Top 9 Powerlifting Apps for Tracking Progress

Mitch Edwards
Person using one of the top powerlifting apps on a smartphone to log barbell bench press sets and weights in the gym

The difference between lifters who log every set, rep, and weight versus those who train without structured records often shows in competition results.

According to a 2023 survey by BarBend, over 68% of competitive lifters use a dedicated training app, and 74% of them report faster progression in their key lifts after adopting digital tracking compared to paper logs.

The International Powerlifting Federation (IPF) also notes that structured monitoring of training variables, load, volume, and rest intervals is strongly correlated with performance increases, especially in intermediate and advanced athletes.

They calculate estimated one-rep maxes (e1RM), track Wilks or IPF points, store competition history, generate periodized programs, and visualize trends over time.

1. Hevy

Hevy app displaying a muscle group heat map and training statistics on a smartphone screen
Source: Youtube/Screenshot, Hevyโ€™s PR alerts and trophies reward every milestone, from a 5 kg deadlift gain to a new rep record

Hevy has quickly become a community favorite for lifters who want both detailed tracking and social interaction. Itโ€™s free to start and includes unlimited logging, up to four custom routines, a clean interface, and an exercise library that covers everything from barbell lifts to accessory movements.

The social feed is a standout feature; you can follow friends, like their workouts, and comment, creating an environment similar to Strava for strength sports.

Why it works for powerlifters: Hevyโ€™s PR alerts and trophy system give a clear dopamine hit for every milestone, whether thatโ€™s a 5 kg deadlift increase or a rep PR. The data visualization is simple but useful; you can see your 1RM trends for each lift and volume over time, making it easy to spot plateaus.

Feature Details
Price Free with optional Pro ($3/month)
PR Tracking Automatic with historical comparison
Community Social feed, comments, likes
Best For Lifters motivated by progress sharing

2. StrengthLog


StrengthLog is one of the most data-rich free apps on the market. Even without a subscription, you get unlimited workout logging, exercise history, rest timers, PR tracking, and built-in calculators for e1RM, Wilks, IPF points, and even attempt selection for meets.

Premium adds muscle heat maps, advanced analytics, and custom goal setting.

Why it works for powerlifters: Its IPF/Wilks calculator makes it competition-friendly, and the muscle-group heat map can help you balance training across your weekly volume. Itโ€™s also a rare free app that doesnโ€™t cap the number of workouts you can save.

Feature Details
Price Free with optional Premium (~$4/month)
Competition Tools IPF/Wilks scoring, attempt planning
Analytics e1RM trends, heat maps
Best For Data-obsessed lifters and competitors

3. Strong

Strong app workout screen showing quick start options and saved training templates on a smartphone display
Source: Youtube/Screenshot, If you use a paper program like 5/3/1 or Sheiko, Strong offers a clean digital way to log it

Strong focuses on speed and simplicity. You can start a workout, log your lifts, and get an e1RM estimate in seconds. It integrates seamlessly with Apple Watch, making it ideal for lifters who want to avoid pulling out their phone between sets.

Why it works for powerlifters: Its strength is in fast logging without clutter. If you already follow a paper program like 5/3/1 or Sheiko but want a digital record, Strong keeps it distraction-free.

Feature Details
Price Free with Premium ($4.99/month)
Strength Tracking 1RM, total volume
Integrations Apple Watch
Best For Minimalists who want efficiency

4. StrongLifts 5ร—5

 

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StrongLifts is built around the classic 5ร—5 strength program, squat, bench, and deadlift-focused, with progressive overload. The app automatically adjusts weight based on performance and tracks your totals.

Why it works for powerlifters: While best for beginners, itโ€™s an excellent base-building tool. Many competitive lifters credit StrongLifts with their initial strength gains before moving to custom programming.

