Five/Three/One - 531 Workouts Reviews

by PHXDiesel

Doesn't consistently save your training max values. Add a value to 1 Set.. save changes. Go back in, and it reverts back to its previous value. It works properly on the web page, but FiveThreeOne is broken. Sometimes you can go in and adjust up, then back down. Other times it just won't change. If you can't set your maxes properly, what's the point of FiveThreeOne ? Broken.

by Ronaldinho430

FiveThreeOne helps gamify a typical 5/3/1 routine and that makes workouts more enjoyable.

Needs polishing however. Screen regularly freezes requiring you to lock and unlock your phone. UI, despite looking nice, is extremely difficult to navigate. Hope it improves.

by Cscwun

I love the look and feel of FiveThreeOne, but when I tried purchasing the extra features I couldn’t. It kept saying “unable to connect to AppStore” I guess I’ll find a different app.

by ImRichieHan

FiveThreeOne is everything you want in a training app. Clean, smooth, great UX, and free with no ads. Ended up purchasing custom plates and will probably buy the other add on to support.

The only thing that stops it from being 5 stars is the inability to skip deloads. If there is an option, it’s definitely not easy to find which would also hold it back a star.

Overall great app that I’d highly recommend.

by Michelledsm

FiveThreeOne is awesome. I’ve run 531 cycles using spreadsheets and several other apps. None of them have been as good as this one. That said, I do want to point out some trouble I’ve had.

1. On two or three occasions, when I’ve used switched between FiveThreeOne and another on my iPhone, 531 lost the sets I’d already completed.

2. FiveThreeOne will sometimes say I’ve missed a workout when I didn’t.

3. I took a week off but FiveThreeOne didn’t skip that cycle. Even when I said to skip. Rescheduling screwed everything up. I tried deleting the cycle to no avail. I finally had to delete all cycles.

by Mlk1911

Great app. Been using strong to track my five three one progress but this is so much more intuitive. One ask is to provide an option for tracking weight in assistance exercises. That would make FiveThreeOne perfect!

by ZBall-1116

FiveThreeOne is very customizable assuming you want exactly what is pre-programmed for the primary workouts. I was hoping for a FSL add on to each workout similar to the jokers but you have to choose it as the primary and then edit the assistance workouts. This will require buying the optional add-ons. The other restriction is you are stuck with whatever order your assistance lifts are set as prior to the workout. Not helpful in a busy gym where you need to adjust on the fly. FiveThreeOne is also limited to the original 531 (beyond) and doesn’t consider 531 forever so if you want those workouts, you are out of luck. In general, FiveThreeOne does what it says it does, fairly good customization but limited for on the fly adjusts.

by Evetser

I’ve been using FiveThreeOne after finding the work lout plan on Reddit. FiveThreeOne is great functions well, easy to use interface. I like the options after buying the pack to adjust the accessory lifts. My only complaint is being unable to pause the workout while waiting for equipment to open up in a busy gym and also when starting a new cycle not being able to set the cycle start date to account for a break in working out. Other than that FiveThreeOne is fantastic, I hope they add the ability to pause and also control when cycles start and pause cycles.

by Pizzatarian

The only thing that would make FiveThreeOne better for me personally (and probably others as well) would be a 2 day a week scheduling option.

by JonandJoy04

Please bring this to the Apple Watch. Look at Gymaholic for an example. It’s annoying having to pull your phone out after every set.

by Dantheman650

Even without paying for any add-ones, FiveThreeOne does exactly what I need it to do. The built-in timer is fantastic and I love that I don’t need to think about the weight progression.

Two small features that I would love to see:
- Cycle pause (for vacations, sick days, etc.)
- Deload skip (I don’t want to deload every cycle)

by Bkvdjc

I really enjoy the functionality and how easy it is to use FiveThreeOne. The little reminders rock as I tend to procrastinate between sets and it helps me to stay on track. Also it’s great that I can keep track of my progress and see my improvements. Highly recommend!

by Allstarbeauch

One thing I would love to see is an apple watch companion app. Just a rest timer with a button to move between sets is all it needs. That’s something I’d pay for. Everything else is beautifully simple

by DrnkGosoo

It has 90% of the functionality I want and replaces the spreadsheet I was working off of.

