Comparison

PlateCalc Barbell Calculator vs Barbell Tools

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

Head to head
About

PlateCalc Barbell Calculator

This app quickly calculates barbell weights for your workouts. It features a unique, fast interface that allows you to adjust weight by sliding your finger. Customize available plates and barbell weight, and switch units easily.

Highlights
  • Fast weight calculation
  • Unique sliding interface
  • Customizable plate selection
  • Adjustable barbell weight
  • Pounds/kilograms support
  • Minimalist design
Features
Read full description

Plate Calculator is the fastest, easiest to use barbell calculator for iPhone. Input weight, get results, and get back to working out in seconds, all without typing, tapping buttons, or multiple pages. - Minimalist Everything you need. Nothing you don't. - Unique Interface Plate Calculator's uniquely designed, blazing fast user interface is what sets it apart from other barbell calculators. Getting from 45 lbs to 200 lbs takes less than a second, and results are displayed *immediately*. Simply slide your finger up and down, using the whole screen, to change the weight. - Customizable Mark which plates you have access to. Change the weight of your barbell. Switch between pounds and kilograms. - Accessible Developer Hi, I'm Greg. I built Plate Calculator to streamline my own workouts, and love using it at the gym. I hope you will too. Have feedback, feature requests or questions? Shoot me a quick email directly from the app settings page, and I'll get right back to you. PlateCalc uses Apple's standard Terms of Use / EULA: https://www.apple.com/legal/internet-services/itunes/dev/stdeula/

About

Barbell Tools

Features
Read full description

Stop doing mental plate math between sets. Prepare exact barbell loads built around the specific plates in your rack. Barbell Tools helps you calculate achievable plate setups, generate warm-up progressions, estimate 1RM, and run training timers. It stays focused on the work before and between sets, without bloated trackers, subscriptions, or complex workout programs. PLATE LOADING FOR YOUR EQUIPMENT • Create custom rack profiles with your specific bars, collars, and plate inventory. • Enter a target weight to immediately see the exact or nearest achievable load. • View visual plate arrangements per side and step smoothly between load increments. • Save frequently used loads to reconstruct them instantly anywhere. WARM-UP PROGRESSIONS • Build structured warm-up sets that progress toward your working weight. • Automatically adapt percentage stages to match the physical plates you have on hand. • See exactly what plates to add or remove at each transition, with the ability to skip or repeat stages. 1RM & TRAINING MAX CALCULATIONS • Estimate 1RM from 2–10 reps using Epley, Brzycki, or Lombardi formulas. • Run guided multi-set tests to find your true working max safely. • Calculate percentage-based loads from 50% to 100%. • Send any calculated weight straight into the plate calculator with one tap. INTERVAL & REST TIMERS • Built-in Rest, Interval, and EMOM timers, including a quick Tabata preset. • Stay focused with haptics, custom audio cues, local notifications, and screen keep-awake mode. No accounts. No ads. No tracking. Optional tips support independent development without locking away any features.

Screenshots

PlateCalc Barbell Calculator4 screens
Barbell Tools4 screens

Verdict

The call

PlateCalc Barbell Calculator and Barbell Tools are too close to call on the numbers: across 5 compared parameters — price, ads, in-app purchases and device support among them — neither pulls far enough ahead to decide it. What separates them is feature set and interface, not measurable difference.

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. PlateCalc Barbell Calculator sells 1 in-app purchase, starting at $1.99 per year and Barbell Tools sells 3 one-off in-app purchases. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

ScorecardNo meaningful differences
PlateCalc Barbell Calculator versus Barbell Tools: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterPlateCalc Barbell CalculatorBarbell Tools
PriceFreeFree
Rating4.9 (21 ratings) — better—
Positive reviews100.0% of reviews—
Number of ratings21 — better—
Update frequencyEvery 2 weeks—
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesYesYes
MonetizationFree with in-app purchases—
DevicesiPhone, iPadiPhone, iPad
Requires iOS17.016.4 — better
Further details — not scored
Size35 MB53 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperGreg KalekaFrancisco Manas

In-app purchases

1 purchases

PlateCalc Barbell Calculator

Subscriptions1
  • PlateCalc+$1.991 Year
3 purchases

Barbell Tools

One-time3
  • Warm-up Tip$0.99
  • Working Set Tip$2.99
  • Heavy Set Tip$5.99

Questions

Is PlateCalc Barbell Calculator free?
PlateCalc Barbell Calculator is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Is Barbell Tools free?
Barbell Tools is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Do PlateCalc Barbell Calculator or Barbell Tools have ads?
Neither PlateCalc Barbell Calculator nor Barbell Tools shows ads.

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