Written by Will Duru, BSc (Hons) Sport and Exercise Science, award-winning Personal Trainer with over 10 years of experience in strength training and optimising recovery.
Finding the right weightlifting app can make or break your fitness journey. After a decade of training clients and testing countless fitness apps, I can confidently say that 12REPS stands out as the best home and gym workout app available today. What makes it different? It combines cutting-edge AI technology with the human touch of certified personal trainers to deliver weekly workout programmes that actually get results.
Why 12REPS Is the unitmate Weightlifting App
Most workout tracker apps fall into one of two categories: they either dump generic templates on you, or they expect you to design everything yourself. 12REPS takes a revolutionary third approach—blending intelligent technology with expert human guidance from qualified personal trainers.
When you use 12REPS, you’re not just getting an algorithm. You’re getting weekly workout programmes designed by BSc-qualified sports scientists and award-winning personal trainers with over 10 years of real-world experience. This human touch is what transforms 12REPS from a simple workout tracker into a genuine virtual personal trainer.
The Human Touch: Weekly Programmes from Certified Trainers
Here’s what sets 12REPS apart as the best muscle-building app: every programme is created by certified, qualified personal trainers who understand the science of progressive overload, periodisation, and proper training structure.
You’ll receive:
- Weekly workout programmes tailored to your specific goals
- Expert exercise selection based on proven training principles
- Progressive programming that ensures continuous muscle growth
- Professional guidance on form, technique, and execution
- Strategic periodisation to prevent plateaus and overtraining
This isn’t a computer guessing what you should do. It’s qualified personal trainers programming your training exactly as they would for their in-person clients. You get the expertise of a £70-per-hour personal trainer at a fraction of the cost.
Best Home and Gym Workout Flexibility
One of the biggest challenges with fitness apps is equipment limitations. You might have a full gym one day and only access to your living room the next. 12REPS adapts seamlessly to both scenarios, making it the ultimate best home and gym workout app.
At the Gym: Access over 1,500 exercise demonstrations covering every piece of equipment. Whether you train at a commercial gym, a boutique studio, or a basic leisure centre, 12REPS creates optimal workouts with whatever’s available.
At Home: No equipment? No problem. 12REPS generates effective bodyweight routines that build muscle and burn fat. Have dumbbells and a resistance band? The app instantly adjusts to maximise what you own. This flexibility means you never miss a workout, regardless of your circumstances.
This adaptability is crucial for consistency—the real key to long-term results. When your weightlifting app works anywhere, you eliminate excuses and build the habit of showing up.
The Best Muscle Building App: Science-Backed Programming
Building muscle requires progressive overload, adequate volume, proper exercise selection, and strategic recovery. Most workout tracker apps give you a blank page and hope you figure it out. 12REPS programmes all of this automatically based on sports science principles.
Progressive Overload Made Simple
The app tracks your lifts and automatically suggests weight increases when you’re ready. No guesswork—just consistent progress that builds strength and muscle week after week.
Optimal Training Volume
Certified personal trainers have programmed the perfect balance of sets and reps for muscle growth. Not too little (which leaves gains on the table) and not too much (which causes overtraining). Every workout is precisely calibrated for maximum hypertrophy.
Smart Exercise Selection
The weekly workout programmes include compound movements for overall mass and isolation exercises for specific muscle development. This combination, designed by qualified trainers, ensures balanced, aesthetic muscle growth.
Strategic Recovery
Unlike apps that just pile on volume, 12REPS programmes proper rest and deload weeks. Muscle grows during recovery, and the certified trainers behind 12REPS understand this crucial principle.
The Best Muscle and Weight Loss App
Whether your goal is building muscle or losing fat, 12REPS delivers with intelligent programming from qualified personal trainers.
For Fat Loss: The app generates high-intensity workout programmes that maximise calorie burn whilst preserving muscle mass. This is critical—most weight loss efforts fail because people lose muscle along with fat, tanking their metabolism. The certified trainers at 12REPS design programmes that keep you lean and strong.
For Muscle Gain: Heavy compound lifts, progressive overload, and adequate volume—all programmed by experts who’ve built thousands of physiques over the past decade. The weekly workout programmes evolve as you get stronger, ensuring you never plateau.
For Body Recomposition: The sweet spot many people want—losing fat whilst building muscle. The qualified personal trainers behind 12REPS create strategic programmes that achieve both simultaneously through intelligent exercise selection and training frequency.
Build Your Own Workout Routine for the Gym
Whilst 12REPS excels at providing weekly workout programmes from certified trainers, it also gives you complete freedom to build your own workout routine for the gym. This flexibility makes it perfect for experienced lifters who have specific preferences or want to experiment with their programming.
Custom Routine Builder: Create personalised workout routines from the 1,500+ exercise library. Whether you follow a push/pull/legs split, upper/lower routine, or full-body programme, 12REPS adapts to your preferred training style.
Exercise Customisation: Select specific exercises, set your target reps and sets, adjust rest periods, and build the exact workout you want. The app saves your custom routines so you can repeat your favourite sessions.
Template Flexibility: Save your own workout templates and reuse them whenever you want. Perfect for those who’ve found a routine that works and want to stick with it long-term.
Superior Workout Tracker Features
As a workout tracker, 12REPS makes logging effortless whilst providing insights that actually matter.
