# Basic Gym vs Iron

The clearest difference is ads: Iron at none against Basic Gym's shown. Iron also leads on monetization model (free vs ad-supported) and device support (4 vs 2). Basic Gym's advantage is update cadence (weekly vs monthly). On price, rating, review sentiment and ratings volume there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. Neither carries in-app purchases, so what you see is what you pay.

On the App Store both sit at effectively the same score — 4.7 for Basic Gym against 4.8 for Iron. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 103 and 231 respectively. Written reviews split almost evenly too, at 95% and 96% positive.

Basic Gym ships an update weekly, Iron monthly. The most recent releases landed on October 1, 2026 and October 2, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Basic Gym | Iron |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [4.7 (103 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/basic-gym/id825569454/reviews) | **[4.8 (231 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/iron-workout-tracker/id1479893244/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | 103 | **231** |
| Positive reviews | 95.5% of reviews | **96.1% of reviews** |
| In-app purchases | No | No |
| Ads | Yes | **No** |
| Update frequency | **Weekly** | Monthly |
| Monetization | Ad-supported | **Free** |
| Size | 65 MB | 18 MB |
| Requires iOS | 15.6 | **13.1** |
| Devices | iPhone, iPod | **iPhone, iPad, iPod, Apple Watch** |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Stefan Collette](https://appshunter.io/developer/641976775) | [Karim Abou Zeid](https://appshunter.io/developer/1447254629) |

## What reviewers say

### Basic Gym

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/basic-gym/id825569454)

This app simplifies workout tracking for strength training. Easily log exercises, sets, reps, and weight. It features a customizable interval timer and provides detailed insights into your progress over time. Designed for a hassle-free gym experience.

**Highlights:** Customizable muscle groups, Exercise assignment, Effortless stat entry (weight, reps, sets), Customizable interval timer, Workout progress insights, Past session stats

**Features:** macOS Compatibility

**In-app purchases:** none


### Iron

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/iron-workout-tracker/id1479893244)

This free weightlifting tracker offers a clean interface for logging gym sessions. It includes smart features like automatic rest timers and PR recognition, with Apple Health integration and export options for your data.

**Highlights:** Workout logging, Apple Health integration, Automatic rest timer, PR recognition, Progress charts, Custom exercises, Data export

**Features:** macOS Compatibility, Siri integration

**In-app purchases:** none

**What reviewers like**

- 💰 Completely free with no ads or paywalls
- 🎯 Simple and intuitive interface
- 🔒 Open source and privacy-focused
- ⚙️ Highly customizable exercises and workouts
- 📊 Excellent progress tracking and history

**What reviewers complain about**

- ❌ Limited cardio and machine exercise options
- 🐛 Apple Health integration crashes phone
- ⌨️ Keyboard overlaps buttons in some cases
- 🎯 Muscle group classification too broad for compound lifts
- ⏰ Workout timer can be confusing with time vs. weight tracking

**Reported bugs**

- Apple Health integration causes phone crashes
- Keyboard overlaps other buttons
- Completed workouts display inconsistently (red vs. green)
- Workouts don't auto-finish after extended inactivity, causing inflated duration times
- Unable to edit reps or weight in some cases

**Requested features**

- Cardio workout tracking options
- More gym machine varieties in exercise library
- Granular muscle group breakdown (e.g., separate shoulder heads, traps)
- Customizable rest timer settings for compound vs. accessory work
- Additional set tags (Warmup, Giant, Super sets)


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Basic Gym free?

Basic Gym is free to download, with no in-app purchases.

### Is Iron free?

Iron is free to download, with no in-app purchases.

### Which has better reviews, Basic Gym or Iron?

Iron is rated higher. Basic Gym averages 4.7 out of 5 from 103 ratings, while Iron averages 4.8 from 231 ratings.

### Do Basic Gym or Iron have ads?

Basic Gym shows ads; Iron does not.

### Which is updated more often, Basic Gym or Iron?

Basic Gym ships an update weekly, and Iron monthly. Most recently, Basic Gym was updated on October 1, 2026 and Iron on October 2, 2026.

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*Compared by [AppsHunter](https://appshunter.io/) from daily US App Store data. Review summaries are generated from verbatim App Store reviews.*