Review · Health & fitness
Ladder review
A strength training app where expert coaches program a new workout plan every week, with in-ear coaching and video demos.
By the HearSmart research desk · Updated November 8, 2026
- Performance (40%)
- 9.2
- Ease of use (25%)
- 8.6
- Value (35%)
- 7.6
Ladder is built for one job, strength training on a plan, and it does it better than any class library. You join a team led by a coach, and that coach programs a structured, progressive overload plan with a new workout every day and a new block each week. Teams range from traditional bodybuilding and hypertrophy to kettlebell work, Pilates and strength hybrids, HIIT and athletic conditioning, so you can match the plan to your goal and equipment at home or in the gym. During each session you get in-ear coaching, video demonstrations and pacing, and your own Spotify or Apple Music keeps playing with volume ducking when the coach talks. The Ladder Journal charts reps and weights over time. The annual Pro plan costs $14.99 a month, billed as $179.99, and adds unlimited team changes, while monthly Pro is $29.99 with two changes a month. The 7-day trial collects no payment details.
Who it is for
Motivated people who want a coach-built strength program and no guesswork about what to do each day.
Price
Pro $14.99 per month billed annually ($179.99 a year) or $29.99 monthly; 7-day free trial without a credit card.
Pro Plan - ANNUAL $14.99 / month ($179.99 for the year)
Quoted from the vendor pricing page on November 8, 2026.
Key features
- A coach-programmed daily workout plan, new each week
- Structured progressive overload programs matched to your goals
- In-ear coaching, video demonstrations and a built-in timer
- Ladder Journal to track reps and weights over time
- Apple Watch, Spotify and Apple Music integration
Strengths and weaknesses
- Strength: Real progressive programming from named coaches
- Strength: Free 7-day trial with no payment details collected
- Strength: Many teams, from bodybuilding to Pilates strength and kettlebells
- Weakness: Monthly Pro plan is $29.99, the priciest monthly plan here
- Weakness: Monthly members can change teams only twice a month
- Weakness: No permanent free tier
Key facts
- US price: $29.99 a month or $179.99 a year
- Free trial: 7 days, no credit card
- Program style: Coach-led teams with new workouts every week
- Devices: iPhone, iPad, Apple Watch
- App Store rating: 4.9 from 219K ratings
Where it ranks
Ladder is No. 5 in our Best Fitness Apps verdict.
Alternatives we scored
Visit joinladder.com · Questions or corrections: editorial@hearsmart.org