLATE MATH Enter a target weight and see the exact plates for each side — for any bar and the plates your gym actually has. Standard bar, trap bar, safety squat bar, or your own custom bar with its true weight. WARM-UPS, DONE FOR YOU Every workout includes its warm-up sets with the plate math already worked out, so you ramp to your top set without the arithmetic. GYM-DISTANCE GLANCE Home puts the rest timer and the loaded bar side by side. Big, high-contrast, and readable across the room. SPIN-DIAL REST TIMER Set rest with a flick, tap to start. Between sets, PlateSense auto-alternates the loaded bar and the timer, so you just lift. LOG AND TRACK PRS Every set, every session, with personal records and progress that surface automatically. Save and reuse any workout. THEMES AND COLOR-BLIND SUPPORT Cobalt, Volt, and Forge themes in dark or light, plus a color-blind palette with distinct textures per plate. YOUR TRAINING STAYS YOURS Everything is stored on your device. Optional backup syncs through your own iCloud — we never see it. No account, no ads, no third-party tracking. Ever. PLATESENSE PRO Go further with a monthly or yearly subscription, or a one-time Lifetime unlock: • Microloading — fractional plates down to 0.25 lb • Unlimited history — keep every session, forever • iCloud sync — your data on every device • Export — take your log anywhere • Multi-gym — a plate profile for every gym you train in Monthly and yearly plans start with a 7-day free trial. Payment is charged to your Apple Account at confirmation of purchase. Subscriptions renew automatically unless cancelled at least 24 hours before the end of the current period. Manage or cancel anytime in Settings. Privacy policy: https://barbellplatesense.com/privacy.html Terms of use: https://www.apple.com/legal/internet-services/itunes/dev/stdeula/ Save your focus for the lift.

Screenshots

Barbell PlateSense4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is device support: Barbell PlateSense at 2 against Forge's —. Forge's advantage is iOS requirement (15.1 vs 18.0). On price and in-app purchases there is nothing between them.

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

CostPrice · In-app purchases · Ads · Monetization

Both are free to download. Forge sells 2 in-app purchases, starting at $17.99 per month and Barbell PlateSense sells 3 in-app purchases, starting at $2.99 per month. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

Scorecard2 real differences · 6 level
Forge versus Barbell PlateSense: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterForgeBarbell PlateSense
PriceFreeFree
Rating—5.0 (1 ratings) — better
Number of ratings—1 — better
Ads—No
In-app purchasesYesYes
Monetization—Freemium
Devices—iPhone, iPad — better
Requires iOS15.1 — better18.0
Further details — not scored
Size36 MB13 MB
Age rating17+4+
Developeraviv glinovizkiAlan Orlikoski

In-app purchases

2 purchases

Forge

Subscriptions2
  • Monthly Subscription3 Days trial$17.991 Month
  • Annual Subscription3 Days trial$149.991 Month
3 purchases

Barbell PlateSense

Subscriptions2
  • Pro Monthly$2.991 Month
  • Pro Annual$24.991 Year
One-time1
  • Pro Lifetime$44.99

Questions

Is Forge free?
Forge is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Is Barbell PlateSense free?
Barbell PlateSense is free to download, with in-app purchases available.

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