StackUp or Strong?
Looking for a Strong alternative? StackUp works out your next weight for free, on every split. Strong runs on iPhone and Android, and its Apple Watch app logs without the phone. StackUp is Android only.
| Feature | StackUp | Strong |
|---|---|---|
| Where StackUp does more | ||
| Weight for next session | Free, on every split, preset or your own | Focus Metric compares each exercise with your last session |
| Limits in the free version | None. Everything in the app is free. | 3 templates, unlimited workouts |
| Progress charts | Free: weight or volume per exercise, and body weight | Per-exercise charts need Strong PRO |
| Where Strong does more | ||
| Platforms | Android | iPhone, Apple Watch and Android |
| Watch app | None | Apple Watch, logs with or without the iPhone |
| Health apps | None | Apple Health on iPhone, Health Connect on Android |
| Effort per set (RPE or RIR) | None | RPE, from 6 to 10 |
| Rest timer | Starts by itself; one time for all exercises, or one per superset or circuit | Starts by itself; a time per exercise, separately for warm-up sets |
| Languages | English and German | 11 on iPhone, including German |
| Plate calculator | None | Yes, with Strong PRO |
| Where neither does more | ||
| Sync between devices | Android phones, after a Google sign-in | Strong Cloud, with a Strong account |
| Ads | None | None |
| Export your data | JSON file | CSV file |
| Warm-up sets | Marked by hand; never counted in progression or stats | Tagged by hand; left out of charts and metrics |
Details about Strong checked on , against its own website, help pages and store listings. StackUp details are for version 1.6.
The next weight, worked out for you
Strong records your sets and compares each exercise with your last session (it calls this Focus Metric). StackUp works the next weight out for you: reps above your target range mean more weight next time, inside it the weight stays, below it the weight comes down. The whole rule is on this site.
Every chart, free
Strong's free version keeps 3 templates and leaves the charts for each exercise to Strong PRO. In StackUp every chart is free: working weight or volume for each exercise, and your body weight.
When Strong is the better choice
- You use an iPhone and want to log on your Apple Watch without the phone.
- You rate the effort of each set (RPE).
- You want a different rest time for each exercise.
- You want your workouts in Apple Health or Health Connect.
Common questions
Is StackUp really free?
Yes. Everything in the app is free: no in-app purchases, no ads, and sync between phones is free too. The one paid part on the roadmap is a web app for the desk.
Can I bring my Strong history to StackUp?
Not yet. Importing workouts from other trackers is on the roadmap, and it will be free.
Does StackUp have a watch app?
No. A logger for Wear OS watches is on the roadmap; there is no Apple Watch app, because StackUp is Android only.
How does StackUp pick the next weight?
From your reps against your target range: above it, the weight goes up; inside it, it stays; below it, it comes down. For weight exercises, after three sessions below the range in a row, it suggests one deload to about 90 %.