Comparison

Lightweight vs Notch

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

Head to head
About

Lightweight

This app helps lifters track their workouts with fast logging and detailed insights for progressive overload. It focuses on session efficiency, personal records, and data ownership, working offline without an account.

Highlights
  • Fast set logging with gym-focused keypad
  • Previous-session placeholders
  • Rest timer with auto-start and fine-tune
  • Superset support
  • Custom exercise creation
  • Personal record tracking
  • Offline functionality
Read full description

Lightweight is a workout tracker for lifters who actually train. No social feed, no cookie-cutter programs, no bloat. Just fast logging, clean data, and the insights that matter for progressive overload. BUILT FOR THE SESSION • Log sets in seconds with a keypad designed for the gym floor • Previous-session placeholders — see last week's numbers without breaking your flow • Rest timer with auto-start, ±10s fine-tune, and a floating puck that expands on tap • Sound cues and haptics tuned for headphones • Supersets — alternate exercises with a single shared rest • Custom exercises for anything missing from the defaults • Training notes on every session PROGRESSIVE OVERLOAD, FRONT AND CENTER • Personal records by weight and estimated 1RM — detected the moment you hit them • Per-exercise history with e1RM progression sparklines • PR progression tab with running-max overlay • Volume by muscle group, session frequency, duration trends YOUR DATA, YOUR DEVICE • Everything works offline — data lives on your phone • No account required to start • Bodyweight tracking with a weekly reminder • Light, Dark, and System themes PREMIUM (OPTIONAL) • Unlimited workout templates (free tier includes 2) • Cloud sync across devices via Apple Sign In • AI insights — session reviews, weekly and monthly reports, plateau detection, volume balance Free tier covers unlimited sessions, full history, charts, PRs, stats, custom exercises, supersets, rest timer, and bodyweight tracking. You never lose access to your own data. No ads. No feed. No streaks-as-a-service. Just your training, logged properly. Terms of Use (EULA): https://www.apple.com/legal/internet-services/itunes/dev/stdeula/

About

Notch

This app is a private gym workout tracker designed for individuals who want to log their sessions and monitor progress without distractions. It offers a clean interface for recording sets, reps, and various exercise types, with all data stored locally on your device.

Highlights
  • Log workouts by muscle group and cardio
  • 100+ built-in exercises and custom additions
  • Multiple exercise types (weight, bodyweight, distance, time)
  • Rest timer with screen lock support
  • Progress charts and custom metrics
  • Local data storage with JSON export/import
Features
Read full description

Notch is a free, private gym workout tracker. Built for lifters who just want to log a session, see their progress, and move on with their day. One thing. Done well. Log sets and reps. See your progression. That's it. No social feed, no streaks chasing you, no badges to collect, no plan recommending what you should bench tomorrow. Your data stays on your phone. No account to sign up for. No cloud sync. No analytics. No tracking. Notch makes zero network calls. The only thing that ever leaves your phone is what you choose to export. Free. Forever. No catch. No ads. No paywalls. No "Pro" tier. No "upgrade for charts." Every feature is in the free app. Features: • Log workouts grouped by muscle group + cardio • 100+ built-in exercises across Chest, Back, Legs, Shoulders, Biceps, Triceps, Core, and Cardio — plus add your own • Five exercise types: weight × reps, bodyweight reps (with optional added weight), distance + time, distance, time • Per-exercise variations saved as a pick-list (so analytics stay clean) • Optional partial-rep tracking per set • Rest timer between sets — runs even when the screen is locked • Calendar view with colored muscle-group dots for every gym day • Progress charts per exercise + variation: estimated 1RM, top-set weight, total volume, reps over time • Custom metrics — body weight, resting HR, anything numeric • Daily notes per day • Locations (home gym, commercial gym, etc.) with per-location progress filtering • Full JSON export/import — your data is portable, always • Light + dark themes that follow the system • Metric and imperial units What Notch will never have: Accounts. Ads. Push notifications begging you to come back. Streaks. Social sharing. AI coaches. Subscription tiers. Email lists. Crash reporters. Analytics SDKs. Just a gym log. The way it should be.

Screenshots

Lightweight4 screens
Notch4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is in-app purchases: Notch at none against Lightweight's 2. Notch also leads on iOS requirement (13.0 vs 15.1). Lightweight's advantage is update cadence (daily vs fortnightly). On price, rating, review sentiment and ratings volume 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. Lightweight sells 2 in-app purchases, starting at $5.99 per month. Notch asks for nothing beyond the download.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

On the App Store both sit at effectively the same score — 5.0 for Lightweight against 5.0 for Notch. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 1 and 1 respectively. Written reviews split almost evenly too, at 100% and 100% positive.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Lightweight ships an update daily, Notch fortnightly. The most recent releases landed on October 20, 2026 and October 22, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard4 real differences · 6 level
Lightweight versus Notch: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterLightweightNotch
PriceFreeFree
Rating5.0 (1 ratings)5.0 (1 ratings)
Positive reviews100.0% of reviews100.0% of reviews
Number of ratings11
Update frequencyDaily — betterFortnightly
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesYesNo — better
MonetizationFreemiumFree — better
DevicesiPhone, iPodiPhone, iPad, iPod — better
Requires iOS15.113.0 — better
Further details — not scored
Size53 MB27 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperCem Kagan KayiliArvind Sasikumar

Customer experience

Lightweight

All ratings1 ratings
Positive100.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative0.0%
Written reviews1 reviews
Positive100.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative0.0%

Notch

Written reviews1 reviews
Positive100.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative0.0%

In-app purchases

2 purchases

Lightweight

Subscriptions2
  • Premium Monthly$5.991 Month
  • Premium Yearly$53.991 Year
None

Notch

No in-app purchases

Questions

Is Lightweight free?
Lightweight is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Is Notch free?
Notch is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Which has better reviews, Lightweight or Notch?
Lightweight and Notch are both rated 5.0 out of 5 on the App Store, from 1 and 1 ratings respectively.
Do Lightweight or Notch have ads?
Neither Lightweight nor Notch shows ads.
Which is updated more often, Lightweight or Notch?
Lightweight ships an update daily, and Notch fortnightly. Most recently, Lightweight was updated on October 20, 2026 and Notch on October 22, 2026.

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