Plates vs Lyfta: Which gym workout app is better?

Lyfta is a feature-rich workout tracker with a large exercise library, muscle maps, and social features. It is free with an optional Premium subscription. Plates is a one-time purchase built exclusively for iPhone, focused on fast logging, privacy, and a polished native experience.

Features

Plates Plates
Lyfta Lyfta
Built-in exercise library
250+ exercises
5,000+ exercises
Custom exercise creation
Unlimited workout routines
Built-in Plate Calculator
Premium only
Plate keyboard
Rest timer & haptic alerts
Set types (Warmup, Drop, Failure)
Bulk edit multiple sets
Live Activities & Dynamic Island
Offline mode

Analytics & Insights

Selectable 1RM calculation formulas
Muscle group volume heatmaps
Clean, intuitive progress charts
Full historical workout data
Premium only

Platform & Privacy

Built exclusively for the iPhone
Light & dark appearance modes
100% Privacy (On-device & iCloud data)
No mandatory account or sign-up
Ad-free experience

Social & Compatibility

Social feed & follower comments
Android platform support

Pricing & Value

Pricing model
$19.99 lifetime
$5.99/mo or $29.99/yr
No recurring subscription
All core analytics included
Premium only
Free tier access
7-day full trial
Free app

Common Questions

Is Plates cheaper than Lyfta?

Plates is a one-time $19.99 purchase for lifetime access. Lyfta is free with an optional Premium subscription whose price varies by region. Because Premium is recurring, Plates can cost less over time.

Why does “built for iPhone” matter?

Lyfta is designed to run on iPhone, Android, and the web with a cross-platform app. Plates is built natively for iOS with Swift, giving you instantaneous response times, fluid 120Hz ProMotion animations, native Live Activities, and a lightweight app size.

What about social features?

Lyfta includes a social feed with followers, comments, and shared workouts. Plates is intentionally distraction-free: no feeds, public profiles, or notifications. If social features are essential to you, Lyfta may be a better fit. If you want a fast tool that just tracks your workouts, Plates is built for you.

Should I switch from Lyfta to Plates?

If you train on an iPhone, switching to Plates gets you a faster, distraction-free log with your data stored on-device and in iCloud, with no account required. You pay $19.99 once instead of a recurring Premium, and you keep the essentials: unlimited routines, rest timer, muscle maps, and progress charts. Try the 7-day free trial first to see if it fits your training.

Ready to try Plates?

Start your 7-day free trial. No subscription required—ever.

Download on the App Store

$19.99 one-time purchase after trial

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