14 Best Weight Lifting Workout Apps (Free & Paid)—Definitive Guide

The best weight lifting apps to get shape fast
By Mike Milioto
 · 7 min read
Contents

You want to get the most out of your weight lifting workouts.

Maybe build muscle and strength, burn fat, or both. To look and feel your best.

But you're not ready to spend $500+ a month to hire a personal trainer to work out with you every day.

Without a trainer, planning and tracking your workouts can be a challenge. That's where weight lifting apps come in.

These apps offer a range of features that can help you plan your program, track your workouts, and get in shape faster. Some even personalize your plan and guide you as you work out. Others offer diet advice, helpful reminders, and in-depth stats to analyze your progress.

There are a lot of workout apps out there, and it can be hard to decide which one to trust with your fitness. How do you know which one is right for you?

Why this expert guide is different

Whether you're looking for free or paid options, we've got you covered with our list of the best weight lifting workout apps. This post will give you a complete list of the best weightlifting apps, both free and paid.

There are a lot of weight lifting apps out there, and it can be hard to decide which one is right for you. That's why we've put together this comprehensive guide.

In this article, we'll talk about the different types of weightlifting apps, as well as some of the best ones.

We'll also give you our expert opinion on the best weightlifting workout app for you.

Each app offers different features and workouts, so there's bound to be one that fits your needs.

We'll discuss their features, pros and cons, and help you decide which one is right for you. We'll also link to in-depth guides about each app and types of apps whenever possible.

Ready to get started? Let's dive in.

Best weight lifting workout apps

This is a broad category:

  • You can lift weights at home, in your garage, living room, or basement. Or at the gym.
  • Small, private gyms have limited equipment. Bigger commercial gyms have up to hundreds of machines.
  • You can lift to build muscle (hypertrophy), strength, power (explosive strength), muscular endurance, to get in better shape overall, or for sports (with strength sports like powerlifting and olympic weightlifting requiring special training).

So as you can see, choosing the right weight lifting app for you depends on a lot of factors.

As a result, this guide is divided into five main sections: gym apps, bodybuilding apps, general workout apps, and tracking apps. We've also included a section on free apps for people with a limited budget.

But if you're short on time and want to jump ahead, our top pick overall is the Dr. Muscle smart workout app. Here's why:

  • It has 23+ smart features to get you in shape faster
  • You can work out at home with no equipment or at the biggest gyms
  • It personalizes your workouts based on your equipment, fitness level, and goals
  • It guides you set by step and optimizes your workouts in real time, like a top trainer would

It's a like a virtual trainer in your pocket. To learn more, check out the Dr. Muscle workout app.

Best bodybuilding apps

We reviewed some of the best bodybuiling app on the market and...

Dr. Muscle app has been declared the victor, scoring a remarkable 48 out of 50. It leverages automation of training volume and progressive overload, two factors vastly important for muscle growth. Volume-wise, it adapts to an individual's current status, while AI is employed to customize the progression of overload depending on the person's progress.

Summary of ratings for the 5 bodybuilding apps /50

Dr Muscle 48

Strong lift 5x5. 42

Jefit. 40.5

Mark Lauren. 38.5

BB.com. 28

You can read our in-depth review written by an exercise science doctor here

There are many great workout apps that provide workouts and training plans to choose from.

Jefit, Freeletic and Stronglifts 5X5 are three popular options that are great for beginners and those looking to track their weight and progress. Jefit offers a wide variety of workouts and allows you to build your own workout, making it a versatile choice for those looking for flexibility in their training.

Freeletic is a fitness app that is known for its high-intensity interval training (HIIT) workouts, which can be a good option for those looking to lose weight.

Stronglifts 5X5 is a strength training app that follows a specific program of five exercises performed five times a week, making it a great choice for those looking for a structured training plan.

All three of these apps are excellent choices for those interested in weight training and strength training.

Best gym apps

Jefit

Pros

  • Lots of exercises and workouts
  • Connect with nearby users (Live trainer)

Cons

  • Lots of exercises and workouts but no global plan
  • Easy to get lost in the countless options

Jefit is a comprehensive training app with a large selection of exercises and workouts. It also offers the unique feature of connecting with nearby users, which can be a great asset for those looking for a live trainer. However, the vast amount of exercises and workouts may be overwhelming for some users and it can be easy to get lost in the ocean of information. When considering a free weightlifting training program, Jefit is certainly worth considering, but it may be worth exploring other options to find the best fit for your needs and goals.

