Generic workout programs don’t work.

Your goals aren’t generic. Your schedule isn’t generic. Your equipment isn’t generic.

Here are apps that create programs specifically for you.

Why Custom Programs Work Better

Generic programs assume:

  • You have all equipment
  • You can train 5-6 days
  • Your goals match the template
  • You’re starting from zero

Reality:

  • You have a barbell, dumbbells, and a pull-up bar
  • You can train 3 days max
  • You want to build muscle AND stay lean
  • You’ve been lifting for 6 months

Custom programs account for YOUR situation.

Quick Comparison

AppCustomization LevelPriceBest For
GymCoachAI⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐FreeTrue AI customization
Fitbod⭐⭐⭐⭐$80/yrEquipment-based
Caliber⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐$200/yrCoaching hybrid
RP Hypertrophy⭐⭐⭐⭐$120/yrScience-based
Boostcamp⭐⭐⭐⭐FreeProgram library

The Best Workout Planner Apps

1. GymCoachAI

Price: Free Customization: Full AI-generated programs

The most customizable option — AI creates your program from scratch.

What you input:

  • Goals (muscle gain, strength, fat loss)
  • Experience level
  • Available equipment
  • Days per week
  • Time per session
  • Injuries/limitations

What it outputs:

  • Complete weekly program
  • Exercise selection for your equipment
  • Sets, reps, and weight recommendations
  • Progressive overload built in

How it adapts:

  • Adjusts weights based on performance
  • Modifies exercises if you’re not progressing
  • Learns from your feedback

Download →

2. Fitbod

Price: $80/year Customization: Equipment and recovery-based

Great for varying equipment availability (home vs gym, travel, etc.).

What you input:

  • Available equipment
  • Muscles to focus on
  • Experience level
  • Duration preference

What it outputs:

  • Daily workouts that vary
  • Exercises based on what you have
  • Volume optimized for recovery

How it adapts:

  • Considers muscle fatigue
  • Avoids recently trained muscles
  • Changes exercises regularly

Best for: People who want variety and have changing equipment situations.

3. Caliber

Price: $200/year (or $400/year with coaching) Customization: Expert-designed + AI

Premium option with human coaching available.

What you input:

  • Detailed goals
  • Body measurements
  • Schedule
  • Equipment

What it outputs:

  • Professionally designed programs
  • Form video library
  • Progression schemes

How it adapts:

  • AI adjusts sets/reps
  • Optional human coach reviews progress
  • Program swaps if you plateau

Best for: People who want something between app and personal trainer.

4. RP Hypertrophy App

Price: $120/year Customization: Science-based hypertrophy

From Renaissance Periodization — serious muscle building.

What you input:

  • Experience level
  • Days per week
  • Equipment available
  • Which muscles to prioritize

What it outputs:

  • Mesocycle programming (progressive phases)
  • Volume landmarks per muscle
  • Deload weeks built in

How it adapts:

  • Adjusts volume based on performance
  • Auto-regulates intensity
  • Includes scheduled deloads

Best for: Intermediate+ lifters focused on hypertrophy, willing to learn the system.

5. Boostcamp

Price: Free Customization: Program library + tracking

Not AI-generated, but offers tons of expert-made programs you can choose from.

What you get:

  • 50+ popular programs (PPL, GZCLP, nSuns, etc.)
  • Filter by equipment, days, goals
  • Full tracking
  • Form videos

What it doesn’t do:

  • Generate custom programs
  • Adapt programming automatically

Best for: People who want proven programs, not AI-generated ones.

What Makes Good Program Customization

Equipment Awareness

App should know if you only have dumbbells and adjust accordingly. No point programming cable flys if you don’t have cables.

Schedule Flexibility

3 days/week? 4 days? 6 days? Program should optimize for your availability.

Goal-Specific Programming

Strength vs hypertrophy vs fat loss require different approaches. App should reflect this.

Progressive Overload

Good programs get harder over time. Not just randomly — systematically.

Deload Planning

Programs that never back off lead to burnout. Auto-deloads are underrated.

Red Flags in Workout Planners

🚩 Same program for everyone If a “custom” program looks suspiciously like a generic template, it’s probably a template.

🚩 No progression scheme Programs that don’t get harder over time don’t work.

🚩 Ignores equipment Programming barbell exercises when you specified “dumbbells only” = bad app.

🚩 Random exercise selection Variety is fine. Random exercises with no progression logic isn’t a program.

🚩 No volume tracking If the app doesn’t know how many sets per muscle you’re doing, it can’t optimize.

How to Choose

You want true customization: → GymCoachAI (AI-generated, free)

You want exercise variety: → Fitbod (changes exercises, equipment-aware)

You want proven programs: → Boostcamp (library of expert programs)

You want hypertrophy-specific: → RP Hypertrophy (science-based muscle building)

You want human oversight: → Caliber (app + optional coaching)

Creating Your Own Custom Program

If apps aren’t cutting it, here’s how to build your own:

Step 1: Pick a split

  • 3 days: Full body
  • 4 days: Upper/Lower
  • 5-6 days: PPL or Body part split

Step 2: Select exercises

2-4 exercises per muscle group per week. Cover pushing, pulling, legs.

Step 3: Set volume

10-20 sets per muscle per week for growth.

Step 4: Plan progression

Add weight or reps every week/two weeks.

Step 5: Track everything

Use any tracker app. See best gym trackers.

FAQ

What’s the best app for creating a workout plan? GymCoachAI for true AI customization. Fitbod if you want variety. Boostcamp for proven programs.

Can apps create programs as good as human trainers? For programming, yes. The best apps use established exercise science. For form and real-time adjustment, trainers still win.

Should I change my program often? No. Stick with a program for 8-12 weeks minimum. Progress comes from consistency, not variety.

How do I know if a program is working? Track your lifts. If weights/reps are going up over months, it’s working.

What if my gym doesn’t have certain equipment? Use apps like GymCoachAI or Fitbod that adjust based on equipment availability.

Related reads:

— Dolce