Alpha Progression alternative that charges less for progression
Alpha Progression is built around progression science: mesocycles, deload timing and per-lift schemes. It costs $12.99 a month or $79.99 a year. If what you want is the answer to one question, what weight goes on the bar today, SayLift gives you that for $4.17 a month (billed $49.99 a year). It works with the routine you already run, and you log each session by speaking.
Updated September 2026
What is Alpha Progression?
Alpha Progression, from Alpha Progression GmbH, is a training app built around progression science. It generates and adjusts training plans, structures training blocks and schedules deloads.
Plan generation is limited on the free tier. Full access is $12.99 a month or $79.99 a year.
Why look for an Alpha Progression alternative?
- $12.99 a month, or $79.99 a year, for guidance that is ultimately arithmetic on your own logged sets.
- It is opinionated about programme structure. If you already run a split you like and just want the weights, that structure gets in the way.
- There is a learning curve. Mesocycles, RIR and planned deloads are more than some people want from a logging app.
- Logging is tapping. Every set is entered by hand.
- Exercise guidance needs a connection. No bundled offline library.
SayLift vs Alpha Progression
| SayLift | Alpha Progression | |
|---|---|---|
| Next-session weight per exercise | Yes | Yes |
| Keeps your own program | Yes | Yes, but it prefers its own |
| Log by speaking | Yes | No |
| Exercise guides offline | 873 with photos, bundled | Streamed |
| Import an existing plan | Paste any text | Build by hand |
| Price | 3-day trial, then $7.99/mo or $4.17/mo billed yearly ($49.99/yr) | $12.99/mo or $79.99/yr |
The same answer, for $30 a year less
Both apps answer the same question: what should you lift today? Alpha Progression answers it inside its own programme structure, which you learn first and then follow.
SayLift answers it for the routine you already run. For each exercise it returns one action from six, with the working weight and, for holds, the rep target to beat: increase, hold, decrease, deload, restart or calibrate. It works from the top completed weight of your last session for that lift and how your reps have moved since. When a lift has been flat or falling for weeks, it calls a deload.
The coach is calculated on the phone, so it works with no signal. It costs $30 a year less than Alpha Progression. And SayLift adds something Alpha Progression does not have: you speak the session instead of typing it.
Who SayLift is for
SayLift suits you if you already have a split you like and want the working weight worked out for you, without paying $79.99 a year or studying a method first. You log by speaking, and the coach follows what you actually lifted. The 873 exercise guides are stored on the phone, so they open with no signal.
Try it free for 3 days with every feature on. After that it is $4.17 a month (billed $49.99 a year), $7.99 a month or $3.99 a week in the US.
Frequently asked questions
Is there a free alternative to Alpha Progression?
Not one that sets your weights for you. Hevy and Strong are free to use but leave progression to you. SayLift costs $4.17 a month (billed $49.99 a year) after a 3-day free trial with everything unlocked, against Alpha Progression's $79.99, and its coach tells you what weight to use for each exercise based on your own logged history.
How much does Alpha Progression cost?
Alpha Progression is $12.99 a month or $79.99 a year on the US App Store as of August 2026. The free tier limits plan generation. SayLift is $7.99 a month or $4.17 a month (billed $49.99 a year).
Does SayLift tell me when to deload?
Yes. When an exercise has been flat or falling for weeks, the coach calls a deload for that lift. The call comes from your own numbers, so it fits the routine you already run.
Does Alpha Progression have voice logging?
No. It is a tap-based app focused on progression methodology. With SayLift you speak the whole session and its AI converts it into structured exercises, sets, reps and weights.
Is SayLift a good fit for an experienced lifter?
Yes, if your programming is already sorted. You keep your own split, log each session by speaking, and the coach gives you a working weight for every exercise from what you actually lifted. There is no programme structure to learn first.
How does SayLift decide to increase the weight?
It looks at the top completed weight from your most recent session for that exercise and whether you reached the top of the rep range. Hitting it produces an increase; falling short produces a hold with a rep target to beat; slipping reps produce a decrease. With no history for a movement it asks for a calibration session rather than guessing.
Stop typing between sets
Say what you lifted. SayLift writes down every set, rep and weight, then tells you what to lift next time. Say what you ate and it counts the calories too. iPhone only, 3 days free then $4.17 a month, billed $49.99 a year.
Download on the App Store
Reading this on a laptop? Scan to install.