Best BJJ Apps: The Ultimate Guide to Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu Training Apps

The Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu community has exploded in recent years, and with it, the demand for specialized training apps has skyrocketed. Whether you’re a white belt just starting your journey or a seasoned practitioner working toward your next stripe, the right app can transform your training experience.

In this comprehensive guide, we’ll break down the best BJJ apps of 2025, analyzing features, pricing, user experience, and community aspects to help you choose the perfect digital training companion.

What Makes a Great BJJ App?

Before diving into our top picks, let’s establish what separates exceptional BJJ apps from generic fitness trackers:

Essential Features

  • BJJ-specific terminology and technique database
  • Progress tracking with belt progression visualization
  • Session logging for gi and no-gi training
  • Community features for connecting with training partners
  • Goal setting and motivation tools

Advanced Features

  • 10,000-hour journey tracking (Malcolm Gladwell’s mastery principle)
  • Multi-gym support for traveling practitioners
  • Competition preparation tools
  • Technique mastery progression tracking
  • Analytics and insights for optimizing training

The Best BJJ Apps of 2025

1. MatTime - The Ultimate BJJ Training Companion 🏆

Rating: 4.9/5 | Price: $9.99 (Lifetime Access)

MatTime stands out as the most comprehensive BJJ training app built specifically for grapplers, by grapplers. Here’s why it dominates the competition:

✅ Standout Features

  • Purpose-built for BJJ - Every feature understands grappling terminology and culture
  • 10,000-hour visualization - Beautiful progress tracking toward mastery
  • Multi-gym journey support - Perfect for traveling practitioners
  • Authentic BJJ community - Connect with real training partners, not fitness influencers
  • Belt progression tracking - Monitor your journey from white to black belt
  • Session analytics - Deep insights into your training patterns

✅ Why MatTime Wins

  • No generic fitness BS - Built exclusively for Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu
  • Lifetime pricing - $9.99 one-time payment vs. expensive subscriptions
  • Community-first approach - Focuses on real connections over social media vanity
  • Motivation psychology - Features designed to maintain long-term consistency

❌ Potential Drawbacks

  • Now available on iOS (Android 3-6 months later)
  • New app (but built by experienced BJJ practitioners)

Best For: Serious BJJ practitioners who want purpose-built tracking and authentic community features.

2. BJJ Buddy - The Generic Fitness Approach

Rating: 3.2/5 | Price: $4.99/month

BJJ Buddy attempts to adapt general fitness tracking for BJJ, but the results feel forced and disconnected from real grappling culture.

✅ Positives

  • Basic session logging capability
  • Simple interface
  • Available on both iOS and Android

❌ Major Issues

  • Generic fitness app approach - Feels like a regular workout tracker with BJJ labels slapped on
  • Limited BJJ understanding - Missing key grappling concepts and terminology
  • Subscription model - Ongoing costs add up quickly
  • Poor community features - Lacks authentic BJJ culture connection

Best For: Beginners who just want basic tracking and don’t mind generic fitness app feel.

3. BJJnotes.app - The Digital Notebook

Rating: 3.5/5 | Price: $7/month

BJJnotes positions itself as a digital training journal, but often feels more like homework than a training tool.

✅ Positives

  • Detailed note-taking capabilities
  • Technique documentation features
  • Web-based accessibility

❌ Major Issues

  • Feels like work - More focused on documentation than motivation
  • Limited progress visualization - Lacks inspiring progress tracking
  • No community features - Completely isolated experience
  • High monthly cost - Expensive for limited functionality

Best For: Practitioners who enjoy detailed note-taking and don’t need community features.

4. Grappling Stats - The Numbers Game

Rating: 3.0/5 | Price: Free with $12/month premium

Grappling Stats focuses heavily on statistical analysis but misses the human element of BJJ training.

✅ Positives

  • Comprehensive statistics
  • Free basic version
  • Good for data-driven practitioners

❌ Major Issues

  • Overwhelming complexity - Too many numbers, not enough insight
  • Poor user experience - Confusing interface
  • Limited motivation features - Focuses on data over encouragement

Best For: Data scientists who want extensive statistics and don’t mind complexity.

5. MyFitnessPal / Strava - The Generic Giants

Rating: 2.5/5 for BJJ | Price: Free with premium tiers

While these apps dominate general fitness, they’re poorly suited for BJJ-specific needs.

