VERDICT
StrongLifts Review
Worth it
Should I use StrongLifts?
Skip to content - stronglifts.com
· 2 days ago
Beginners who want a dead-simple barbell routine buy this. Intermediate lifters, powerlifters, and cardio fans do not.
Categories
Confidence
Medium. Based on 40+ public sources
Ratings
Pricing
$0
Free
ModelNot disclosed
Monthly feesNot disclosed
HardwareNot disclosed
Free tierYes
PremiumUnknown
Best for
- Beginners starting barbell training
- People who want zero-decision routines
- Home gym lifters
Not for
- Intermediate lifters needing varied programming
- Powerlifters chasing peak numbers
- Anyone wanting cardio or bodybuilding splits
Gotchas - check before you buy
medium
Users ask whether the free version still exists. Confirm current limits before relying on the free app.
medium
Guess: advanced features sit behind a paid tier. A free download does not mean the full app is free.
low
Rival apps (Hevy, Strong, Massiv, SayLift) market themselves as StrongLifts alternatives, suggesting log-export pain.
low
Pricing details are thin in public sources. Check the app store listing before subscribing.
Pros and cons
Pros
- Free to download
- Called the go-to beginner 5x5 program
- Users call it the simplest lifting program
- Multi-week reviews report real strength gains
- Active communities share tips and program tweaks
Cons
- Critics call it sub-optimal for powerlifting
- Programming stalls lifters past the novice stage
- Users debate whether it builds muscle or only strength
- Long threads ask what to do after finishing 5x5
Sources & method
official x2review x7security x1news x1
Key stats
Value for money: 4/5
Rating
$0
Starting price
11
Sources
Analyzed
- Value for money: 4/5. Free core program lowers the price to zero.
- Ease of use: 5/5. Users call it the simplest lifting program.
- Feature depth: 2/5. Critics call the programming sub-optimal beyond novice training.
- Support quality. No support evidence in sources.
- Security posture. No findings either way in sources.
- Yes Free tier Free to download on Google Play
- 2011 Public discussion since Hacker News review thread
- 3 Training days per week 5x5 sets on core barbell lifts
Pricing
Free
$0
- Free to download from Google Play
- Core 5x5 program tracking
Premium
Unknown
- Guess: a paid tier exists because users ask if the free version remains
Security
No known vulnerabilities found in the sources reviewed.
What users say
Beginners praise it as the simplest way to get strong, while critics say it stalls once you outgrow novice training.
“StrongLifts 5x5 is the go-to”
“Stronglifts is the simplest”
“I really like Stronglift”
Alternatives
Compare StrongLifts with each alternative.
Hevy
Tracker that tops 2026 strength app rankings
JEFIT
Planner with a large exercise database
Popular logging app for lifters who outgrow 5x5
StrongLifts vs Strong
Massiv
Free alternative pitched directly at StrongLifts users
Full analysis
Based on 40+ public sources
Free, simple 5x5 app for new lifters. Intermediates and powerlifters outgrow it fast.
Sources
- Stronglifts 5x5 Workout Plan - Apps on Google Playplay.google.comofficial
- About StrongLifts and Mehdistronglifts.comofficial
- Product security pagestronglifts.comsecurity
- StrongLifts 5x5 Review: Structure, Pros and Consfitnessvolt.comreview
- Simply Sub-Optimal: Don't Do StrongLifts 5x5 for Powerliftingpowerliftingtowin.comreview
- 12 Week Review of Stronglifts 5x5 - T-Nationt-nation.comreview
- review
- review
- review
- Best Strength Training Products in 2026saashub.comreview
- Fitness for geeks: my annual review of the Stronglifts 5x5news.ycombinator.comnews
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