Using weight machines for upper-body workouts might help you get stronger faster than using free weights, but for legs, both methods work about the same—maybe because machines make it easier to focus on the muscles without worrying about balance.

When it comes to building upper-body strength, machines might give you a little more gain than free weights, but for your legs, both work about the same.

Whether you lift weights the old-fashioned way or use machines, both ways will help you get stronger, build muscle, and jump higher — so you can pick whichever you like better.

If you lift weights using machines, you'll get stronger on those machines more than if you use free weights—your strength gains depend on what equipment you train with.

If you train using weight machines and then test your strength on machines, you’ll get stronger than if you trained with free weights — but only because the test matches the training. It’s like practicing basketball shots from the free-throw line and then being tested there: you’ll do better than if you practiced elsewhere.

If you want to get stronger at lifting weights like dumbbells or barbells, training with those same free weights will help you gain more strength than using machines — because your body gets better at the exact movements you practice.