BTWB Alternative: 12 Best Workout Tracking Apps (Compared)

Beyond the Whiteboard (BTWB) has been a staple in functional fitness for years, combining workout tracking with gym management features. But many gyms searching for a btwb alternative aren't questioning BTWB's legacy - they're reacting to changing member expectations: cleaner UX, stronger community features, better in-gym experiences, and tools that connect the workout on a phone to what's happening on the floor.

If you're evaluating a btwb alternative for your gym or athletes, the key is choosing the right type of platform: athlete-first logging, gym-management-first systems, coaching platforms, or experience-first solutions that run the class in the room.

What to look for in a BTWB alternative

A strong btwb alternative usually wins on at least one of these:

1. Community + engagement: comments, reactions, leaderboards that keep members logging
2. Workout visibility: not just "logging," but making workouts easier to follow mid-class
3. Programming workflow: easy WOD building, templates, benchmarks, movement libraries
4. Operations + billing: memberships, booking, payments, attendance
5. Data quality: PR tracking, analytics, trends, coach insights
6. Ease of rollout: onboarding, imports, and member adoption

The 12 best BTWB alternatives

1) Fit Viz (Best for in-gym workout experience + tracking)

Most workout trackers live only on the phone. Fit Viz is different: it puts the workout where athletes actually need it - on screens in the gym - while still tracking results in the app. Fit Viz is built around WOD displays, timers, and member engagement for functional fitness facilities.

Why it's a top btwb alternative:

1. Visualizes the WOD on large in-studio displays (not just a phone)
2. Replaces the "what's next?" problem with clear workout flow and demos
3. Makes the timer part of the room experience (not a separate device)
4. Keeps workout history and performance tied to your gym's programming

If you want to modernize the class experience (not just change logbooks), Fit Viz is the best "next-step" btwb alternative.

2) SugarWOD (Best for community)

SugarWOD's strongest advantage is social reinforcement: comments, photos, and "fist bumps" are core to the experience.

Best for: gyms that want high member engagement and visible encouragement Trade-off: deeper analytics and operational workflows are not the primary focus compared to all-in-one systems.

3) Wodify Performance Tracking (Best for gyms that want tracking + TVs)

Wodify positions its performance tracking as a gym-focused layer that can log PRs, show leaderboards on TVs, and give coaches data insights.

Best for: gyms that want performance tracking connected to gym operations Trade-off: facilities may still need to solve the "workout guidance" problem separately if they want demos + flow on screens.

4) PushPress (Best all-in-one gym app experience)

PushPress markets a member app experience that includes workout tracking, community, and the ability to reserve classes.

Best for: gyms that want operations + a member app in one ecosystem Trade-off: the in-room workout visualization layer is not typically the centerpiece the way Fit Viz is.

5) Zen Planner (Best for studio management with fitness workflows)

Zen Planner is widely used by fitness businesses and highlights onboarding/migration support and operational streamlining.

Best for: gyms prioritizing billing, attendance, and management Trade-off: workout tracking depth and day-to-day workout delivery experience may depend on integrations and configuration.

6) TrainHeroic (Best for strength programming + athlete tracking)

TrainHeroic is positioned as a structured training and workout-tracking platform with in-app tools like smart timers and training calculators.

Best for: strength-focused gyms, teams, and serious program adherence Trade-off: less native "box community feed" energy than social-first apps.

7) TeamBuildr (Best for S&C teams and performance programs)

TeamBuildr focuses on program design, tracking progress/wellness, delivering workouts through a mobile app, and analytics for coaches.

Best for: performance facilities, teams, and coach-driven strength environments Trade-off: less oriented to daily WOD-style social logging than BTWB/SugarWOD.

8) TrueCoach (Best for coaches selling training + tracking clients)

TrueCoach emphasizes workout delivery, messaging, and built-in payment support without add-on fees, along with workout building and an exercise library.

Best for: gyms with strong remote coaching/PT components Trade-off: not built as a "gym-wide WOD leaderboard culture" tool first.

9) SmartWOD Timer (Best lightweight Workout Timer App)

If your main pain is timing, SmartWOD is a simple Workout Timer App built around common functional fitness formats like AMRAP, EMOM, and Tabata.

Best for: individual athletes or coaches who just need reliable timing Trade-off: timer apps don't solve booking, member engagement, or in-gym display execution.

10) WODProof (Best for recording workouts + proof-based training)

WODProof centers on recording, reviewing, and competing - built for athletes who want video capture and sharing as part of training.

Best for: athletes who want video documentation and review Trade-off: not a replacement for gym operations and class flow on its own.

11) The WOD Generator (Best for workout ideas + built-in timer/log)

The WOD Generator offers a large workout library with filters plus a workout timer and log.

Best for: garages, travelers, and athletes needing workout variety Trade-off: not a full gym member experience platform.

12) BTWB (Worth mentioning as the baseline you're replacing)

If you're hunting for a btwb alternative, it helps to name what BTWB still does well: it markets itself as an all-in-one gym management system with workout tracking, and it remains widely used.

The question isn't whether BTWB works - the question is whether it matches the experience your members now expect.

Why Fit Viz is the most modern BTWB alternative for gyms

Most alternatives improve logging, community, or admin workflows. Fit Viz adds something those tools typically don't: a better workout experience during class.

Instead of athletes checking phones between sets, Fit Viz puts the WOD, flow, and timing on big screens in the training space, while still capturing workout results in the app. That makes it uniquely effective for retention and class quality because it reduces confusion and keeps the room moving.

If you're choosing a btwb alternative as a gym owner (not just as an individual athlete), the deciding factor is often this: Does the software improve what happens on the floor - or only what happens after the workout?