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Many of the best workout apps pay particular attention to programming for resistance training and strength training, because of its significance in anyone’s fitness journey. There are many benefits to strength training, more than just the obvious perk of building various muscle groups.

For those looking for less guidance in cardio and more guidance in lifting weights, the team at Garage Gym Reviews has compiled our list for the best weightlifting apps, taken from over 50 fitness apps we’ve tested, and dozens more researched. 

Our team of certified personal trainers, lifting coaches, and lifelong athletes tested each app extensively. We look at fitness apps through a testing methodology encompassing 14 different categories, including:

  • App setup and ease of use
  • The level of instruction in the app
  • Progressive overload
  • Workout variety and equipment demands
  • Any trial period offered
  • Price and overall value 

After looking and rating these aspects of the app—along with customer service and other user reviews—we give each workout app our total GGR score. So, if you’re looking for a program to strengthen and build your muscles, read on for some of our favorites.

The 9 Best Weightlifting Apps  

  • Best Weightlifting App Overall: Future
  • Best Weightlifting App for Beginners: Caliber
  • Best Weightlifting App for Advanced Weightlifters: Boostcamp
  • Best Weightlifting App for Home Gyms: SHRED App
  • Best Weightlifting App for Learning New Exercises: Sweat App
  • Best Weightlifting App for Powerlifters: JuggernautAI
  • Best Weightlifting App for Variety: CENTR
  • Best Free Weightlifting App: Hevy
  • Best Weightlifting App with Minimal Equipment: Alo Moves

Best Weightlifting App Overall: Future

Good for: Lifters wanting the guidance of one-on-one coaching with their strength training

Best Overall

Future

GGR Score: 4.3 starstarstarstarstar

Product Highlights

  • Virtual training from qualified coaches
  • Personal plan designed to help reach your goals
  • Great interface
  • Use our link for 62% off your first month

Pros & Cons

Pros

  • Incredible user interface; very well designed and intuitive
  • Choose your own coach based on your personal preferences and goals
  • Lots of variety in your workouts

Cons

  • No real-time coaching from your trainer
  • $199 per month membership cost

Bottom Line

An online training program that's staffed by real-life humans, and one of our favorite fitness apps.

As a strength athlete myself, one of the most important things I’ve had in my 24-year weightlifting career is a coach. A coach helps guide you through your routine, and as an athlete, takes the stress out of worrying about if your program is working towards your fitness goals or not. Future gives you access to one-on-one coaching from the convenience of your smartphone, with excellent coaching and personalized programming in this online personal trainer.

Screenshots of the Future fitness app

Several members of the Garage Gym Reviews crew have used Future over the years, including GGR founder Coop Mitchell, who’s used it since September of 2020. GGR Head of content Kate Meier, CPT, USAW-L1, CF-L1, has also used the app for over two years now, and loves the expert coaching.

Kate used Future and her coach to help rehabilitate from a serious weightlifting injury that required surgery. She says on the programming and coaching, “My Future coach has been phenomenal. She’s helped me keep on track, programming around my injury with one-arm, core, and lower-body exercises. She keeps workouts creative and varied so I’m never bored either.”

Woman FaceTiming with her online personal trainer

Future connects you with a coach who will create a personalized workout plan based on your fitness needs and goals. You can choose your coach from their database to find one just right for you. Your coach will give you tips and cues based on lifting videos, and will also check-in to keep you motivated and accountable. Kate rates the accountability a 5 out of 5, saying, “The accountability factor and personal touch is the main reason I have continued with Future.”

The biggest downside of Future is the price. Although $199 per month still beats the cost of in-person personal training, it’s still an expensive training app—and there’s no free trial. However, for the level of coaching and guidance you get, for many this can be worth the price. Read more about this app in our in-depth Future app review.

Price$199/month
Free trial periodNo, but you can get 50% off your first month
Equipment requirementsCustomizable to your needs
Available onAndroid and iOS

Best Weightlifting App for Beginners: Caliber

Good for: Beginning lifters wanting customizable workouts with a variety of coaching options

Best for Beginners

Caliber Strength Training

GGR Score: 4.68 starstarstarstarstar

Product Highlights

  • Strength training and nutrition app
  • Personalized, data-driven workout programs
  • Expert habit coaching
  • Free and paid versions
  • Private 1:1 coaching available
  • Weekly lessons, metric tracking, nutrition syncing

Pros & Cons

Pros

  • Scientifically-based training plans
  • Individualized coaching for both fitness and nutrition with paid subscriptions is reported to be very thorough
  • Free version offers a library of curated workout plans
  • Reportedly easy-to-use

Cons

  • Personalized macronutrient goals only available with paid versions

Bottom Line

Caliber Strength Training is a fitness coaching program grounded in scientific principles designed to increase strength and improve body composition. The app offers both group and individual training plans which are written and modified by a certified coach based on progress.

