A Strong app alternative that counts the reps for you
Strong is fast and simple to log with. But you still enter every rep yourself, and the free plan stops at three routines. MyRepsCount counts your reps through the phone camera and logs them as you go.
The short answer
Stick with Strong if…
- You run a barbell program like 5x5 and want the fastest possible log.
- You want a standalone Apple Watch app.
- You need plate and warm-up calculators, RPE, or CSV export.
Try MyRepsCount if…
- You train at home with bodyweight, dumbbells, or kettlebells.
- You would rather not touch your phone between sets.
- You want circuits, Tabata, and AMRAPs, not only straight sets.
Strong vs MyRepsCount, feature by feature
| Feature | Strong | MyRepsCount |
|---|---|---|
| Automatic rep counting | ✕ | ✓ 60+ exercises |
| Manual logging with weights | ✓ | ✓ |
| Free routines | ◐ 3 | ◐ 5 saved workouts |
| Plate and warm-up calculators | ✓ | ✕ |
| CSV export | ✓ | ✕ |
| Apple Watch app | ✓ | ✕ |
| Blocks apps until you train | ✕ | ✓ |
✓ yes ◐ partly or paid ✕ no
First-year cost of the paid tier
Strong prices from its App Store listing text. Both apps have free plans.
Why people switch
Hands-free sets
No unlocking your phone with chalky hands. The camera counts each rep and logs the set.
Circuits and intervals built in
Build Tabata, AMRAP, and multi-round workouts, or generate one from your goals, equipment, and time.
More free room
Five saved workouts on the free plan, plus free camera counting and app blocking.
Where Strong is better
We make MyRepsCount, so here is the part most comparison pages leave out.
- Faster for barbell logging. Its interface has been refined for over a decade.
- A standalone Apple Watch app. MyRepsCount has no watch app.
- Lifter tools: plate calculator, warm-up sets, RPE, and CSV export.
- Any gym exercise can be logged, including the ones a camera can't count.
How MyRepsCount counts your reps
-
Prop your phone up. Floor, shelf, or against a water bottle, with your whole body in frame. -
Train hands-free. The camera tracks your movement on the phone and counts each full rep. No video is recorded or uploaded. - Or log it by hand. Anything the camera can't count goes in the manual log, with weights, rep ranges, and supersets.
More on the free rep counter app and the free workout library.
Strong alternative FAQ
Is the Strong app free?
Yes, with a limit of 3 custom routines. Strong PRO removes the limit for $4.99 a month or $29.99 a year, per its App Store listing.
Does Strong count reps automatically?
No. Strong is a manual log: you enter weight and reps for each set.
Does MyRepsCount work for gym lifting?
Partly. The manual log handles any lift, with weights and supersets. The camera counts what it can see clearly, which suits dumbbells, kettlebells, and bodyweight work best.
Can I export my workouts?
Not yet. Strong exports to CSV; MyRepsCount backs up your history to your account.
Try it free on your phone
Automatic rep counting, the manual log, and Focus app blocking are free on iPhone and Android.
