Chin-ups and pull-ups work the same muscles but with different emphasis. The chin-up emphasizes your arms and chest. The pull-up emphasizes your back and shoulders. This is because the chin-up works your biceps and pecs slightly more than your lats and traps, which the pull-up really nails.

The grip will be the primary difference between a chin-up and a pull-up. After that, it comes down to the muscles that are primarily used throughout the exercise. When performing a chin-up, the load and exertion focus more on the bicep area. With a pull-up, the lats are the primary drivers of the movement.

The most obvious difference between the pull-up and chin-up is the way that you grab the bar. With the pull-up, you grab the bar with a double-overhand grip. Conversely, the chin-up requires a double-underhand grip. This fundamental difference also changes how close or how wide you’ll be able to place your hands.

Comparing the two is kind of like comparing a chin-up against a biceps curl. Both have their place in a good workout routine. Use chin-ups as your main variation, pull-ups as a lighter assistance lift.

The difference between pullup and chinup modifications is the same as for the normal variations — pullups use a pronated grip while chinups use a supinated grip.