For those new to lifting weights, one the best fitness apps to start with is Caliber. With three different versions available (at three different prices), Caliber focuses on strength training but presents it in ways that will suit various lifters who need different levels of guidance—or who may have different budgets.

After answering a quick assessment, Caliber will offer three versions of the app:

  • A free version that uses an algorithm to customize your own workout
  • A pro version that presents workouts in a group format
  • A premium version that connects you with a one-on-one trainer

The price changes depending on the level of instruction, so the Pro version is $19 per month, while the Premium version can cost over $200 each month. This app provides different levels of coaching, making this a great place for a new lifter to get started.

screenshots of caliber app

GGR tester Amanda Capritto, CPT, CNC, CES, CF-L1, says the level of instruction on the premium version may be worth the cost. “You can send form videos to your coach,” Amanda explains. “There’s a feature in the app that lets you record right from within the app, then your trainer will send feedback ASAP on how to correct if needed.”

Even the free version can be a great place to begin, as Caliber provides a substantial library for each exercise, with in-depth directions and videos on how to perform each movement. Amanda rates the instruction 5 out of 5.

Caliber uses research-backed data to create workouts, which follow progressive overload, a common principle in strength training to ensure progress over time. “My coach gives me goals to hit each week regarding weights and reps to ensure I’m progressively overloading,” Amanda says, rating the programming and progressive overload a 5 out of 5. 

She does wish the app integrated other major fitness trackers like Garmin, instead of just the Apple watch. You can learn more about this strength training program in our Caliber app review.

PriceFree version; $19 per month (Pro); $200+ per month (Premium) 
Free trial periodFree-forever version
Equipment requirementsBodyweight, home gym, or commercial gym options
Available onAndroid and iOS

Best Weightlifting App for Advanced Weightlifters: Boostcamp

Good for: Long-time lifters looking for a streamlined workout tracker to log progress

Best for Advanced Weightlifters

Boostcamp app

Product Highlights

  • Programs designed by world-class coaches
  • Build your own customized programs
  • Multiple training types
  • Can be adapted to work with your equipment

Pros & Cons

Pros

  • Programs developed by elite coaches and athletes
  • Most features are free
  • Offline mode
  • Suggests alternative exercises

Cons

  • App can be confusing to navigate

Bottom Line

Boostcamp offers strength training programs from world-class athletes, and allows you to track your own data as you work toward your goals.

For those gym lovers who have been lifting for years and already have a routine, there’s Boostcamp, a deceivingly simple workout tracker and workout program library with a lot of deep features. This app allows weightlifters to input daily workouts by their sets and reps, which the app will then calculate total training volume over time and show you how often and hard you’ve trained certain muscle groups.

RELATED: Equipment for Olympic Weightlifting

In addition to tracking workouts, you can try a weightlifting or bodyweight program designed by the likes of Mark Rippetoe, Layne Norton, and Arnold Schwarzenegger. You can also create and save your common workout templates as routines in order to save time logging workouts in the future.

Fitness coach and GGR writer Matt Dustin agrees it’s largely for more advanced trainees. “Most exercises have video demos, but it’s not like someone is leading each workout,” he says. “Most of the good pre-made programs have detailed instructions up front, but when you do the actual workout, you’re setting each exercise with the recommended sets, reps, and RPE, so you can do it on your own.”

One beginner-friendly feature is the ability to swap exercises if you don’t have the proper equipment, or perhaps you haven’t mastered a particular move.

Another reason we recommend Boostcamp to more advanced weightlifters is that there’s virtually no community or accountability aspect. “You can see other community members and invite your friends to do the same program with you, but by default, it’s not really meant for accountability and/or coaching,” Matt says.

Best part? The app is mostly free, though there’s a Pro plan available if you’re looking for more advanced analytics.

