We've all been there. You've been lifting for a year or two, you've run Starting Strength or StrongLifts, and now you're... stuck. The linear progression that worked so well has ground to a halt. You need something smarter, but every app you try is either too simple or too complicated.
That's why we built Swole.
The Problem With Fitness Apps
Most workout trackers fall into two camps:
The "Just Log It" Apps — These are glorified spreadsheets. They'll record your sets and reps, maybe show you a chart. But they don't help you train smarter. They don't know that you've been grinding RPE 10 sets for three weeks and need a deload.
The "Trust the Algorithm" Apps — These go the other direction. They'll tell you exactly what to do, but they won't tell you why. And when the recommendation doesn't make sense for your situation, you're left wondering if you should follow it anyway.
We wanted something in between.
What Makes Swole Different
Science-Backed Rest Timer
This is our favorite feature. Instead of a generic 90-second timer, Swole calculates your rest based on:
- Your RPE for that set
- The exercise type (heavy compound vs. accessory)
- Your training goal (strength vs. hypertrophy)
The algorithm is based on research showing that longer rest periods lead to significantly better strength gains. Schoenfeld et al. (2016) found that 3-minute rest produced 15.3% squat gains versus 7.5% with 1-minute rest.
An AI That Explains Itself
When you subscribe to Coach Pro, you get access to an AI coach that actually tells you why it's making recommendations. Stuck on a lift? It'll analyze your training history and explain what's likely causing the plateau.
This isn't generic advice. It's based on your actual data—your RPE trends, your performance patterns, your training frequency.
Programs That Actually Work
We've implemented three battle-tested programs:
- Strong 5x5 — Great for early intermediates still getting some linear progression
- Wendler 5/3/1 — The gold standard for sustainable long-term progress
- GZCLP — A smart middle ground with tiered progression
Each program includes intelligent deload logic and training max management.
Built for Intermediate Lifters
If you've been training for 6+ months and you're past the beginner gains phase, Swole is for you. We built it for people who:
- Want to optimize their training without spreadsheet complexity
- Care about the science behind their programming
- Need smarter tools to keep progressing
Get Started for $5
For just $5, you get the complete app—workout logging, adaptive rest timer, proven programs, and full metrics tracking. That's it. No ads, no data selling, no artificial limitations. It's yours forever.
Coach Pro is an optional subscription when you want AI-powered guidance, but you can train effectively without it.
Download Swole for iOS and start training smarter today.