StrongLifts alternative: what to use when 5x5 is finished
StrongLifts is built to run one program, 5x5, three times a week. Most lifters move on from it once the weekly jumps stall, to a split, more volume or a coach's plan. At that point you need a tracker for your own routine. SayLift logs it by voice, suggests your next weight from what you actually lifted, and costs less than StrongLifts Pro on every plan.
Updated September 2026
What is StrongLifts?
StrongLifts 5x5 is a guided barbell program app from Stronglifts Limited, on the App Store since December 2011. It plans the exercises, sets and weights of the 5x5 routine and adds weight when you complete your sets.
Its App Store listing says it is free to download but needs a subscription to use. The US in-app purchase list shows Pro at $4.99 a week, $11.99 a month, $29.99 a quarter and $59.99 a year.
SayLift logs your whole workout from one spoken sentence. iPhone only, 873 exercises built in, 3 days free then $49.99 a year.
Start the free trialWhy people look for a StrongLifts alternative
- 5x5 is finished. The app is built around one program. Once you move to a different routine, you want a tracker built around yours.
- It needs a subscription. Free to download, but a subscription to use: $59.99 a year on the US yearly plan.
- Every set is tapped in. Five sets of five, for several exercises, is a lot of tapping.
- It needs iOS 18 or later, so iPhones that cannot update are left out.
SayLift vs StrongLifts
With SayLift you train whatever you train, then hold one button and say "bench press, five sets of five at 185, then barbell row, five by five at 155." The AI writes the exercises, sets, reps and weights, and a review screen shows them before anything saves.
After 5x5, paste your new routine in as text, from a note, a spreadsheet or a coach's message, and SayLift turns it into training days. You can also pick a training style: hypertrophy, push/pull/legs or full body. The coach then tells you, exercise by exercise, whether to increase, hold or decrease the weight next session, and when to deload.
It also costs less. SayLift is $49.99 a year against $59.99, $7.99 a month against $11.99, and $3.99 a week against $4.99.
| SayLift | StrongLifts | |
|---|---|---|
| Built for | Any routine you choose | The 5x5 program |
| How you record a set | Say the whole session out loud | Tap each set |
| Next working weight | AI coach reads your last sessions | Fixed 5x5 progression |
| Bring your own plan | Paste or speak it in | Built around 5x5 |
| Exercise guides | 873 with photos and instructions, offline | Focused on the barbell lifts |
| Works on | iOS 17 or later | iOS 18 or later |
| Yearly price | $49.99 | $59.99 |
| Monthly price | $7.99 | $11.99 |
| Weekly price | $3.99 | $4.99 |
- Log any routine you choose, including the one after 5x5.
- Speak the session instead of tapping five sets of five, exercise after exercise.
- $10 a year cheaper on the annual plan, and $4 a month cheaper monthly.
- 873 exercises with photos and instructions for the accessories 5x5 leaves out.
Who SayLift is for
SayLift suits you if you have finished 5x5 or moved to your own routine, you want a coach that follows what you actually lift, and you would rather speak the session than tap it.
Try it free for 3 days with every feature on. After that it is $49.99 a year, $7.99 a month or $3.99 a week in the US.
Frequently asked questions
Is StrongLifts free?
No. Its App Store listing says it is free to download but needs a subscription to use. The US yearly plan is $59.99 as of 24 September 2026.
How much is StrongLifts Pro?
On the US App Store: $4.99 a week, $11.99 a month, $29.99 a quarter or $59.99 a year, as of 24 September 2026. SayLift is $3.99 a week, $7.99 a month or $49.99 a year.
What should I do after StrongLifts 5x5?
Most people move to a routine with more volume or a split, such as upper/lower or push/pull/legs, once the weekly jumps stall. With SayLift you paste or speak that routine in, and the coach suggests each next working weight.
Can I log 5x5 in SayLift?
Yes. Say "squat, five sets of five at 225" and it logs five sets of five. The coach then suggests your next weight from what you lifted.
Is there a cheaper alternative to StrongLifts?
Yes. SayLift costs $49.99 a year after a 3-day free trial, against $59.99 for StrongLifts Pro, and it works with any routine.
Stop typing between sets
Say what you lifted. SayLift writes down every set, rep and weight, then tells you what to lift next time. iPhone only, 3 days free then $49.99 a year.
Download on the App Store
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