PriceFree version; Pro subscription $15/month or $80/year
Free trial period Free version is always free
Equipment requirementsDepends on the workout class you pick
Available onAndroid and iOS

Best Weightlifting App for Home Gyms: SHRED App

Good for: Home gym users wanting a weightlifting training program to build strength

Best for Home Gyms

Shred App

Product Highlights

  • AI-powered fitness trainer
  • Suitable for home and commercial gyms
  • Able to integrate AppleHealth for easy data tracking
  • Available on iPhone and Android

Pros & Cons

Pros

  • Customized based on your fitness history and goals
  • Connects to AppleHealth
  • Can sync your playlist with workout classes
  • Military, first responder, and teacher discounts
  • Good for home and commercial gyms

Cons

  • Glitchy

Bottom Line

The Shred app is an AI-powered virtual trainer that can be used to customize workouts in your home or commercial gym.

If you’re looking for a good workout program to use with your home gym equipment, SHRED is an excellent choice. The app customizes the daily and on-demand workouts based on what type of equipment you have, with options for dumbbells, kettlebells, or resistance bands. The app can also create a bodyweight workout if you’re still in the process of building out your home gym.

Certified personal trainer and GGR performance editor Anthony O’Reilly rates the equipment demands a 5 out of 5 due to the app’s variety. “Each program will let you know what type of equipment you need,” he says. “This way, you don’t accidentally pick a class that doesn’t fit with the type of equipment you have.” You can find options for TRX, cardio, and more.

Before picking your program, make sure you grant the app access to your smartphone’s camera so it can track and rate your performance (using an AI algorithm). The program will be customized based on how well you do.

Anthony adds that while strength training is a major focus of the app, there are many yoga and mobility classes also available. He says the instructors do a good job of explaining each movement as they’re going through it and provide alternatives for people who might not be advanced enough for certain movements. He rated the instruction a 5 out of 5.

Price$9.99 per month when paid annually
Free trial period7 days
Equipment requirementsDependent on the program; mostly dumbbells, kettlebells, bodyweight, and bands
Available onAndroid and iOS

Best Weightlifting App for Learning New Exercises: Sweat App

Good for: Those wanting a lifting app with an expansive library of instructional videos

Best for New Exercises

Sweat

Product Highlights

  • Fitness platform designed by and intended for women
  • Over 18 programs to choose from
  • Every program comes with a detailed description, comprehensive video, and text instructions for every movement
  • Programs range in length but generally last at least several weeks with 3 to 5 workouts per week
  • Nutritional component on the app to develop a diet plan with access to recipes

Pros & Cons

Pros

  • Swap out moves you don’t like
  • Integration of Spotify and Apple Music
  • Can modify program by adding other workouts
  • Great variety
  • Progressive programs
  • Users appreciate the community feel

Cons

  • On the pricier side for an app
  • Some users find different programs repetitive

Bottom Line

For any women seeking a fitness platform with progressive programming and a great deal of variety, Sweat is a comprehensive fitness app complete with a range of programs, nutritional components, and a strong community feel.

While the Sweat app is primarily designed for women, it can be used by anyone who’s new to working out and might be unfamiliar with certain exercises that utilize free weights, cable machines, bodyweight, and more. Erin Chancer, GGR editor and a certified nutrition coach, rated the instruction a 4 out of 5, with one of her only complaints being that the Australian trainer sometimes calls certain moves by different names than what Americans are used to.

“Each movement has an accompanying gif and an instructional breakdown of the exercise that you can click on before or during the workout,” Erin says. “You’ll get verbal prompts for the time or reps for each exercise and ding when you’re moving on to the next movement. The majority of the workouts I completed were tri-set or circuit-based, so this was especially helpful.”

You can pick from a wide selection of classes based on your fitness goals or available equipment. Some programs, Erin adds, allow you to pick the exercise. “I had to do 35 minutes of cardio and was just given a timer,” she says. “I chose to ride my stationary bike during that time.”

We would’ve liked to see more emphasis on progressive overload and tips on how trainees can get stronger on certain movements. “I don’t see any mention of starting weight or what to aim for in terms of progression,” Erin says. “You’re more-or-less on your own. There are blogs in the app with training advice but you’d have to dig around or intuitively search for that kind of guidance if you’re a beginner.”

