LastLift LastLift vs Strong (2026): which should you use?
By Jens Skott, Level 3 PT · Updated 3 Jul 2026
Strong: iPhone, Apple Watch · Free tier (3 custom exercises) · $29.99/yr
The speed test: open app → set logged
The one thing we measure rather than assert. Scenario: you're repeating last session's bench set — app installed, opening from its start screen, current App Store versions, July 2026. Where Strong is fast too, we say so.
LastLift 2–3 taps for a repeat set, 3–4 from cold
- Open the app — your most-logged lifts are one tap away
- Tap the lift — last session's weight, reps and RPE are already on screen
- Adjust if needed, tap LOG — saved and cleared for the next set
Strong Low tap-count once inside a workout — after upfront routine setup
- Open the app and start a workout from a routine you've built beforehand
- Find the exercise row in the routine
- Fill or confirm weight and reps, tick the set
Tap counts are for the flows described, counted by us; your routine setup and settings change them. Time yourself in both — it's the honest test.
Feature by feature
| Feature | LastLift | Strong |
|---|---|---|
| Last session visible the instant you pick a lift | Yes — same screen, with the delta to beat | Yes — shows previous session values |
| Routine and program building | No — deliberately; log any lift, any scheme | Yes — core of the app |
| Apple Watch app | No — planned, not shipped | Yes — full Watch app, log whole sessions from the wrist |
| Account required | No — no sign-up, ever | Yes — data stored on Strong's servers |
| Where your workout data lives | Your own private iCloud only | Strong's servers (account-based) |
| Free tier | No — 14-day free trial | Yes — capped at 3 custom exercises |
| Lifetime purchase option | Yes — $49.99 once | No — subscription |
| Plate calculator | Yes — per-exercise plate loader | Yes |
| RPE logging | Yes — on every set by default | Yes — supported |
Pricing
| LastLift | Strong | |
|---|---|---|
| Free option | 14-day free trial | Free tier (3 custom exercises) |
| Monthly | $3.99 | — |
| Annual | $29.99 | $29.99 |
| Lifetime | $49.99 one-time | Not offered |
The honest head-to-head
Strong is the app most lifters think of first, and for good reason: it is polished, reliable, has a genuinely great Apple Watch app, and shows your last session’s numbers much like LastLift does. If you want a mature, full-featured tracker and you live on Apple Watch, Strong is a safe choice — that’s not a concession we make through gritted teeth, it’s just true.
The differences that actually decide it are structure, account, and speed. Strong is built around routines: you set up your program in the app, then log inside it. That structure is great if you want it — and pure overhead if you don’t. LastLift skips it entirely: search any of 1,000+ lifts (or tap a recent one), see last session’s exact numbers with the difference to beat, log, done. There is nothing to build before your first set.
The second difference is where your data lives. Strong stores your training history on its servers behind a sign-up. LastLift has no account and no server — your workouts sync through your own iCloud, and we never see them. And on cost: Strong’s free tier caps custom exercises at three, which pushes most serious lifters to the $29.99/year subscription; LastLift is honestly paid from day one, with the same $29.99/year price and a $49.99 lifetime option Strong doesn’t offer.
Who should pick which
Pick Strong if…
- You live on Apple Watch and want to log whole sessions from your wrist today
- You want routines and programs built inside the tracker
- You're happy with an account and a mature, full-featured app
Pick LastLift if…
- You want the set logged and your phone back in your pocket in seconds
- You run your own training and don't want routine scaffolding
- You don't want an account — your data stays in your own iCloud
- You'd rather pay once (lifetime) than subscribe
Switching?
Moving trackers is easier than it feels — LastLift has no routines to rebuild, so switching is mostly just logging your next session. Our guide to switching workout tracker apps covers keeping your history, and the full seven-app comparison has the wider field.
Frequently asked questions
Is LastLift or Strong better?
Neither is better outright. Strong is the better all-rounder: routines, a full Apple Watch app, and years of polish. LastLift is the faster logger: one screen, your last session shown instantly, a set logged in about three seconds, and no account. Pick by what you value — breadth or speed.
Does Strong require an account?
Yes. Strong stores your training data on its servers behind a sign-up. LastLift has no account at all — your workouts sync privately through your own iCloud and never touch a third-party server.
Is Strong free?
Strong has a free tier, but it caps you at three custom exercises, which most serious lifters outgrow within a week. The paid plan is $29.99/year. LastLift has no free tier — a 14-day free trial, then $3.99/month, $29.99/year, or $49.99 once for lifetime.
Does LastLift have an Apple Watch app like Strong?
No. Strong has a genuinely great Apple Watch app and LastLift doesn't — a Watch app is planned but not shipped. If wrist logging is essential to you today, Strong is the better pick. LastLift's counter-argument is phone logging fast enough that the phone stops being a chore.
Can I switch from Strong to LastLift?
Yes — because LastLift has no routines to rebuild, switching is mostly just starting to log. Your first session sets the baseline and every session after shows the number to beat. Our guide to switching workout trackers covers keeping your history.
Strong facts are from its public App Store listing and website as of July 2026 — check the current listing before you subscribe. Strong is a trademark of its owner; LastLift is not affiliated with it.
See your last set. Beat it today.
14-day free trial, no account, your data stays in your iCloud.
