GYM RPG
Best for: lifters who want a reason to show up and friends who notice when they do not.
Every set earns XP and a muscle stat that feeds a skill tree and a daily party boss turn. Platforms: iOS and Android.
Free tier: free; one XP-rewarded workout a day and 3 saved plans, logging is unlimited. Paid: pro: $7.99/mo or $49.99/yr on the US App Store. The catch: smaller exercise library than the big loggers, and no import from other apps.
Workout Quest
Best for: lifters who like collecting things.
Each logged set earns XP for your hero and the muscle trained, with quests, cards and leaderboards. Platforms: iOS and Android.
Free tier: free to start; AI program limits not verified. Paid: premium: $2.99/mo or $29.99/yr listed (plus an unexplained $44.99 item). The catch: only 5 App Store ratings averaging 3.2, with reports of a login freeze and calendar bugs.
GymLevels
Best for: lifters who want a ranking system.
17 muscle groups each climb 16 ranks, with classes, quests and boss challenges. Platforms: iOS and Android.
Free tier: none; a free trial or a paid plan is required. Paid: weekly $9.99; annual $29.99 to $59.99 listed (labels unclear). The catch: a hard paywall, and reviewers mention a limited exercise list.
RPGFitness
Best for: people who want a classic RPG loop.
A class, gold, gear and monsters loop that also logs warm-up, failure and drop sets and 1RM. Platforms: iOS and Android.
Free tier: free download; free vs paid not verified. Paid: adventurer's Pass: $3.59/mo, $34.90/yr or $99.00 lifetime. The catch: reviewers call progression slow, there is no food tracking, and the listing is rated "Contains Loot Boxes".
Ascended
Best for: people who want a story around their workouts.
Story missions and a hero levelled by logged workouts and habits, with Apple Health sync. Platforms: iOS and Android.
Free tier: 2-week free trial advertised; free tier not verified. Paid: premium $5.99 and $29.99 (periods unlabeled); Lifetime $99.99. The catch: missed workouts cannot be entered manually, and activity is capped at 90 minutes a day.
Habitica
Best for: people who need a game for habits in general, including exercise.
A full RPG for habits and to-dos with party quests. Platforms: iOS, Android and web.
Free tier: free to use. Paid: subscription from $4.99/mo up to $47.99/yr. The catch: it is not a fitness app, and every task is self-reported.
How to choose
- Your game built on logged lifting sets: GYM RPG, Workout Quest, GymLevels or RPGFitness.
- A story around your sessions: Ascended.
- A game for habits beyond the gym: Habitica.
- No paywall surprises: check GymLevels first, it has no free tier.
GYM RPG, Workout Quest, GymLevels, RPGFitness, Ascended, Habitica at a glance
| App | Best for | Free tier | Paid plan | Honest catch |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| GYM RPG | Lifters who want a reason to show up and friends who notice when they do not | Free; one XP-rewarded workout a day and 3 saved plans, logging is unlimited | Pro: $7.99/mo or $49.99/yr on the US App Store | Smaller exercise library than the big loggers, and no import from other apps |
| Workout Quest | Lifters who like collecting things | Free to start; AI program limits not verified | Premium: $2.99/mo or $29.99/yr listed (plus an unexplained $44.99 item) | Only 5 App Store ratings averaging 3.2, with reports of a login freeze and calendar bugs |
| GymLevels | Lifters who want a ranking system | None; a free trial or a paid plan is required | Weekly $9.99; annual $29.99 to $59.99 listed (labels unclear) | A hard paywall, and reviewers mention a limited exercise list |
| RPGFitness | People who want a classic RPG loop | Free download; free vs paid not verified | Adventurer's Pass: $3.59/mo, $34.90/yr or $99.00 lifetime | Reviewers call progression slow, there is no food tracking, and the listing is rated "Contains Loot Boxes" |
| Ascended | People who want a story around their workouts | 2-week free trial advertised; free tier not verified | Premium $5.99 and $29.99 (periods unlabeled); Lifetime $99.99 | Missed workouts cannot be entered manually, and activity is capped at 90 minutes a day |
| Habitica | People who need a game for habits in general, including exercise | Free to use | Subscription from $4.99/mo up to $47.99/yr | It is not a fitness app, and every task is self-reported |