Comparison

PRactical Workout Tracker vs First Gear

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

Head to head
About

PRactical Workout Tracker

This app helps lifters quickly log workout sets and track personal records with ease. It focuses on efficient data entry and clear progress visualization, adapting to various training styles without unnecessary features.

Highlights
  • Fast set logging
  • Automatic PR detection
  • Supports various exercise types
  • Progressive overload tracking
  • Friction-free interface
Features
Read full description

PRactical is the workout tracker built for lifters who want fast, friction-free logging and meaningful progress data — no matter where you are in your training. Most tracking apps get in the way. PRactical gets out of the way. FAST LOGGING — Log a set in 2 taps or less. No hunting through menus, no mandatory rest timers, no onboarding wizard. BUILT FOR HOW YOU ACTUALLY TRAIN — Timed exercises, bodyweight movements, and supersets logged as accurately as barbell lifts. No awkward workarounds, no forcing your session into a format that doesn't fit. TRACK EVERY PR — Automatic personal record detection across all lifts. See your progress over time without digging through spreadsheets. BUILT AROUND PROGRESSIVE OVERLOAD — Not AI. Not "smart" suggestions. Just clean pattern recognition that shows where you're progressing and where you've plateaued. PRactical. The PR is the point. Terms of Use: https://www.apple.com/legal/internet-services/itunes/dev/stdeula/

About

First Gear

This app provides real-time heart rate coaching for Zone 2 running, guiding you on when to run and walk based on your live heart rate. It's designed for beginners and those returning to running, simplifying easy runs without needing to constantly check a screen.

Highlights
  • Live heart rate voice coaching
  • Zone 2 heart rate range setting
  • Adaptive coaching based on conditions
  • Guided stretching routines
  • Run recaps and progress tracking
  • Apple Watch integration
  • GPX/TCX export
Features
Read full description

A running coach in your ear that says when to run and when to walk, by your live heart rate. Go above your range and your coach has you walk. When your heart is ready, you run again. Made for beginners, for anyone starting again, and for anyone who wants easy Zone 2 running without watching a screen. ZONE 2 RUNNING MADE SIMPLE Choose how the top of your heart rate range is set: First Gear's estimate, MAF, Zone 2 or your own number. Your coach handles the rest, so easy runs stay easy. A COACH THAT ADAPTS On a warm day, after a break, or the day after a run, your coach can give you more room to walk and tells you why before you start. After a few short runs, it can set a shorter goal. There are no questionnaires and no readiness score to check. ON THE WAY TO A FIRST 5K Most beginner plans run on a stopwatch. First Gear follows your heart rate instead, so a hard day means more walking, not a failed workout. YOUR EASY SCORE See how much of each run you spent inside your range. It is feedback on that run, not a fitness test. STRETCHING AFTER YOUR RUNS A short guided stretch on iPhone, about 5 or 10 minutes, after a run or any time. The moves change by the day and each one is timed, so there are no reps to count. Your coach talks you through it, with video when you're online. WHAT'S INSIDE • Live heart rate voice coaching over your music • Two coaches, Lana and Cal • Runs from 10 to 60 minutes, or an open run with no set length • Six stages, and you choose when to move up • A guided warm-up before you set off • Each mile or kilometer called out as you pass it • A spoken recap of your run at the finish • Heart rate, pace and distance on request on Apple Watch • Optional breathing and form tips in your headphones • Outdoor route maps shaded by effort • Heart rate charts that mark each call your coach made • Weekly time in range, resting heart rate, records and badges • Widgets, plus your iPhone run on the Lock Screen • GPX and TCX export for outdoor runs • Runs and stretches saved to Apple Health USE THE GEAR YOU HAVE • Apple Watch on its own, so your phone can stay behind • iPhone with AirPods Pro 3 or Powerbeats Pro 2 • iPhone with a heart rate watch or strap over Bluetooth, such as a Garmin (beta) Runs with your iPhone are outdoors and count like any other run. NO STREAKS. NO GUILT. No catch-up workouts. A break never takes away your stage, and your badges stay yours. No account required. First Gear does not support runners with a heart condition, a pacemaker or implanted defibrillator, or medication that slows the heart rate. SUBSCRIPTION First Gear Coaching starts with a 7-day free trial if you're eligible, then is billed monthly or yearly at the price shown in your local currency before you confirm. Payment is charged to your Apple Account at confirmation. The subscription renews automatically unless canceled at least 24 hours before the end of the period. Manage or cancel it in your Apple Account settings. Terms of Use (EULA): https://www.apple.com/legal/internet-services/itunes/dev/stdeula/ Privacy Policy: https://firstgear.run/privacy

Screenshots

PRactical Workout Tracker4 screens
First Gear4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is ads: PRactical Workout Tracker at none against First Gear's shown. PRactical Workout Tracker also leads on rating (5.0 vs 4.7) and iOS requirement (15.1 vs 18.0). On price, ratings volume, update cadence 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. PRactical Workout Tracker sells 3 in-app purchases, starting at $3.99 per month and First Gear sells 2 in-app purchases, starting at $4.99 per month. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

PRactical Workout Tracker holds the better App Store score, 5.0 against 4.7. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 2 and 3 respectively.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

PRactical Workout Tracker ships an update weekly, First Gear every 5 days. The most recent releases landed on October 31, 2026 and November 6, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard3 real differences · 7 level
PRactical Workout Tracker versus First Gear: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterPRactical Workout TrackerFirst Gear
PriceFreeFree
Rating5.0 (2 ratings) — better4.7 (3 ratings)
Positive reviews100.0% of reviews—
Number of ratings23 — better
Update frequencyWeeklyEvery 5 days — better
AdsNo — betterYes
In-app purchasesYesYes
MonetizationFree with in-app purchasesFree with in-app purchases
DevicesiPhone, iPad, iPod — betteriPhone, Apple Watch
Requires iOS15.1 — better18.0
Further details — not scored
Size58 MB164 MB
Age rating4+17+
DeveloperMatthew ReichenbachRubber Bands LLC

Customer experience

PRactical Workout Tracker

All ratings2 ratings
Positive100.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative0.0%
Written reviews1 reviews
Positive100.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative0.0%

First Gear

All ratings3 ratings
Positive100.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative0.0%

In-app purchases

3 purchases

PRactical Workout Tracker

Subscriptions2
  • PRactical Premium$3.991 Month
  • PRactical Premium - Annual$19.991 Year
One-time1
  • Lifetime Premium Access$99.99
2 purchases

First Gear

Subscriptions2
  • First Gear Monthly7 Days trial$4.991 Month
  • First Gear Annual7 Days trial$29.991 Year

Questions

Is PRactical Workout Tracker free?
PRactical Workout Tracker is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Is First Gear free?
First Gear is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Which has better reviews, PRactical Workout Tracker or First Gear?
PRactical Workout Tracker is rated higher. PRactical Workout Tracker averages 5.0 out of 5 from 2 ratings, while First Gear averages 4.7 from 3 ratings.
Do PRactical Workout Tracker or First Gear have ads?
First Gear shows ads; PRactical Workout Tracker does not.
Which is updated more often, PRactical Workout Tracker or First Gear?
PRactical Workout Tracker ships an update weekly, and First Gear every 5 days. Most recently, PRactical Workout Tracker was updated on October 31, 2026 and First Gear on November 6, 2026.

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