Pull Up vs Incline Row
Maximizing Your Back Workout Plan
Contents
Planfit users log Pull Up more often — 15,437 sessions vs 4,137. Compare Back form, muscles worked, and when to use each.
Customize Your Back Workout: Explore the Benefits of Pull Up and Incline Row for Better Comparison.
Planfit Users' Choice about Pull Up vs Incline Row : Which is Better?
Based on randomly selected data from 1 million completed workouts, Planfit users log Pull Up more often — 15,437 sessions compared to 4,137 for Incline Row.
Popularity is not the whole answer. Pull Up and Incline Row differ in the muscles they load, the equipment they need, and how hard they are to learn — the comparison below covers each.
How Pull Up and Incline Row Differ
| What differs | Pull Up | Incline Row |
|---|---|---|
| Equipment | a pull-up bar | a dumbbell |
| Difficulty | 4 of 5 | 2 of 5 |
| Sessions logged by Planfit users | 15,437 sessions | 4,137 sessions |
How to Pull Up
Pull Up muscles worked: Back
Form
- 1. Please pull your arms back until your chest touches the bar.
- 2. While bringing your shoulder blades together, gently pull your arms back.
- 3. Slowly return to the starting position while keeping your chest relaxed.
Coach's Comment
- 1. Please be careful not to lose your starting position when you come down.
- 2. Please rise using the strength of your shoulder blades, not your arms.
If you want to know a detailed guide to Pull Up, alternative exercises, and its benefits, check it out here. Check out the Pull Up Guide page of our blog!
How to Incline Row
Incline Row muscles worked: Back
Form
- 1. Please pull until your elbow forms a right angle.
- 2. Move your forearm vertically while fully extending your elbow to return to the starting position.
Coach's Comment
- 1. Be careful not to let your arms swing forward or backward.
- 2. Focus on pulling with the muscles on the sides of your back so that your shoulders do not shrug upward.
- 3. When lowering, resist the weight of the dumbbells and lower them slowly so that your arms do not drop.
If you want to know a detailed guide to Incline Row, alternative exercises, and its benefits, check it out here. Check out the Incline Row Guide page of our blog!
Frequently Asked Questions
Which is better for Back, Pull Up or Incline Row?
Planfit users log Pull Up more often — 15,437 sessions against 4,137 for Incline Row. Both train Back, so pick the one that matches the equipment you have and the muscles you want to load.
What equipment do Pull Up and Incline Row need?
Pull Up needs a pull-up bar, and Incline Row needs a dumbbell.
Which is easier to start with?
Incline Row is the easier place to start. Move to Pull Up once your form holds up.
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It's a straightforward way to customize a workout plan to meet your unique needs and objectives, ensuring every effort contributes to your fitness journey.

