best workout apps that build you a plan
the short list.
there's a real split in this category. most apps are trackers: you bring a routine, they record it. a smaller group builds the program for you. this list covers the second group, ordered by how little you need to know before the app can give you something to follow.
- 1arcbest for a plan when you don't know what to ask for
- 2futurebest for a plan written by an actual person
- 3alpha progressionbest for someone already training who wants the plan optimized
- 4fitbodbest for a fresh session generated around your recovery
- 5caliberbest for a coach-designed plan with an education layer
- 6juggernautaibest for powerlifting, with the plan adapting weekly
how we picked.
- does it build a program from your answers, or hand you a catalog to pick from?
- how much does it need you to already understand?
- does the plan hold week to week, or change every session?
- what does it cost to get the plan?
arc is our app, so read our own entry with that in mind. we've written the catch for arc the same way we wrote it for everyone else, and every app here is one we'd send someone to if it fits them better. prices are checked against each app's public pricing page on the date above.
1. arc
best for a plan when you don't know what to ask for
- price
- free, coach add-on from $9.99/mo
- platform
- ios
a trainer-style intake covering your goal, experience, equipment, and how you like to train, then a program built from it: the split picked for you, the exercises selected for your level and gear, and set-by-set guidance in the gym. free, and ready before your first session.
the catch: arc is iphone-only, and it holds the program steady week to week. if you want the plan to react to every session, look at fitbod or juggernautai.
2. future
best for a plan written by an actual person
- price
- $199/mo
- platform
- ios, apple watch
a human coach writes your program, reviews your form video, and adjusts as you go. nothing software-generated is comparable to a coach who knows your history and can watch you lift.
the catch: $199/mo. it's a coaching relationship, priced like one.
arc vs future →3. alpha progression
best for someone already training who wants the plan optimized
- price
- $12.99/mo or $79.99/yr
- platform
- ios, android
builds a program from your goal, training frequency, and target muscles, with a target weight and rep count for every set. the progression logic is the strongest part.
the catch: $12.99/mo, paid from day one, and it's aimed at people who already train regularly. as a first app it assumes more than you'll have.
arc vs alpha progression →4. fitbod
best for a fresh session generated around your recovery
- price
- $15.99/mo or $95.99/yr (7-day free trial)
- platform
- ios, android, apple watch, mac
generates each workout from what you've recently trained and how recovered those muscles are, with demos and cues on every exercise. excellent once you know your way around a gym and want the variety handed to you.
the catch: $15.99/mo, and the session changes every time, which works against the repetition that drives early progress.
arc vs fitbod →5. caliber
best for a coach-designed plan with an education layer
- price
- free tier, caliber plus from $9/mo, human coaching extra
- platform
- ios, android
coach-designed plans on the paid tiers, with technique video and cues per set and clear explanations of why the program looks the way it does. human coaching available on top.
the catch: the plan itself is a paid feature, from $9/mo, with coaching priced above that.
arc vs caliber →6. juggernautai
best for powerlifting, with the plan adapting weekly
- price
- $34.99/mo
- platform
- ios, android
rebuilds your week from the rpe and recovery data you log, prescribing sets by rpe and percentage. for a competitive powerlifter it's the most advanced thing on this list.
the catch: $34.99/mo and it assumes fluency in rpe and rir. if you'd have to look those up, come back to it later.
arc vs juggernautai →frequently asked.
what's the difference between an app that builds a plan and a workout tracker?
a tracker records the workout you bring it. strong, hevy, and jefit are trackers, and they're very good at it. an app that builds a plan asks you questions first and then decides your split, your exercises, and your sets. if you don't already have a program, the second kind is what you want.
should the plan change every week?
early on, hold it steady. repeating the same lifts is what makes the movement automatic and the weight climb. plans that regenerate every session suit lifters who already have their technique and want variety. once progress stalls, that's the signal to change something.
can i get a workout plan built for me for free?
yes. arc builds you a program from an intake at no cost, and stronglifts 5x5 gives you one fixed barbell program free. most other apps that build a plan charge for it, from around $9/mo up to $199/mo for human coaching.
start lifting.
arc builds you a program from a few questions and walks you through every set, free on iphone.