By clicking on the product links in this article, we may receive a commission fee at no cost to you, the reader. Sponsorships and affiliate commissions help support our research so we can help you find the best products. Read the full affiliate disclosure here.
Whether you're a beginner or an advanced weightlifter, planning your workout takes time and energy. Some people have no plan, or they mimic basic moves that they see other people doing. If that's you, you're not alone. By using the best weightlifting app, you can already have a plan in place that you're committed to following, eliminating the guesswork so you can focus on getting stronger and healthier.
The Best Weightlifting Apps - Our Top Picks
- Best Weightlifting App Overall: Future
- Best Weightlifting App for Home Workouts: Tempo Move
- Best Free Weightlifting App: JEFIT
- Best Weightlifting App for Beginners: FitBod
- Best Weightlifting App for HIIT: FiiT
- Best Weightlifting App for Bodybuilding: Strong
- Best Weightlifting App for Advanced Weightlifters: Train Fitness
With everything from workouts for beginners to advanced lifts, the best weightlifting apps can help you take your fitness game to the next level. Not to mention, lifting weights is a great way to boost your metabolism by building lean muscle, as well as strengthen your bone density.
In this guide, we'll break down key factors to keep in mind when searching for the best weightlifting app like skill level, equipment, and goals. We’ll also cover our 8 favorite weightlifting apps based on research and experience. Let's take a look.
Why Trust Us?
ACTIVE.com's editorial team relies on the knowledge and experience of fitness and wellness experts including competitive athletes, coaches, physical therapists, nutritionists, and certified trainers. This helps us ensure the products we feature are of the highest standard. Collectively, the team has spent countless hours researching equipment, gear, and recovery tools in order to create the most accurate, authentic content for our readers. Customer satisfaction is also a key part of our review process, which is why we only feature products that are highly rated.
Best Weightlifting App Overall - Future
SPECS
- Platforms: iOS
- Free trial: No
- Payment structure: Monthly or annual subscription
Why We Picked It
If you're looking to get the most out of a weightlifting app, then Future is the program for you. Future pairs you with a real personal trainer based on your preferences and your goals. With Future’s app, you’re in the driver's seat and your coach is a real person who works to hold you accountable to your goals.
Plus, because you will be connected with a real personal trainer, your workouts and goals are customized to you. Your coach will develop a program based on your available equipment, your experience level, and desired goals.
What We Like
- Full-service personal trainer
- Customized workouts based on what equipment you have
- Strong accountability with a real coach
What We Don't Like
- Expensive
- Only available on Iphone
Best Weightlifting App for Home Workouts - Tempo Move
SPECS
- Platforms: iOS
- Free trial: 30-day
- Payment structure: One-time fee for the technology, monthly membership
Why We Picked It
When home workouts are the bulk of your exercise, there are two things to keep in mind: injury prevention and accountability. At home, it can be difficult to know if your form is correct or to stay motivated with no external pressure. That's why a lot of people who work out from home long-term are experienced lifters who can workout solo.
Tempo Move addresses both of those problems with technology, making home workouts very accessible. You do have to pay up front for the equipment, but in turn you receive real-time feedback on your form and intensity for each workout. It also syncs with your apple watch or Bluetooth health monitors to give you a full picture of your progress. Plus, if you're competitive you’ll enjoy Tempo’s leaderboard.
What We Like
- Gives you real-time feedback on your form
- Syncs with apple watches and other heart rate monitors
- Virtual leaderboards so you can compete against other users
What We Don't Like
- Requires a TV with HDMI
- Technology is expensive upfront
Best Free Weightlifting App - JEFIT
SPECS
- Platforms: iOS, Android
- Free trial: No
- Payment structure: Free Version, Monthly or annual subscription option
Why We Picked It
Like most other weightlifting apps on our list, JEFIT has a free and a paid version. What sets JEFIT apart from the others, though, is that it gives you access to a ton of awesome features with your free account. You can access full workouts, in-depth stat tracking, and the community features all without a subscription.
If you do decide to join the paid version of JEFIT, you'll get plans that are personalized to you. But if you don't care as much about personalization and just want access to some pre-planned workouts, give JEFIT's free version a try.
What We Like
- Full workouts and stat tracking available for free
- Connect with friends and share progress
- Personalized workout plans for very low cost
What We Don't Like
- Not for beginners
- You have to navigate to the database to see demos
Best Weightlifting App for Beginners - FitBod
SPECS
- Platforms: iOS, Android
- Free trial: 3 free workouts
- Payment structure: Monthly or annual subscription
Why We Picked It
FitBod is one of the most structured programs on our list, and that's why we think it is the best for you as a beginner. There is a huge library of workouts and plans to follow that vary in intensity and difficulty so you won't get bored.
While you don't get the accountability of a one-on-one coach with FitBod, you’ll be hard pressed to find another app that gives you the variety of content that FitBod does. You can also use this app to keep track of your calories and other basic data to see your progress.
What We Like
- Weightlifting routines plus calorie tracking
- Very easy to use
- Workouts vary so you won't get bored
What We Don't Like
- Some exercises may be too advanced
- You don't have a one-on-one coach to reach out to
Best Weightlifting App for HIIT - FiiT
SPECS
- Platforms: iOS, Android
- Free trial: 14-day
- Payment structure: Multiple monthly and annual subscription options.
Why We Picked It
If you're looking for HIIT-inspired workouts, then FiiT may be an app to consider. Many people may not associate HIIT with weightlifting, but by varying your pacing and incorporating interval training, you can actually improve your strength.
