Strong vs Jefit

Strong, Jefit and RIRLift, row by row

Strong for speed and a cheap lifetime price, Jefit for depth and platforms. If you want the log to also pick your weights without paying, RIRLift, on iPhone.

Where Strong and Jefit differ

• Speed or depth

  Strong is built around logging a routine as fast as possible, with warm-up and plate calculators. Jefit adds 1,400+ filmed exercises, set tags and charts for movement balance and muscle recovery, with more menus to match.

• Free tier: 3 routines or 2 plans

  Both log unlimited workouts free. Strong keeps 3 routines; Jefit keeps 2 plans and 7 custom exercises. A 3-day program fits Strong free; it doesn't fit Jefit.

• On the Watch

  Strong's Watch app logs with or without the iPhone. Jefit's free accounts get 3 Watch sessions; Elite makes them unlimited.

• Who picks the weight

  In Strong you do, every session. In Jefit, Load Progression does it with Elite. In RIRLift every set's weight is worked out from the one before, free.

  

• Where RIRLift falls short

  It's iPhone and Apple Watch only, logs reps in reserve rather than RPE, and has no public feed or 1,400-video library.

Strong, Jefit or RIRLift, in a real situation

Three barbell days in Strong, the math done by hand

Owen runs squat, bench and deadlift three days a week from Strong's free tier, phone in the locker, logging on the Watch. Each session he works out in his head whether to add 5 lb.

App	What it does here	For this lifter
Strong	Logs it fast on the Watch, with the plate calculator. The 5 lb decision stays with him.	Fits if he likes doing the math.
Jefit	Load Progression would suggest the weights, with Elite at $69.99/year. Free, his 3 days don't fit in 2 plans.	Fits only if he pays.
RIRLift	Imports his Strong history, then sets each weight from his last set, on the Watch, free.	Fits: same three days, no math.

Strong logged it fine. What he wanted was someone else doing the arithmetic.

Owen's deadlift day, after the import

The deadlift runs 3–5 reps with 2 left; the overhead press 4–6. This is what RIRLift set next.

Exercise	You logged	Next session	Why
Barbell Deadlift	295 lb, 5 / 5 / 5 reps, 2 left	300 lb × 3	Every set at the top of 3–5 at the planned effort: one step, 2.5 lb a side, reps back to 3.
Barbell Overhead Press	105 lb, 6 / 6 / 5 reps, 2 left (target 5)	105 lb × 6	Not every set reached 6, so the weight holds. The weakest set hit its target of 5, so the target moves to 6.

The 5 lb on the deadlift was earned; the press waits one more session. He didn't have to decide either.

Plans for a barbell lifter

• The best workout routine for men, for your week

  Stronger squat, bench press and deadlift

  Squat, bench and deadlift, like Owen's three days.

  3× a week · 49 sets a week · ~55 min

  Add to RIRLift

  Add to RIRLift

  Scan with your iPhone camera to add this plan.

  See the plan

• Strength training workouts to run on your Apple Watch

  Barbell strength: squat, bench, deadlift, 3 days

  The same lifts, run from the Watch with the phone in the locker.

  3× a week · 29 sets a week · ~40 min

  Add to RIRLift

  Add to RIRLift

  Scan with your iPhone camera to add this plan.

  See the plan

Make it fit you

• Import from Strong

  Export a CSV from Strong and import it in RIRLift. Weights worked out from it are marked From history.

• From Jefit: type your working weights

  RIRLift doesn't read Jefit's export. Enter your current weight for each main lift; it's marked Yours.

• Turn RPE into reps in reserve

  RPE 8 is 2 left, RPE 9 is 1. Set them once per exercise.

• Pick Ask first if you want the final say

  With Ask first, next session's weights wait on the recap until you confirm them.

When a different app fits better

• You're on Android. Strong or Jefit. RIRLift is iPhone and Apple Watch only.
• You want Wear OS. Jefit.
• You'd rather pay once than subscribe. Strong, $99.99 for life.
• You log RPE and want to keep it. Strong. RIRLift logs reps in reserve.

Questions

Read next

• Jefit review

  Jefit's free tier and Elite in full.

• The Strong app on Apple Watch, and an option that sets the weight

  What Strong does on the wrist.

• Jefit alternatives

  Strong and six more, ranked.

• A 5x5 app that adds the weight when you earn it

  For barbell programs like Owen's.

• How RIRLift picks your next weight

  Where the 300 lb came from.

• Strong app review: free vs PRO, and is it worth it

  Strong's free tier and Pro in full.

• Hevy vs Strong: which workout log to pick

  Strong against the other big logger.

More ways lifters use RIRLift

• The Strong app on Apple Watch, and an option that sets the weight

  Strong logs on the Watch with or without your iPhone. RIRLift also sets the next weight on your wrist.

• Jefit review

  What Jefit's free tier covers, what Elite adds, and who should pick something else.

• The powerlifting app for building your squat, bench and deadlift

  Heavy triples adjusted set by set, plates per side worked out, and no max test to get started.

Every lifter and goal