Simply Strong App vs. SWEAT: Which Workout App Is Better for Women?

If you’re looking for a workout app that’s specifically designed for women who want quick and effective workouts, then you’ve probably come across both the SWEAT App and the Simply Strong App.

Both of these apps are designed to make workouts more convenient while removing a lot of the guesswork from exercising, but they take very different approaches.

SWEAT is a massive fitness platform that has been around for years (who remembers BBG???) and has dozens of programs, multiple trainers, and a wide variety of training styles. Simply Strong takes a much more focused approach with structured strength training that’s built around progressive overload that helps women get stronger in as little as 30 minutes per day.

Both apps provide a ton of value, with neither one being inherently better than the other. The fitness app that’s the right choice for you will depend on your goals and what you’re looking for in your training app.

In this article, I’m comparing Simply Strong and SWEAT to help you decide which app might be the better fit for you.

Workout Philosophy

One of the biggest and most important differences between Simply Strong and SWEAT is the overall training philosophy.

SWEAT offers a huge variety of training styles and programs. Users can choose from programs focused on strength, HIIT, running, barre, boxing, bodyweight training, and more. With more than 60 programs available, there's a lot of variety to choose from - which usually either feels really exciting or really intimidating.

Simply Strong is much more focused.

The app is built around progressive overload strength training and basic strength training foundations for women over 35. Instead of giving you a massive library of unrelated workouts to choose from, Simply Strong gives you a structured monthly program that builds from week to week.

You repeat key movements throughout the month, track your weights and reps, and look for opportunities to gradually progress (aka progressive overload). What this means is that instead of choosing a random workout based on what workout sounds good or looks fun that day, you follow a structured program that keeps things efficient.

Variety vs. Structured Progression

Both apps have variety in programming, but SWEAT has more. Simply Strong has multiple strength-specific workout programs to choose from, with new monthly programs every month. SWEAT has a bunch of other workout modalities aside from strength training, like HIIT, barre, and boxing,

If you love variety and want to be able to switch between different types of workouts depending on your mood, SWEAT might have what you’re looking for, as it has a large variety of options. Simply Strong intentionally does less. Instead of constantly switching up your workouts in the name of novelty, Simply Strong utilizes the long-studied concept of progressive overload to help you build strength and muscle.

But that’s not to say that the workouts in the Simply Strong App don’t change; they just change monthly (after you’ve had time to progress in them) instead of daily or weekly. This gives you enough consistency to make progress without feeling like you're doing the exact same thing forever.

One of the biggest reasons why women feel stuck and as if they are spinning their wheels, not seeing the results they are working towards, is because they are doing too many random workouts and not following a structured program. This is not to say that SWEAT doesn’t have structured programs; they absolutely do, but they also offer a lot more options and novelty, which can sometimes promote switching things up a little too often.

What Does Progressive Overload Look Like?

Progressive overload is one of the foundations of the Simply Strong App. The goal isn’t necessarily to make every workout harder; it’s to gradually increase the challenge placed on your muscles over time - and this can be created in many different ways, including:

• Increasing your dumbbell weight
• Completing more reps
• Improving your form
• Completing more sets
• Slowing your tempo
• Adding a pause or pulse to the movement

Simply Strong tracks your sets, reps, and weights so you can see what you did previously and look for opportunities to progress the next time you perform that same exercise.

SWEAT also offers structured programs, including programs specifically focused on strength, so progressive training is definitely part of the SWEAT experience, too. The difference is that progressive overload is the central philosophy behind Simply Strong rather than one training style among many.

Workout Length

If you're a busy woman, workout length can make a big difference in whether you actually stick with a program, and consistency and sustainability are absolutely clutch for results.

Simply Strong offers a 30- or 45-minute version of its workouts, allowing you to choose the amount of time and volume that works for you that day. SWEAT offers programs and workouts with varying durations, so there's more flexibility if you enjoy having different workout lengths available.

If your priority is having a consistent strength routine that you can fit into a busy schedule, Simply Strong's 30-minute option makes it easy to keep strength training manageable.

Equipment

Both apps can be used for home workouts, but the equipment requirements can vary depending on which SWEAT program you choose.

Simply Strong keeps equipment intentionally simple and very at-home friendly. The equipment requirements for Simply Strong are:

• Dumbbells
• Resistance bands
• A bench, chair, or elevated surface
• Floor space

You don't need a fully equipped home gym to follow the program. For women who want a straightforward dumbbell-and-band strength program at home, this simplicity can be a major advantage.

Community and Support

This is another area where the experience is different. Because SWEAT is such a large platform with so many users, it would be nearly impossible for the founder and/or the coaches to develop a relationship with all of the app’s users. There’s no direct way to reach out to the SWEAT App trainers inside the app. I looked to see if SWEAT had a FB community, but couldn’t find one.

Simply Strong is a much smaller and more personal app. When you join, you don’t just get the workouts; you get 1:1 messaging in the app with the creator and head trainer if you have questions. Plus, there’s a tight-knit community of women in a private FB group who are there working toward similar goals.

For many women, especially women in midlife, that sense of connection and support can be just as important as the workout itself.

Who Should Choose SWEAT?

SWEAT may be a better fit if you:

• Love variety in your workouts
• Want access to multiple trainers
• Enjoy trying different training styles
• Want strength, cardio, HIIT, running, barre, and other options in one app
• Prefer choosing from a large library of programs
• Like changing your training style throughout the year

SWEAT's biggest strength is variety! With more than 60 programs spanning different training styles and trainers, there's a lot to explore and enjoy.

Who Should Choose Simply Strong?

Simply Strong may be a better fit if you:

• Primarily want to build strength and muscle
• Prefer a structured plan instead of a huge workout library
• Want progressive overload to be the foundation of your training
• Work out at home with dumbbells and bands
• Want 30- or 45-minute workouts
• Like tracking your weights and reps and watching yourself get stronger
• Want a program designed specifically for women
• Want support from a real trainer without paying for 1:1 personal training
• Want a community of women working toward similar goals
• Are looking for a sustainable strength routine through your 30s, 40s, and beyond

Simply Strong is intentionally more focused on strength training.

Wrapping Up

Both SWEAT and Simply Strong are designed to help women make fitness a consistent part of their lives, but they're built for somewhat different preferences.

Choose SWEAT if you want variety in your workouts.

You get a large library of programs, multiple trainers, and a wide range of training styles.

Choose Simply Strong if you want a strength training focus.

You get structured monthly strength programming, progressive overload, simple equipment requirements, workout tracking, 30- or 45-minute options, nutrition resources, and a community of women who are all working toward getting stronger.

Neither approach is inherently better than the other; it just depends on what you’re seeking from your exercise program and what your goals are.