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 differs | Pull Up | Lat Pulldown |
|---|---|---|
| Equipment | a pull-up bar | a machine |
| Difficulty | 4 of 5 | 1 of 5 |
| Sessions logged by Planfit users | 15,437 sessions | 81,834 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 Lat Pulldown
Lat Pulldown muscles worked: Back
Form
- 1. Gather your shoulder blades and naturally pull your arms.
- 2. Lower your forearms vertically.
- 3. Pull until the bar touches your collarbone.
- 4. Slowly raise your arms and return to the starting position.
Coach's Comment
- 1. Please be careful not to strain your shoulders by fully extending your shoulders and arms.
- 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!
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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