Disclosure: I'm the developer of GoldLift, one of the apps compared here. Competitor facts are from their own listings and reviews, dated below, and I list where they beat GoldLift.
Quick answer: If you like Fitbod's idea (an algorithm that plans each workout for you) but not its price (about $15.99/month or $95.99/year after a 7-day trial, no permanent free tier), GoldLift is the closest free alternative. It builds a plan from your goal and equipment, adjusts loads per set from your results, and adds a chat coach, nutrition, gamification and social features. Fitbod still has the edge in per-session muscle-recovery modelling and runs on Android today.
Prices checked 23 October 2026 (US App Store). Fitbod shows legacy and regional prices, so verify in-app.
Side by side
| GoldLift | Fitbod | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Free | About $15.99/month or $95.99/year, 7-day trial, no free tier |
| Programme | AI builds a structured programme (e.g. push/pull/legs) from goal, level, equipment, days; adjusts from your results | Algorithm generates each session from muscle freshness and your equipment |
| Progression | Per-set prescriptions: heavier after easy sets with target hit, lighter after a miss, never in a deload week | Automatic weight and rep suggestions per exercise |
| Coach you can talk to | Yes, Rex in chat, during the workout, with voice. 12 personalities | No chat coach |
| Logging | Sets, reps, weight, warm-ups, RPE/RIR, drop sets, rest-pause, cardio | Sets, reps, weight, supersets, timed sets |
| Progress | PRs, volume, intensity, weekly insights, strength targets per lift | Muscle recovery map, strength charts |
| Gamification | XP, levels, streaks, quests, trophies, badges, themes | None |
| Social | Friends, feed, forum, squads, weekly battles, leagues | Minimal |
| Nutrition | Meal logging by photo/text, macros, water, supplements | None |
| Offline | Yes | Partial |
| Wearables | Apple Health, Apple Watch live heart rate | Apple Health, Apple Watch, Google Fit |
| Platforms | iOS now, Android on the way | iOS, Android |
Where Fitbod is better
Fitbod's muscle-recovery model is mature: it knows which muscle groups you hit yesterday and avoids them today, which is great for people who train without a fixed split. It has years of polish, exercise videos for every movement, and an Android app.
Where GoldLift is better
Price, obviously: free versus roughly $96 a year. Beyond that, GoldLift treats the programme as a plan you follow for weeks, with progressive overload rules per set, rather than a fresh session each day. You can ask the coach why it prescribed something. And it includes the things Fitbod does not: nutrition in the same profile, a game layer to keep you consistent, and squads to train with friends.
Honest downsides of GoldLift
- Fewer years of data behind the algorithm than Fitbod.
- iOS only right now.
- Small team, young app; expect faster changes and the occasional rough edge.
- Gym Passport check-ins only work in Belgium.
FAQ
Is there a free app like Fitbod?
GoldLift is free and generates AI workout plans, adjusts weights per set and includes a chat coach. It is the closest free equivalent to Fitbod's "plan it for me" approach.
Does GoldLift tell me what weight to lift?
Yes. Each set shows a prescription based on your last session. The coach raises the load after an easy set where you hit the target, lowers it after a failed set at high RPE, and holds steady during a deload week.
Does GoldLift have exercise videos?
It has a 570+ exercise database with instructions. Fitbod's video library is larger.
Can I cancel Fitbod and move to GoldLift?
Yes. There is no importer yet, but the AI builds a new plan in about three minutes of onboarding.
GoldLift on the App Store: https://apps.apple.com/be/app/goldlift/id6758995677. Website: https://www.goldlift.app.
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