Comparison

DIY Gains vs GymNotes

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

Head to head
About

DIY Gains

Features
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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.

About

GymNotes

Features
Read full description

Gym Notes is a simple and powerful workout log and gym tracker that can help you track your workouts without any hassle. If you are looking for a quick and minimal workout tracker that can also work offline, then look no further. The best part about this workout tracker is that it lets you log your workouts quickly. Unlike other workout trackers, this one does not ask you to fill out any forms. You can simply type your workout like a note and save it instantly. This is a simple workout log that can help you track your workouts. Using this workout tracker, you can: Track your workouts using text input Track your sets, reps, weight, and bodyweight exercises It can work as a workout log, gym tracker, and workout diary Track your strength progress and workout volume Track your workout history using date Track your personal records for every exercise The workout tracker is compatible with any workout type. Whether you are doing strength training, hypertrophy training, bodyweight training, or any other type of workout, this workout tracker can help you track your workouts. You can do squats, push-ups, weight training, and any other workout using this workout tracker. The built-in analytics also help you track your progress over time. You can view your workout volume, strength gains, and personal bests without any setup required. This makes Gym Notes a powerful yet simple fitness tracker. Gym Notes can be used completely offline. No account required, no ads, no subscription. Your data stays on your device, making Gym Notes a private yet lightweight fitness app. Gym Notes is built for fitness enthusiasts who want speed and simplicity in their gym app. We replace slow and complicated gym apps with a fast and simple experience. Have you ever used a notes app to track your workouts? Then you'll love Gym Notes. Gym Notes โ€“ Workout Log & Fitness Tracker โ€“ Download Now.

Screenshots

DIY Gains3 screens
GymNotes3 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is ads: GymNotes at none against DIY Gains's shown. GymNotes also leads on update cadence (every 2 days vs every 11 days) and iOS requirement (13.0 vs 15.1). 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.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

DIY Gains ships an update every 11 days, GymNotes every 2 days. The most recent releases landed on November 5, 2026 and November 9, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard3 real differences ยท 3 level
DIY Gains versus GymNotes: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterDIY GainsGymNotes
PriceFreeFree
Update frequencyEvery 11 daysEvery 2 days โ€” better
AdsYesNo โ€” better
In-app purchasesNoNo
DevicesiPhone, iPodiPhone, iPad, iPod โ€” better
Requires iOS15.113.0 โ€” better
Further details โ€” not scored
Size37 MB19 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperJonathan SearleOra Technologies

In-app purchases

None

DIY Gains

No in-app purchases

None

GymNotes

No in-app purchases

Questions

Is DIY Gains free?
DIY Gains is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Is GymNotes free?
GymNotes is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Do DIY Gains or GymNotes have ads?
DIY Gains shows ads; GymNotes does not.
Which is updated more often, DIY Gains or GymNotes?
DIY Gains ships an update every 11 days, and GymNotes every 2 days. Most recently, DIY Gains was updated on November 5, 2026 and GymNotes on November 9, 2026.

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