10 Best Butterfly Alternatives for Chest Isolation

Ranked Butterfly Alternatives

10 substitutes, ranked by how closely each one matches the Butterfly on movement pattern, muscles worked, equipment and body position. The higher the score, the less you change. Open "How to perform this exercise" on a card for the steps; every card title links to that exercise's own alternatives page.

1. Best match

   Play demonstration

   1. Isometric Chest Squeeze

   73% match

   • Pectorals
   • Bodyweight
   • Beginner
   • Isolation

   Use this when you have nothing to train with, because it works the pectorals with bodyweight alone.

   How to perform this exercise

   1. Stand with your feet shoulder-width apart and your knees slightly bent.
   2. Extend your arms straight out in front of you, parallel to the ground, with your palms facing each other.
   3. Squeeze your chest muscles together as hard as you can, while keeping your arms straight.
   4. Hold this position for a few seconds, focusing on contracting your chest muscles.
   5. Release the squeeze and relax your chest muscles.
   6. Repeat for the desired number of repetitions.

   Sets and reps: 3 sets of 8 to 12 reps, and add reps before you add load.

   Why this matches

   • Primary muscle: pectorals, the same as the Butterfly
   • Equipment: bodyweight only, not a machine
   • Body position: standing, not seated
2. 

   2. Isometric Chest Squeezes

   63% match

   • Pectorals
   • Bodyweight
   • Beginner
   • Isolation

   How to perform this exercise

   1. While either seating or standing, bend your arms at a 90-degree angle and place the palms of your hands together in front of your chest. Tip: Your hands should be open with the palms together and fingers facing forward (perpendicular to your torso).
   2. Push both hands against each other as you contract your chest. Start with slow tension and increase slowly. Keep breathing normally as you execute this contraction.
   3. Hold for the recommended number of seconds.
   4. Now release the tension slowly.
   5. Rest for the recommended amount of time and repeat.

   Sets and reps: Hold for 20 to 30 seconds, 3 sets.

   Why this matches

   • Primary muscle: pectorals, the same as the Butterfly
   • Equipment: bodyweight only, not a machine
   • Body position: standing, not seated
3. Play demonstration

   3. Isometric Wipers

   61% match

   • Pectorals
   • Bodyweight
   • Intermediate
   • Compound

   How to perform this exercise

   1. Start by lying flat on your back on a mat or bench.
   2. Extend your arms straight out to the sides, perpendicular to your body.
   3. Engage your core and lift both legs off the ground, keeping them together and straight.
   4. Slowly lower your legs to one side, aiming to touch the ground with your feet while maintaining control.
   5. Pause for a moment, then use your core to lift your legs back to the starting position.
   6. Repeat the movement, this time lowering your legs to the opposite side.
   7. Continue alternating sides for the desired number of repetitions.

   Sets and reps: 3 or 4 sets of 6 to 10 reps.

   Why this matches

   • Primary muscle: pectorals, the same as the Butterfly
   • Equipment: bodyweight only, not a machine
   • Body position: lying face down, not seated
4. Play demonstration

   4. Chest Dip (On Dip-pull-up Cage)

   60% match

   • Pectorals
   • Bodyweight
   • Intermediate
   • Compound

   How to perform this exercise

   1. Adjust the dip bars to a height that allows you to comfortably grip them.
   2. Stand between the bars and place your hands on each bar, slightly wider than shoulder-width apart.
   3. Jump up and straighten your arms, supporting your body weight on the bars.
   4. Bend your knees and cross your ankles behind you.
   5. Lower your body by bending your elbows, keeping your chest up and your shoulders down.
   6. Continue lowering until your shoulders are below your elbows or until you feel a stretch in your chest.
   7. Push through your palms and extend your elbows to raise your body back up to the starting position.
   8. Repeat for the desired number of repetitions.

   Sets and reps: 3 or 4 sets of 6 to 10 reps.

   Why this matches

   • Primary muscle: pectorals, the same as the Butterfly
   • Equipment: bodyweight only, not a machine
   • Body position: hanging, not seated
   • Balance: harder to stay steady on than the Butterfly
5. Play demonstration

   5. Incline Push-up

   60% match

   • Pectorals
   • Bodyweight
   • Beginner
   • Compound

   How to perform this exercise

   1. Place your hands on an elevated surface, such as a bench or step, slightly wider than shoulder-width apart.
   2. Extend your legs behind you, resting on the balls of your feet, creating a straight line from your head to your heels.
   3. Lower your chest towards the elevated surface by bending your elbows, keeping your body in a straight line.
   4. Pause for a moment at the bottom, then push yourself back up to the starting position by straightening your arms.
   5. Repeat for the desired number of repetitions.

