PEAKVO2 vs SmartWOD: Which App Fits Your Training?
Run these workouts on your iPhone, or hands-free on Apple Watch. Get PEAKVO2 PEAKVO2 and SmartWOD are often compared, but they solve different problems. PEAKVO2 is a VO2 max interval training app for iPhone and Apple Watch, built around guided endurance protocols like the Norwegian 4x4. SmartWOD is a CrossFit and functional fitness app: a WOD timer and a workout generator. Pick PEAKVO2 for structured VO2 max training on your wrist; pick SmartWOD for CrossFit-style WODs.
Contents
Both are well-made fitness apps, so this is not about which is better overall. It is about which one matches what you are trying to train.
PEAKVO2 vs SmartWOD at a Glance
| PEAKVO2 | SmartWOD | |
|---|---|---|
| Primary purpose | VO2 max interval training | CrossFit / functional fitness WODs |
| What you run | 16 guided endurance protocols | WOD timer plus a workout generator |
| Named VO2 max protocols | Norwegian 4x4, Tabata, HIIT 30/30, and more | AMRAP, For Time, EMOM, Tabata timing |
| Apple Watch | Wrist-native, runs without a phone | Primarily phone-based |
| Guidance | Full-screen phases, haptics, heart rate zones | Big-display timer, round counter |
| VO2 max tracking | Yes, trend over time | Not the focus |
| Platform | iPhone and Apple Watch | iOS and Android |
| Price | 4 workouts free, then unlock all | Free with optional premium |
Improve your VO2 max
Get PEAKVO2 freeWhat PEAKVO2 Is
PEAKVO2 is a VO2 max training app for iPhone and Apple Watch. It runs 16 built-in workouts, the Norwegian 4x4, Tabata, HIIT 30/30, REHIT 2x20, Norwegian 3x3, and more, with full-screen color-coded phases, automatic transitions, a haptic tap at each switch, and the heart rate zones those protocols depend on. It runs natively on Apple Watch with no phone needed and tracks your VO2 max trend over time, and it includes built-in beep and Cooper field tests. It is a training app, not a testing service.
What SmartWOD Is
SmartWOD is a functional fitness app for CrossFit-style training, in two parts. The WOD timer handles the common functional formats: AMRAP (as many rounds as possible), For Time, EMOM (every minute on the minute), and Tabata, with a big display and a round counter. The workout generator builds WODs from the equipment you have, drawing on a large library of functional workouts, benchmark WODs, and partner workouts. It is available on iOS and Android, free with optional premium features.
Who Each One Is For
- Choose PEAKVO2 if your goal is your aerobic engine: structured VO2 max and endurance interval training, guided on your wrist, with the specific protocols and heart rate zones that raise VO2 max. It fits runners, cyclists, and endurance athletes who want the timing handled for them.
- Choose SmartWOD if you train CrossFit or functional fitness and want a reliable WOD timer plus a generator that produces varied workouts from whatever equipment you have. It fits the box and functional-fitness crowd.
- Use both if you do CrossFit for strength and skill and want a dedicated tool for the aerobic engine underneath it. They do not overlap much, which is why they sit well together.
Keep Reading
- The Apple Watch Interval Training App Built Around VO2 Max
- Norwegian 4x4 Protocol: Proven HIIT to Raise VO2 Max
- Hyrox vs CrossFit: The Real Differences and Which Suits You
- HIIT Workout Plan: A 6-Week Plan You Can Actually Follow
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the difference between PEAKVO2 and SmartWOD?
PEAKVO2 is a VO2 max interval training app for iPhone and Apple Watch: it runs guided endurance protocols like the Norwegian 4x4 and Tabata with heart rate zones, automatic phases, and VO2 max tracking. SmartWOD is a functional fitness app for CrossFit-style training: a WOD timer (AMRAP, For Time, EMOM, Tabata) and a workout generator that builds WODs from the equipment you have. They target different kinds of training.
Should I use PEAKVO2 or SmartWOD?
Use PEAKVO2 if your goal is structured VO2 max and endurance interval training with guided protocols on your wrist. Use SmartWOD if you do CrossFit or functional fitness and want a WOD timer and a generator that creates varied workouts from your available equipment. Some people use both, one for the aerobic engine and one for functional WODs.
Does SmartWOD have VO2 max protocols like the Norwegian 4x4?
SmartWOD is built around CrossFit-style WODs and functional fitness timing (AMRAP, For Time, EMOM, Tabata), not around named endurance VO2 max protocols. PEAKVO2 is the one built specifically around VO2 max protocols such as the Norwegian 4x4, with the heart rate zones those protocols depend on.
Which app is better for Apple Watch?
PEAKVO2 is an iPhone and Apple Watch app: workouts run with full-screen phases and haptic cues, and the same session runs natively on the wrist. SmartWOD is primarily a phone-based timer and generator. If wrist-based interval guidance matters to you, PEAKVO2 is the better fit.