With a FiiT membership, you'll have access to a growing workout library that currently has over 100 workouts. These range in intensity and experience level from beginner to advanced, plus all workouts are instructor-led so you can maintain a healthy rhythm.
What We Like
- 100+ workouts with the membership
- Great for any fitness level
- Workouts are instructor-led
What We Don't Like
- Some workouts require treadmills or assault bikes
- Calories and Kcal burned trackers are not very accurate
Best Weightlifting App for Bodybuilding - Strong
SPECS
- Platforms: iOS, Android
- Free trial: 30-days
- Payment structure: Free version, monthly or annual subscription, lifetime membership option
Why We Picked It
If you're a bodybuilder, we're going to assume that you are either following a program or have enough experience with programs that you can put together the workouts you need. What we landed on for the best weightlifting app for bodybuilding is advanced stat tracking to help you fine-tune your training.
For this, Strong is the best app out there. Strong syncs with apple watch and other Bluetooth health trackers to give you the most in-depth look at how your body is performing. For example, you can store your body measurements but you'll also get a rate of perceived exertion estimate based on specific exercises and loads that you add to your workout. If you want to get organized, Strong is the way to go.
What We Like
- Advanced statistic tracking
- Lifetime subscription available
- Syncs with Apple watch and other devices
What We Don't Like
- No pre-made workouts
- Not beginner friendly
Best Weightlifting App for Advanced Weightlifters - Train Fitness
SPECS
- Platforms: iOS
- Free trial: 7 days
- Payment structure: Monthly or annual membership
Why We Picked It
Train Fitness is a unique app among other weightlifting apps because it automatically tracks your reps through an Apple watch. Currently, the app can track reps for just over 100 exercises, but Train Fitness adds to that library constantly.
The benefit of this app for advanced weightlifters is the feedback. Train gives you real-time feedback on exertion and offers suggestions if it senses that a certain exercise was performed incorrectly or off balance. There is also a big community of users you can bounce ideas off of.
What We Like
- Automatic rep tracking for 100+ exercises with Apple watch
- Real-time feedback on exercises and weak points
- Big community
What We Don't Like
- You can't automatically track custom exercises
- Only compatible with Apple watch currently
What Are Weightlifting Apps?
Weight lifting apps can be downloaded onto your phone and contain guided workouts or programs based on weightlifting. Typically, you’ll find directives for which exercises to perform including the number of sets and reps. Many weightlifting apps also provide you with a workout split, such as three lower body days and two upper body days or days entirely dedicated to one muscle group like shoulders.
You can also find a place to log and track your progress with most weightlifting apps. Because a successful weightlifting program requires you to keep track of your weight and frequency overtime (so you can perform what’s known as progressive overload), a weightlifting app can be a helpful tool for recording progress.
Weightlifting vs. Strength Training
You may be wondering—what’s the difference between weightlifting and strength training? To put it simply, weightlifting is a form of strength training. Strength training is an umbrella term that refers to any activity dedicated to building mass and growing stronger.
How to Choose the Best Weightlifting App
Skill Level
Some weightlifting apps are for the advanced lifter. You've been going to the gym for years and you have your plan so all you need are the tools to help you be successful. Other apps are geared toward beginners who need to start slow with a lot of coaching. There are also apps for every skill level between, so make sure you get an app that you feel comfortable with.
Available Equipment
If you have a commercial gym then you likely have all the equipment you'll need to make the most from a weightlifting app, but if you go to a smaller gym or workout at home then you may want to inventory what you have to help you find the right app for you.
Goals
Most weightlifting apps let you set your goals, but some are better at certain goals than others. Read reviews and do your research to make sure your goals are an app's specialty so that you can maximize your workout time.
FAQs About Weightlifting Apps
Do workout apps actually work?
Apps can't do the work for you. There is no magic formula to getting fit, but what apps can offer is a support system that ranges from a full service personal trainer to progress tracking to help you get there.
Who should try a weightlifting app?
Weightlifting apps are for anyone who wants to use resistance training (weights) to get fit. Beginners and advanced users can find an app that will help them stay organized and on track during their workout.
Can weightlifting apps build muscle?
The best weightlifting apps typically have workouts designed by certified personal trainers, so yes you can build muscle using a weightlifting app. However, building muscle is a long process that also relies on factors like sound nutrition (eating enough food) and making time for quality rest and recovery.
How many times a week should you lift weights?
How many times per week you should lift weights depends on your goals and skill level. If you're a bodybuilder, then you'll likely workout five to six times per week because you're focusing on muscle isolation and don't need as much recovery time. If you're trying to improve your general fitness, you'll probably be okay to start your training at three times per week.
About the Author
Cory is a certified personal trainer and fitness nutrition coach. After spending six years as an educator and coach, Cory joined the ACTIVE team as a staff writer turning his passion for education toward helping ACTIVE readers live their best, healthiest lives.
Get ACTIVE on the Go
Couch to 5K®
The best way to get new runners off the couch and across the finish line of their first 5K.
Available for iOS | AndroidLatest In Fitness
Trending Articles
-
Your Guide to Heart Rate Variability (HRV)
-
My Honest Noom Review After Trying It for 30 Days
-
12 Best Shoes for Plantar Fasciitis to Reduce Pain in 2023
-
OrangeTheory Prices and Review 2023: What You Should Know Before Joining
-
Best Shoes for Standing All Day: No Matter Your Foot Shape or Activity Level, Feel S...
Discuss This Article