GymNext Flex Timer vs Smart Strength
Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.
GymNext Flex Timer
This app offers advanced interval training timing with customizable modes and the ability to control an external LED display. It integrates with wearables and heart rate monitors for a comprehensive workout experience.
- Control external LED displays
- Multiple customizable timer modes (Tabata, EMOM, etc.)
- Save and recall favorite workouts
- Apple Watch control
- Audio sync with music
- Heart rate monitor integration
- Control multiple LED displays
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Meet the future of interval training. GymNext Flex Timer is the only timer app that combines powerful workout programming with control of large, wall-mounted LED displays—giving you the best of both worlds. Traditional gym timers rely on clunky remotes and are difficult to use. Mobile apps are flexible, but hard to see across the room. Flex Timer solves both. Build and control your workouts from your phone while displaying them on bright, easy-to-read LED screens anywhere in your gym. Perfect for HIIT, CrossFit, circuits, bootcamps, boxing, MMA, strength training, and more. Features: • Use the app on its own or connect to GymNext LED displays for maximum visibility • Core timer modes include Count Up/Down, Round, Tabata, EMOM, Mixed Intervals, and Sets with Rest • Plan your personal workouts or full classes in advance—everything ready in one tap • Share timers with athletes and trainers instantly using simple links • Save workouts to your library for quick access • Control your timer from Apple Watch—completely hands-free • Smart audio sync keeps your music and timer cues perfectly aligned • Connect multiple Bluetooth heart rate monitors and track performance in real time • Set custom heart rate zones for better training feedback • Control multiple timers across your gym at the same time • Run different workouts simultaneously for group training • Reliable Bluetooth control with no line-of-sight limitations “This will eventually become the standard for all gyms” – Garage Gym Reviews “All our coaches love the clock” – CrossFit Barrie “We love it to death” – Wolverine Strength & Conditioning Download Flex Timer and upgrade the way you train. We’re always improving. Have feedback? Reach us at support@gymnext.com
Smart Strength
This AI-powered strength training app generates personalized workout programs based on your equipment, schedule, and experience. It adapts as you progress, offering smart suggestions for weight and logging your workouts and nutrition in natural language.
- AI-generated personalized workout programs
- Adaptive progression based on logged workouts
- Smart weight suggestions
- Natural language nutrition logging
- Progress tracking with PR detection
- AI-powered insights on training and recovery
- Integrations with Whoop, Renpho, and Strava
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Smart Strength is the training app for clients of the SmartStrength coaching team. Your coach builds your program. You open the app and train. Every program is written by a real coach: Tom Sovocool and his trainers. They set your exercises, sets, reps and notes each week, see what you logged, and adjust from there. YOU GET • Your weekly program from your coach, with demo videos for every exercise they assign • Set by set workout logging with a timer and your numbers from last time • Speak or type your meals ("1 cup oatmeal with banana") and the macros log themselves • Progress tracking with PRs and trends • Weekly insights that connect your training, nutrition and recovery • Whoop, Renpho and Strava integrations • Works offline in the gym and syncs when you are back online HOW IT WORKS 1. Create your account and tell us your goal, schedule, equipment and any limitations. 2. Look through a sample week while your coach sets you up. 3. Your coach adds you and publishes your program. 4. Log each workout. Your coach sees it and leaves feedback. NOT WORKING WITH A COACH YET? You can still create an account, browse a sample week, and use nutrition and progress tracking. To get a program, get in touch with the SmartStrength team. PRICE Smart Strength is free. There is nothing to buy in the app. If you still have a subscription from before September 2026, you can cancel it in iOS Settings, Apple ID, Subscriptions. SUPPORT Email: support@brainbuilder.io Privacy: https://smartstrength.brainbuilder.io/privacy Terms: https://smartstrength.brainbuilder.io/terms Medical disclaimer: https://smartstrength.brainbuilder.io/medical-disclaimer
Screenshots
Verdict
The clearest difference is monetization model: GymNext Flex Timer at free against Smart Strength's free with in-app purchases. GymNext Flex Timer also leads on ratings volume (2.1K vs 1). Smart Strength's advantage is update cadence (weekly vs every 3 weeks) and rating (5.0 vs 4.8). 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
Both are free to download. GymNext Flex Timer sells 2 in-app purchases, starting at $8.99 per month and Smart Strength sells 1 in-app purchase, starting at $5.99 per month. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.
Smart Strength holds the better App Store score, 5.0 against 4.8. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: GymNext Flex Timer has 2.1K ratings behind it against 1, so its average is the more settled of the two.
GymNext Flex Timer ships an update every 3 weeks, Smart Strength weekly. The most recent releases landed on October 13, 2026 and October 14, 2026 respectively.
| Parameter | GymNext Flex Timer | Smart Strength |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | 4.8 (2.1K ratings) | 5.0 (1 ratings) — better |
| Positive reviews | 71.7% of reviews | — |
| Number of ratings | 2.1K — better | 1 |
| Update frequency | Every 3 weeks | Weekly — better |
| Ads | No | No |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Monetization | Free — better | Free with in-app purchases |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod, Apple Watch — better | iPhone, iPad, iPod |
| Requires iOS | 15.0 | 15.0 |
| Further details — not scored | ||
| Size | 185 MB | 2 MB |
| Age rating | 4+ | 12+ |
| Developer | Homick Enterprises | Brain Builder |
Customer experience
GymNext Flex Timer
Smart Strength
Bugs and requests
GymNext Flex Timer
Reported bugs
2 issues- Saved timers not consistently loading
- Segmented timers not saving properly
Requested features
4 requests- Watch app integration for remote control
- Background audio playback when app is closed
- Customizable voice options
- Lap timer functionality
Smart Strength
Not enough reviews yet to summarise bugs or requests.
In-app purchases
GymNext Flex Timer
- Flex Timer Pro Monthly7 Days trial$8.991 Month
- Flex Timer Pro Yearly1 Month trial$79.991 Year
Smart Strength
- Smart Strength Pro7 Days trial$5.991 Month
Questions
Is GymNext Flex Timer free?
Is Smart Strength free?
Which has better reviews, GymNext Flex Timer or Smart Strength?
Do GymNext Flex Timer or Smart Strength have ads?
Which is updated more often, GymNext Flex Timer or Smart Strength?
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