Comparison

RowUp vs FocusLift

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

Head to head
About

RowUp

Features
Read full description

RowUp turns your indoor rower into a coached session. Pair a Bluetooth erg and a heart-rate strap, pick a workout, and get live splits, stroke rate, power, and pace the whole way through. Built for people who actually row: steady-state mornings, sharp interval days, and everything between. CONNECT YOUR GEAR - Pairs with Bluetooth rowing machines and heart-rate monitors - Live stroke rate, split, pace, power, and distance as you pull - Stroke calibration so your numbers match your machine TRAIN THE WAY YOU WANT - Free row: no timers, no targets, just pull - Intervals: alternating work and rest, built your way - Set targets by time, distance, or stroke count - Training plans: structured programs that build week over week SEE EVERY SESSION - A clean live screen with the metrics that matter, front and center - Full workout summaries: splits, heart-rate zones, power, and pace - History that keeps every row so you can track progress over time APPLE WATCH - Start and run workouts from your wrist - Heart rate from the Watch feeds straight into your session SYNCS WHERE IT COUNTS - Workouts and heart rate save to Apple Health - iCloud keeps your history and plans in sync across your devices RowUp is free to use. RowUp Premium unlocks the full experience with a one-time purchase (no subscription), and there's a 30-day free trial so you can try everything before you decide. Questions or ideas? Get in touch through the support link. RowUp is built by a rower who wanted better numbers on the water indoors.

About

FocusLift

This app helps you stay focused during workouts by blocking distracting applications. It offers a fast logging system, numerous pre-built training programs, and progress tracking features. Enjoy uninterrupted gym sessions with its unique focus mode.

Highlights
  • Built-in Focus Mode to block distracting apps
  • Fast workout logger with no login required
  • 297 included training programs
  • Live Activity rest timers
  • Automatic personal record tracking
  • Home-screen widgets
  • Optional iCloud backup
Features
Read full description

Lift heavy. Scroll never. FocusLift is the only workout tracker with a built-in Focus Mode that blocks distracting apps while you lift. TikTok, Instagram, and anything else that hijacks your rest period stays locked until your workout is done. Your phone stays in your hand for the timer, your music, and your log - but the feed waits. Your 45-minute program shouldn't take 2 hours. Every other workout app stops at "track your sets." FocusLift tracks your sets AND fights the other apps, so a 3-minute rest is 3 minutes - not 3 minutes and four TikToks. LOG EVERY SET IN SECONDS A fast, clean logger built for the gym floor. Add sets, reps, and weight in a tap. Mark warmups, drop sets, and failures. No account, no login, no friction - your data lives on your device from the first set. 297 TRAINING PROGRAMS INCLUDED Start lifting with a real plan today: 5/3/1, GZCLP, PPL, peaking blocks, calisthenics progressions, and hundreds more. Programs auto-load your working weights session to session so you always know what to lift next. REST TIMERS ON THE LOCK SCREEN AND DYNAMIC ISLAND Live Activities put your rest countdown right on the Lock Screen and in the Dynamic Island. Skip or adjust the timer without unlocking. You hear the bell - and the feed is still locked when it rings. TRACK PERSONAL RECORDS AND PROGRESS Automatic PR detection with a gold badge the moment you hit one. Progress charts show your lifts climbing over weeks and months. Log body measurements and watch the trend lines. HOME-SCREEN WIDGETS Glance at your next workout, recent PRs, and streak without opening the app. CLOUD BACKUP Optional iCloud backup keeps your history safe and carries it to a new phone. No account required - it's local-first by design, with the cloud as a safety net you control. FEATURES AT A GLANCE - Focus Mode: block distracting apps during your workout - Fast set-by-set workout logger, no login required - 297 bundled programs: 5/3/1, GZCLP, PPL, peaking, calisthenics - Live Activity rest timers on Lock Screen and Dynamic Island - Automatic personal-record tracking with charts - Body measurements and progress trends - Home-screen widgets - Optional iCloud backup - Dark ember-red premium design FOCUSLIFT PRO Try every FocusLift feature free for 14 days. After your trial, a FocusLift Pro subscription keeps everything unlocked: advanced Focus Mode, your full workout history and analytics, all 297 programs, Live Activity rest timers, and cloud backup. Lift heavy. Scroll never. --- Subscription terms: FocusLift Pro is an auto-renewable subscription. Payment will be charged to your Apple ID account at confirmation of purchase. The subscription automatically renews unless it is canceled at least 24 hours before the end of the current period. Your account will be charged for renewal within 24 hours prior to the end of the current period. You can manage and cancel your subscriptions by going to your account settings on the App Store after purchase. Any unused portion of a free trial period, if offered, will be forfeited when you purchase a subscription. Terms of Use: https://digitaltrainingsystems.io/terms.html Privacy Policy: https://digitaltrainingsystems.io/privacy.html

Screenshots

RowUp4 screens
FocusLift4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is update cadence: RowUp at every 3 days against FocusLift's weekly. FocusLift's advantage is iOS requirement (18.0 vs 26.0). On price, ads, in-app purchases and device support 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. RowUp sells 1 one-off in-app purchase and FocusLift sells 2 in-app purchases, starting at $4.99 per month. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

RowUp ships an update every 3 days, FocusLift weekly. Both last shipped on October 31, 2026.

Scorecard2 real differences · 7 level
RowUp versus FocusLift: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterRowUpFocusLift
PriceFreeFree
Rating—5.0 (2 ratings) — better
Number of ratings—2 — better
Update frequencyEvery 3 days — betterWeekly
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesYesYes
Monetization—Freemium
DevicesiPhone, Apple Watch — betteriPhone
Requires iOS26.018.0 — better
Further details — not scored
Size13 MB161 MB
Age rating4+12+
DeveloperFernando BalandranDigital Training Systems Incorporated

In-app purchases

1 purchases

RowUp

One-time1
  • RowUp Premium$4.99
2 purchases

FocusLift

Subscriptions2
  • FocusLift Pro Monthly14 Days trial$4.991 Month
  • FocusLift Pro Yearly14 Days trial$49.991 Year

Questions

Is RowUp free?
RowUp is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Is FocusLift free?
FocusLift is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Do RowUp or FocusLift have ads?
Neither RowUp nor FocusLift shows ads.
Which is updated more often, RowUp or FocusLift?
RowUp ships an update every 3 days, and FocusLift weekly. Most recently, RowUp was updated on October 31, 2026 and FocusLift on October 31, 2026.

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