Two things that would make this perfect:
1. Ability to add in weights for accessory workouts
2. More variants of 5/3/1 like bodybuilder (wendler’s) and monolith

by Mav2316

All answers, no calculating weight or plates bc FiveThreeOne does it for, and with pictures for the dense ones… great tracking with built in rest timers and alerts when the next set should start (even if you’ve left FiveThreeOne for say, I don’t know, social media or if your eyes are wondering in the gym)… great app, highly recommend!

by RossW_6

Huge fan of 5/3/1 and have used it many times in the past. Transitioning back to the program after 2 to 3 years of doing some conjugate style training. Day one using FiveThreeOne , it is phenomenal! If you are a fan of 531 and any of its beyond 531 programs you are going to want this thing. Its simple, intuitive, and easy to program and customize. 5 stars.

by Gab Royer

I really love the look and feel of FiveThreeOne , especially for when you’re actively working out! I love having the plates for my current set and next sets laid out right there! The progress charts are also a nice touch!

by Dkeihevdn

FiveThreeOne has made it so much easier to use the 5/3/1 program. The workout mode clearly shows the next lifts, which plates are needed, and times your rests. Would love to see PR tracking in the next update.

by Drew Lq

This is a great app for 5/3/1. The free version is good, and the paid feature for the newer workout templates was well worth my money.

One additional feature I’d like to see is scheduling flexibility beyond one week. I don’t always finish my scheduled lifts in one calendar week, a 5/3/1 “week” for me is usually 8-10 days. I’d like the freedoms to schedule and change the “week” length week-to-week.

by ZAS78!

This is by far one of the better apps I have seen for 5/3/1 programmed workouts. I love that they also provide exercises for the accessory work. The one tweak the developers could make is allow you to select the weight for your accessory work so that you could track it over time as well. Over all a great app, and a few minor tweaks would make it the best.

by The Echo Factor

FiveThreeOne does what I need it to. I’ve used strongman 5x5 for years but burned out on it. Tried the other top rated 5/3/1 apps. Most stopped receiving support or just act as fancy notepads. FiveThreeOne takes care of cycle planning to include deload. When I work out I just want to be in and out as quickly as I can lifting as much volume as I can. FiveThreeOne makes that possible. Hope FiveThreeOne receives ongoing support.

by Stefano Roman Gunness

User friendly, if you are looking for an app that will allow you to get strong without complications this is the best app on the market

by Ghzjsjdkfldlalgkejsod

There are a lot of spreadsheets and apps floating around for tracking a 5/3/1 workout plan, but this one is by far the best. Easy to use, not confusing like many other apps.

Be aware that in order to select custom accessory work (which is basically a must in my opinion) you need to pay a small fee, but that’s a totally fair price to pay on my opinion.

All that said, there’s one feature I’d love to see. I’d love to see a way to track weight in the accessory work so I can easily see how much I lifted last time and track how my accessory lifts progress over time. Right now I just write the weight in the notes, but I’d love a dedicated way to input it, and I’d love a display on the accessory lifts that states how much weight you used last time you did that lift,

by DavisSantana

FiveThreeOne is worth it if you are looking for something to quickly generate modifications to workout routines. Its free to start. It costs about 10$ to get the needed add ons for the assistance workouts (which id recommend). FiveThreeOne ’s strength is its ability to quickly generate sets and reps based on basic 531 patterns. The interface is easy to use and the timer works well.

The only quirk is that you have to do the sets in order. This makes sense for the program…bit if you are in a crowded gym sometimes its hard to do all in order.

All that said this gets 5 stars because it is a major time saver. Great job by developers.

Fwiw I like FiveThreeOne in combination w strong. Strong allows for more customization but takes a bit longer to program. Admittedly though 531 is stil great here for those workouts as it moves you out of doing the same set/rep range

by Scotcha1

I’ve been using 5/3/1 for years through a spreadsheet or a clipboard with paper.

FiveThreeOne is a huge improvement in workflow and easily managing each step

by Senor Woodrow

I’m only one workout in but it is very easy to use and has a ton of great features. Highly recommend for anyone doing 5/3/1.

by Nhdyin

Super motivating and easy to use!!! A nice feature would be to easily review notes from prior workouts so as to keep track of assistance weight and stuff

by Qwertykyle

Wish it had better integration with Apple Watch so it’s fitness record in Apple Health was more accurate with heart rate.

by Tbarnes1219

Love FiveThreeOne but approaching end of month 1. Looks like the plan ends after week 4?? Do I. We’d to upgrade to continue?

by Nimatra

The base app works extremely well for me. It's easy to track the plan

by Shmedos

Awesome app! Great and intuitive UX make this program easy to follow!

by Brennan K

I use FiveThreeOne all the time at the gym. Really love it!

by B&E ATL

This is the best 531 tracker i have used by a long shot. And I’ve used and paid a lot of them

by Sjortrek

I’ve been running some variation of 5/3/1 for 3 years now and have used a number of different apps for tracking. This one is by far the best.