Chronojump Alternative

The jump mat that needs no laptop

Chronojump is a brilliant open-source platform beloved in research labs. But to test a full team in the gym or on the field — without a tethered computer or desktop software — Plyomat is the plug-and-play alternative built for exactly that.

See the Plyomat jump mat → Shop & pricing
The honest short version

Different tools for different rooms

Chronojump (from Barcelona, Spain) is a genuinely great project: an open-hardware contact platform paired with a Chronopic microcontroller and free, GPL open-source desktop software. It is the cheapest serious option, the code and hardware are fully auditable, and it carries deep academic credibility backed by peer-reviewed validation papers. In a research lab, it is hard to beat.

Plyomat is a force-based contact mat with a Controller 3.0 that has its own on-device screen and a free modern app over Bluetooth. The difference is workflow: no laptop, no PC software to install or compile, nothing to keep tethered. It's built to be picked up and used on a pool deck, a turf field, or a weight room with the same five-second setup — and you don't have to read the source code to trust the data, because Plyomat is independently force-plate validated (r≈0.97 vs AccuPower).

Side by side

Chronojump vs Plyomat

 ChronojumpPlyomat
HardwareOpen contact platform + ChronopicForce-based contact mat + Controller 3.0
Software modelFree GPL open-source desktop appFree modern app, no subscription
Laptop required?Yes — USB-tethered to a PCNo — plug-and-play
On-device screenNo standalone screenYes (Controller 3.0)
App platformsDesktop software to installiOS, Android & web (Bluetooth)
MetricsJump, contact time, RSI & moreJump, contact time, RSI, RSQ, Power Score, asymmetry
Timing resolutionHigh-resolution timing0.001 s timing
ValidationPeer-reviewed academic papersForce-plate validated (r≈0.97)
Open / auditableOpen hardware + open sourceFinished, supported product
Support modelCommunity / DIY, EU shippingUS single-vendor support + warranty
Entry priceBare platforms ~€70–209Mats from $200 · system $950
Both are real validation paths — Chronojump through peer-reviewed study, Plyomat through independent force-plate testing. Chronojump wins on open code and entry price; Plyomat wins on a laptop-free workflow with US support.
Why coaches pick Plyomat

Built for the gym, not the lab bench

⚡

No laptop, no install

Skip the tethered PC and the desktop software. Results appear on the Controller 3.0 on-device screen, with a free Bluetooth app if you want them on a phone, tablet, or browser.

📱

Fast team testing

A modern app plus the on-device screen lets you run athlete after athlete — jump height, contact time, RSI, RSQ, Power Score, and asymmetry in one tap.

🏋

Field-ready durability

A rugged force-based mat built in the USA to travel from weight room to turf and back. No delicate cabling, no alignment ritual — just a mat you can throw in a bag.

✅

Trust without the source code

Open source lets you audit the math; Plyomat lets you skip it. The signal is independently force-plate validated (r≈0.97 vs AccuPower), trustworthy out of the box.

🛡

One vendor to call

US-based support and warranty from a single company — no forum threads, no DIY troubleshooting, no overseas shipping. Reach a human at Plyomat when you need help.

⏱

Precise, applied timing

0.001 second timing on a force-based surface, tuned for Reactive Strength Index and drop-jump work where contact time drives the decision.

Questions

Chronojump alternative FAQ

What's the main difference between Chronojump and Plyomat?
Chronojump is an open-source contact platform that connects through a Chronopic microcontroller to a laptop running free GPL desktop software, so a tethered computer is part of every test. Plyomat is a self-contained force-based contact mat: the Controller 3.0 has its own on-device screen and a free Bluetooth app for iOS, Android, and web — so you test without a laptop or any PC software to install.
Do I need a laptop like I do with Chronojump?
No. Chronojump requires a laptop running its desktop application, connected to the Chronopic over USB. Plyomat is plug-and-play: results show on the Controller 3.0 on-device screen, and the free modern app connects over Bluetooth on a phone, tablet, or in a browser. There is nothing to install or compile.
Is Plyomat worth it if Chronojump's software is free?
Chronojump's free open-source software and open hardware are genuinely excellent, especially in academic and lab settings where auditable code and the lowest entry price matter. Plyomat is a different trade-off: a finished, supported product that works without a laptop, with a modern app and on-device screen for fast team testing and field durability, backed by US support and warranty. You also don't have to read the source code to trust the numbers — Plyomat is independently force-plate validated at r≈0.97 versus AccuPower.
Does Chronojump have research credibility Plyomat doesn't?
Yes — Chronojump has deep academic credibility, including peer-reviewed validation papers, and it's widely respected in research labs. Plyomat takes a more applied path: it's independently force-plate validated (r≈0.97 against AccuPower) and built for coaches who want trustworthy numbers without setting up a tethered lab system. Both are legitimate; they suit different rooms.
How much do Chronojump and Plyomat cost?
Chronojump is the cheapest serious option: bare platforms run roughly €70–209 and kits roughly €230–339, with free open-source software. Plyomat switch mats start at $200 and a complete system is $950, with a free app and no subscription. Chronojump wins on entry price; Plyomat includes the screen, the app, and US support in the box.

Test the team without the laptop.

A force-plate-validated contact mat with an on-device screen and a free modern app — plug-and-play, US-supported, no subscription.

Shop Plyomat & systems →
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