ForgeLifting vs Strong: An Honest Comparison
Yes, this comparison is written by the ForgeLifting team — so we'll earn your trust the only way that works: by being straight about where Strong is better. Strong is a genuinely good app. It has been a favourite of serious lifters for years, and its simplicity is the reason. If you already use it and love it, you may not need to switch at all.
Still reading? Here's the honest breakdown of where the two differ and who each one actually suits.
The Short Version
| ForgeLifting | Strong | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Free (all core features) · Pro £3.99/mo removes ads + adds AI | Free with limits (routines/exercises capped) · paid Pro subscription |
| Install | No download — runs in your browser, installs to home screen, works offline | App Store / Play Store download |
| Built-in programs | 7 expert programs free + custom builder + AI builder (Pro) | None — you build your own routines from scratch |
| Coaching cues | Setup / feel / cue / watch-out on 62 exercises, free | Exercise instructions, limited |
| Progression guidance | e1RM-based PR detection + tells you when to add weight | Tracks history + 1RM estimates; progression is up to you |
| Plate + warm-up maths | Plate calculator + warm-up sets built in | Plate calculator + warm-up calculator — long-standing strengths |
| Track record | Small — we're new and honest about it | Mature, years of reviews, large loyal base |
Where Strong Wins
Simplicity and polish. Strong has spent years doing one thing well: fast, clean set logging with a plate and warm-up calculator that lifters trust. If all you want is a tidy logbook and nothing else, Strong's focus is a real strength.
Track record and trust. Strong has a long history, a large user base, and a mountain of reviews. ForgeLifting is a young UK-built app. If proven longevity is your deciding factor, that's a fair reason to pick Strong today.
Native app feel. Strong is a full native app with an Apple Watch companion. If you log straight from your wrist, that's something our PWA doesn't match yet.
Where ForgeLifting Wins
Progression is the product. Strong records what you did well. ForgeLifting is built around what you should do next: every set is checked against your estimated 1RM, PRs are detected automatically, and the app tells you when it's time to add weight. If you care about progressive overload — the one principle that actually drives strength — that's the difference that matters.
Programs included, not homework. Strong gives you a blank slate; you supply the routine. ForgeLifting ships 7 expert programs free — PPL, Upper/Lower, PHUL, 5/3/1 BBB and more — each with coaching cues on every exercise, plus a custom builder and an AI builder if you want one.
Everything core is free. Full logging, all 7 programs, the custom builder, volume tracking, coaching cues, Strava sync — free, with no routine caps. Our Pro tier removes ads and adds AI coaching; it doesn't hold basic features hostage behind a limit.
No download, works anywhere. ForgeLifting runs on any phone from the browser and installs straight to your home screen — offline included. No app store, no storage, nothing to update.
Which Should You Choose?
Choose Strong if: you want the most established, proven logbook, you like building every routine yourself, or you rely on an Apple Watch at the rack.
Choose ForgeLifting if: you want expert programs included, you want the app to actively drive your progression rather than just record it, and you'd rather not pay for core features or hit routine caps.
Try both — seriously. ForgeLifting needs no download: open app.forgelifting.app, log one real session, and compare it with your current tracker the same week. Your own workout is the only benchmark that matters.
Track every set. See every gain.
ForgeLifting logs your workouts, calculates your e1RM, and tells you when to add weight — all for free.
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