What happened to StrongLifts Power Pack?

We retired Power Pack in 2025 after more than 10 years of support.

Few people still used only Power Pack. Keeping separate code for them prevented us from continuing to improve the app for the majority of users with a subscription.

Power Pack users now need to subscribe like everyone else has since 2018. As a thank you for your early support, you get 50% off your first year.

What was Power Pack?

Power Pack was an add-on that unlocked three features. We sold it from 2014 to 2018 for $9.99.

We stopped selling Power Pack in May 2018, when we moved to a subscription model. Power Pack kept working for seven more years after that. Those users kept getting free app updates, bug fixes and support the whole time.

What access did Power Pack give?

Power Pack gave access to three features: warmup, plate calculator and assistance work. The app itself was free. Logging your StrongLifts 5x5 workouts cost nothing at the time.

Everything we built after May 2018 became part of the Pro subscription. Power Pack users did not get those features. They had limited access to the app.

The app has changed a lot over the years:

• 2010 to 2014: free. Nothing for sale.
• 2014 to 2018: free app. $9.99 for some extra features (Power Pack).
• 2018 to 2025: free app. Subscription for extra features and programs.
• Since 2025: Pro only. No free tier. Everyone needs a subscription.

Was Power Pack a lifetime purchase?

No. Power Pack was never sold as access to the whole app, and never as access to what we would build later. It only unlocked three features.

We didn't use the word lifetime at the time. We only started using it in June 2020, when we added the Pro Lifetime plan. That gave access to all Pro features, with no recurring fee, at a much higher price. We still support Pro Lifetime today.

In 2023 we used the word for Power Pack too. Some Power Pack users kept writing to say we had taken their features away. Nothing had been taken away. What they were missing was Pro, built years after they bought Power Pack. To settle it, we added a notice in the app: "You have lifetime Power Pack." We said the same in app store and support replies.

That is why some people believe they bought a lifetime plan. They did not. Power Pack was three features, bought once. Calling it lifetime was our mistake.

Why didn't Power Pack users get Pro for free?

It would not be fair to the Power Pack users who paid to upgrade.

When we sold Power Pack, the app was limited. Power Pack users asked us for years to add more programs and features. They told us they would pay for them. We built them, and they became Pro. Many Power Pack users then paid to upgrade from 2018 onwards. Giving the same thing away free to everyone else would mean those people paid for nothing.

Instead, we kept Power Pack working for seven more years, with free updates and support, and we offered discounted upgrades to Pro.

Why is StrongLifts a subscription?

Running an app costs money every month. Coding, design, support, testing, servers to store your workouts, and tools. A one-time purchase pays once. The costs never stop.

That is why 74% of health and fitness apps now sell subscriptions only (source). Apple and Google encourage it too, by charging lower fees on subscriptions than on one-time purchases (source, source).

How do I get the 50% discount?

Please email us a copy of your invoice. If you don't have it anymore, contact us from the app.

What about my workout history?

Your workout history will show after you start your subscription. You can resume where you left off. If it's been a while since your last workout, the app will prompt you to lower the weight to ease you back into training.