Weight lifting apps split into two jobs: telling you what to lift, and recording what you actually lifted. Beginners usually need more of the first, a programme that removes the guesswork. Intermediates usually need more of the second, a log detailed enough to show whether the last three months actually moved the needle. Here are 8 apps that cover barbell and dumbbell training from a first session to a proper programme, including Fitcoin for logging, heart rate, runs, cycles and rewards rather than named programming.
One honest note before the list: no single app does programming, logging and rewards equally well. Fitcoin is our product. It does log sets, reps and weight, shows workout heart rate, and starts GPS runs and cycles, then rewards consistency with FitScore. It does not hand you a beginner 5x5 plan or auto-write tomorrow's session. Keep that distinction in mind as you read.
The 8 best weight lifting apps at a glance
- StrongLifts 5x5, best true beginner programme
- Boostcamp, best for choosing between named programmes
- Hevy, best free logger once you want your own routine
- Strong, best for a fast, minimal logging habit
- Alpha Progression, best for auto-managed overload
- JEFIT, best exercise library for learning form
- Fitbod, best for building sessions around your equipment
- Fitcoin, best for logging plus runs, cycles and rewards
The beginner's path through these apps
If you have never lifted before, the honest advice is to start with something that removes decisions rather than adds them. StrongLifts 5x5 or a beginner plan inside Boostcamp tells you exactly what to do: which lifts, how many sets, how much weight to add and when. You are not designing a programme in week one, you are following one and building the habit of turning up.
Once that habit is solid, usually after a few months, most lifters move towards apps like Hevy or Strong that log a custom routine rather than a fixed beginner plan, or towards something like Alpha Progression that keeps making the programming decisions for you as you get stronger. If the gym itself is still intimidating at this stage, our guide to going to the gym for the first time covers what to expect before your first session.
1. StrongLifts 5x5: best true beginner programme
StrongLifts 5x5 is built entirely around one classic beginner programme: squat, bench, row, overhead press and deadlift, five sets of five, with linear weight progression session to session. The app tells you exactly what to lift next based on your last session, which is precisely what a total beginner needs instead of a blank logging screen.
Best for: complete beginners who want zero decisions between walking into the gym and knowing what to lift.
Potential catch: it is one specific programme, so it becomes less relevant once you outgrow a pure linear progression.
2. Boostcamp: best for choosing between named programmes
Boostcamp gives you a menu of established programmes rather than committing you to just one, covering beginner linear progression through to more advanced templates like 5/3/1 variations and GZCLP. That makes it a good fit whether you are picking your first programme or your fourth.
Best for: lifters who want a proven programme with logging built in, without designing one from scratch.
Potential catch: most useful if you are following one of its included programmes rather than an entirely custom split.
3. Hevy: best free logger for a custom routine
Once you know your own routine, Hevy is one of the best free tools for logging it properly: unlimited routines, a large exercise library, automatic PR tracking, plate calculator and volume graphs, all on a genuinely usable free tier. It also has a social feed if you want to follow training partners.
Best for: intermediate lifters running their own programme who want detailed logging without an immediate paywall.
Potential catch: the deepest analytics are typically behind Hevy Pro; check current pricing.
4. Strong: best for a fast, minimal logging habit
Strong strips logging down to the fewest taps possible, with a plate calculator and rest timer built in. It has been a favourite among consistent lifters for years precisely because it stays out of the way between sets.
Best for: lifters who value speed and simplicity above deep analytics.
Potential catch: cloud sync and multi-device history are typically behind Strong Pro.
5. Alpha Progression: best for auto-managed overload
Alpha Progression logs your sets and then decides your next targets for you, adjusting weight and volume based on how your last session actually went. It suits lifters who want structured progression without manually deciding when to add weight.
Best for: intermediates who want the app to actively manage progressive overload.
Potential catch: advanced lifters with strong programming preferences may prefer more manual control.
6. JEFIT: best exercise library for learning form
JEFIT's exercise database is one of the largest around, with instructional guidance for a wide range of barbell, dumbbell and machine movements, alongside community-built workout plans. That makes it useful early on when you are still learning exercises, not just logging them.
Best for: lifters who want a big library of exercises and ready-made community plans.
Potential catch: the full plan catalogue is typically behind JEFIT Elite; check current pricing.
7. Fitbod: best for building sessions around your equipment
Fitbod builds your workout for you based on the equipment you have access to, your training history and muscle recovery, which is useful if you travel between gyms or train at home with a limited rack. It typically runs on a free trial before moving to a subscription.
Best for: intermediates who want the session designed for them rather than choosing every exercise.
Potential catch: full use generally requires a paid subscription after the trial; check current pricing.
