Simply Strong App vs Mackenzie Wells Fit: Which Workout Program Is Right for You?

If you’re on the hunt for a realistic, at-home friendly workout program that helps women build strength, then you’ve probably come across both the Simply Strong App and Mackenzie Wells Fit.

Both of these apps focus on helping women develop a consistent strength training routine and healthier habits, but the experience, workout style, and programming approaches are different. Neither app is inherently “better” or “worse.” Finding the right fit will depend on our goals, workout preferences, schedule, and the type of support you are looking for.

Workout Style

Perhaps the biggest difference between Simply Strong and Mackenzie Wells Fit is the style of workouts. Mackenzie Wells Fit uses follow-along workouts where you exercise with the trainer in real time. In comparison, the Simply Strong App takes a go-at-your-own-pace approach, where instead of trying to keep up with a timer or video, you move through your workout at your own speed.

Many women, especially those who want to build muscle or who are in midlife, often find the go-at-your-own-pace style to feel less rushed and easier to customize. Lifting heavier weights is much more doable when you have ample time to rest between sets and aren’t feeling rushed to jump back into the next set or exercise. With go-at-your-own-pace workouts, you can:

• Pause when needed
• Rest appropriately between sets
• Focus on form
• Progress at your own pace

That’s not to say that follow-along workouts aren’t valuable, because they definitely are. Many women prefer to be led through the entire workout and like the experience of having a trainer do it with them in real time.

Also important to note, Simply Strong focuses on the basics of strength training, repeated and progressed over time, whereas Mackenzie Wells keeps things changing and novel. Again, neither approach is right or wrong, it just depends what your goals are.

Programming Structure

The structure of your workouts matters if your goal is long-term progress. Simply Strong heavily focuses on progressive overload strength training and workout programming that builds over time. What this means is that Simply Strong includes:

• Repeated movement patterns
• Planned progression
• Workout splits (muscle-group specific)
• Clear sets, reps, and rest periods

Rather than relying on constant workout variety, the goal is to help women progressively get stronger. Mackenzie Wells Fit includes more variety and follow-along style programming and new workouts every week, but it’s not as focused on progression and strength over time.

And here’s the thing: some women love variety, while clothes feel more successful with a repeatable structure. Mackenzie Wells offers new workouts every week, whereas Simply Strong offers new workouts on a monthly basis, allowing you ample time to develop strength and results within each workout before progressing to the next monthly plan.

Workout Splits

Workout structure can make a big difference in consistency and results. Inside the Simply Strong App, women can choose from multiple training splits, including:

• 3-day full body
• 3-day split
• 4-day split
• 5-day split with full body conditioning

This allows women to choose a schedule that fits their lifestyle, and for busy moms and women in midlife, flexibility matters a lot.

Mackenzie Wells Fitness App offers 5 workouts per week with different workouts and structures each week, which can offer a lot of variety and novelty for those seeking that.

Equipment Needed

The great news is that both programs are very supportive of home workouts, requiring only minimal equipment and a small amount of floor space. Both programs primarily focus on dumbbell-based training, which makes it simple for women who:

• Work out at home
• Have limited space
• Want simple setups

Mackenzie Wells shares that members only need one pair of dumbbells to see results; however, with the Simply Strong App being a progressive overload-focused workout program, it will be important to have more than one set of dumbbells to make progress and see real muscle growth from home.

Which Program Is Better for Beginners?

When it comes to beginners, the most critical components required include:

• A clear structure
• Exercise guidance
• Progression
• Confidence-building repetition

Beginners who prefer being guided moment-to-moment may enjoy follow-along workouts. However, women who like flexibility and want to learn movement patterns at their own pace may prefer a self-paced strength program. It really just depends on your learning style and comfort level. Neither approach is right or wrong; it’s a personal choice and one that might be worth exploring both methods to see which feels better and more sustainable.

Midlife and Long-Term Sustainability

At some point, a lot of women eventually realize that intensity alone isn’t the answer. This usually becomes glaringly obvious during perimenopause and midlife as recovery and sustainability become more important than ever.

The Simply Strong App emphasizes:

• Strength-focused programming
• Progress over perfection
• Realistic workout lengths
• Long-term consistency

The goal isn’t to feel exhausted after every workout; it’s to get stronger, age gracefully, and be able to continue to keep progressing.

Quick Comparison

The Bottom Line

Both the Simply Strong App and Mackenzie Wells Fit are doing a great job of helping women move their bodies and develop healthier routines. The decision between the two of them will depend on your goals (do you want to build muscle and recomp your body or do you just want to get moving?) and your preferred workout style.

If you thrive using follow-along workouts and being walked through each rep in real time, Mackenzie Wells Fit may feel like a great fit. If you prefer structured strength programming, progressive overload, and the ability to work out at your own pace, Simply Strong may be the best option for you.

At the end of the day, the best fitness app is the one that you will be able to commit to and stick with long-term, and the one that gives you the best results.

Think the Simply Strong App might be a good fit for you? Take our quick quiz to really find out.