Feature Details
Price Free with Premium ($9.99/month)
Program Focus Progressive overload 5ร—5
Adjustments Auto-increase or deload
Best For Beginners building a strong foundation

5. Intensity โ€“ Powerlifting Log

Two hands holding a smartphone showing the Intensity appโ€™s program builder screen for creating a custom training plan
Program templates speed setup, and social leaderboards add competition to training

Intensity caters specifically to strength athletes. It comes preloaded with popular templates like 5/3/1, Sheiko, and Starting Strength, but you can also build your own. The app tracks PRs, plots charts for each lift, and allows cloud syncing.

Why it works for powerlifters: The program templates save time, while the social leaderboards add a competitive element even in training. The ability to store data in the cloud means you can switch devices without losing history.

Feature Details
Price Free
Templates 5/3/1, Sheiko, Starting Strength
Social Leaderboards, sharing
Best For Lifters following established templates

6. FitNotes

@tugboet #greenscreen #gym #fitnotes #app #recomendation โ™ฌ original sound – tug


FitNotes is a no-frills, high-efficiency training log built for Android users who value speed and simplicity. It allows you to log exercises, sets, reps, and weights without navigating through unnecessary menus.

The clean calendar view makes it easy to see past sessions, and its muscle-group tracking helps ensure balanced programming over time. Because itโ€™s fully customizable, you can enter your exercises, tweak rest periods, and adjust logging formats to match your exact training style.

Why it works for powerlifters: If you already follow a structured program โ€” whether itโ€™s Sheiko, 5/3/1, or a custom coach-written plan โ€” FitNotes lets you execute it without interference from unwanted features or ads. Itโ€™s a pure performance record keeper that gets out of your way so you can focus on lifting.

Feature Details
Price Free
Logging Custom exercises, detailed notes, muscle tracking
Best For Lifters wanting full control without extra clutter

7. JEFIT

Illustration of a person tapping the JEFIT app download button on a smartphone screen
Source: Youtube/Screenshot, The app tracks total volume and individual lift progress

JEFIT is one of the most versatile lifting apps available, boasting over 1,300 exercises with detailed instructions and videos. Its built-in routine builder allows you to create customized powerlifting programs, while the community hub lets you share workouts, join challenges, and compare progress with other lifters.

The app tracks everything from total volume load to individual lift progress, giving you both high-level trends and fine-grained lift data.

Why it works for powerlifters: While JEFIT is not exclusively designed for powerlifting, its flexibility makes it a strong choice for athletes who want to log their main lifts alongside accessory work. The analytics features are robust enough to track tonnage, progression rates, and training frequency โ€” all critical metrics for strength development.

Feature Details
Price Free with Premium ($6.99/month)
Social Community programs, group challenges, shared routines
Best For Lifters who thrive in a group-driven training environment

8. Fitbod


Fitbod uses AI to generate workouts based on your logged history, recovery, and equipment. It adapts over time, which can help prevent plateaus.

Why it works for powerlifters: Itโ€™s especially useful for off-season or GPP phases, when you need structured training outside of peaking cycles.

Feature Details
Price $12.99/month
AI Features Auto-adjusted programs
Best For Lifters wanting adaptive training plans

9. PUSH

PUSH app screen showing logged cable wide-grip lat pulldown sets and weights on a smartphone
Source: Youtube/Screenshot, Elite lifters use VBT to fine-tune load, reduce fatigue, and maintain speed-strength

PUSH is a velocity-based training (VBT) app that pairs with hardware to measure bar speed, giving real-time feedback on power output.

Why it works for powerlifters: VBT is increasingly used by elite lifters to optimize load and avoid unnecessary fatigue while maintaining speed-strength qualities.

Feature Details
Price Hardware + app (~$189 one-time + free app)
Specialty Velocity-based training feedback
Best For Advanced athletes tracking bar speed

Bottom Line

If your goal is to get stronger in the squat, bench press, and deadlift, the right tracking app can turn training from guesswork into a measurable, progressive process.

Hevy and StrengthLog stand out for their combination of depth, usability, and long-term data storage, making them ideal for most lifters.

Strong and FitNotes excel for those who want speed and simplicity without distractions, while Intensity caters directly to competition prep and structured programming.

Advanced athletes can benefit from PUSH for velocity-based training or Fitbod for AI-driven adaptation during off-season phases.

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