Why is Boostcamp ranked first for 5/3/1?
Two reasons. First, it is the only general-purpose app that ships all three official Jim Wendler programs (Boring But Big, Building the Monolith, 5/3/1 for Beginners) plus dozens of community variants as ready-to-run content, free. Second, its tracker is built around the way 5/3/1 actually progresses: it logs your AMRAP top set each week and auto-adjusts your Training Max for the next cycle. The dedicated 5/3/1 apps (5/3/1 Workout Logger, Wendler Log 531, and Five/Three/One) are excellent at the math, but you supply the program; Boostcamp supplies both.
Is 5/3/1 free on Boostcamp?
Yes. All three official Wendler programs and the community variants are on the free tier, with no paywall on the programs or on the tracker that runs them (set logging, AMRAP records, automatic Training Max progression, plate calculator, RPE/RIR, personal records). Boostcamp Pro is optional and adds the Strength Score, a per-muscle volume heatmap, and 20+ exclusive coach programs for $59.99/year ($4.99/month annual), but you can run 5/3/1 start to finish without paying.
What should I run after a 5/3/1 cycle?
5/3/1 is built to run for years, but most lifters rotate other templates alongside it: a hypertrophy block in the off-season, nSuns or GZCLP for a faster strength push, or a Push/Pull/Legs split for volume. Because all of those live in the same Boostcamp library, your training history, personal records, and progression carry across programs instead of resetting each time you switch apps. The custom builder also lets you design your own Wendler hybrid (FSL, Joker sets, your own assistance) with a visual editor, no scripting required.
What is the difference between a dedicated 5/3/1 app and a general workout app with 5/3/1 programs?
Dedicated 5/3/1 apps (5/3/1 Workout Logger, Wendler Log 531, and Five/Three/One) are calculator-loggers built around a single methodology. They handle the cycle math, plate loading, and progression, but you supply the assistance template and choose which variant to follow. General workout apps that include 5/3/1 (like Boostcamp) ship the variants as pre-built programs with assistance work already defined, so you can start a cycle by picking a program rather than configuring one. Dedicated apps are usually more focused; general apps are usually more flexible.
Which 5/3/1 variant should I start with?
5/3/1 for Beginners is Wendler's official recommendation for lifters new to the program: a 3-day full-body template that uses the same percentage wave but with simpler assistance work. Boring But Big (BBB) is the most popular variant overall, pairing the main 5/3/1 sets with 5 sets of 10 supplemental work for hypertrophy. Building the Monolith is a 6-week brutal hypertrophy template (20-rep squats, 100-rep accessory sets) and is not a starter variant. All three are available pre-built on Boostcamp; the dedicated 5/3/1 apps (5/3/1 Workout Logger, Wendler Log 531, and Five/Three/One) will run the math for any variant you configure.
Can I run a custom 5/3/1 assistance plan?
Yes on all four apps, but the workflow differs. Boostcamp's custom program builder lets you set up the four-week main-lift wave and add your own assistance work in a visual editor. The dedicated 5/3/1 apps (5/3/1 Workout Logger, Wendler Log 531, and Five/Three/One) let you customize assistance directly via in-app settings or paid add-ons.
Do I need to know my one rep max to start 5/3/1?
You need to know your Training Max, which is 90% of your true one rep max (Wendler recommends erring low, so 85% is also reasonable if you are new to the program). All four 5/3/1 apps calculate working weights from the Training Max, not the true 1RM. Most apps include a 1RM estimator from rep records if you do not want to test a true max. Wendler recommends starting conservative: the AMRAP top sets are the feedback loop, and a lower starting TM means more reps and faster long-term progression.