Price$24.99/month or $134.99/year
Free trial period7 days
Equipment requirementsBodyweight, home gym, or commercial gym options
Available onAndroid and iOS

Best Weightlifting App for Powerlifters: JuggernautAI

Good for: Lifters wanting a robust strength training program for squat, bench, and deadlifts

Best for Powerlifters

JuggernautAI

GGR Score: 4 starstarstarstarstar

Product Highlights

  • Use code "GARAGEGYM" for a discount on JuggernautAI training.
  • Smart powerlifting and powerbuilding program from Chad Wesley Smith, an accomplished strength athlete and owner of Juggernaut Training Systems.
  • Uses information such as your weight, training history, current fitness level and training load, personal records, goals, and ideal training schedule to create strength and hypertrophy blocks to prepare you for powerlifting or bodybuilding meets.

Pros & Cons

Pros

  • Extremely intuitive app experience
  • Super smart and responsive AI
  • Offers a two-week free trial to see if you like it

Cons

  • Not the same as working with a real coach
  • Dashboard is a little confusing at first
  • Only for strength training (no cardio workouts)

Bottom Line

JuggernautAI compiles your information to create a personalized powerlifting and powerbuilding workout experience.

JuggernautAI is our pick for the best weightlifting app for powerlifting. Created by accomplished powerlifter and coach Chad Wesley Smith, this app uses an algorithm to create a personalized program for you and your strength goals. 

After an in-depth assessment, the app will create a training program based on your answers—weight, training load, personal records, training schedule, and fitness goals. The app will make adjustments on a short-term basis as well, since it asks about your current level of soreness and fatigue prior to each workout.

Screenshots of the JuggernautAI app showing various parts of the workout and profile dashboards

While the app focuses on powerlifting and powerbuilding, it will also build strength in other areas as well. Our tester Amanda Capritto, CPT, CNC, CES, CF-L1, has used JuggernautAI on and off for the past year to supplement her triathlon training, and has felt a significant increase in her work capacity. She adds, “The JuggernautAI training has also paid off in my triathlon training, as I’ve improved in all three disciplines: swimming, biking, and running.”

Amanda did struggle a little bit with the interface at first, saying, “The dashboard can feel overwhelming at first, especially right after setting up the app. There’s a lot of features to look at all at once. But after poking around for a bit and getting familiar with the interface, it’s super easy to use.” She rates the app’s ease of use a 4.5 out of 5.

You can check out our JuggernautAI review for a more in-depth look at the app and its features.

Price$35 per month
Free trial period14 days
Equipment requirementsSquat rack, barbell, and weight plates, along with other free weights
Available onAndroid and iOS

Best Weightlifting App for Variety: CENTR

Good for: Those who wish to change up their training style

Centr Fitness App

Product Highlights

  • Fitness, nutrition, and mental health app
  • Vast library of workouts and programs
  • Healthy recipe database
  • Track both workouts and recipes
  • Meditations guided by Chris Hemsworth

Pros & Cons

Pros

  • Affordable monthly price
  • More than just workouts
  • Ultra thorough instruction using text and photos
  • Private Facebook community
  • Easy-to-use app

Cons

  • No interactive coaching
  • No suited for beginners

Bottom Line

CENTR Fitness app is everything you need in one place: workout library, nutritious recipes, and mental health resources. The app is also easy-to-use well organized so you can keep track of your workouts and recipes. It’s also pretty affordable with all three billing options under $30 per month. You can pay monthly, quarterly, or annually.

CENTR is one of the most well-rounded personal training apps we’ve tried. You’ll get a wide selection of strength training classes, yoga exercises, daily meditations, and meal plan suggestions and recipes written by professional chefs. You’ll also get a logbook to track your progress.

What’s more, the app allows you to select workouts based on your available equipment. You can also pick from bodyweight, home gym, or commercial programs.

A woman in a gym holds her phone up to show the Centr app

The CENTR app was designed by Marvel actor Chris Hemsworth, aka Thor, and his personal trainer, Luke Zocchi. Although the duo certainly make the workouts challenging, we were impressed at how holistic the training seemed. As expert product tester Brittany Combs notes in her CENTR review, trainees can pick beginner, intermediate, or advanced programs that get progressively harder.

Certified personal trainer and GGR performance editor Anthony O’Reilly says the app contains some of his favorite recipes, such as maple walnut overnight oats and blueberry and almond breakfast muffins. “I’ll turn to the CENTR app whenever I’m in a meal prep funk and need new ideas,” he says.

In terms of accountability, there’s not much. We rated this category a 4 out of 5 because certain programs come with push notifications, though that’s not the case for the daily workouts. There’s also no leaderboards or community aspect, which might not be a problem for some people but if you need an extra hit of motivation this might not be the app for you.

