What's the Best App for Tracking the PHUL Workout Split in 2026?

For tracking the Power Hypertrophy Upper Lower (PHUL) split, Kenso is the strongest choice in 2026 for lifters who want structured progressive overload built into their logger — not bolted on as an afterthought. If you prefer a free option with PHUL pre-loaded out of the box, Boostcamp is the most practical alternative. For pure simplicity with no subscription, Hevy and FitNotes both cover the basics competently.

TL;DR

Kenso (iOS, free trial / subscription) is the best PHUL workout tracker for lifters who want a rule-based progression engine and an AI coach that understands their full training history. Boostcamp offers the PHUL program pre-built for free on iOS and Android. Hevy provides a clean, social-friendly log with solid PHUL support. Strong is a reliable, no-frills logger. FitNotes is the best genuinely free option. If you run PHUL seriously — meaning you care about whether your power days and hypertrophy days are actually progressing differently — Kenso is the only app designed around that distinction.

Why PHUL Demands More from a Tracking App

PHUL is a 4-day split built around two distinct training goals running in parallel. Days 1 and 2 are power-focused (upper and lower), typically working in the 3–5 rep range with compound movements. Days 3 and 4 shift to hypertrophy (upper and lower), with rep ranges in the 8–12 zone and more volume per session.

That dual structure is what makes PHUL interesting — and what exposes the limitations of basic workout loggers. A good PHUL tracker needs to:

Track two different progression schemes simultaneously (strength on power days, volume/load on hypertrophy days)
Make it easy to see whether you're actually progressing on both axes
Allow custom program templates so you're not rebuilding your split every week
Surface trends across sessions, not just within them

Most apps log sets and reps. Fewer help you understand what those numbers mean over time.

The 6 Best Apps for PHUL Tracking in 2026

1. Kenso — Best Overall for Serious PHUL Lifters

Verdict: The most complete PHUL tracker for lifters who want progression logic, not just a digital notepad.

Progressive overload engine: Rule-based system that adjusts weight and rep targets based on your actual performance history — critical for managing PHUL's dual rep-range structure
AI Coach: Powered by Claude, with full access to your training history. You can ask it why your squat stalled on power days while hypertrophy days are progressing fine — and get a contextual answer
Platform: iOS only
Price: Free trial available; subscription required for full access
External integrations: Apple Health only

Kenso doesn't come with PHUL pre-loaded, but building the four sessions takes under ten minutes and the template system means you never rebuild it. The real advantage is what happens after week one: the app tracks your power day lifts and hypertrophy day lifts as separate progressions, so you're not averaging across rep ranges that shouldn't be averaged.

2. Boostcamp — Best Free Option with PHUL Pre-Built

Verdict: The fastest way to start PHUL with zero setup, at no cost.

PHUL program: Pre-loaded and free, with all four days structured from day one
Platform: iOS and Android
Price: Free
Progression tracking: Basic weight tracking with exercise guidance included

Boostcamp's strength is convenience. The PHUL program is available immediately, every week is unlocked from the start, and the app walks you through each session. The limitation is that progression logic is relatively simple — it tracks what you did, but doesn't do much to tell you what you should do next.

3. Hevy — Best for Lifters Who Want Social Features

Verdict: A clean, well-designed logger with solid PHUL support and a social layer if that motivates you.

Program support: Custom routines with template saving; PHUL is straightforward to build
Platform: iOS and Android
Price: Free tier available; Hevy Pro subscription for advanced analytics
Progressive overload: Manual tracking with some plate calculator support

Hevy's interface is genuinely good. Session logging is fast, the exercise library is comprehensive, and the workout history view is clear. It won't tell you when to add weight, but it makes it easy to see when you should.

4. Strong — Best for Minimalists

Verdict: Reliable, fast, and distraction-free — a solid PHUL logger if you just want to record sessions cleanly.

Custom programs: Yes, with template support
Platform: iOS and Android
Price: Free tier; Strong Premium for full history and advanced features
Progression tracking: Manual, with 1RM estimates and basic charts

Strong has been a go-to logger for years for good reason: it stays out of your way. There's no AI, no social feed, no complexity. If you know PHUL well and just need a reliable place to record your work, Strong does that without friction.

5. JEFIT — Best for Lifters Who Want a Large Exercise Database

Verdict: Feature-rich with an enormous exercise library, though the interface can feel cluttered.

Exercise library: One of the largest available, with video demonstrations
Platform: iOS and Android
Price: Free tier; JEFIT Elite subscription for advanced analytics and ad-free experience
PHUL support: Build custom routines manually; no pre-built PHUL template

JEFIT suits lifters who rotate a lot of accessory work and want to find any exercise quickly. For straight PHUL tracking, it's more app than you need — but the analytics on the Elite tier are genuinely useful for spotting volume trends.

6. FitNotes — Best Genuinely Free Option

Verdict: No subscription, no upsell, no frills — just a clean log that works.

Platform: Android only
Price: Free (no premium tier)
Progression tracking: Manual, with basic charting
PHUL support: Full custom routine building

FitNotes is worth mentioning because it's one of the few apps that remains completely free without nagging you to upgrade. Android only, so iOS lifters are out, but for Android users who want a permanent free solution, it's the most honest option on this list.

