The Best Hangboard Apps and Timers for Structured Training

Why Structured Timing Matters

Trying to count "one-Mississippi, two-Mississippi" while your fingers are screaming on a 20mm edge does not work. Your count speeds up under fatigue, your rest periods drift, and your session quality drops. An app or timer with audio cues lets you close your eyes, focus on your grip, and trust the beeps.

Consistent timing also makes your training measurable. If your rest periods vary by 30 seconds every set, you cannot compare week-to-week performance. A timer keeps the variables locked so you can isolate what is actually changing: your finger strength.

The Best Hangboard Apps

1. Crimpd (by Lattice Training)

Platform: iOS, Android, Web | Price: Free (75+ workouts); Crimpd+ from $8.33/month (billed yearly)

Crimpd is built by Lattice Training, the coaching company founded by Tom Randall and Ollie Torr. It is the most comprehensive climbing training app on the market, and hangboarding is a major part of it.

What it does well: Over 75 free workouts covering fingerboarding, strength and conditioning, mobility, and climbing-specific training. Built-in timer designed specifically for hangboard protocols and interval circuits. Training logbook and analytics to track completed sessions. Crimpd+ adds 200+ workouts, custom training plan builder, and pre-built skill templates.

Best for: Climbers who want a complete training platform, not just a timer. If you follow Lattice protocols or want structured programming from professional coaches, Crimpd is the gold standard.

Worth noting: The free tier is genuinely useful. You get enough workouts and timer functionality to run a solid hangboard program without paying anything. Crimpd+ is worth it if you want to build custom plans or access the full workout library.

2. Grippy (by Griptonite / Beastmaker)

Platform: iOS, Android | Price: Free

Grippy is the official Beastmaker app, developed by Griptonite. It replaced the original Beastmaker app and carries forward all the classic workouts while adding new features and coach-designed programming.

What it does well: Workouts designed by a network of top climbing coaches. Visual board overlays showing exactly which holds to use on the Beastmaker 1000 and 2000. Repeater and max hang timers with audio cues. Benchmark tests to track progress over time. Free to download and use.

Best for: Beastmaker owners. The app is purpose-built for the Beastmaker 1000 and 2000, with visual hold guides that map directly to the board. If you own a Beastmaker, this is the obvious starting point.

Worth noting: While the app is designed around Beastmaker boards, the timer functionality works for any hangboard. You just will not get the visual hold mapping for non-Beastmaker boards.

3. Boulder Trainer

Platform: iOS | Price: $2.99

Boulder Trainer has been around since 2014 and supports over 80 different hangboards with pre-made workouts for most of them. Its standout feature is the ability to add your own DIY hangboard by photographing it and numbering the holds.

What it does well: Supports 80+ commercial hangboards with board-specific workouts. Custom board support: photograph your board and map holds manually. Voice instructions for precise exercise timing. Shareable workout plans. Training reminders.

Best for: Climbers who own less common hangboards or have built their own. Boulder Trainer's board library is the widest of any app, and the custom board feature fills the gap for everything else.

Worth noting: iOS only. Android users will need to look elsewhere.

4. hang! Hangboard Timer

Platform: iOS | Price: Free

hang! is a focused hangboard timer app built specifically for climbers. It keeps things simple: set up your protocol, start the timer, follow the audio cues.

What it does well: Clean, intuitive interface designed for quick workout setup. Customizable intervals for any hangboard protocol (repeaters, max hangs, density hangs). Hand-switching support: choose your starting hand and set automatic switches per rep or per set. Training log to track completed sessions.

Best for: Climbers who want a straightforward, no-frills timer without the overhead of a full training platform. If you already know your protocol and just need something to beep at the right times, hang! does exactly that.

5. Beastmaker 1000 Training Pro (by TankT72)

Platform: Android | Price: $1.49

This is not the official Beastmaker app, but it is widely considered the best third-party option for the Beastmaker 1000. The developer (TankT72, also known as LizardEdge) makes similar apps for the Beastmaker 2000 and several Metolius boards.

What it does well: 14 pre-made workouts for the Beastmaker 1000 across a wide range of difficulty levels. Highly customizable: edit any pre-made workout without altering the original. Control over individual set parameters: hang duration, rest, reps, hold selection. Shows workout duration and hold types before you start so you can gauge difficulty.

Best for: Android users with a Beastmaker 1000 (or 2000, or Metolius boards via related apps). The customization depth is the best of any board-specific app.

Worth noting: The interface is functional rather than beautiful. It gets the job done without winning design awards. TankT72 also makes versions for the Beastmaker 2000, Metolius Simulator, Metolius Project, Metolius Contact, and Rock Rings, all around $1.49 each.

6. Zlagboard App

Platform: iOS, Android | Price: Free (requires Zlagboard hardware)

If you own a Zlagboard, the official app is the only option, and it is a good one. The Zlagboard system uses integrated load cells in the board to measure your actual finger force in real time.

What it does well: Real-time force measurement