Price$29.99 monthly, $59.99 for 3 months, or $89.99 yearly
Free trial period7 days
Equipment requirementsBodyweight, home gym, and commercial gym options
Available onAndroid and iOS

Best Free Weightlifting App: Hevy

Good for: Lifters wanting a free workout tracker with an expansive social community

Best Free Weightlifting App

Hevy

GGR Score: 3.9 starstarstarstarstar

Product Highlights

  • Free workout tracker that allows users to build routines and track progress
  • Pro version available
  • Monitors progress with exercise charts, personal records, calculated one-rep maxes, and a complete exercise history
  • Create notes for exercises to track weight, level of fatigue, or whatever you find relevant
  • Ability to connect with other users
  • Access to a library of form videos

Pros & Cons

Pros

  • Intuitive interface
  • Free
  • A lot of customization
  • Reportedly good graphics to track progress
  • Big social aspect and community

Cons

  • Not much information available about the Pro version
  • Reports that the free version is limited

Bottom Line

If you are on the hunt for a free workout tracker, Hevy enables users to create routines, monitor progress with exercise charts and personal records, make exercise-specific notes, and connect with other users.

Hevy is our choice for the best free weightlifting app, as it provides basic workout tracking with simple features, but also an expansive community in the app as well. You can post and share workouts, as well as like and comment on other users’ workouts. Furthermore, the free workout app contains an expansive exercise library with videos and directions on each movement.

For those looking for a bit of guidance or inspiration for their daily workouts, Hevy provides some basic workout routines, such as a five-sets-by-five-reps of squats or bench press. You can also search through the community-created workouts for inspiration for your next lifting workout. 

The app also features a heat map, which charts the most used muscle groups in each workout to help you make educated choices on what muscle groups to work each day. Additionally, Hevy provides basic metric tracking, although most measurements are only unlocked in the Pro version of the app.

Screenshots of the Hevy app

As far as interactive features go, I rate them a 4.5 out of 5, due to the robust social media experience, as well as notifications for new personal records and little celebrations. One of my squat workouts said I lifted the equivalent of a car. If that can’t keep someone motivated, I’m not sure what will.

This isn’t the best app for accountability, as there are no coaches in the app, and no notifications about staying on routine—only notifications about the social network. Still, for the amount of community interaction available, plus an extensive library of exercises, Hevy is a solid choice for a lifting app.

Price$2.99/month, $23.99/year, or $74.99 for lifetime access
Free trial periodFree version
Equipment requirementsDependent on your equipment available
Available onAndroid and iOS

Best Weightlifting App with Minimal Equipment: Alo Moves

Good for: Anyone wanting to build strength with little to no gym equipment

Best with Minimal Equipment

Alo Moves

GGR Score: 3.7 starstarstarstarstar

Product Highlights

  • Fitness platform broken into 5 categories: Yoga, mindfulness (meditation and relaxation), skills (specific skills training such as backbends or yoga poses), wellness (sleep, self-care, cycle synching, nutrition, personal growth) and a variety of fitness activities (strength, Barre, core, Pilates, HIIT, Sculpt, stretching, walking, gym, dance, running)
  • Thousands of workout options that provide a studio-like experience and are led by certified instructors
  • Search for workouts filtering by duration, instructor, style, difficulty level, and intensity

Pros & Cons

Pros

  • 30-day free trial
  • Large library of workouts
  • Minimal equipment required
  • Filtering search option works well

Cons

  • No free version
  • May not be a good choice for experienced athletes looking to gain strength

Bottom Line

Alo Moves houses thousands of studio-quality workouts across a variety of health and fitness areas that may be a good option for those who have minimal equipment. There is not a free version so users do have to pay for the app and streaming service.

For those lacking in equipment and free weights, you may consider Alo Moves for your programming needs. GGR editor Frieda Johnson tested out this app, and gave the equipment demands a 5 out of 5, stating, “The majority of the workouts are bodyweight only, or use minimal equipment such as a kettlebell or pair of dumbbells and a resistance band.”

After a quick assessment about skill levels and interests, the app provides customized class recommendations for workouts. “The workouts are easy to follow and the instructors do a good job of explaining what you’ll need before you start, as well as explaining each move thoroughly as you do it,” Frieda says of the app experience, rating the instruction a 4 out of 5.

alo-moves-home-screen

Frieda rates the ease of use of the app a 4 out of 5, saying, “The app is mostly easy to use, but it is sometimes hard to find things and all of the workout descriptions make it sound like they are part of a series even when they’re not.”