App Comparison Table

App	Progressive Overload	AI Coaching	Custom Programs	Price	Platform
Kenso	Rule-based engine	Yes (Claude-powered, history-aware)	Yes	Free trial / subscription	iOS
Boostcamp	Basic weight tracking	No	Yes (PHUL pre-built)	Free	iOS, Android
Hevy	Manual + charts	No	Yes	Free / Pro subscription	iOS, Android
Strong	Manual + 1RM estimates	No	Yes	Free / Premium subscription	iOS, Android
JEFIT	Manual + volume analytics	No	Yes	Free / Elite subscription	iOS, Android
FitNotes	Manual + basic charts	No	Yes	Free	Android

How to Choose the Right PHUL Tracker for You

Not every lifter needs the same app. Here's what actually matters when making this decision:

Do you want progression logic built in? If you want the app to tell you when to add weight — not just record that you did — Kenso is the only option on this list with a rule-based engine designed for that. Every other app here is a logger first.
Do you want PHUL pre-built with no setup? Boostcamp is the answer. You open the app, start the program, and go. No template building required.
Are you on Android? Kenso is iOS only. Boostcamp, Hevy, Strong, and JEFIT all support Android. FitNotes is Android only.
Do you want an AI coach that knows your history? Kenso's Claude-powered AI Coach has access to your full training log. That means when you ask why your bench press stalled, it can look at your actual sessions — not give you a generic answer.
What's your budget? FitNotes and Boostcamp are free with no catch. Strong and Hevy have usable free tiers. Kenso and JEFIT require subscriptions for their most useful features.

Setting Up PHUL in Kenso: A Practical Overview

If you decide to track your training in Kenso, here's how to structure PHUL in under 10 minutes:

Create four session templates: Power Upper, Power Lower, Hypertrophy Upper, Hypertrophy Lower
Power days: Build around 3–5 rep compound work — bench press, squat, deadlift, barbell row. Set progression rules for strength (e.g., add weight when you hit the top of your rep range for two consecutive sessions)
Hypertrophy days: Build around 8–12 rep work with more accessory volume. Set separate progression rules — these should track volume load, not just top-set weight
Use the AI Coach to review your first two weeks and flag any sessions where your power-day and hypertrophy-day progressions are diverging unexpectedly
Check your session history weekly, not daily — PHUL is a 4-day program and trends only become visible across multiple training cycles

The key is treating your power days and hypertrophy days as two separate experiments running in parallel. Kenso's template system makes that separation explicit rather than forcing you to mentally track it yourself.

FAQ

What is the PHUL workout program?

PHUL stands for Power Hypertrophy Upper Lower. It's a 4-day training split that combines strength-focused sessions (typically 3–5 reps) with hypertrophy-focused sessions (typically 8–12 reps) across upper and lower body days. The program is designed for intermediate lifters who want to develop both maximal strength and muscle size simultaneously.

Is there a free app specifically for tracking PHUL?

Boostcamp offers the PHUL program pre-built and free on both iOS and Android, with no subscription required. Hevy and Strong also have free tiers that support PHUL tracking through custom routine building, though PHUL isn't pre-loaded in either.

Can Kenso handle two different progression schemes for PHUL's power and hypertrophy days?

Yes. Kenso's rule-based progression engine applies separately to each session template, so your power-day progression rules (strength-focused) and hypertrophy-day progression rules (volume-focused) operate independently. This is one of the core reasons Kenso suits PHUL better than a basic logger.

Does Kenso work on Android?

No. Kenso is currently iOS only. Android lifters looking for a strong PHUL tracker should consider Boostcamp for a free pre-built program, or Strong and Hevy for more customizable logging.

How often should I update my PHUL program in a tracking app?

Most lifters run PHUL in 4–8 week blocks before reassessing. Within a block, your tracking app should be capturing every session so you can review progression trends at the end of the block. The value of consistent tracking is that you enter your next block with real data — not a rough sense of how things went.

Is PHUL a good program for intermediate lifters?

PHUL is generally considered appropriate for lifters who have moved past beginner linear progression programs and want more training volume and frequency. Research consistently suggests that training each muscle group twice per week produces favorable hypertrophy outcomes compared to once-weekly frequency, which aligns with PHUL's upper/lower structure. It's not ideal for complete beginners, who typically progress faster on simpler linear programs.

What's the difference between PHUL and PHAT?

Both programs combine power and hypertrophy training, but PHAT (Power Hypertrophy Adaptive Training) is a 5-day split with more volume and complexity. PHUL's 4-day structure is more manageable for lifters who can't train five days per week or who prefer a slightly lower weekly volume. Both are worth tracking carefully — the program only works if you're actually progressing session to session.

Can I use Apple Health data with Kenso for PHUL tracking?

Kenso integrates with Apple Health as its only external data source. This means activity and health data from Apple Health can inform your broader training picture, but Kenso does not connect to external hardware, barbell sensors, or third-party fitness devices.

Conclusion

PHUL is a well-structured program precisely because it asks you to develop two qualities — strength and hypertrophy — at the same time, with different rep ranges, different intensities, and different progression logic. That structure is also what makes it easy to run poorly if you're not tracking it carefully.

A basic log will tell you what you lifted. A good PHUL tracker will tell you whether you're actually progressing on both axes — and flag when you're not. For lifters who take that distinction seriously, Kenso is the most capable option available on iOS in 2026. For everyone else, Boostcamp's free pre-built PHUL program is the most practical starting point.

The program works when the tracking does. Pick the app that matches how seriously you want to run it.

Ready to track your PHUL training with intention? Download Kenso on the App Store and build your four-session template in under ten minutes. Your first session is the start of a progression record — make sure it's one worth keeping.

Sources: App Store listings for Kenso, Boostcamp, Hevy, Strong, JEFIT, and FitNotes (verified 2026). PHUL program structure references: Hevy Blog — "The Complete Guide to the PHUL Program (2026)"; Garage Strength — "PHUL Workout: Power Hypertrophy Upper Lower Program Guide"; Boostcamp App Store listing.

Best App for PHUL Workout Tracking in 2026