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Fitness · head to head

Pike13 vs StrongLifts

Pike13 logo

Pike13

Fitness

Client management for service businesses

From
$159/month
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
StrongLifts logo

StrongLifts

Fitness

5x5 barbell strength training app built around a fixed beginner programme, sold as a subscription

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite

The short version

  • Only StrongLifts has a free tier, so it costs nothing to try first.
  • Each has a real cost: Pike13 the entry Essential plan is $159 per month billed monthly, or $139 with annual prepayment; StrongLifts it is built around one specific programme, so once a lifter progresses beyond what 5x5 is designed for and stalls, the app's core structure no longer fits their needs and they typically need a different programme entirely.
  • They diverge on capability: Pike13 covers Online scheduling, StrongLifts covers 5x5 programme tracking.
  • Prices and features above were last checked on 1 September 2026.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which Pike13 and StrongLifts actually diverge.

Attributes where Pike13 and StrongLifts differ
AttributePike13StrongLifts
Starting price$159/monthFree
Pricing modelsubscriptionFree tier plus subscription
Free tierNoYes
PlatformsIos, Android, WebiOS, Android
Founded2011Unknown

Identical on both: user rating (Not yet rated), category (Fitness).

What each one covers

Drawn from each product's published feature list. An absence here means we hold no record of it - not that the product lacks it.

Only in Pike13

  • Online scheduling
  • Automated billing
  • Client portal
  • Staff management
  • Reporting dashboard
  • Stripe
  • QuickBooks
  • Mailchimp

Only in StrongLifts

  • 5x5 programme tracking
  • Automatic progression
  • Plate calculator
  • Rest timer
  • Form videos
  • Workout history

What people use each for

The jobs each tool is most often brought in to do.

Pike13

  • Fitness studio managementnot StrongLifts
  • Appointment scheduling for servicesnot StrongLifts
  • Class-based business operationsnot StrongLifts
  • Multi-location business oversightnot StrongLifts

StrongLifts

  • A beginner lifter wanting a structured, proven barbell programme rather than designing their ownnot Pike13
  • Someone wanting automatic weight progression calculated for them rather than manually tracking increasesnot Pike13
  • A lifter wanting a plate calculator to avoid mental maths loading a barbellnot Pike13
  • Someone following 5x5 specifically who wants form videos built into the tracking appnot Pike13

Where each one falls short

Documented limitations, not opinions. Every one is a constraint you would hit in normal use.

Pike13

  • The entry Essential plan is $159 per month billed monthly, or $139 with annual prepayment
  • SMS reminders and messaging, email marketing, digital waivers, payroll and staff time tracking and multi-location oversight all require the Advanced plan at $225 per month billed monthly
  • Custom reporting and website widgets are excluded from the Essential plan
  • API access and custom integrations require the Premium plan at $286 per month billed monthly
  • On the Premium plan you must choose either a branded app or custom reports, not both
  • Member progress tracking and skill assessments are Premium only
  • The advertised lower prices require a single yearly payment up front

StrongLifts

  • It is built around one specific programme, so once a lifter progresses beyond what 5x5 is designed for and stalls, the app's core structure no longer fits their needs and they typically need a different programme entirely.
  • Full functionality requires a paid subscription, and the free tier is limited enough that serious use of the programme effectively requires paying.
  • It offers little flexibility for customising exercises or set schemes compared with general-purpose workout loggers, since flexibility is not the point of the product.
  • 5x5 as a method is not suited to every body or goal, for example it is not designed for hypertrophy-focused or advanced lifters, and the app does not steer users away from it once it stops being appropriate.
  • Subscription billing continues after a user has outgrown the programme unless actively cancelled, which is a common pattern across fitness app subscriptions generally.

Pricing, plan by plan

Pike13

$159/month
  • Essential$159/month
    • Unlimited staff seats and client profiles
    • Class, course, and appointment scheduling
    • Membership check-in management
  • Advanced$225/month
    • All Essential features
    • Website integration with widgets
    • Multi-location reporting and oversight
  • Premium$286/month
    • All Advanced features
    • Custom integrations and API access
    • Member progress tracking and skill assessments

StrongLifts

Free
  • FreeFree
    • Limited programme access and logging
  • StrongLifts Premium$undefined/month
    • Full 5x5 programme access
    • Custom plate settings
    • Expanded workout history and stats

Which should you pick?

Choose Pike13 if

  • You need online scheduling.
  • You work on Ios, Android, Web.
  • You also want automated billing.
Pike13 review

Choose StrongLifts if

  • You need 5x5 programme tracking.
  • You want to start without paying.
  • You work on iOS, Android.
  • You also want automatic progression.
StrongLifts review

Questions people ask

Is Pike13 or StrongLifts better?
Neither clearly leads. Pike13 starts at $159/month and StrongLifts at Free, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, Pike13 or StrongLifts?
StrongLifts has a free tier; the other does not. Paid plans start at $159/month for Pike13 and Free for StrongLifts.
Does Pike13 or StrongLifts run on more platforms?
Pike13 runs on Ios, Android, Web. StrongLifts runs on iOS, Android.
Can I use StrongLifts for free?
Yes. StrongLifts has a free tier, so you can try it without paying. Pike13 starts at $159/month.
What is Pike13 best used for?
Pike13 is most often used for fitness studio management, appointment scheduling for services, class-based business operations, multi-location business oversight. Of those, fitness studio management and appointment scheduling for services are not what StrongLifts is typically brought in for.
What can Pike13 do that StrongLifts cannot?
Pike13 covers Online scheduling, Automated billing, Client portal, Staff management. StrongLifts covers 5x5 programme tracking, Automatic progression, Plate calculator, Rest timer.

Answered from the vendors’ own pages

Pike13: What is the cheapest Pike13 plan?

The Essential plan starts at $159/month with monthly billing or $139/month when billed annually, saving $240/year, and includes unlimited staff seats and client profiles.

Source
StrongLifts: Is StrongLifts free?

There is a free tier with limited access; full programme features require a paid subscription.

Pike13: Does Pike13 offer a free trial?

Yes, Pike13 offers a 7-day complimentary trial to test the platform before committing to a subscription.

Source
StrongLifts: Is this the same as the Strong app?

No, Strong is a general-purpose workout logger for any routine; StrongLifts is built specifically around the 5x5 programme.

Pike13: What limits apply to Pike13 plans?

All three plans include unlimited staff seats and client profiles per merchant account; franchise networks with multiple separately-owned locations incur per-location charges.

Source
StrongLifts: Who is 5x5 suited for?

Primarily beginner to early-intermediate lifters building a strength base; it is not designed as a long-term or advanced programme.

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