they're just as good imo. most of the time i do not have a spotter so i use them since it's alot safer. and you can work your stabilizer muscles as well. i work each muscle group atleast twice a week, for chest and back i go free weights once a week, then i go all out on the smith machine and try and break my PR then the next week try and go heavier on free weights. as long as you have a foundation of strength you'll always have stability as well. you just have to make sure you're doing all the right exercises.


or else if you work chest one day a week. an easy way to make sure you're working stabilizer muscles as well is to do dumbell presses before you use a Barbell.