Need honest opinions on the Fitbod workout app

Apps
1

I’ve been using the Fitbod app for a few weeks and I’m not sure if it’s worth keeping my subscription. Some workouts feel random, progress tracking seems off, and I’m unsure if it’s really helping me build strength efficiently. Can anyone share their experience, pros and cons, and whether there are better alternatives for personalized strength training apps?

2

I used Fitbod for about 6 months, here is what I noticed and what might help you decide.

  1. Random feeling workouts
    Fitbod auto adjusts based on “muscle recovery”. That often gives odd combos like heavy squats then a bunch of fluffy cable work.
    Fix:
    • Turn off or limit some equipment so it stops adding junk exercises.
    • Lock in a template. For example:
    – Day 1: Upper push
    – Day 2: Upper pull
    – Day 3: Lower
    Then manually delete exercises that do not fit the day. Over time the app starts suggesting similar stuff.

  2. Strength progress
    Out of the box it is more “volume” focused than “progressive strength”.
    If your goal is strength, try:
    • Pick 3 to 5 main lifts you care about. Bench, squat, deadlift, OHP, row, etc.
    • For those, ignore Fitbod’s auto weight jumps. Use your own progression. Example
    – Week 1: 3 x 5 at 100 lb
    – Week 2: 3 x 5 at 105 lb
    – Week 3: 3 x 5 at 110 lb
    Log it in the app, but do not let it pick loads for the main lifts. Let it pick loads only for accessories.

  3. Volume and fatigue
    Fitbod often gives too many sets for smaller muscles and too little for big lifts.
    For strength, a good starting point per week per lift:
    • Big compounds: 10 to 15 hard sets
    • Smaller muscles: 6 to 10 sets
    If a session has you doing 8 triceps exercises and only 2 sets of squat, delete the fluff.
    You want the opposite. More sets on squat, dead, bench, pullups, rows.

  4. Progress tracking feeling off
    The “tonnage” graphs look cool but do not tell you much about strength.
    Better way to judge progress:
    • Pick 3 to 5 key lifts.
    • Track your best set each week. Example: best set of 5 on bench.
    • Are the numbers going up over 4 to 8 weeks? Yes, keep going. No, adjust.

  5. When Fitbod is worth the money
    It helps most if:
    • You want auto exercise ideas and do not like planning.
    • You train in different gyms a lot and need quick plans based on equipment.
    • You still edit the workouts instead of pressing start blindly.

  6. When it is not worth it
    You want strength first. You are ok running a simple written program. In that case a basic 5x5 or upper lower plan in a free notes app works better than Fitbod’s auto logic.
    Something like:
    Day A
    Squat 5 x 5
    Bench 5 x 5
    Row 5 x 5
    Day B
    Deadlift 3 x 5
    OHP 5 x 5
    Pullups 3 x max
    Alternate A and B 3 times per week, add 5 lb when you hit all reps.

If you keep Fitbod, treat it like a logging tool plus exercise library.
If you want clear strength progress with no noise, a simple fixed program in a spreadsheet beats it.

3

I’m in a similar boat and used Fitbod on and off for about a year, mostly while bouncing between gyms and traveling.

I agree with a lot of what @boswandelaar said, but I’ll add a slightly different angle: for pure strength, Fitbod is kinda fighting its own design. It’s built around variety, fatigue management, and “keep you busy,” not “drive your squat and bench up as fast and clean as possible.”

Where I differ a bit from them:

  • I actually think trying to “teach” Fitbod a strict template is more work than it’s worth if strength is your main goal. If you’re deleting half the workout every session, that’s a sign the tool doesn’t match the job.
  • The muscle recovery algorithm is neat on paper, but if you’re chasing progression in the big lifts, you want predictable exposure, not “well your hamstrings are 87% recovered so here’s RDLs again.”
  • The progress metrics: I’d basically ignore everything except:
    • Estimated 1RM trends on your key lifts
    • How many hard sets at 7 to 9 RPE you’re doing on those key lifts each week
      The tonnage graphs and “volume PBs” look fancy but they’re easily distorted by random accessory changes.

How I’d decide if it’s worth keeping:

Keep Fitbod if:

  • You genuinely like having the workout “handed” to you so you don’t have to think.
  • You care about general fitness / looking better / staying active more than maximizing your total.
  • You train in random gyms or a crowded gym where you need fast swaps when equipment is taken.
  • You use it mostly as:
    • Exercise selector
    • Logbook with history
    • Quick way to get something solid done when motivation is low

Drop Fitbod (or pause the sub) if:

  • Your priority is “I want my main lifts to go up as fast and clearly as possible.”
  • The randomness stresses you out more than it helps.
  • You’re already second guessing the app more than 2 or 3 times per week.

