Comparison

SetBySet vs Heft

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

Head to head
About

SetBySet

Features
Read full description

SetBySet is a focused strength training tracker built for lifters who want to log workouts quickly and effectively. WORKOUT TEMPLATES Create custom workout templates with your favorite exercises. Choose from a built-in exercise library or add your own. Set target reps, time-based goals (for planks, carries, etc.), or train to failure. Customize rest times between sets and exercises. Duplicate templates to create variations fast. Tap any exercise to edit sets, reps, target type, and rest times. TRACK EVERY SET During a workout, log weight, reps, or duration for each set. A built-in rest timer keeps you on pace with customizable rest periods per exercise. APPLE WATCH Sync your templates to Apple Watch and run workouts from your wrist. Adjust weight with the Digital Crown, log sets with a tap, and get haptic alerts when rest is over. Completed workouts sync back to your iPhone and save to Apple Health automatically. PROGRESS & HISTORY View your full workout history with detailed stats. Track body weight over time. See your estimated one-rep max and how your lifts are progressing. Get notified when you hit a new personal record. BUILT-IN TOOLS - Plate Calculator with visual barbell display - One Rep Max calculator with training zone guide - Body Weight tracker with trend charts - Rest timer with background notifications - Workout sharing as text or image cards APPLE ECOSYSTEM - Apple Watch companion with full workout logging - Lock Screen Live Activity during workouts - Home Screen widget showing your streak - Apple Health integration (workouts, heart rate, body weight) - iCloud sync across all your devices EXPORT & BACKUP Export all your data as JSON. Import it back anytime. Your training history is always yours. SETBYSET PRO Upgrade once to unlock unlimited workout templates, progress charts, data export, iCloud sync, and Apple Watch support. No subscriptions — pay once, own it forever. SetBySet is private and built for lifters. No accounts required. Just you and the iron.

About

Heft

Features
Read full description

Everything lives on your phone. Your training history is yours - it isn't uploaded anywhere, and it works exactly the same in the basement of a gym with no signal. LOG A SESSION • Weight and reps, or duration for timed work • Buttons to nudge weight and reps without opening the keyboard • Personal records marked automatically as you hit them • Rest timer with a default you set once, plus per-exercise overrides • Running volume total for each exercise as you go • Swipe between days to backfill a session you forgot SEE WHERE YOU'RE GOING • Chart estimated 1RM, total volume, or max weight for any exercise • One month through to all time • Drag across the chart to read any single point • Full history per exercise, with an estimated 1RM for every set MOVE FASTER • Save a session as a template and load it again next week • Search a built-in exercise library by muscle group • Add your own custom exercises • Pounds or kilos YOUR DATA STAYS YOURS • Export everything to CSV whenever you want • Import it back, or open it in a spreadsheet • Nothing leaves the device unless you send it somewhere NO CATCH There are no ads, no subscriptions, no locked features and no account to create. There's a tip jar in Settings if you'd like to buy me a coffee — it unlocks nothing, because there's nothing to unlock. Built by one person who wanted a lifting log that didn't steal my data.

Screenshots

SetBySet4 screens
Heft4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is update cadence: SetBySet at every 2 days against Heft's every 5 days. Heft's advantage is iOS requirement (15.1 vs 26.0). On price, ads, in-app purchases and device support there is nothing between them.

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

CostPrice Ā· In-app purchases Ā· Ads Ā· Monetization

Both are free to download. SetBySet sells 1 one-off in-app purchase and Heft sells 1 one-off in-app purchase. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

SetBySet ships an update every 2 days, Heft every 5 days. The most recent releases landed on October 2, 2026 and October 4, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard2 real differences Ā· 4 level
SetBySet versus Heft: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterSetBySetHeft
PriceFreeFree
Update frequencyEvery 2 days — betterEvery 5 days
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesYesYes
DevicesiPhone, iPad, Apple Watch — betteriPhone, iPod
Requires iOS26.015.1 — better
Further details — not scored
Size11 MB33 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperPragmaTecLuke Kavenagh

In-app purchases

1 purchases

SetBySet

One-time1
  • SetBySet Pro$5.99
1 purchases

Heft

One-time1
  • Coffee Tip$4.99

Questions

Is SetBySet free?
SetBySet is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Is Heft free?
Heft is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Do SetBySet or Heft have ads?
Neither SetBySet nor Heft shows ads.
Which is updated more often, SetBySet or Heft?
SetBySet ships an update every 2 days, and Heft every 5 days. Most recently, SetBySet was updated on October 2, 2026 and Heft on October 4, 2026.

Other comparisons