Best Apps to Track Swimming Workouts: 2026 Guide
Quick summary: There are two types of swimming apps: planning (they tell you what to swim) and tracking (they record what you swim). The ideal combo: Swimer for planning + watch with Strava for recording. Look for CSS personalization, zone-based paces, and block progression.
There are two types of swimming apps: those that generate your workout (planning) and those that record your session (tracking). The ideal approach is combining both to maximize your progress. In this guide we compare the best of each category.
Planning apps vs tracking apps
| Criteria | Planning apps | Tracking apps |
|---|---|---|
| Main function | Tell you what to swim and at what pace | Record what you swam |
| Examples | Swimer, MySwimPro | Strava, Garmin Connect, Apple Fitness |
| Requires watch | No | Yes (GPS or pool mode) |
| Drives adaptation | Yes (if paces are correct) | No (just measures) |
| Value for improvement | High | Medium (complementary) |
Planning apps: know what to swim
Swimer (most complete)
Swimer generates your complete training plan based on your CSS: structured sessions with paces per intensity zone, block progression, and automatic recalculation.
MySwimPro
Offers predefined workouts by level with drill videos. Plans are generic (not based on your actual CSS). ~$10/month. See our full comparison.
SwimUp
App with 100K+ downloads offering 8 swimming modes and 10 difficulty levels. Includes theory section with videos. Doesn't calculate CSS or personalized zones — uses generic levels. Freemium model with in-app purchases.
Tracking apps: record what you swim
Strava
Excellent for recording sessions with a GPS watch, viewing distance, pace per lap, and sharing with friends. Strong social component. Doesn't plan swimming workouts.
Garmin Connect / Apple Fitness
If you have a Garmin or Apple Watch, these apps automatically record your pool sessions: laps, pace, SWOLF, stroke rate, and more. Great as a training diary.
The ideal combination
The most effective setup is: Swimer for planning (tells you what to swim, at what pace, with what rest) + watch + Strava for recording (actual session data). This way you have both the plan and measured execution.
What to look for in a swimming app
| Criteria | Why it matters | Swimer | SwimUp | Others |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| CSS personalization | Exact paces for YOUR level | ✅ | ❌ (uses levels) | ❌ (generic) |
| Zone-based paces | Know exactly what pace to swim each set | ✅ 6 zones | ❌ | ❌ |
| Block progression | Plan evolves with you | ✅ Automatic | ⚠️ 10 manual levels | ❌ |
| Professional structure | 5 blocks per session | ✅ | ✅ 8 modes | ⚠️ Partial |
| Multi-language | More comfortable daily use | ✅ | ❌ | ❌ (most English-only) |
Swimer meets all 5 criteria. Calculate your CSS for free and receive your first personalized training plan in minutes.
Paso a paso
- Distinguish planning from tracking — Planning apps tell you what to swim (Swimer). Tracking apps record what you swam (Strava). Ideally, combine both.
- Choose your planning app — Look for CSS-based personalization, zone-specific paces, block progression, and your preferred language. Swimer meets all 4 criteria.
- Set up tracking — If you have a sports watch, connect Strava or Garmin Connect to automatically record your sessions.
- Combine plan + tracking — Train with your planning app's workouts and record actual data with tracking. This way you have both the plan and measured execution.
Preguntas frecuentes
What are the best apps for tracking swimming workouts?
There are two categories: planning apps (Swimer, MySwimPro) and tracking apps (Strava, Garmin Connect, Swim.com). The ideal combination is using Swimer to generate CSS-based personalized plans and a sports watch with Strava to log sessions.
Do I need a smartwatch to train swimming?
Not essential, but it helps. A sports watch automatically records times, distances, and heart rate. However, the most important thing is having a structured plan — you can use a pace clock and log your times manually.
What features should a swimming planning app have?
Key features are: CSS-based personalization (not just by level), specific paces per intensity zone, block periodization, automatic progression adjustment, and sessions with 5 differentiated blocks. Without these, the app only offers generic templates.