After 10 years and tens of thousands of trainees, the Starting Strength Official App has been rebuilt from the ground up.
Version 2 is sleeker, more intuitive, and much easier to use. It stays true to the Starting Strength philosophy: simple and effective, but with the polish and performance of a modern mobile app.
The app is free to download.
Free features:
• NLP Phase 1 Program
• Step-by-step onboarding that walks you through your first workout
• Custom/free training log for post-novice trainees
• Legacy app data import — bring your training history with you
• Workout history — view and search all past workouts
• Basic progress tracking
Pro features (subscription or one-time lifetime purchase):
• All Starting Strength Programs — NLP Phase 1, Phase 2, Female NLP, and Advanced Novice
• Custom Workout Builder — design your own workouts with any exercises
• The Blue Book, Mobile — the full Starting Strength training guide,
searchable on your phone
• Progress Predictions — projected strength gains at 4, 8, and 16 weeks
• Premium Training FAQ
• Warmup & Work Set Rest Timers
• Instant Plate Math — never do mental math at the rack again
• Cloud Sync across all your devices
All users (free and pro) also get:
• Linear progression tracking with automatic weight increases
• Stall detection and deload recommendations
• Automatic warmup calculator
• Step-by-step technique guides for all five lifts
• Multi-angle videos and photo instructions of each exercise
• Lift instructions and diagrams from the Starting Strength Book
• Metric (kgs) or Imperial (lbs)
• Get Form Checks from Starting Strength Coaches
What’s new in Version 2:
• Instantly updatable content — no more waiting for app releases
• Central hub for all Starting Strength news and content
• Find Starting Strength Coaches, seminars, and Gyms near you
• Custom/free training log you can use beyond the novice phases
Rey Escajeda –
If you’re actually doing the program as written, the Starting Strength App, and a notebook📓backup (electronic devices can fail) is all you’ll need to record your progress.
The S.S. app is very customizable with regards to individual weight increase increments for each of the movements. Rest timer intervals for both warmup sets and work sets can also be adjusted independently and lengthened as you progress through your linear progression. I also appreciate the flexibility given in being able to adjust the bar weight for each movement for those that need to start with a lighter bar or heavier bar such as with my 25kg Kabuki Strength Duffalo bar due to shoulder inflexibility in the proper low bar squat position.
The developers regularly take feedback and do steadily improve their App. In use I noticed a few small shortcomings and emailed them which were addressed the next update. The instruction portions are summaries of the corresponding chapters and are great references on proper form for each lift. That said I wouldn’t use them as sole instruction. There is no substitute to the book, read it, study it and go to their YouTube instructional videos to see them in practice. Record yourself, upload to a coach or better yet work with an actual certified Starting Strength coach in person.
The only thing about the app it is, it’s very much limited to just the Starting Strength program as it is written in the book, i.e. three sets of five reps for the five exercises except deadlifts. (Chin up auxiliary work can be added as well)
However that is the actual program and any deviation from it will ultimately lead to wasted time and potential of the novice effect during the novice linear progression period (NLP).
I would like the developers to come up with a secondary intermediate app for after NLP. As the novice effect only lasts for a several months to possibly over a year depending on the individual. Eventually everyone doing the program hits the limit of NLP and must move on to more complicated programming. It would be nice to have a Practical Programming App. With so many people staying with lifting after Starting Strength, the audience and demand are certainly there.
All in all like most products from Starting Strength, this app is worth far more than the price asked. It is clearly a labor of love for strength, health and teaching from the crew at Wichita Falls Athletic Club. Highly recommend.