The best apps to decide whether to bulk or cut
“Bulk or cut?” is the most-asked question in lifting forums. Here’s what can actually answer it.
Short answer
The best bulk or cut app is ProgressLens: its AI Progress Report ends with a single verdict (cut, lean bulk, recomp or maintain) based on your body fat from photos plus tape measurements, your weight trend, goal and experience, with a weekly rate and time to target. Free options are our bulk or cut calculator (needs a body-fat number) or asking ChatGPT (inconsistent).
Disclosure: we make ProgressLens. Details about other apps come from their own store listings and websites as of November 2026; prices and features change, so check the listing before you pay. We name each app’s weaknesses and our own.
Quick comparison
| Option | Gives a verdict? | Based on | Price |
|---|---|---|---|
| ProgressLens | Cut / lean bulk / recomp / maintain | Photos + tape + weight trend + goal | $39.99/year |
| GainFrame | Coaching-style advice | Photos, AI coach | Subscription |
| MacroFactor | Guide + calorie targets for the phase | Your choice of phase, food logs, weight trend | Subscription |
| HyperBody | Training plan | Five photos | Subscription |
| Bulk or cut calculator (free) | Yes | Body fat you enter | Free |
| ChatGPT / Gemini | Varies by run | One photo or a description | Free–paid |
The apps
1. ProgressLens
- iPhone, iPad, Android
- AI Progress Report
- Free download, Pro in-app
- 11 languages
- No account
Best for: a verdict that stays the same for the same data and updates as you change.
Every report ends with one verdict and a weekly rate. The rules are fixed, so it doesn’t flip between runs, and it tracks you over time.
Good
- AI Analyze: body-fat range, what changed, fat vs muscle, cut or bulk verdict
- Reads photos and tape measurements together, so estimates stay consistent
- Same app and AI on iPhone and Android, in 11 languages
- No account; photos stay on your phone, analyzed photos aren’t stored or used for training
- Ghost overlay of your last photo, six measurements with charts
Watch out
- No calorie, workout or dose tracking
- No video timelapse export (use our free web tool)
- No Apple Health or Health Connect sync
- No app-specific passcode (use your phone’s lock)
2. GainFrame
- iPhone
- Subscription
Best for: iPhone users who want to chat it through.
An AI coach can discuss bulking or cutting using your check-ins, per its listing.
Good
- Conversational
Watch out
- iPhone only
- English only
3. MacroFactor
- iPhone, Android
- Subscription
Best for: people who already know their phase and want the food side handled.
A macro and calorie coach. Its website has a bulk-or-cut guide, and the app sets calorie targets for the phase you pick and logs body measurements and progress photos, per its site.
Good
- Strong for nutrition during the phase
- Adaptive calorie targets
Watch out
- You choose the phase; no verdict from your photos
4. HyperBody
- iPhone
- Subscription
Best for: people who want a program as well.
Builds a training plan from a five-photo physique scan, per its listing.
Good
- Training plan
Watch out
- Rating focus
5. Free bulk or cut calculator
- Any browser
- Free
Best for: a quick answer today.
Our calculator gives a verdict, weekly rate and timeline from a body-fat number, using the same rules as the app.
Good
- Free, instant
Watch out
- You need a body-fat estimate first
- No tracking
6. Asking ChatGPT
- Any
- Free–paid
Best for: a rough second opinion.
Upload a photo and ask. Answers depend on the photo and the wording, and can change between runs.
Good
- Free, conversational
Watch out
- Inconsistent
- No history
- Your photo goes to a general chatbot
Which should you pick?
- A verdict you can track: ProgressLens.
- Calories for the phase you chose: MacroFactor (pairs well with ProgressLens).
- A free answer now: the bulk or cut calculator.
- A chat about it: GainFrame (iPhone).
FAQ
Frequently asked questions
Will it tell me whether to bulk or cut?
Yes. Every Progress Report ends with one verdict, cut, lean bulk, recomp or maintain, based on your estimated body fat, your recent weight trend, your goal and your training experience, with a weekly rate and roughly how many weeks to your target.
Should I bulk or cut at 20% body fat?
Most men at 20% are better off cutting first to around 12–15%; most women at 20% are lean enough to lean bulk. Read should I bulk or cut?
Sources
- App Store and Google Play listings and developer websites for each app, accessed November 2026
- ProgressLens, What lifters ask about body fat, November 2026