   Sets and reps: 3 sets of 8 to 12 reps, and add reps before you add load.

   Why this matches

   • Primary muscle: pectorals, the same as the Butterfly
   • Equipment: bodyweight only, not a machine
   • Body position: lying face down, not seated
   • Balance: harder to stay steady on than the Butterfly
6. Play demonstration

   6. Incline Push-up (On Box)

   60% match

   • Pectorals
   • Bodyweight
   • Beginner
   • Compound

   How to perform this exercise

   1. Place your hands on the edge of a box or elevated surface, slightly wider than shoulder-width apart.
   2. Extend your legs behind you, resting on the balls of your feet, creating a straight line from your head to your heels.
   3. Lower your chest towards the box by bending your elbows, keeping your body in a straight line.
   4. Pause for a moment at the bottom, then push yourself back up to the starting position by straightening your arms.
   5. Repeat for the desired number of repetitions.

   Sets and reps: 3 sets of 8 to 12 reps, and add reps before you add load.

   Why this matches

   • Primary muscle: pectorals, the same as the Butterfly
   • Equipment: bodyweight only, not a machine
   • Body position: standing, not seated
   • Balance: harder to stay steady on than the Butterfly
7. 

   7. Incline Push-up Medium

   60% match

   • Pectorals
   • Bodyweight
   • Beginner
   • Compound

   How to perform this exercise

   1. Stand facing a Smith machine bar or sturdy elevated platform at an appropriate height.
   2. Place your hands on the bar, with your hands about shoulder width apart.
   3. Position your feet back from the bar with arms and body straight. This will be your starting position.
   4. Keeping your body straight, lower your chest to the bar by bending the arms.
   5. Return to the starting position by extending the elbows, pressing yourself back up.

   Sets and reps: 3 sets of 8 to 12 reps, and add reps before you add load.

   Why this matches

   • Primary muscle: pectorals, the same as the Butterfly
   • Equipment: bodyweight only, not a machine
   • Body position: lying face down, not seated
   • Balance: harder to stay steady on than the Butterfly
8. 

   8. Incline Push-up Wide

   60% match

   • Pectorals
   • Bodyweight
   • Beginner
   • Compound

   How to perform this exercise

   1. Stand facing a Smith machine bar or sturdy elevated platform at an appropriate height.
   2. Place your hands on the bar, with your hands wider than shoulder width.
   3. Position your feet back from the bar with arms and body straight. Your arms should be perpendicular to the body. This will be your starting position.
   4. Keeping your body straight, lower your chest to the bar by bending the arms.
   5. Return to the starting position by extending the elbows, pressing yourself back up.

   Sets and reps: 3 sets of 8 to 12 reps, and add reps before you add load.

   Why this matches

   • Primary muscle: pectorals, the same as the Butterfly
   • Equipment: bodyweight only, not a machine
   • Body position: lying face down, not seated
   • Balance: harder to stay steady on than the Butterfly
9. Play demonstration

   9. Wide Hand Push Up

   60% match

   • Pectorals
   • Bodyweight
   • Beginner
   • Compound

   How to perform this exercise

   1. Start in a high plank position with your hands wider than shoulder-width apart.
   2. Keep your body in a straight line from head to toe.
   3. Lower your chest towards the ground by bending your elbows, keeping them close to your sides.
   4. Push through your palms to extend your arms and return to the starting position.
   5. Repeat for the desired number of repetitions.

   Sets and reps: 3 sets of 8 to 12 reps, and add reps before you add load.

   Why this matches

   • Primary muscle: pectorals, the same as the Butterfly
   • Equipment: bodyweight only, not a machine
   • Body position: lying face down, not seated
10. Play demonstration

    10. Kneeling Push-up

    59% match

    • Pectorals
    • Bodyweight
    • Beginner
    • Compound

    How to perform this exercise

    1. Start by kneeling on the ground with your hands shoulder-width apart, fingers pointing forward.
    2. Extend your legs behind you, resting on the balls of your feet, so that your body forms a straight line from head to heels.
    3. Engage your core and lower your body towards the ground by bending your elbows, keeping them close to your sides.
    4. Continue lowering until your chest is just above the ground, then push back up to the starting position by straightening your arms.
    5. Repeat for the desired number of repetitions.

    Sets and reps: 3 sets of 8 to 12 reps, and add reps before you add load.

    Why this matches

    • Primary muscle: pectorals, the same as the Butterfly
    • Equipment: bodyweight only, not a machine
    • Body position: kneeling, not seated
    • Balance: harder to stay steady on than the Butterfly