For glute growth
For glute growth, hip thrust machine rates higher on our research criteria: easier on the joints.
Both are good choices that train the glutes the same way, so they swap freely. Rotating between them every few weeks is an easy way to vary your training.
The research score comes from these, scored by hand from the studies. Lifter scores appear once an exercise has 10 ratings. How scores work
Barbell Hip Thrust. Grew the glutes about as much as squats in a head-to-head trial, despite loading them mainly when shortened.
Hip Thrust Machine. Puts the glutes first with a stable setup and easy loading, though most tension comes at the top, where they’re short.
For glute growth, hip thrust machine rates higher on our research criteria: easier on the joints. Both are good choices that train the glutes the same way, so they swap freely. Rotating between them every few weeks is an easy way to vary your training.
About the same: both are easy to learn.
Barbell hip thrust needs a barbell and a bench, so for most people it’s a gym exercise. Hip thrust machine needs a machine, so for most people it’s a gym exercise.
Hip thrust machine: it rates Excellent for joint and recovery cost in our research rubric, against Strong for barbell hip thrust.