✅ Positives

  • Large user base
  • Reliable tracking
  • Cross-platform support

❌ Major Issues for BJJ

  • Zero BJJ understanding - Generic workout categories
  • No grappling community - Surrounded by runners and gym-goers
  • Missing key features - No belt progression, technique tracking, or BJJ-specific goals
  • Forced adaptation - You have to make it work rather than it working for you

Best For: People who use these apps for other activities and want to add basic BJJ logging.

Feature Comparison Matrix

FeatureMatTimeBJJ BuddyBJJnotesGrappling StatsGeneric Apps
BJJ-Specific Design✅❌⚡⚡❌
10k Hour Tracking✅❌❌✅❌
Belt Progression✅⚡❌✅❌
Community Features✅⚡❌⚡❌
Multi-Gym Support✅❌❌❌❌
Motivation Focus✅❌❌❌❌
Pricing ModelLifetimeSubscriptionSubscriptionFreemiumFreemium
Authentic BJJ Culture✅❌⚡❌❌

Why Most BJJ Apps Fail

After testing dozens of BJJ apps, here are the common failures we see:

1. Generic Fitness App Mentality

Most apps treat BJJ like any other workout - missing the cultural, technical, and community aspects that make grappling unique.

2. Over-Complication

Many apps focus on data and statistics rather than motivation and progress visualization that keeps practitioners engaged long-term.

3. Missing the Community Element

BJJ is inherently social, but most apps ignore the community aspect or treat it as an afterthought.

4. Subscription Fatigue

Expensive monthly subscriptions for basic features that should be one-time purchases.

5. Built by Non-Practitioners

Apps created by people who don’t understand BJJ culture and the unique challenges of grappling progression.

Our Recommendation: MatTime

After extensive testing and comparison, MatTime emerges as the clear winner for serious BJJ practitioners in 2025. Here’s why:

✅ Purpose-Built Excellence

MatTime was created by BJJ practitioners who understand the unique challenges and culture of grappling. Every feature reflects deep understanding of the art.

✅ Motivation-First Design

While other apps focus on data collection, MatTime prioritizes keeping you motivated and consistent with your training through psychology-based features.

✅ Authentic Community

Connect with real training partners and gyms, not fitness influencers. The community features reflect actual BJJ culture and values.

✅ Long-Term Value

$9.99 lifetime access vs. ongoing subscription costs that can reach $100+ per year with competitors.

✅ Future-Proof Features

Built for the long BJJ journey with features like 10,000-hour tracking and multi-gym support for traveling practitioners.

Choosing the Right App for You

Consider these factors when selecting your BJJ app:

For Serious Practitioners

Choose MatTime if you want purpose-built BJJ features, authentic community, and long-term value.

For Casual Trainers

BJJ Buddy might suffice if you just want basic logging and don’t mind the generic fitness approach.

For Note-Taking Lovers

BJJnotes could work if you enjoy detailed documentation and don’t need motivation features.

For Data Scientists

Grappling Stats if you love statistics and don’t mind complexity over user experience.

The Future of BJJ Apps

The BJJ app landscape is evolving rapidly in 2025. We’re seeing trends toward:

  • More specialized features for specific aspects of grappling
  • Better community integration connecting real training partners
  • AI-powered insights for personalized training recommendations
  • Multi-gym support for the traveling grappler lifestyle
  • Psychology-based motivation to maintain long-term consistency

MatTime leads in all these areas, positioning it as the app to beat for years to come.

Conclusion

While the BJJ app market offers various options, MatTime stands alone as the only app built specifically for serious Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu practitioners. Its combination of purpose-built features, authentic community, motivation-first design, and lifetime value make it the obvious choice for anyone serious about their grappling journey.

The other apps serve their niches - BJJ Buddy for basic tracking, BJJnotes for detailed documentation, Grappling Stats for data lovers - but none capture the complete BJJ experience like MatTime.

Ready to transform your BJJ journey? Download MatTime on the App Store to secure your spot in the future of BJJ training.

Learn more about BJJ tracking and compare your options:

📱 MatTime Features

🆚 App Comparisons

📚 Training Guides

Disclaimer: This review is based on extensive testing of available BJJ apps. Features and pricing may change. MatTime is now available on the App Store - this review is based on beta testing and announced features.