Ranking by the effort scale you need to save
- 7.0Programs that use both RIR and RPE
Boostcamp
Why it made the list: It publishes per-set RPE and RIR fields inside a tracker connected to programs and multi-week planning.
Alternative: BUSTAFIT if you only use RIR and want a more direct reference
- 7.0RIR and recommendations inside Pro
Alpha Progression
Why it made the list: It includes RIR, targets and charts in Pro alongside either a self-built or generated plan.
Alternative: BUSTAFIT when the routine is already decided
- 6.0RIR-based hypertrophy on iPhone
BUSTAFIT
Why it made the list: It saves RIR beside load and reps, retrieves the last useful reference and keeps the next decision close to the exercise.
Alternative: Boostcamp when your program alternates RIR and RPE
- 6.0Generated workouts with RIR
Fitbod
Why it made the list: Its documentation explains replacing a former RPE entry with RIR inside workouts proposed by the app.
Alternative: Alpha Progression for a steadier plan
- 6.0Explicit RPE logging
Hevy
Why it made the list: It uses RPE 6–10 and explains the approximate relationship to reps in reserve without presenting a separate RIR field.
Alternative: Strong for a manual journal with RPE
- 6.0Manual templates with RPE
Strong
Why it made the list: It lets you add RPE to sets and publishes an indicative relationship between its scale and remaining repetitions.
Alternative: Hevy if the social layer matters more
- 4.0A journal specialized in RIR
RIRLift
Why it made the list: Its listing centers on load, reps and RIR, with planned routines, weekly volume and Apple Watch integration.
Alternative: BUSTAFIT for retrieving the last useful set beside the exercise
The top choice changes as soon as your notebook changes. When your coach writes RPE 8, an RIR-only field should not make you calculate mid-workout. When you naturally think “two left,” saving RPE simply because the app offers it adds a translation that does not help.
This page decides which app fits the scale and workflow you already use; it is not a loose inventory of apps that happen to mention RIR. Boostcamp leads the general matrix because it supports both scales on iOS and Android. BUSTAFIT is our most direct choice for athletes who train for hypertrophy with RIR, already have a routine and use iPhone.
| Criterion | 0 points | 1 point | 2 points |
|---|---|---|---|
| Field | Publishes neither RIR nor RPE | Publishes one scale | Publishes per-set RIR and RPE |
| Context | Isolated or undocumented field | Partial load, repetitions or effort | Load, repetitions, effort and a reference in the flow |
| Progression | Publishes no continuity | History or target without a proven effort link | Target or recommendation that uses effort |
| Platform | Mobile platform unverified | Available on iOS or Android | Available on iOS and Android |
| App | Field | Context | Progression | Platform | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Boostcamp | 2 | 2 | 1 | 2 | 7 |
| Alpha Progression | 1 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 7 |
| BUSTAFIT | 1 | 2 | 2 | 1 | 6 |
| Fitbod | 1 | 2 | 1 | 2 | 6 |
| Hevy | 1 | 2 | 1 | 2 | 6 |
| Strong | 1 | 2 | 1 | 2 | 6 |
| RIRLift | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 4 |
RIR and RPE are related, not interchangeable log entries
| Field | Question it answers | Example | Caution |
|---|---|---|---|
| RIR | How many clean reps did you think remained? | 2 RIR | It is an estimate, not an observed repetition |
| RPE | How hard was the set on the chosen scale? | RPE 8 | Its meaning depends on the scale being used |
| Indicative conversion | How are the ideas commonly related? | RPE 8 is often described as roughly 2 RIR | It does not erase individual differences or make the fields identical |
Our RIR and RIR-versus-RPE guides explain the scales in depth; this comparison has a narrower job. Keep the label used by your program, enter the estimate immediately after the set and compare trends only when exercise, range and context are reasonably alike.
The resistance-training scale links higher RPE values with fewer repetitions in reserve, which is why RPE 8 is commonly read as roughly 2 RIR. That is a practical translation, not an exact measurement: an exploratory review found that prediction accuracy changes with proximity to failure and context.
A symmetric matrix of fields, context and limits
| App | Published field | Logged beside | Later context | Highlighted platform | Important limit |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| BUSTAFIT | RIR | Load and reps | Last reference and practical guidance | iPhone | Does not log RPE |
| Boostcamp | RIR and RPE | Program sets | History, programs and analytics | iOS and Android | The program determines which field makes sense |
| RIRLift | RIR | Load and reps | Routines and weekly volume | iPhone and Apple Watch | The listing consulted documents its current features |
| Fitbod | RIR | Proposed set | History used for generation | iOS and Android | No separate RPE field |
| Alpha Progression | RIR in Pro | Set targets | Pro recommendations and charts | iOS and Android | RIR belongs to the Pro tier |
| Hevy | RPE 6–10 | Logged set | Previous values and history | iOS, Android, web and Watch | RIR is explanatory, not an independent field |
| Strong | RPE 6–10 | Logged set | History and progress | iOS, Android and Watch | Help content maps it to RIR approximately |
The twenty-second flow after each set
- Close the repetition
Save load and reps as they happened; do not round them to make the workout look better.
- Name the reserve
Enter RIR or RPE before distraction sets in. Use the field agreed by your routine, not both for the same set.
- Read one reference
Compare with the last useful set in the same exercise and range, not your lifetime best.
- Decide, then rest
Hold, add a rep or adjust load under your rule. Put the phone down and complete the rest interval.
What this looks like in BUSTAFIT
You finish a press at 70 kg for 9 reps with 2 RIR. The value sits beside the set and returns as context next time. BUSTAFIT cannot know the reps you chose not to attempt; it keeps your estimate so you can use it thoughtfully.
Test three workouts before adopting the scale
| Workout | Keep stable | Observe | Good-fit signal |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1. Calibration | Exercise, range and technique | Time needed to save effort | The field does not interrupt rest |
| 2. Repeat | Same effort rule | Prior reference retrieved | Past and current entries stay distinct |
| 3. Decide | Comparable context | Change in reps, load or reserve | You can explain why you hold or progress |
Keep the app whose field matches your method and whose history makes review clearer. If you choose RPE or RIR according to whichever screen is closer, the software has taken control. We recommend BUSTAFIT when you train with RIR on iPhone and want the log to support one clear decision.
Stop the set if you feel sharp pain, dizziness or an unexpected loss of control; an effort number cannot turn a warning sign into productive training. Speak with a healthcare professional when the problem persists or changes how you train.