Target tension.: Whether the muscle you’re training is what gives out first, not your grip, balance or other muscles.
Loaded stretch.: How hard the muscle works while stretched. Training it there is linked to more growth.
Progression.: How easily you can keep adding weight in small steps over months and years.
Low cost.: How easy it is on your joints and recovery, and how quickly you can learn it.

The research score comes from these, scored by hand from the studies. Lifter scores appear once an exercise has 10 ratings. How scores work

When each one fits

Good reasons to choose crunch

You have no equipment

Good reasons to choose hanging knee raise

You want more load on the abs while they’re stretched
You want to keep adding weight in small steps

Crunch

Hanging Knee Raise

You need

Nothing but the floor

Pull-up bar

Skill

Easy to learn

Type

Isolation

Questions

Which is better for your abs, crunch or hanging knee raise?

For your abs, hanging knee raise rates well ahead on our research criteria: more stretch, easier to progress.

Is crunch or hanging knee raise easier to learn?

About the same: both are easy to learn.

Can you do crunch or hanging knee raise at home?

Crunch needs no equipment, so you can do it anywhere. Hanging knee raise needs a pull-up bar, so a home gym covers it.

Which is easier on the joints, crunch or hanging knee raise?

About the same: both rate Excellent for joint and recovery cost in our research rubric.

More comparisons

Crunch Hanging Knee Raise All abs exercises

Crunch vs Hanging Knee Raise

For your abs, hanging knee raise rates well ahead on our research criteria: more stretch, easier to progress.

What these mean

Target tension.: Whether the muscle you’re training is what gives out first, not your grip, balance or other muscles.
Loaded stretch.: How hard the muscle works while stretched. Training it there is linked to more growth.
Progression.: How easily you can keep adding weight in small steps over months and years.
Low cost.: How easy it is on your joints and recovery, and how quickly you can learn it.

The research score comes from these, scored by hand from the studies. Lifter scores appear once an exercise has 10 ratings. How scores work

When each one fits

Good reasons to choose crunch

You have no equipment

Good reasons to choose hanging knee raise

You want more load on the abs while they’re stretched
You want to keep adding weight in small steps

Crunch

Hanging Knee Raise

You need

Nothing but the floor

Pull-up bar

Skill

Easy to learn

Type

Isolation

Questions

Which is better for your abs, crunch or hanging knee raise?

For your abs, hanging knee raise rates well ahead on our research criteria: more stretch, easier to progress.

Is crunch or hanging knee raise easier to learn?

About the same: both are easy to learn.

Can you do crunch or hanging knee raise at home?

Crunch needs no equipment, so you can do it anywhere. Hanging knee raise needs a pull-up bar, so a home gym covers it.

Which is easier on the joints, crunch or hanging knee raise?

About the same: both rate Excellent for joint and recovery cost in our research rubric.