LiftStrong vs 5x5
Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side β with what reviewers say about each.
LiftStrong
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LiftStrong is the free barbell workout tracker built around the proven 5x5 strength programme. It handles everything β which exercises to do, how much weight to lift, when to increase, and when to deload. You just show up and lift. THE 5x5 PROGRAMME The most effective beginner and intermediate strength programme, proven since the 1960s. Three workouts per week, five compound exercises, progressive overload built in. LiftStrong alternates between Workout A (Squat, Bench Press, Barbell Row) and Workout B (Squat, Overhead Press, Deadlift) automatically. SMART PROGRESSION Complete all your reps? The weight goes up next session β +2.5kg for upper body, +5kg for deadlift. Fail three times in a row? The app deloads by 10% so you recover and rebuild. No thinking required. TRACK EVERYTHING Progress charts for every exercise β tap data points for exact values All exercises on one combined chart with colour-coded lines Personal records detected and celebrated automatically Estimated 1RM calculated from your working sets Bodyweight tracking with trends Shareable monthly recap cards REST TIMER 3-minute countdown with beep alert. When it expires, switches to counting up so you know exactly how long you've been resting. Continues running in the background. Resets automatically when you log the next set. COMMUNITY Pair with up to 5 training buddies Compare progress side-by-side Nudge inactive friends back to the gym Real-time buddy chat with workout sharing Leaderboards: weekly volume, all-time, and streak Monthly challenges with Bronze, Silver, and Gold tiers 23 achievement badges across volume, consistency, strength, and social categories HEALTH INTEGRATION Syncs workouts and bodyweight to Apple Health automatically when enabled. Your strength training sessions appear alongside all your other fitness data. ADDITIONAL FEATURES Warmup calculator with progressive sets Plate calculator β shows exactly what to load Dark mode optimised for gym use kg and lb unit switching CSV data export Cloud backup with free account Works completely offline Smart workout reminders based on your training schedule NO PAYWALL Every feature is free. No subscription. No "upgrade to unlock". No ads. Just a workout tracker that does its job. Download LiftStrong and start getting stronger today.
5x5
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5x5 FiveByFive is a no-nonsense strength training tracker built around the proven 5Γ5 barbell method: five sets of five reps on the core compound lifts, adding weight every session. Open the app, see exactly what to lift today, tap a dot for each set you complete, and let the rest timer count you down. When you finish, 5x5 bumps your weights for next time automatically β and backs off intelligently when you stall. CORE LIFTS, DONE RIGHT β’ Squat, bench press, barbell row, overhead press, deadlift β’ Automatic linear progression β weights go up when you succeed β’ Smart auto-deload after repeated misses, so you never get stuck FAST IN-WORKOUT LOGGING β’ Tap to log each set β missed a rep? Tap again to drop the count β’ Add extra sets on the fly β’ Adjust your working weight mid-session β’ Full-screen rest timer with a Live Activity on your Lock Screen BUILD YOUR OWN PLANS β’ Run the classic 5Γ5 A/B routine or create custom plans β’ Edit sets, reps, and exercises to fit your training β’ Schedule workout reminders so you never skip a day TRACK YOUR PROGRESS β’ Complete history of every session β’ Progress dashboard for each lift β’ Plate calculator shows exactly what to load on the bar β’ Syncs completed workouts to Apple Health PRIVATE BY DESIGN β’ All your data stays on your device β’ No account, no ads, no tracking Whether you're starting your first barbell program or running a tried-and-tested 5Γ5, this app keeps it simple: show up, lift, add weight, repeat.
Screenshots
Verdict
The clearest difference is iOS requirement: LiftStrong at 15.1 against 5x5's 18.0. On price, ads, in-app purchases and device support 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
Both are free to download. Neither carries in-app purchases, so what you see is what you pay.
| Parameter | LiftStrong | 5x5 |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Free | Free |
| Update frequency | β | Weekly |
| Ads | No | No |
| In-app purchases | No | No |
| Devices | iPhone, iPod β better | iPhone |
| Requires iOS | 15.1 β better | 18.0 |
| Further details β not scored | ||
| Size | 49 MB | 2 MB |
| Age rating | 12+ | 4+ |
| Developer | John Fitchett | Francesco Carrer |
In-app purchases
LiftStrong
No in-app purchases
5x5
No in-app purchases





