# TrainHeroic vs Barbell

The clearest difference is rating: Barbell at 5.0 against TrainHeroic's 4.3. Barbell also leads on in-app purchases (none vs 11) and ads (none vs shown). TrainHeroic's advantage is update cadence (every 8 days vs every 4 months) and ratings volume (1.8K vs 5). On price there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. TrainHeroic sells 11 in-app purchases, starting at $4.99 per month. Barbell asks for nothing beyond the download.

Barbell holds the better App Store score, 5.0 against 4.3. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: TrainHeroic has 1.8K ratings behind it against 5, so its average is the more settled of the two.

TrainHeroic ships an update every 8 days, Barbell every 4 months. The most recent releases landed on October 15, 2026 and October 4, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | TrainHeroic | Barbell |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [4.3 (1.8K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/trainheroic-strength-training/id955074569/reviews) | **[5.0 (5 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/barbell-math/id1576083820/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | **1.8K** | 5 |
| Positive reviews | 43.4% of reviews | — |
| In-app purchases | Yes | **No** |
| Ads | Yes | **No** |
| Update frequency | **Every 8 days** | Every 4 months |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | **Free** |
| Size | 76 MB | 1 MB |
| Requires iOS | 16.4 | **13.6** |
| Devices | iPhone | **iPhone, iPad, iPod** |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [TrainHeroic, LLC](https://appshunter.io/developer/955074568) | [Emily Corso](https://appshunter.io/developer/1576083822) |

## What reviewers say

### TrainHeroic

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/trainheroic-strength-training/id955074569)

This app helps users track gym workouts, plan training sessions, and monitor progress. It offers exercise demo videos, coaching points, and features to celebrate achievements like personal records and total volume lifted.

**Highlights:** Workout tracker and log, Workout planner and library, Exercise demo videos, Progress tracking and PRs, Readiness insights, Global leaderboards

**Features:** macOS Compatibility, Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases (11)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Athlete Pro - Monthly | $4.99 | per month |
| THRIVE | $29.99 | per month |
| Cal Strength Club | $29.99 | per month |
| Ripped and Ready | $29.99 | per month |
| HAMR Monthly | $29.99 | per month |
| Jacked Street | $29.99 | per month |
| Bedrock | $29.99 | per month |
| Lean and Able Monthly | $29.99 | per month |
| Yoke Squad | $29.99 | per month |
| Catalyst Club | $29.99 | per month |
| Athlete Pro | $29.99 | per year |

**What reviewers like**

- 👍 Easy to use
- 🚀 Intuitive interface
- 💪 Effective training programs
- 📊 Detailed workout tracking
- 🙌 Motivating community

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 Frequent app crashes
- ⏱️ Slow performance and lag
- 🤔 Confusing navigation
- 💸 Expensive subscription
- 🔍 Difficult to find/purchase programs

**Reported bugs**

- Workout data not saving properly
- Weights/reps not registering correctly
- Calendar issues and incorrect session dates
- Inability to cancel subscriptions

**Requested features**

- Apple Watch integration
- Ability to rearrange exercises
- Customizable rest timers
- Improved exercise search functionality
- Syncing with Apple Health


### Barbell

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/barbell-math/id1576083820)

Easily calculate the weight plates needed for your lifts. Enter your desired weight and get a clear breakdown of plates in kilograms or pounds. It even offers a fun comparison of your strength to the weight of cats.

**Highlights:** Calculate weight plates needed, Supports kilograms and pounds, Plate breakdown for each lift, Strength comparison in cat weights, Simple and intuitive interface

**Features:** macOS Compatibility

**In-app purchases:** none


## Frequently asked questions

### Is TrainHeroic free?

TrainHeroic is free to download, with in-app purchases available.

### Is Barbell free?

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

### Which has better reviews, TrainHeroic or Barbell?

Barbell is rated higher. TrainHeroic averages 4.3 out of 5 from 1.8K ratings, while Barbell averages 5.0 from 5 ratings.

### Do TrainHeroic or Barbell have ads?

TrainHeroic shows ads; Barbell does not.

### Which is updated more often, TrainHeroic or Barbell?

TrainHeroic ships an update every 8 days, and Barbell every 4 months. Most recently, TrainHeroic was updated on October 15, 2026 and Barbell on October 4, 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.*