Comparison · updated July 5, 2026
The best 5x5 apps in 2026
Five ways to run a StrongLifts-style 5x5 program, compared honestly: what each costs, what the free tiers actually include, and who each one suits.
Full disclosure: we build Lift5x5, one of the apps in this comparison. To keep this useful anyway, every claim about a competitor is verifiable (prices are from their store listings, dated above), we list what each app does better than ours, and the verdicts point different lifters to different apps — including away from us.
At a glance
| Lift5x5 | StrongLifts | Hevy | Strong | Sheet | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 5x5 auto-progression | ✓ Free | ✓ Paid | Manual | Manual | Built into sheet |
| Automatic deloads | ✓ Free | ✓ Paid | — | — | Rules printed |
| Plate calculator | ✓ Free | Paid | — | — | — |
| Rest timer | ✓ Free | Paid | ✓ | ✓ | — |
| Workout history + export | ✓ Free | Paid | ✓ / Pro | ✓ | It is the sheet |
| Madcow / intermediate path | Pro | ✓ Paid | Manual | Manual | Separate sheet |
| Apple Watch app | — | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | — |
| Exercise videos | — | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | — |
| Import from StrongLifts | ✓ Free | n/a | — | — | — |
"Paid" = requires the app's subscription or one-time purchase. Verified July 5, 2026; store pricing changes — check the listings before deciding.
1. Lift5x5
Free · optional Pro subscription or lifetimePurpose-built 5x5 automation, free where it counts
Where it shines
- The whole 5x5 engine is free: automatic progression, deloads after repeated fails, warmup sets, plate calculator, rest timer, full history and CSV export
- Knows the program — it decides your next weights so you never do gym math mid-session
- Imports your complete StrongLifts history from a CSV in one step
- Pro adds a coach layer: progress forecasts, plateau warnings, per-lift custom progression (increments, deload rules, sets×reps), Madcow 5x5, and anonymous leaderboards
Where it falls short
- No Apple Watch app yet
- No exercise video library — it links out to written form guides
- Only runs 5x5-family programs; it is not a general workout logger
Verdict: Best if you want to run 5x5 or Madcow and have the thinking done for you — without paying for the basics.
Get Lift5x5 free →2. StrongLifts (official)
$4.99/wk · $11.99/mo · $59.99/yr · $199.99 lifetime (US App Store, July 2026)The original brand, now subscription-required
Where it shines
- The most polished brand in the niche, with nearly two decades of history
- Excellent Apple Watch app — log entire workouts from your wrist
- Video and text form instruction for 100+ exercises
- Flexible scheduling (2–6 workouts per week) and a custom program builder on Pro
Where it falls short
- No permanent free tier: after the 7-day trial the whole app requires a subscription
- No blog-style education or data on the open web anymore; most guidance lives inside the app
- Users report logged workout history is inaccessible without an active subscription — including lifters who bought the old lifetime unlock
Verdict: Best if you live on your Apple Watch and want the biggest brand, and the subscription cost doesn’t bother you.
3. Hevy
Free tier with limits · Pro subscriptionExcellent general logger you configure yourself
Where it shines
- Beautiful, fast general-purpose workout tracker with a big exercise library
- Social feed — follow friends and see their sessions
- Handles any program, not just 5x5
Where it falls short
- You have to build 5x5 as routines yourself and change the weights manually
- No automatic progression or deload logic — the program lives in your head, the app just records it
- Free tier caps how many routines you can save
Verdict: Best if you want one logger for everything and don’t mind managing 5x5 progression manually.
4. Strong
Free tier with limits · Pro subscriptionThe veteran general logger
Where it shines
- Mature, reliable tracker with years of refinement
- Great data export and history views
- Apple Watch support
Where it falls short
- Same 5x5 limitation as Hevy: no program intelligence, you manage weights and deloads yourself
- Free tier limits saved routines
- Development pace has slowed compared to newer apps
Verdict: Best if you already use Strong for other training and just want to record 5x5 sessions in it.
5. A spreadsheet
FreeFree forever, zero convenience
Where it shines
- Costs nothing and you control everything
- Works on any device, forever
- Our free generator builds one with your starting weights and progression already filled in
Where it falls short
- No rest timer, no plate math, no warmup calculation at the gym
- Progression and deloads are on you to track honestly
- Easy to abandon — nothing reminds you or shows your streak
Verdict: Best if you refuse to have your phone out at the gym. Grab our free 5x5 spreadsheet generator and go.
Free 5x5 spreadsheet generator →How we compared
- Each app was used through real 5x5 sessions — set logging, progression, deload handling, plate math at the bar.
- Prices and feature gating verified on the US store listings, July 5, 2026. Subscriptions change; re-check before buying.
- "Free" means usable for the complete program without paying — not a time-limited trial.
- We weight 5x5-specific intelligence (progression, deloads, warmups, plate math) over general logging features, because that's what this page is for.
Common questions
What is the best app for StrongLifts 5x5? +
It depends what you pay for. The official StrongLifts app has the strongest brand and a great Apple Watch app, but core conveniences like the plate calculator require the subscription. Lift5x5 runs the same 5x5 program with automatic progression, deloads, warmups and a free plate calculator at no cost, with an optional Pro tier for coaching features. General loggers like Hevy and Strong record 5x5 fine but leave the progression math to you.
Is there a completely free 5x5 app? +
Lift5x5 is free for the complete 5x5 workflow: the program, automatic weight progression, deload logic, plate calculator, rest timer, history and CSV export, with no ads. Its paid tier adds coaching, forecasts and custom progression rules — but nothing you need to run the program is paywalled.
Can I switch from the StrongLifts app without losing my history? +
Yes. Export your data as CSV from the StrongLifts app, then import it in Lift5x5 (Settings → Import). Your full workout history, working weights and progress transfer in about a minute.
Do I even need an app for 5x5? +
No — the program ran on paper for decades. An app removes the friction: it calculates warmups and plate loading, times your rest, and applies progression and deload rules automatically. If you prefer paper or a sheet, our free spreadsheet generator builds a personalized 5x5 plan you can print.
Try the free one first
Lift5x5 runs the complete program — progression, deloads, warmups, plate math — for free, no ads. If it's not for you, this page isn't going anywhere.
Get Lift5x5 freeDeeper comparisons
Run it without an app