We compared what each app says about itself, not our impressions of it. Every line below comes from the app’s own App Store or Google Play listing or its website, checked on 4 October 2026. Pushgard is our app, so read its row with that in mind.
Three ways an app can count a push-up
Counting is the first thing to look at, because it decides whether the number means anything.
- Camera: the phone stands in front of you and a pose model reads your body. It can tell a full rep from a half rep, so it is the only kind that can be strict.
- Proximity sensor or nose tap: the phone lies under your face and counts each time something comes close to the screen. It works without light and on older phones, but it counts how close your face got, not how far your arms bent.
- Manual or motion: you tap a button for each rep, or put the phone on your back and let the motion sensor guess. Simple, and only as honest as you are.
Some apps offer more than one; Push Up Boss lists all three.
The seven apps at a glance
| App | How it counts | What else it counts | Play with others | Platforms | How it is paid for |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pushgard | Front camera, two signals per rep | Squats, crunches, plank | Live duels, weekly league, tournament | iPhone, Android | Free, no ads; optional subscription |
| PushApp | Camera | Push-ups only | Global and private leaderboards, live duels | iPhone, Android, web | Free to start; in-app purchases |
| Push Up Arena | Not stated in the listing | Squats, sit-ups, plank | Live 1v1 battles | iPhone | Listed features require a subscription |
| Push Up Boss | Camera, manual tap or phone on your back | Push-ups only | 1v1 battles, tournaments | iPhone, Android | Free download; in-app purchases |
| Push Up Counter (Foxyfitness) | Proximity sensor or nose, and camera | Push-ups only | Leaderboards, group boards | iPhone, Android | Free download; in-app purchases |
| Push Up Counter & Tracker | Camera (Apple ARKit and Vision) | Push-ups only | Friends, country and world leaderboards | iPhone | Free download |
| 100 Push Ups: Just 6 Weeks | Listing does not mention automatic counting | Ten more programs (squats, plank, sit-ups and others) | None listed | iPhone, Apple Watch | Free; Premium unlocks all programs |
“Play with others” means competing or comparing with real people, as each listing describes it.
What each app is built around
Pushgard turns every counted rep into a hit on a monster in a tower. A push-up counts only when two signals agree: your arms fold and your shoulders look wider as you come closer to the camera. Besides the tower there is an arena with live duels, a weekly league and a Monday tournament, and an app lock that opens chosen apps for minutes you earn with reps.
PushApp is a counter first. It counts out loud, records your set with the count on the video for sharing, and runs in a browser as well as in the stores.
Push Up Arena lists dungeons, bosses, a horde mode and live 1v1 battles across several exercises. Its listing says these features require a subscription.
Push Up Boss is a game around push-ups only, with boss fights, 1v1 battles, ladder tournaments and workouts such as AMRAP, EMOM and pyramids.
Push Up Counter by Foxyfitness pairs a counter with a 0 to 100 training plan, a voice coach and leaderboards you can set up for a group of co-workers.
Push Up Counter & Tracker counts with Apple’s ARKit and Vision, has several workout modes, seasonal events, and sends workouts to Strava and Apple Health.
100 Push Ups: Just 6 Weeks is a training program rather than a counter: a short test, three workouts a week and a rest timer, with an Apple Watch app.
Which one fits what you want
- You want a number you can trust: pick a camera counter. A proximity or manual count is fine for a rough tally and useless for a fair race.
- You want to compete with people: Pushgard, PushApp, Push Up Arena and Push Up Boss all list live or head-to-head play. Check whether both phones count with the camera, so the race is even.
- You train more than push-ups: Pushgard counts squats, crunches and plank; Push Up Arena lists several exercises; Just 6 Weeks has eleven programs without automatic counting.
- You want no subscription at all: Pushgard’s tower, arena and app lock are free. Read each listing for what sits behind a purchase.
- You train at a computer: PushApp lists a web version. The others on this page are phone apps.
Where Pushgard is different, and where it is not
Pushgard counts four exercises with the front camera and treats them the same way in the tower, the arena and the app lock. It is strict on purpose: a rep counts only when both signals reach depth, because duels are only fair if every phone counts the same way. If a rep you did is missed, the reason is usually placement.
What it does not have: a browser version, a watch app, voice counting or video export of your set. If those matter more to you than the game, one of the other apps may suit you better.
The push-up counter page shows how the count works, and what counts as a full push-up explains the depth it looks for.
