Comparison

5/3/1 Workout Manager vs Forge 5/3/1

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

Head to head
About

5/3/1 Workout Manager

This application assists users in calculating their training weights based on Jim Wendler's 5/3/1 strength training program. It's designed to facilitate consistent progress towards significant strength gains.

Highlights
  • Weight calculation for 5/3/1 program
  • Facilitates steady strength gains
  • Supports Jim Wendler's methodology
Features
Read full description

This app calculates your weights if you are using Jim Wendler's 5/3/1 program, which promises slow and steady gains that will eventually turn you into the strongest guy in the gym.

About

Forge 5/3/1

This powerlifting app helps users follow the Wendler 5/3/1 Boring But Big program with personalized workouts. It offers detailed tracking, history, and gym-ready features, with optional premium upgrades for advanced customization and data management.

Highlights
  • Personalized 5/3/1 BBB workouts
  • Classic Wendler progression
  • Log sets, reps, and weights
  • Volume and estimated 1RM tracking
  • Offline functionality
  • Plate calculator
  • Customizable training percentages
Features
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Forge 531 is your powerlifting companion for Wendler 5/3/1 Boring But Big—built for lifters who want precision, customization, and privacy. No ads-driven onboarding and no required account. PROGRAM & WORKOUTS (included) • Enter one-rep maxes for squat, bench press, deadlift, and overhead press—Forge generates personalized 5/3/1 BBB sessions from your training maxes • Classic Wendler progression with Boring But Big assistance work • Four-week cycles including deload; intuitive week navigation and cycle management • Metric or imperial units—switch anytime in Settings TRACKING & HISTORY (included) • Log sets, reps, and weights for every workout • Volume totals (weight × reps) • Estimated 1RM from AMRAP sets (Brzycki) • Full history with analytics so you can see progress over time GYM-READY DESIGN (included) • Optional keep screen awake during sessions • Dark theme suited to dim floors • Fast movement between weeks and workout detail PRIVACY & SIMPLICITY (included) • No account—ever. Nothing to register; nothing you must log into later • Your data stays on your device—not tied to a Forge cloud profile • Works offline for everyday training PREMIUM — SMART PLATES & LOADS (14-day free trial, then one-time purchase — no subscription) • Plate calculator — visual plate combinations for any target weight • Plate settings — barbell weight and inventory that match your gym • Full calculator access lines up with your metric/imperial choice once Premium is active PREMIUM — TRAINING CONTROL (same trial / purchase model) • Training max % adjustments — tune percentages off Wendler defaults • Progressions customization — adjust weekly progression percentages • Warm-up sets — bar-only and configurable percentage warm-ups before working sets (deload options in Settings) PREMIUM — DATA PORTABILITY (Not included in the free trial — unlocks with Premium purchase) • Import/export — backup and restore workout history via CSV HOW PREMIUM WORKS New users receive a 14-day trial for most Premium features listed above.** Import/export requires a Premium purchase and is not part of the trial.** After the trial ends, Premium remains available as a one-time purchase—no subscription.

Screenshots

5/3/1 Workout Manager4 screens
Forge 5/3/14 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is in-app purchases: 5/3/1 Workout Manager at none against Forge 5/3/1's 1. 5/3/1 Workout Manager also leads on ratings volume (32 vs 1) and iOS requirement (8.0 vs 13.0). Forge 5/3/1's advantage is update cadence (every 3 weeks vs every 9 months) and rating (5.0 vs 4.7). On price, ads 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. Forge 5/3/1 sells 1 one-off in-app purchase. 5/3/1 Workout Manager asks for nothing beyond the download.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

Forge 5/3/1 holds the better App Store score, 5.0 against 4.7. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: 5/3/1 Workout Manager has 32 ratings behind it against 1, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews point the same way: 80% of 5/3/1 Workout Manager's written reviews are positive against 100% of Forge 5/3/1's.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

5/3/1 Workout Manager ships an update every 9 months, Forge 5/3/1 every 3 weeks. The most recent releases landed on September 29, 2026 and October 2, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard7 real differences · 3 level
5/3/1 Workout Manager versus Forge 5/3/1: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
Parameter5/3/1 Workout ManagerForge 5/3/1
PriceFreeFree
Rating4.7 (32 ratings)5.0 (1 ratings) — better
Positive reviews80.0% of reviews100.0% of reviews — better
Number of ratings32 — better1
Update frequencyEvery 9 monthsEvery 3 weeks — better
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesNo — betterYes
MonetizationFree — betterFree with in-app purchases
DevicesiPhone, iPodiPhone, iPod
Requires iOS8.0 — better13.0
Further details — not scored
Size13 MB26 MB
Age rating4+12+
DeveloperChristopher DwyerDev IT Digital LLC

Customer experience

5/3/1 Workout Manager

All ratings32 ratings
Positive87.5%
Neutral12.5%
Negative0.0%
Written reviews30 reviews
Positive80.0%
Neutral16.7%
Negative3.3%

Forge 5/3/1

All ratings1 ratings
Positive100.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative0.0%
Written reviews1 reviews
Positive100.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative0.0%

In-app purchases

None

5/3/1 Workout Manager

No in-app purchases

1 purchases

Forge 5/3/1

One-time1
  • Premium Features$4.99

Questions

Is 5/3/1 Workout Manager free?
5/3/1 Workout Manager is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Is Forge 5/3/1 free?
Forge 5/3/1 is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Which has better reviews, 5/3/1 Workout Manager or Forge 5/3/1?
Forge 5/3/1 is rated higher. 5/3/1 Workout Manager averages 4.7 out of 5 from 32 ratings, while Forge 5/3/1 averages 5.0 from 1 ratings.
Do 5/3/1 Workout Manager or Forge 5/3/1 have ads?
Neither 5/3/1 Workout Manager nor Forge 5/3/1 shows ads.
Which is updated more often, 5/3/1 Workout Manager or Forge 5/3/1?
5/3/1 Workout Manager ships an update every 9 months, and Forge 5/3/1 every 3 weeks. Most recently, 5/3/1 Workout Manager was updated on September 29, 2026 and Forge 5/3/1 on October 2, 2026.

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