Track Reps, Sets, and Weight: Log every detail of your training in seconds. The interface is clean and fast—no clunky menus or confusing navigation. Track your reps, sets, and weight lifted for every exercise, giving you a complete picture of your training intensity.
1RM Tracking: Monitor your one-rep max (1RM) for all major lifts. The app automatically calculates your estimated 1RM based on your working sets, so you can see your true strength gains over time. Watch your bench press, squat, deadlift, and overhead press 1RM climb week after week.
Volume Lifted: Track your total volume lifted per workout, per week, and per month. This metric is crucial for understanding training stimulus. Are you progressively increasing volume? The data shows you exactly how hard you’re working and whether you’re providing enough stimulus for muscle growth.
Visual Progress Tracking: See your strength gains through clear graphs and statistics. Track your 1RM progression, monitor volume trends, and watch your body transform. This visual feedback is incredibly motivating.
Personal Records: The app automatically identifies when you’ve hit a new PR—whether it’s a weight, rep, or volume record. These celebrations keep you driven and prove the weekly workout programmes are working.
Comprehensive Exercise Library: Over 1,500 exercises with video demonstrations from certified trainers. Every movement includes detailed form cues, common mistakes to avoid, and muscle activation tips.
The 12REPS Difference: Human Expertise Meets Technology
What makes 12REPS the best weightlifting app isn’t just the technology—it’s the human expertise behind every workout. Here’s what you get:
Certified Personal Trainers: Every programme is designed by qualified trainers with BSc degrees in Sport and Exercise Science. These aren’t Instagram influencers—they’re award-winning professionals with over 10 years of client results.
Weekly Workout Programmes: Fresh, progressive training every week. The certified trainers adjust your programme as you advance, ensuring continuous improvement.
Educational Guidance: Learn the ‘why’ behind every exercise. Understanding training principles makes you a smarter, more effective lifter.
Professional Standards: The same quality programming that in-person personal training clients pay £280+ per month for, accessible at a fraction of the cost.
New Feature coming : Connect with Lifters Globally
12REPS is introducing an exciting new community feature that connects you with fellow lifters around the world. Fitness is better when shared, and we’re creating private communities where only registered users can post and engage. Just like Reddit’s community structure, we’ve organised different spaces for specific fitness topics, each with its own rules and regulations designed to foster a supportive, helpful environment.
Our Community Structure:
- Progress & Transformation Community: Share your before and after pictures, track your physique changes, and celebrate visual progress milestones
- Form Check & Technique Community: Post videos for technique advice from both fellow users and our certified trainers who actively participate in discussions
- Weightlifting Journey Community: Connect with strength athletes focused on building muscle and increasing lifts
- Weight Loss Journey Community: Find support from others working towards fat loss and body recomposition goals
Each community has its own guidelines and moderation to ensure conversations stay constructive and encouraging. These are spaces where members help each other grow, share knowledge, and provide genuine support.
Global Lifting Community: Join a worldwide network of strength athletes, bodybuilders, and fitness enthusiasts. Share your progress, celebrate PRs, and find motivation from people who understand the dedication it takes to transform your physique.
Social Accountability: Follow other lifters, see their workout routines, and get inspired by their progress. When you see someone hitting new PRs or crushing their goals, it pushes you to do the same. This social element adds powerful external motivation to complement the app’s expert programming.
Share Your Journey: Post your workouts, track your transformation, and inspire others. Whether you’re celebrating a new 1RM, showing off your physique progress, or sharing your favourite workout routine, the community celebrates your wins with you.
Find Training Partners: Connect with lifters in your area or with similar goals. Having a training partner, even a virtual one, significantly improves consistency and effort. The community feature helps you find your tribe.
This new feature combines expert programming from certified trainers with the motivation of a supportive, global fitness community. You’re never training alone with 12REPS.
Why 12REPS Beats Other Fitness Apps
Better than generic apps: You get weekly workout programmes from certified trainers, not random templates. Plus, you can build your own workout routine when you want complete control.
Better than pure AI apps: The human touch of qualified personal trainers ensures your programming makes sense and gets results.
Better than simple trackers: Track reps, sets, weight, 1RM, and total volume lifted with comprehensive analytics that show real progress.
Better than in-person training: Access professional programming at 10% of the cost of private personal training.
Better with community: Connect with lifters globally for motivation, accountability, and shared progress.
Start Your Transformation Today
If you’re serious about building muscle, losing fat, or transforming your physique, you need more than a basic workout tracker. You need expert guidance, progressive programming, comprehensive tracking, and the flexibility to train anywhere.
12REPS delivers all of this through weekly workout programmes designed by certified, qualified personal trainers. Build your own workout routine when you want control. Track your reps, sets, weight, 1RM, and volume lifted to monitor every aspect of your progress. Connect with a global community of lifters who share your passion.
It’s the best home and gym workout app because it works wherever you are. It’s the best muscle building app because it’s built on proven hypertrophy principles. It’s the best weightlifting app because qualified experts programme your training, whilst giving you the freedom to customise everything.
Build muscle, lose fat, get stronger, track your 1RM and volume, build custom routines, and connect with lifters worldwide—all with weekly workout programmes designed by certified personal trainers.