To learn what JEFIT is all about read our JEFIT workout app critical review here

Best general workout apps

Freeletic

Pros:

  • Beginner friendly
  • Workout programs named after gods

Cons

  • You won't turn into a god following these programs
  • Pretty basic plans

Freeletic is a fitness app that has gained popularity with its Hiit catalestic pop trend. However, its use of random "programs" or high-intensity interval training (HIIT) sessions with seemingly no guidance for progression may only be suitable for long-term use for those looking to lose weight. While the app does offer nutritional coaching, its catchy marketing questionnaire and invented program names may not be sufficient for a comprehensive bodybuilding plan. If you are looking to lose weight with a program closer to crossfit than classic weightlifting in a gym, Freeletic might be for you

For a detailed review of Freeletic click here

Best free weight lifting workout apps

Stronglifts 5X5

If you want to enter the gym and follow a repetitive routine that provides a simple program scheme and utilizes a few exercises to achieve its goals, Stronglift 5X5 is for you. This may be suitable for some people who prefer a straightforward approach to their fitness routine. However, others may prefer a more diverse range of exercises and a more complex program structure.

Pros:

  • Simple
  • Not very long workout
  • Will be effective if you just getting started

Cons:

  • Not Viable long term
  • Only uses linear progression
  • Does not use a full range of reps

Will this program get you a good shape? This article have all the answers

Best workout tracking apps

There are many fitness apps available that can be used to track workouts and progress, but some may not be as effective as others in creating personalized training programs. Fitbod and Bodbot are two examples of apps that have received mixed reviews in this regard. While both apps offer tracking capabilities, their AI-generated programs have been criticized for their lack of effectiveness or safety. Despite these issues, both Fitbod and Bodbot can still be useful tools for tracking workouts and monitoring progress, as long as users are aware of their limitations and use caution when following the generated programs.

Best weight lifting tracker app

Bodbot

Pros

  • Cheap
  • Easy to use
  • Home workouts

Cons

  • Low quality information/demonstration
  • Simple Ai

While Bodbot offers various types of workouts and training programs to follow, there are several issues with the AI-generated programs. The designers of the AI seem to lack an understanding of the basic principles of lifting, which makes the "AI training" virtually worthless. There are numerous errors in exercise selection and rep schemes, and there have been multiple instances of exercises being performed in ways that could cause injury, along with poor explanations. These issues raise concerns about the effectiveness and safety of the programs offered by Bodbot, and it may be best to consider other options when choosing a workout and training program. If you like the interface and design Bodbot can be a good tracker.

Read our expert written review about Bodbot

Best gym log app

Strong

Pros:

  • Easy to use
  • Clean interface

Cons:

  • No guidance
  • Not beginner friendly

Strong is perhaps the best free weight lifting tracker. However, to get the most of your workouts with Strong, you need to know how to lift already. Here’s what Strong can and cannot do for you:

  • Strong will let you design your own programs and keep records of it on your phone. This is simpler than having to bring paper and pen to the gym every day.
  • Strong will not provide any guidance or advice on which routine and exercises to do, the number of repetitions, and how much effort to put in.

So if you are an experienced user and want a reliable tracker on your phone, Strong is a great choice. It has helpful features such as tracking metrics (e.g. total volume), which can be difficult to do manually. However, it won't assist you in understanding those metrics. So if you're new to lifting, it may not be your best option.

Learn more in our full review of Strong.

Best workout tracker app

Fitbod

Pros

  • Clean interface, easy to use
  • Good Tracker

Cons

  • Simple Ai creating so-so programs
  • Marketing heavy that makes you believe you are doing the right thing

Fitbod is a good choice for those looking for a clean and easy-to-use workout routine tracker. Its simple AI may create programs that are just okay, but it is still a good option for beginners. However, it is important to keep in mind that Fitbod's marketing tactics may make you feel like you are doing the right thing, but it is always important to choose the best option for your specific needs and goals.

To learn more about Fitbod's problems, check out our independent review of Fitbod.

Full lists

Top guides to find the best apps for your goals

Comparisons of the best weight lifting apps

Weight lifting apps we've reviewed

  • Dr. Muscle: 23+ smart features get you in shape faster, on autopilot (best overall)
  • Strong: Easy-to-use, simple tracking app (best tracker)
  • Stronglifts 5X5 App made off a trendy workout plan
  • JEFIT 1,300 exercises and thousands of pre-designed programs
  • Freeletics HIIT based exercise app
  • Bodbot Simple Ai workout app
  • Fitbod One of the most popular Ai trainer on the market