This may be a better app for a beginning lifter with minimal equipment, as Frieda notes the programs don’t quite follow the concept of progressive overload, rating it a 2 out of 5. She explains, “They are fine as a place to start, but this app is definitely focused on stand-alone workouts, not full training programs.”

RELATED: Best Workout Apps for Beginners

The app also lacks a bit in accountability, as the only method is through push notifications, and Frieda didn’t receive any during her time with the app. However, for those traveling or with minimal equipment available, this is a solid app to get resistance training with bodyweight movements and minimal fitness equipment.

Price$12.99/month
Free trial period14 days
Equipment requirementsBodyweight, kettlebells, dumbbells, resistance bands
Available onAndroid and iOS

Other Weightlifting Apps We Tested and Researched

Not every weightlifting app made our list. Here are a few other apps that are worth noting, but still didn’t make our top picks.

  • Street Parking: Although we actually like this app, it’s not one of our top picks mostly due to pricing. It’s a bit pricey for what you get and doesn’t offer a free trial. We have more details in our Street Parking review.
  • Fitbod: This fitness app tracks workouts and also creates customized workouts based on your fitness experience and equipment you have available to you. However, the algorithm guesses at weights for you initially, which might be great for a beginner, but as an experienced strength athlete I had weights wildly off to the point that I didn’t quite know whether sets were warm-ups or working sets and reps.
  • CENTR: Created by the actor Chris Hemsworth—who famously plays Thor in the Marvel movies—this app has programs, workout routines, meal plans, and meditation sessions led by experts in the field. Still, there are no real interactive features to help you stay motivated, aside from being a Chris Hemsworth fan I guess. Find out more in our Centr review.
  • Train Hard app: While this strength program and app from Jason Khalipa has weight training elements, this app is focused more on HIIT and functional fitness common in CrossFit.
  • MAPS Anabolic: This program follows the simple training methodologies of periodization and progressive overload, along with an extensive library of movements. However, there’s no interactive features to help you stay motivated. Read more in our MAPS Anabolic review.

Our Experts Who Contributed

How We Picked and Tested the Best Weightlifting Apps

Out of the over 50 training programs and fitness apps we tested, we selected apps for this list specifically for lifting weights and resistance training. With those apps, we tested each one across 14 different categories. 

Here are some of the important aspects of a weightlifting app that we looked at, along with customer service and other users’ reviews:

  • Ease of use: Workout tracking for any weightlifting routine should be easy and intuitive on an app.
  • Accountability: What interactive features or reminders does the app set forth to keep you on schedule with your training plan?
  • Instruction: The level of instruction can change from app to app, from just having a brief description of exercises in a weightlifting workout, all the way to having a real-time online personal trainer to help customize your routine and give you coaching cues.
  • Equipment demands: When thinking about weight training, most people think about needing all the free weight equipment possible: barbells, weight plates, dumbbells, and more. However, resistance bands can provide a good amount of resistance. The amount of equipment needed will vary depending on the app’s purpose as well.
  • Programming principles: Apps designed for strength training should follow basic programming principles, like progressive overload or periodization.
  • Value: The cost of a fitness app varies a lot depending on its features. Some basic workout trackers are free, while others will cost a subscription fee in exchange for a personalized workout plan, or a one-on-one coach. Make sure the value of the app makes sense for you and your fitness goals.

Benefits of Weightlifting Apps

Weightlifting apps are geared towards strong lifts and helping lifters achieve new one-rep maxes. No matter your level of experience, workout programs on weightlifting apps can take your strength training to the next level in more ways than one. Let’s look at some of the benefits of weightlifting apps.

Man using the REP Hades Deadlift Bar

Inexpensive

The best lifting apps are relatively inexpensive when compared to the alternative. While nothing will quite replace a gym workout with a personal trainer or coach, weight training apps can get close, while coming in much less expensive than the cost of a personal training session.

RELATED: Home Gym vs Gym Membership

A month of weekly personal training sessions can cost about a few hundred dollars, depending on your trainer’s rates. The higher end of workout and lifting apps comes in at about $200 per month, meaning most apps will be cheaper than an in-person trainer. For those looking to save, a fitness app can provide just that.

