Searched 'best workout app' and got 50 different answers with no way to compare them?
The 3 Types of Workout Apps (And Why Most People Pick the Wrong One)
Stop comparing apples to oranges. Once you understand the categories, the right choice becomes obvious.
Best fit when you want a named reviewer: MySetPlan — automated tools organize a draft from your assessment, but Ely reads your answers and makes the final approval decision.
See MySetPlan pricing →The 3 Categories of Workout Tools
Most "best workout app" articles throw 10 apps into a list and rank them. This is useless because they're comparing completely different tools. Here's the framework that actually matters:
Workout Trackers
Strong, Hevy — Log what you did. Don't tell you what to do.
Workout Generators
Fitbod — AI creates a new workout each session. Provides variety but no structure.
Workout Plan Services
MySetPlan — automated tools organize a structured draft, then Ely reads your assessment, checks the complete plan, and makes the final approval decision.
What Each Category Actually Delivers
| Feature | Tracker | Generator | Plan Service |
|---|---|---|---|
| Builds your monthly plan | |||
| Reviewed progression guidance | |||
| Reviewer-controlled recovery changes | |||
| Named reviewer before delivery | |||
| Long-term structure | |||
| Workout logging |
Plan Service (MySetPlan) is the only category that includes:
- Complete monthly plan
- Progressive overload
- Deload management
- Ely's review before delivery
- Long-term structure
Why Category Matters More Than Features
A tracker can be enough when you already have a program. If you do not, it may leave you with a logbook but no clear next workout.
A generator can be useful when you want session-by-session variety. It may be a weaker fit when you want to see and follow the same multi-week structure upfront.
The first question isn't "which app has the most features?" It's "what type of tool do I actually need?"
If you want structure without designing every session yourself, a reviewed plan service may be the better fit.
Quick Comparison
Automated tools organize the plan draft; Ely reads your assessment, checks the complete plan, and makes the final approval decision. Monthly members also receive a check-in and up to two structured changes.
Best tracker. Fast, minimal, reliable. Doesn't build plans.
Social tracker with Hevy Trainer available on Pro.
Best generator. Daily variety. No monthly structure.
Exercise database. 1,400 exercises. You build the plan yourself.
In-person form correction. Quality varies. Schedule dependent.
Pricing verified March 2026. Visit each provider's website for the most current pricing.
Want to see what a plan service can do for you?
Start My $19 Starter Week →The Bottom Line
Trackers, generators, and exercise databases solve different problems. A tracker records your work; a generator proposes sessions; a database helps you research movements. None of those categories guarantees that a named person reviews your full plan.
MySetPlan combines automated drafting with Ely's final approval. Start with one $19 week, then continue at $69 per month only if you choose.
Making Your Decision
Skip the endless comparison articles. Answer one question: Do you already know what to do at the gym?
If yes — a focused tracker such as Strong may be enough. Log your sets, track your progress, and keep using the program you trust.
If no — you need a plan. Not a generator that changes exercises daily. Not a database with 1,400 exercises and zero guidance. A structured plan with approved rep ranges and effort targets you can repeat and log.
MySetPlan offers a reviewed plan built around the goals, equipment, and schedule in your assessment. It does not replace live form coaching or medical care.
For the science behind how we build plans, see our guide on evidence-based training principles.
Frequently Asked Questions
A tracker records what you did. A plan service gives you a program to follow. MySetPlan uses automated tools to organize a draft, then Ely reads your assessment and reviews the exercises, schedule, progression, equipment fit, and stated limitations before making the final approval decision.
No. Fitbod is a workout generator — it creates a new workout each session. It doesn't build structured monthly plans with periodization. Users consistently report workouts feel "random" because exercises change every session.
No. MySetPlan includes built-in workout tracking with a gym-ready dark mode interface, so your reviewed plan and training log stay together.
Many workout products generate daily sessions or only track what you do. MySetPlan uses automated tools to organize a structured draft, then Ely reads your assessment, checks the complete plan, and makes the final approval decision.
Yes. The $19 Starter Week is a one-time purchase with no automatic renewal. Ely reads your assessment and checks and approves the plan, which is normally delivered in 1–3 business days. If you continue within 14 days of the plan appearing in your account, the full $19 is credited toward the $69 monthly membership.
If you do not know what to do at the gym, a tracker alone may not provide enough structure. MySetPlan uses your assessment to prepare a plan, and Ely reviews it against your experience before delivery.
Start with one week built around you
Share your goals and schedule. Ely will read your answers, check your seven-day plan, and normally deliver it in 1–3 business days.