Sadie Active vs. Simply Strong App

For women looking for a strength training app that they can do from home, Sadie Active and Simply Strong App are two popular choices. Both apps are designed to help women stay active, build strength, and remove the guesswork from strength training, but they take different approaches.

Sadie Active emphasizes functional movement, strength, mobility, and athletic training, while Simply Strong focuses on structured progressive strength training designed specifically to help women build muscle, gain strength, and stay consistent.

Neither app is objectively better; the best choice depends on your goals, your preferred workout style, and the type of support you're looking for. I’ve done both apps, so I have firsthand knowledge of what each is like.

Workout Philosophy

Probably the biggest difference between Sadie Active and Simply Strong is how the workouts are programmed.

Sadie Active features new workouts every week (uploaded over the weekend), and they focus on strength, functional fitness, and athletic movement. Because the workouts change weekly, you’re not repeating the same workouts, which can be fun from a novelty perspective, but can hinder your ability to get stronger and track your progress.

Simply Strong is built around progressive overload. Each month, the workouts follow a structured program where workouts intentionally build on one another, allowing users to track their progress and get stronger in their lifts. Instead of choosing random workouts every day, members repeat key exercises so they can improve their technique, increase weights, and confidently measure progress.

Workout Features

Honestly, the workouts in Simply Strong and Sadie Active feature a lot of the same exercises and patterns, but the way they’re structured differs.

Sadie Active

• Functional strength training
• 5 workouts per week
• 30-60 minute workouts
• Variety in workouts
• Home-friendly training

Simply Strong

• Progressive strength training
• Home dumbbell workouts
• Optional 3-, 4-, and 5-day workout splits
• 30-45 minute workouts
• Exercise tracking built into every workout

App Presentation

Again, the apps follow a very similar style, both featuring “go-at-your-own-pace” workouts, which means you are given the exercise demo video, number of reps and sets, and you go through the exercises at your own pace as opposed to trying to keep up with an on-screen instructor.

Both the Simply Strong App and Sadie Active are really easy to use and have a simple, structured workout flow. Both apps allow you to track exercises and customize your reps and weights. At this time, the Simply Strong App has some additional features that you won’t find in the Sadie Active app, like the ability to utilize exercise swaps (modifications) - which is really helpful when serving a wide variety of fitness levels.

Equipment

Both apps are designed to be accessible for at-home workouts.

Simply Strong primarily uses:

• Dumbbells
• Resistance bands
• Bench/sturdy chair

According to Sadie Active’s website, users only need dumbbells and bands, but you will definitely also need a bench or some kind of surface. Additionally, Sadie Active often uses cable machines and other gym equipment that members might not have access to at home, but the app does offer options that are more at-home friendly.

Community and Support

One area where Simply Strong stands apart is the overall member experience.

Beyond the workouts themselves, members have access to:

• A private community of women working toward similar goals with daily posts and inspiration
• Direct access to a certified personal trainer in-app for workout-related questions
• Monthly workout programming
• Hundreds of high-protein recipes
• Exercise demonstration videos
• Workout tracking and progress history

Sadie Active doesn’t have a specific community area, but it does offer in-app “teams” where you can get your friends to join you for workout challenges and accountability. There’s also no way (besides email or social media DMs) to get in contact with the trainer.

If having a place to ask questions and connect with other women is important to you, that additional support may be something to consider.

Which App Is Better for Perimenopause?

For women in perimenopause and menopause, maintaining muscle becomes increasingly important, as does making sure you’re not overtraining and overtaxing your already-stressed body.

Simply Strong was built specifically for women 35+. The programming emphasizes:

• Building lean muscle
• Progressive overload
• Bone-supporting strength training
• Sustainable home workouts
• Recovery-friendly programming

Women experiencing hormonal changes often benefit from following a consistent strength program instead of constantly changing workouts. Furthermore, less is more when it comes to women in perimenopause, with most women feeling more confident and seeing better results with shorter workouts and fewer workout days per week.

Who Should Choose Sadie Active?

Sadie Active may be a great fit if you:

• Enjoy functional fitness
• Like athletic-style training
• Want to improve mobility alongside strength
• Prefer workouts with lots of movement variety

Who Should Choose Simply Strong?

Simply Strong may be a better fit if you:

• Want to build muscle and get stronger
• Prefer a structured plan instead of choosing workouts each day
• Like tracking your progress
• Work out at home with dumbbells
• Want access to a supportive community
• Appreciate being able to ask a certified personal trainer workout-related questions
• Are looking for a sustainable approach to fitness during perimenopause and beyond

Last Thoughts

Both Sadie Active and Simply Strong offer an amazing workout experience for women looking to get stronger, primarily from home. If you’re looking for functional fitness, athletic movement, and varied workouts, Sadie Active may be an excellent fit.

If your primary goal is to build strength, gain muscle, and follow a structured program that removes the guesswork from training, Simply Strong offers a clear roadmap. With progressive monthly programming, flexible workout splits, home-friendly equipment, recipe resources, and a supportive community, it's designed to help women stay consistent and continue getting stronger month after month.

If you’d like to explore the Simply Strong App, I highly recommend starting by taking this quick 2-minute quiz to see if it’s the right fit for you and your goals.