Convenient

Weightlifting apps are also convenient, as they allow you to perform workouts wherever, whether that’s at a commercial gym, your own home gym, or even while traveling. If you’re training at home, that can save you time on any commutes to the gym you may otherwise have had.

Coop doing dumbbell curls in a home gym

Expert Instruction

The level of instruction and programming will vary from app to app, but the best weightlifting apps will have experts behind it. Some apps offer direct contact with a certified personal trainer or professional, while others may use a template from an algorithm (still created by experts). With this level of expertise behind these apps, you can feel sure of the progress you’ll make from your own workouts.

RELATED: Best Personal Training Certifications

man looking at future training app on phone

Online Support

Although training in your own home gym can be rewarding, there are times when training by yourself isn’t as motivating as having a training partner. Many lifting apps provide an online social community of support to help you stay motivated. Other apps will also notify you on new personal records throughout your training, keeping you feeling motivated and inspired for the next workout.

What to Look for in the Best Weightlifting Apps

Looking for a strength training app to fit your needs? Here are some things to consider before subscribing to an app.

Progressive Overload

Most lifting apps offer extended programs, which will follow basic programming principles like progressive overload and periodization. Basically, training routines should progressively increase the load for a number of weeks, before dropping the load and letting the body recover for the next training cycle. If you’re looking for a home workout plan that’ll help build muscle, make sure your program is following these basic principles.

caine doing back squat

Level of Instruction

Depending on your needs, you may not need the presence of an online coach in your app. For this reason, many of the best workout apps vary on the level of coaching or instruction you get. The bare minimum should be a library of exercises to let you know how to perform movements in your own workout. Others can have as much guidance as pre-recorded workout videos with coaching cues, or a one-on-one coach who will program and give you technique tips.

RELATED: Bodybuilding workouts

Equipment Demands

No matter your fitness journey, if you’re planning on weight training, then the bare minimum demands for equipment will be weights. The kind of weights can vary though—free weights, Olympic barbells, kettlebells, dumbbells, slam balls, and even resistance bands. Make sure that the strength app you’re looking at can provide you with workouts suitable for the equipment you have available.

RELATED: Dumbbell to Barbell Converter Tool

resistance band squat

Cost

Although weightlifting apps can save you money from a gym membership or personal training costs, they can still vary in price. Typically, the more input you have from an online coach, the more the app can cost. Group classes and videos can vary in price depending on the level of instruction, and then there are free apps that allow you to log workouts or follow basic workout plans. Make sure the app you choose fits within your budget.

Best Weightlifting App: FAQs

What is the best completely free weight lifting app?

Many workout apps are displayed in their app store as free with in-app purchases, but the in-app purchases are actually subscriptions to the app’s features. Still, several workout and lifting apps provide free-forever versions of the app, with the option to upgrade for more features or tools.

Here’s a list of our top picks for the best free workout apps, several of which have weight lifting programs:

Best Free Workout App Overall: Caliber
Best Free Workout App for Variety: Nike Training Club
Best Free Workout App for Runners: Map My Fitness
Best Free Workout App for Gym-Goers: Jefit
Best Free Workout App for Guided Workouts: ClassPass
Best Free Workout App for CrossFit: SmartWOD
Best Free Workout App for Cyclists: Strava
Best Free Workout App for Beginners: FitOn
Best Free Workout App for Community: Hevy
Best Free Outdoor Workout App: AllTrails

What is the best app for weight lifting?

The best app for lifting weights will depend on your fitness level and goals, along with any specific mode of strength training you wish to pursue. Here are our picks for the best weightlifting apps:

Best Weightlifting App Overall: Future
Best Weightlifting App for Beginners: Caliber
Best Weightlifting App for Advanced Weightlifters: Boostcamp
Best Weightlifting App for Home Gyms: SHRED App
Best Weightlifting App for Learning New Exercises: Sweat App
Best Weightlifting App for Powerlifters: JuggernautAI
Best Weightlifting App for Variety: CENTR
Best Free Weightlifting App: Hevy
Best Weightlifting App with Minimal Equipment: Alo Moves

Is Jefit free or paid?

Jefit is a free app with the option to upgrade to the Elite plan, costing $12.99 per month or $69.99 for a year. With the free version, users get access to over 1,400 exercises in a library, as well as basic measurement tracking for metrics and workout logging. The Elite plan adds premium workout plans and advanced tracking tools—all with no ads.

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