8. Fitcoin: best for logging plus runs, cycles and rewards
Fitcoin is our product. It does not prescribe a StrongLifts-style programme, but it does log your sets: exercise, reps, weight, set type, RPE, rest timers, saved routines, muscle map and personal-record comparisons on strength-style workouts. Workout screens also show heart rate from Apple Health or Google Health Connect (average, max, zones, post-workout recovery). You can start GPS runs and cycles in Fitcoin, or sync sessions from other lifting apps, then combine steps and workouts into a daily FitScore that unlocks brand discounts and free items.
Best for: lifters who already know their programme and want logging, cardio sessions and rewards in one app.
Potential catch: not a substitute for named programming apps if you still need the plan written for you.
Quick comparison
| App | Best level | Programming built in? | Rewards effort? | Platform |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| StrongLifts 5x5 | Beginner | Yes, one fixed programme | No | iOS & Android |
| Boostcamp | Beginner to intermediate | Yes, choice of programmes | No | iOS & Android |
| Hevy | Intermediate | No, custom routines | No | iOS & Android |
| Strong | Intermediate | No, custom routines | No | iOS & Android |
| Alpha Progression | Beginner to intermediate | Yes, auto-adjusted | No | iOS & Android |
| JEFIT | Beginner to intermediate | Community plans | No | iOS & Android |
| Fitbod | Intermediate | Yes, equipment-based | No | iOS & Android |
| Fitcoin | Any level | No (logs sets; no named programme) | Yes, brand discounts & free items | iOS & Android |
Free tiers, trial lengths and subscription pricing for third-party apps change. Treat these as directional descriptions checked against public app listings in 2026, not a guaranteed quote.
Where Fitcoin fits next to a programming app
To be direct about it: Fitcoin rewards the fact that you trained, and it also logs what you lifted when you want that in-app. It does not write your beginner programme. Connect Apple Health or Google Health Connect for heart rate and synced sessions, log sets on strength workouts, start GPS runs or cycles when you leave the racks, and turn steps plus sessions into a daily FitScore. Sleep, Recovery and Energy tracking unlock challenges, clubs, Leagues and marketplace rewards.
You can run StrongLifts, Boostcamp, Hevy, Strong, Alpha Progression, JEFIT or Fitbod for programming or a deeper library, and still use Fitcoin for logging, cardio and rewards, or use Fitcoin on its own once you know your lifts. For the wider rewards angle, see apps that reward you for working out and ways to get paid to go to the gym.
Frequently asked questions
What is the best weight lifting app for beginners?
StrongLifts 5x5 is one of the simplest starting points because it prescribes exactly what to lift, in what order, with built-in progression, so a beginner is not left guessing. Boostcamp offers a similar entry point with a wider choice of beginner programmes. Hevy and Strong are better once you want to log a custom routine rather than follow a fixed beginner plan.
Do I need a weight lifting app if I already have a programme on paper?
Not strictly, but an app makes it far easier to track whether your weights are actually increasing over months, which is the entire point of progressive overload. A notebook works, but it will not automatically graph your bench press over six months or calculate plates for you.
Which weight lifting apps are free?
Hevy, Strong, JEFIT, StrongLifts 5x5 and FitNotes all have usable free tiers, typically with some limits on saved routines, history length or advanced analytics that lift on a paid plan. Fitbod and Caliber typically use a free trial before moving to a subscription because they build a personalised programme for you. Always check current App Store or Play Store pricing, since free tiers change.
Can Fitcoin replace a weight lifting app?
Not as a full replacement for a programme app. Fitcoin is our product: it logs sets, reps and weight, shows workout heart rate, and includes GPS runs and cycles, then turns steps and sessions into a FitScore with Sleep, Recovery and Energy tracking and rewards. It does not prescribe StrongLifts-style named programmes or auto-manage next-session targets the way Boostcamp, Alpha Progression or Fitbod do. Use Fitcoin alone if you already know your lifts, or pair it with a programming app if you want the plan written for you.
What is the best weight training app for intermediate lifters?
Alpha Progression and Boostcamp both suit intermediates who want structured programming with built-in progression logic. Hevy and JEFIT suit intermediates who prefer to run their own programme with strong logging and analytics. Fitbod suits intermediates who want the app to build sessions around available equipment and recovery.
Method and sources: Written August 9, 2026 and corrected the same day against Fitcoin's shipping product (set logging, workout heart rate, GPS runs and cycles, FitScore, Sleep, Recovery, Energy, challenges, clubs and Leagues). Third-party details from public app store listings, product help pages and marketing pages for StrongLifts 5x5, Boostcamp, Hevy, Strong, Alpha Progression, JEFIT and Fitbod. Free tiers, trial lengths and subscription pricing for third-party apps change regularly, so re-check current App Store or Play Store listings before relying on any specific figure. Fitcoin inclusion is ownership-disclosed.
Related reading: best apps to track gym progress, best workout tracker apps, going to the gym for the first time, what is FitScore, apps that reward you for working out.
About the author: Harris Khan is the co-founder of Fitcoin. He studied at Loughborough University and has more than 15 years of personal experience across strength training, bodybuilding, Muay Thai and general fitness.