Whether you train with squats or hip thrusts, you’ll get just as better at deadlifts and pushing against a wall—both exercises improve real-world leg strength equally.

Doing squats or hip thrusts helps you get stronger at deadlifts and pushing against a wall about the same amount — neither exercise gives you a big edge over the other for these other movements.

If you want to get stronger at squats, you need to squat; if you want to get stronger at hip thrusts, you need to do hip thrusts. Training one doesn’t make you much stronger at the other.

If you want to get stronger at squats, you need to squat; if you want to get stronger at hip thrusts, you need to do hip thrusts—training makes you better at the exact movement you practice.

Hip thrusts turn on your butt and hamstrings more than squats, but both exercises work your front thigh muscles just as hard.

Squats build your thigh muscles (quads and inner thighs) more than hip thrusts do, because squats involve more knee and hip movement that engages those muscles more.