Having a workout tracking app is essential for proper physical development in the gym. The majority of apps in this category on the Android market have a terrible aesthetic and are difficult to understand. Simplest Gym Notes breaks with all the current schemes of what a workout notes app should be like to show us that it is much simpler and more attractive than a conventional app.
Basic Features of Simplest Gym Notes App
Browsing Google Play in search of a workout tracking app that would provide me with good workout tracking, I suddenly came across a curious app, one that was different from the others. It had a simple yet groundbreaking aesthetic compared to the rest of the market's applications, and that's what made me decide to install this application.
Trying out Simplest Gym Notes, I was able to enjoy its design, which, despite being excessively simple compared to other apps, I really enjoyed creating a routine or just browsing the application. Any application you download won't give you the interest that Simplest Gym Notes does.
Getting to the point, is Simplest Gym Notes functional? Does it meet all the basic requirements of a workout tracking app? I can say that yes, it meets at least the most basic requirements, although in my opinion, it needs some more features that even the Pro version does not offer. If the app is free, there is a Pro version that offers more features.
Basic features of Simplest Gym Notes that have interested me the most:
A large catalog of exercises to add to our routine completely for free: Despite being a simple app, it has a large number of exercises that we can add to our personalized or individual workouts.
Calendar and timer functionalities when performing our workout: A basic timer that starts counting from when we start the workout, a drawback is that we can't stop or customize it, it only counts the hours. Like the calendar, it is also basic, only showing what day that routine was done, it is not a global calendar, but an individual one according to the routine.
Export and import data completely for free: With this feature, many people will download the app, as not all apps on the market offer this functionality for free and without ads.
Disadvantages of Some Basic Features
While it's clear that this application has been well-designed, there are certain features that I find problematic, as I mentioned earlier.
I find the use of the calendar in the app to be limited, as the app clears completed workouts every day. Having tried many workout logging apps, I've found that many of them use the calendar as a place where you can view your workouts based on an exercise or routine, which is highly useful. However, in Simplest Gym Notes, the calendar serves only a secondary function: to record the day you worked out.
Another feature that doesn't quite work for me is the timer; it's simply a timer. It doesn't fully serve its primary function, such as being an alarm for a specific exercise during rest periods. Instead, in Simplest Gym Notes, it's focused solely on recording the time spent exercising.
Innovative Features of Simplest Gym Notes
Simplest Gym Notes has become my favorite app in terms of design, simplicity, and ease of use. As an app developer myself, I've looked through the entire app, and there are several features that, while present in other apps, Simplest Gym Notes executes in a simple and attractive manner.
Here are the features that I found most innovative:
Simple exercise logging tailored to each workout. For example, cardio exercises use measures like kilometers and time, while weightlifting exercises use reps and weight. Additionally, it allows for note-taking by exercise and number of sets performed during the workout.
When you select a muscle group, a catalog of exercises appears that you can choose from: It's a great idea to have muscles color-coded and each muscle group have a catalog of exercises, making it more attractive and user-friendly.
A Design with a Couple of Errors
Previously, I mentioned that your design is one of the best, but that doesn't mean it's perfect. In this section, I want to point out a series of errors that the developer hasn't considered or hasn't given enough attention to. The purpose of this section is for you to know my opinion and how I would improve it in certain aspects:
When you see the calendar, you have to edit the page first and then click on the calendar. Since it's not a button, it's difficult to understand and having to edit before accessing it seems like an unnecessary step.
When adding an exercise, the close button is sometimes not visible, which makes it difficult to know how to exit the page. The only way to exit is to go back. It could add an external button that, when pressed, exits the page without having to scroll down the exercise list.
Lack of essential functionalities for intermediate or expert users who train in the gym: body measurements, 1RM, customized graphs according to the training and not at a general level, creation of goals, a more complex timer. Additionally, you cannot share your workouts.
Is the Simplest Gym Notes App Pro version worth it?
Let's talk about the Pro version of the Simplest Gym Notes App. The app is magnificent and breaks the design schemes of mobile apps, and it's also free. However, I think the Pro version doesn't meet the expectations of a person who trains at an intermediate or advanced level.
If you're a beginner or simply want to record the basics of a workout, this app is the best choice you can make in the market, as it's attractive, simple, and effective. This workout tracking app is one that I think has great potential, but it lacks major functionalities to make it suitable for everyone.
For now, I would recommend beginners to purchase the Pro version, but if you're intermediate or advanced, I don't think it's the best decision because there are hundreds of apps that provide greater functionalities at the same price.
There are certain limitations that make the free version of Simplest Gym Notes a poor choice:
Maximum of 3 personalized workouts: You cannot create more than 3 routines in the free version.
Restricted data graph: You can only take monthly and quarterly data from personalized workouts, you cannot do so from specific exercises or categories unless you have the Pro version.
Slower design: In the free version, you cannot directly delete a workout record, but you have to access the page and delete from there. However, in the Pro version, it is possible.
As an SEO professional, I believe that developers should make money from their apps, but we should focus on offering real value and not restrict certain functionalities. Still, I see this app in a positive light, and if it is truly updated with new updates, it could be a hit in the training app market.
How does my app GymNotes compare to Simplest Gym Notes? Which one is better?
As the developer of my own app GymNotes, I can say that the design of Simplest Gym Notes is unique and great. Both apps have a different style, if you are a fan of minimalist and simple style, Simplest Gym Notes is the best option, but if you want an original design with personality, then my app GymNotes is your choice.
Each training app has a different target audience. While my app GymNotes focuses on being a more competitive and complete app for beginners to experts, Simplest Gym Notes, as the name suggests, aims for simplicity, recording the most basic of workouts, reps, weights, exercises, sets, timer, calendar... Depending on your training goals, you will choose one or the other.
Features that make GymNotes an attractive alternative to Simplest Gym Notes.
GymNotes stands out for its innovation in the training log app market. Its unique features are a plus when deciding between an app like Simplest Gym Notes or GymNotes.
It's not fair to compare both applications since they have different target audiences.
Simplest Gym Notes is a simple application, but that doesn't mean it's not innovative. On the contrary, as previously mentioned, Simplest Gym Notes has iconic features such as design and exercises adapted to your training. However, it falls short in a variety of aspects that, if updated and added, could make it the best app in the note-taking market.
Now GymNotes is what Simplest Gym Notes doesn't do: create new features that have not been invented in the training log app market. These are some of those original features:
Competitive System: GymNotes has an innovative system that encourages rivalry and fun in training. We are talking about a scoring system based on progress in training. Your score reflects your training. It's a fun way to motivate yourself and your friends to see who scores the highest each week or even to motivate yourself.
Share Your Workouts and Exercises on Social Media: The link we share will vary depending on how we've done the workout compared to other days. Perhaps you've lifted more weight, and that will be reflected in the information we share about our workout.
Original Features: One-click buttons that provide you with information on your barbell and dumbbell weight for your set. Perfect if you're bad with math. You can also create variants that will be reflected for a specific day. For example, if I only do a variant on Mondays, that variant will only be accessible on Mondays.
In conclusion, using Simplest Gym Notes has been a great experience. It hasn't been boring at all; on the contrary, it's been great. By using it, I've discovered its great potential and how it can benefit anyone dedicated to training in the gym. Perhaps Simplest Gym Notes isn't my type of app because I need more features for tracking my workouts, but for any other beginner, it will be a luxury.
I loved the idea, and if the developer wants to collaborate with me on a project like this, I'll be attentive.