A middle-ground that worked ok for me for a while:

  1. Run a fixed strength program on the big lifts outside the app (even printed or in a basic notes app).
  2. Use Fitbod only for:
    • Warm up ideas
    • Accessories after the main work (and you don’t care if those are a bit random)
  3. Log the big lifts in Fitbod at the weights you planned, not what it suggests, just so you keep the history.

If after another 2 to 3 weeks you’re still thinking “this feels random and I’m not confident I’m getting stronger,” that’s usually your answer. Strength training should feel boring, repeatable, and predictable more often than “surprise me.” Fitbod is great at “surprise me.”

4

Short version: if your goal is clear, steady strength gains, Fitbod is “fine but fuzzy.” It can work, but you’ll need to use it differently than it wants you to.

Where I slightly disagree with @boswandelaar:
They’re right that Fitbod’s design fights strict strength work, but I don’t think you always need to ditch it if strength is your main goal. You can make it pull its weight if you’re willing to keep your expectations narrow.

How to judge if Fitbod is actually helping you

Ask yourself these over the last 3–4 weeks:

  1. Are your main lifts moving?

    • Compare estimated or actual 1RMs on squat / bench / deadlift / OHP.
    • If numbers are flat and RPE feels the same or higher, that is a red flag.

  2. Are workouts repeating enough to measure progress?

    • You should be seeing the same key lifts at least weekly in some form.
    • If every session feels like “new circus, new act,” Fitbod is not aligned with strength.

  3. Do you understand why each workout looks the way it does?

    • If the fatigue / muscle recovery colors feel random and you never know what to expect, you are outsourcing too much thinking to the app for a strength goal.

If you answer “no” to 2 of those, your subscription is probably not worth it in its current role.

A different way to use Fitbod (without wrestling it)

Instead of building a full template outside the app like others suggested, try this lighter-touch approach:

1. Lock in your “pillars” inside Fitbod itself
Pick 3 to 4 priority lifts and always keep them in rotation:

  • Squat pattern
  • Hinge pattern (deadlift or RDL)
  • Horizontal press
  • Horizontal or vertical pull

Whenever Fitbod throws you a workout that does not include at least 2 of those, manually add them rather than deleting half the workout. Takes less time and preserves the app’s structure.

2. Freeze rep ranges for the big lifts
Ignore its constant rep / set variety on key lifts. Decide in advance:

  • For example: 3 to 5 sets of 3 to 6 reps for the main lifts, twice per week.
    When the app suggests 4 sets of 10, just change it and log what you actually do. This keeps progression straightforward without fully ditching the app.

3. Use the randomness only on accessories
Here I agree with @boswandelaar: let Fitbod be weird on:

  • Curls
  • Raises
  • Machines
  • Abs / calves

It is fine if these rotate more. That way you still get novelty and less decision fatigue, while your strength work stays predictable.

4. Track only two things religiously

Ignore most graphs and focus on:

  • Weight × reps on your main lifts week to week
  • Total hard sets at 7 to 9 RPE on those lifts

If both trend up over a month, the app is doing enough for now. If not, you have a clear signal it is not worth the subscription.

Pros & cons of using Fitbod this way

Pros

  • Removes “what should I do today?” stress for accessories
  • Solid as a logbook with quick history and auto plate math
  • Helpful if your gym situation changes a lot or equipment is taken
  • Can still drive strength if you enforce consistency on big lifts

Cons

  • You must override the app regularly on sets / reps for strength
  • Muscle recovery system can pull you away from needed repeat exposure
  • Progress visuals are noisy and can feel more like gamification than coaching
  • If you want a clean, linear strength plan, Fitbod will always feel a bit off

When to cancel without guilt

Cancel or pause if, after 2–3 more weeks of trying the approach above:

  • You still feel like workouts lack a clear through-line
  • You dread opening the app because you know you will rewrite half the session
  • Your core lifts are not improving or are improving slower than when you used a simple written plan

At that point, a basic spreadsheet or a minimalist strength program will beat the convenience of the Fitbod workout app for you.

If you keep it, treat Fitbod as a smart assistant, not an authority. The moment you start asking, “Is this actually making me stronger?” more than once a week, it has already answered your question.