Benchmark vs Strong: the free, no-account alternative
Strong is a polished, popular workout tracker, and if it works for you, keep using it. Benchmark exists for people who want progression coaching without an account, a subscription, or a cloud. Here is an honest comparison.
| What matters | Benchmark | Strong |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Free forever, no paid tier and no subscription | Free tier available, with full features behind a paid subscription |
| Account required | No, open it and start | Yes, sign-up is required |
| Works fully offline | Yes, it is an offline-first PWA that needs no connection once installed | Partly, cloud sync needs connectivity |
| Where your data lives | Only on your device, there is no server | In Strong's cloud |
| Progression coaching | Automatic double-progression targets each session | Manual logging, with coaching features in the paid plan |
| Install | From the browser, no app store | From the App Store or Google Play |
| Open source | Yes, MIT licensed | No |
Who should use which
Use Strong if you want social features, cloud sync across several devices, or a very large built-in exercise library, and you are comfortable creating an account and paying a subscription for the full set of features. It is a genuinely good app with a big community.
Use Benchmark if you want a free, private, offline workout tracker with automatic progressive overload coaching and no account. Your data stays on your device, you install it straight from the browser, and every session gives you a target so you always know your next set.
Frequently asked questions
- Is Benchmark really free?
- Yes. Benchmark is completely free with no paid tiers, no in-app purchases, and no subscription. It is open source under the MIT license.
- Can I switch from Strong?
- You can start using Benchmark right away. Benchmark starts fresh, so there is no importer for Strong exports yet, but a default proven program is seeded on your first launch so you are logging within seconds.
- Does Benchmark work offline?
- Yes. Benchmark is an offline-first Progressive Web App. Once installed it works with no internet connection, because all of your data lives on your device.
Try Benchmark free
A free, private, offline workout tracker with automatic progressive overload coaching. No account, no subscription, no app store.