SmartGym vs Fitbod
Published November 12, 2026
SmartGym is the pick on Apple devices: its Watch app runs on its own, Smart Trainer builds workouts without the iPhone, and Premium+ is $59.99 a year against Fitbod's $95.99; Fitbod wins if you need Android or want sessions built around muscle recovery. If what you want from the Watch is the next weight set there after every set, RIRLift does that free with no trial, on a plan you pick.
Free on iPhone and Apple Watch · No account · Coming to Android: join the waitlist
SmartGym, Fitbod and RIRLift side by side
| Feature | SmartGym | Fitbod | RIRLift |
|---|---|---|---|
| Free tier | 2 routines, 3 workouts and 2 measures | None. 7-day trial, then logging needs a subscription | Unlimited workouts, 4 routines, a suggested weight for every set (better here) |
| Price in the US | Premium+ $9.99/month or $59.99/year (better here) | $15.99/month or $95.99/year | Pro $9.99/month or $79.99/year |
| Builds workouts for you | Smart Trainer, from equipment, target muscles, time and level, or a sentence | Every session, from your goal, split, equipment and recovery (better here) | Coach drafts a plan you approve, or one session from a sentence |
| How the weight moves | Adjusts sets, reps or weight from your progress | From recent sessions, with lighter and heavier days on purpose | From each set's reps and reps in reserve, adjusted between sets |
| Apple Watch | Standalone; Smart Trainer runs without the iPhone | Logs sets; start, swap and save need the iPhone | Standalone; the next weight after every set |
| Ready-made workouts | 130+ made by professionals (better here) | Generated, or build and save your own | A program library of routines |
| Exercise library | 700+ with images and animations | 1,000+ with multi-angle video (better here) | Built-in library with animated demonstrations |
| Platforms | iPhone, iPad, Mac, Apple Watch | iPhone, Android, Apple Watch, Wear OS (better here) | iPhone and Apple Watch |
On an iPhone and Apple Watch, SmartGym gives you most of what Fitbod does for less and runs better on the wrist. Fitbod is the one for Android and recovery-based planning. RIRLift is for the lifter who'd rather keep one plan and have the Watch set every weight, free.
What separates SmartGym and Fitbod
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The Watch on its own
SmartGym's Watch app is standalone, and Smart Trainer runs without the iPhone. Fitbod's Watch needs the iPhone to start a workout, swap an exercise and save, and its rest timer pauses when the screen dims.
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How each one builds a workout
SmartGym's Smart Trainer works from your equipment, target muscles, time, frequency and level, and can turn a sentence into a routine. Fitbod builds around which muscles have recovered, scored 0–100% each.
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Free tier and price
SmartGym's free version gives you 2 routines and 3 workouts; Premium+ is $9.99/month or $59.99/year. Fitbod has a 7-day trial and costs $15.99/month or $95.99/year.
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Android is the dividing line
SmartGym runs on iPhone, iPad, Mac and Apple Watch. Fitbod also runs on Android and Wear OS.
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Where RIRLift is different
Start a routine on your wrist, log weight, reps and reps left, and the next set's weight is there before the rest timer ends. Free, with 4 routines.
SmartGym, Fitbod or RIRLift in a real week
The phone stays in the car
You lift at lunch and leave the iPhone in the car so it doesn't eat your rests. Everything happens on the Watch.
| App | What it does here | For this lifter |
|---|---|---|
| SmartGym | Builds and runs the workout on the Watch, with heart rate and calories, no iPhone needed. | Fits. |
| Fitbod | The Watch shows "Start workout on your iPhone", and the iPhone saves the session. | Not a fit while the phone is in the car. |
| RIRLift | Starts the routine, swaps a lift if a station is taken and finishes on the Watch, with each set's weight set there. | Fits, free. |
For a phone-free session it's SmartGym or RIRLift; the difference is who sets the weight.
Shoulder day, logged only on the Watch
The same lunch session, on dumbbells that go up in 5 lb jumps and a cable stack.
| Exercise | You logged | Next session | Why |
|---|---|---|---|
| Neutral-Grip Dumbbell Shoulder Press | Set 1: 45 lb × 10, 4 left | Set 2: 45 lb × 10 | 14 reps to failure against a planned 12, so 45 × 43 ÷ 41 ≈ 47 lb. Your dumbbells jump 5 lb, so it holds at 45. |
| Leaning Cable Lateral Raise | 20 lb, 15 / 14 / 13 reps, 2 left | 20 lb × 14 | Not every set reached 15, so it holds. The weakest set hit its target of 13, so the target moves to 14. |
It only moves the weight when your equipment has a step that small.
Plans to run from the Watch
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The upper body workout you run from your Apple Watch
Full gym, phone in the locker
An upper day built to run with the phone put away.
2× a week · 32 sets a week · ~45 min
Add to RIRLiftSee the planAdd to RIRLift
Scan with your iPhone camera to add this plan.
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An Apple Watch workout plan for lifting, from 2 to 4 days a week
3 days a week with a barbell
Three days a week, started and finished on the wrist.
3× a week · 33 sets a week · ~35 min
Add to RIRLiftSee the planAdd to RIRLift
Scan with your iPhone camera to add this plan.
Make it fit you
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Start from the Watch
Open RIRLift on your wrist and start today's routine. The session syncs to the iPhone when it's back in range.
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Weights you can actually load
Every suggestion is rounded to your plates, or to the jumps your dumbbells and machines really make, so the Watch never asks for 47 lb.
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Want a session written? Ask Coach
AI generate workout builds a single session from a sentence, the way Smart Trainer does; Coach drafts whole plans you review first.
When a different app fits better
- You want an app that writes your workouts on the Watch. SmartGym.
- You're on Android or Wear OS, or want recovery-based sessions. Fitbod. RIRLift is iPhone and Apple Watch only.
- You also want HIIT timers. SmartGym has HIIT workouts. RIRLift has no interval timers.
Questions
Is SmartGym better than Fitbod?
On Apple devices, for most people: it's cheaper and its Watch app works alone. Fitbod is better on Android and for workouts built around recovery.
Does SmartGym work without the iPhone?
Yes. Its Watch app is standalone, and Smart Trainer needs no iPhone. Fitbod's Watch app needs the iPhone to start and save.
How much do SmartGym and Fitbod cost?
In the US, SmartGym Premium+ is $9.99/month or $59.99/year. Fitbod is $15.99/month or $95.99/year.
Is there a free Apple Watch lifting app?
RIRLift's Watch app is free: logging, the rest timer and the next weight on your wrist, with no trial.
Read next
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Fitbod on Apple Watch, and an app that runs on the Watch alone
What Fitbod's Watch app needs the iPhone for.
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Fitbod review: who it's worth paying for
Is Fitbod worth it, and for whom.
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Fitbod alternatives, free and paid
Every option ranked, free and paid.
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Best workout apps for Apple Watch
More options for lifting from the wrist.
More ways lifters use RIRLift
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Fitbod on Apple Watch, and an app that runs on the Watch alone
Fitbod's Watch app needs the iPhone to start and swap. RIRLift starts, swaps and sets weights on the wrist.
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The Apple Watch weightlifting app that runs the whole session
Log sets, rest, load plates and swap machines from your wrist, with the next weight set on the Watch.
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Fitbod review: who it's worth paying for
What Fitbod does with your sets, what it costs after the trial, and who should pay for it.