Pull Up vs Lat Pulldown

Maximizing Your Back Workout Plan

Contents

Planfit users log Lat Pulldown more often — 81,834 sessions vs 15,437. Compare Back form, muscles worked, and when to use each.

Customize Your Back Workout: Explore the Benefits of Pull Up and Lat Pulldown for Better Comparison.

Planfit Users' Choice about Pull Up vs Lat Pulldown : Which is Better?

Based on randomly selected data from 1 million completed workouts, Planfit users log Lat Pulldown more often — 81,834 sessions compared to 15,437 for Pull Up.

Popularity is not the whole answer. Pull Up and Lat Pulldown 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 Lat Pulldown Differ

What differsPull UpLat Pulldown
Equipmenta pull-up bara machine
Difficulty4 of 51 of 5
Sessions logged by Planfit users15,437 sessions81,834 sessions

Related comparisons

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How to Pull Up

Pull Up gif

Pull Up muscles worked: Back

Form

  1. 1. Please pull your arms back until your chest touches the bar.
  2. 2. While bringing your shoulder blades together, gently pull your arms back.
  3. 3. Slowly return to the starting position while keeping your chest relaxed.

Coach's Comment

  1. 1. Please be careful not to lose your starting position when you come down.
  2. 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!

Do you want to know more about Pull Up methods?Exercise Guide

How to Lat Pulldown

Lat Pulldown gif

Lat Pulldown muscles worked: Back

Form

  1. 1. Gather your shoulder blades and naturally pull your arms.
  2. 2. Lower your forearms vertically.
  3. 3. Pull until the bar touches your collarbone.
  4. 4. Slowly raise your arms and return to the starting position.

Coach's Comment

  1. 1. Please be careful not to strain your shoulders by fully extending your shoulders and arms.
  2. 2. Please be careful not to let your trapezius muscles rise.

If you want to know a detailed guide to Lat Pulldown, alternative exercises, and its benefits, check it out here. Check out the Lat Pulldown Guide page of our blog!

Do you want to know more about Lat Pulldown methods?Exercise Guide

Frequently Asked Questions

Which is better for Back, Pull Up or Lat Pulldown?

Planfit users log Lat Pulldown more often — 81,834 sessions against 15,437 for Pull Up. 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 Lat Pulldown need?

Pull Up needs a pull-up bar, and Lat Pulldown needs a machine.

Which is easier to start with?

Lat Pulldown is the easier place to start. Move to Pull Up once your form holds up.

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