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Build Guide

Build a Fitness Tracking App Without WordPress

WordPress is a CMS, not an application platform. Build a real fitness app with charts, tracking, and offline support that WordPress can't deliver.

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The Old Way

The WordPress Approach

Required Plugins

1WP User Frontend Pro ($149/year) — custom form-based tracking
2GamiPress ($199/year) — gamification and achievements
3BuddyBoss ($299-499/year) — community features for fitness groups
4Custom development with ACF ($49/year) + custom post types — DIY approach

Limitations

WordPress has no native charting — requires JavaScript libraries injected manually
Data entry forms are WordPress shortcodes, not app-like interfaces
No offline support — can't log workouts without internet
Real-time progress updates require full page refreshes
Mobile experience is a responsive website, not an app-like PWA
Workout data stored in post meta is impossible to query efficiently for charts

Typical Cost

$200-500/year in plugins + significant custom development

The Modern Way

The Modern Approach

Next.js (PWA) + Supabase + Recharts

Build a Progressive Web App with Next.js that works offline. Supabase stores workout data in a proper relational schema optimized for analytics queries. Recharts visualizes progress over time.

PWA works offline — log workouts without internet, sync when connected
Real-time progress charts that update as you log
Proper relational data model for exercises, sets, reps, and body metrics
Add-to-homescreen for an app-like experience on mobile
Social features with workout sharing and leaderboards via Supabase

WordPress vs. Modern Stack

WordPress

  • WordPress has no native charting — requires JavaScript libraries injected manually
  • Data entry forms are WordPress shortcodes, not app-like interfaces
  • No offline support — can't log workouts without internet
  • Real-time progress updates require full page refreshes
  • $200-500/year in plugins + significant custom development

Modern Stack

  • PWA works offline — log workouts without internet, sync when connected
  • Real-time progress charts that update as you log
  • Proper relational data model for exercises, sets, reps, and body metrics
  • Add-to-homescreen for an app-like experience on mobile
  • Social features with workout sharing and leaderboards via Supabase

Recommended Tools

Supabase

Workout database, auth, and real-time sync

Free up to 500MB, $25/month Pro

Recharts

Progress visualization — weight charts, volume tracking, PRs

Free and open-source

Next.js

PWA frontend with offline support

Free and open-source

Clerk

User authentication and profile management

Free up to 10,000 MAU

Vercel

Hosting with PWA service worker support

Free hobby tier, $20/month pro

Step-by-Step Build Guide

1

Design the Supabase schema — users, exercises (library), workouts, sets (exercise, weight, reps), and body_metrics (weight, measurements)

2

Set up Next.js as a PWA with service worker for offline workout logging

3

Build the workout logger — select exercises, log sets with weight/reps, and save the session

4

Create progress charts with Recharts — bodyweight over time, exercise volume, and personal records

5

Implement offline support — queue workout logs in IndexedDB and sync to Supabase when online

6

Add social features — follow friends, share workout summaries, and compete on leaderboards

7

Configure PWA manifest for add-to-homescreen with your app icon and splash screen

Frequently Asked Questions

Why not just use an existing fitness app?
Existing apps (Strong, Hevy) are great for personal use. Build your own if you're creating a fitness community platform, a gym management tool, or a coaching app where you need custom features and user data ownership.
How does offline workout logging work?
Service workers cache the app shell. When offline, workout data is stored in IndexedDB (browser storage). When the device reconnects, a background sync pushes data to Supabase. Users never notice the offline-to-online transition.
Can I add exercise tutorial videos?
Yes. Store exercise metadata (name, muscle group, instructions) in Supabase and link to video demos hosted on Mux or YouTube. The exercise library is a database table, so you can add exercises anytime.

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