8 Best Hevy Alternatives in 2026
Hevy is one of the best free workout loggers there is. But "log it yourself" only takes you so far — if you want an app that actually writes your program, adapts to your recovery, or coaches you past a plateau, here are the eight alternatives worth trying in 2026, ranked by what they're for.
Why lifters look for a Hevy alternative
Hevy nails the basics: fast set logging, clean history, progress graphs and a genuinely fun social feed — all on a generous free tier. The reasons people still shop around usually come down to one thing: Hevy tracks your training, it doesn't design it.
- You still have to write your own program — Hevy logs it beautifully, but the thinking is on you.
- Hevy Trainer can generate a plan, but it doesn't autoregulate — it won't read your Reps in Reserve and adjust loads set by set.
- No real plateau detection or conversational coaching — you can't ask it "why has my bench stalled for a month?" and get a reasoned answer.
- Nutrition lives in a separate app, so training and macros never talk to each other.
- No voice logging to keep your hands free mid-set.
If none of that bothers you, stay on Hevy — it's excellent, and we'll be honest about where it still wins below. If it does, here's where to look. Torn specifically between the big three loggers? We break those down in Hevy vs Strong vs Fitbod.
How we chose these alternatives
A note on transparency: we build Gymex, which appears in this list, so we're not a neutral bystander. We checked current public product pages and app-store listings on 20 October 2026 and kept a “what Hevy still does best” section. Published US Hevy Pro pricing is $2.99/month, $23.99/year or $74.99 lifetime; prices vary by region. See Hevy's pricing page and our editorial policy.
The 8 best apps like Hevy, by what they're for
1. Gymex — the full AI coach Best overall upgrade
Gymex builds multi-week mesocycles, uses RIR context, flags plateaus, logs sets by voice, offers conversational coach chat and tracks macros in the same app. The free tier covers core tracking; Core is £7.49/month without AI, Premium adds AI at £15, and Pro Premium is £20. Annual options appear in your app store. The honest caveat: Gymex is newer, has a smaller exercise-media library and lacks Hevy's native watch and web apps.
2. Strong — the classic minimalist logger
The most like-for-like Hevy alternative. Strong is the long-standing favourite for fast set entry, reliable plate-math and clean history, with arguably the best Apple Watch app of any logger. It's simple and dependable — but like Hevy, it's a logger, not a coach: you bring the program, it records it. The free tier limits how many custom routines you can save; the paid tier is around £4.99/month, and it runs on iOS, Android and Apple Watch. Best for people who already know their program and just want to record it. See how it compares in Gymex vs Strong.
3. Fitbod — adaptive workout generator
Fitbod builds each session from your training history and recovery, adjusting volume by muscle group. It's the most hands-off of the mainstream loggers and genuinely good at answering "what should I do today?" The catch: it improvises one session at a time rather than writing a periodised block with a goal and a deload, there's only a trial rather than a real free tier, and at roughly £10/month it's the priciest option here. Available on iOS and Android. Best for gym-goers who want sensible generated sessions without programming themselves. See our Fitbod alternatives guide too.
4. Boostcamp — free structured programs
Boostcamp lets you run proven programs — 5/3/1, PPL, nSuns and hundreds more — completely free, with clean logging built around them. It's a great way to add the structure Hevy leaves to you, without paying a penny. The trade-off is that you choose a fixed template rather than getting a personalised plan that adapts week to week from your performance and RIR. Available on iOS and Android. Best for lifters who want a named, battle-tested program at no cost. More detail in Gymex vs Boostcamp.
5. JEFIT — big exercise database
JEFIT pairs one of the largest exercise databases in fitness with deep manual planning, analytics and an Elite Adaptive Plan with progressive-overload suggestions. The free tier carries ads; published US Elite pricing is $12.99/month or $69.99/year. It also offers web and watch access. Best for data-lovers who want a large database and granular control. Compared head-to-head in Gymex vs JEFIT.
6. Caliber — real human coach + app
Caliber pairs you with a qualified human coach who writes your plan and reviews your logs through their app. A real person still wins on rapport, nuanced form feedback and personal accountability — but you're paying human-coaching prices, typically £150+/month for 1:1. Available on iOS and Android. Best for people who specifically want a real person in their corner and have the budget for it.
7. Future — premium human coaching
Future is a similar idea to Caliber with a very polished app and weekly video check-ins with your coach. It's excellent if budget is no object, and overkill if you mainly wanted to stop programming yourself. Plans run roughly £150–£300/month, and the service is iOS-only. Best for premium 1:1 human coaching with high-touch accountability.
8. Nike Training Club — free guided workouts
Not a lifting logger, but a polished, completely free library of coach-led follow-along sessions across strength, mobility and HIIT, with big-brand production values. It won't track progressive overload on your barbell lifts, log your PRs or periodise your training — it's guided fitness content rather than strength coaching. Available on iOS and Android. Best for beginners and home exercisers rather than progressive barbell work. More in Gymex vs Nike Training Club.
Quick comparison
| App | Writes & adapts your program | Free tier | Platforms | Price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Gymex | Yes — AI programming + RIR context | Yes | iPhone, Android | Free; Core £7.49; AI from £15/mo |
| Hevy | Algorithm-based Trainer on Pro | Yes (generous) | iOS, Android, Web, Watches | Free; Pro $2.99/mo |
| Strong | No — manual | Limited routines | iOS, Android, Watch | Free–£4.99/mo |
| Fitbod | Suggestions only | Trial only | iOS, Android | ~£10/mo |
| Boostcamp | Templates | Yes | iOS, Android | Free |
| JEFIT | Adaptive Plan on Elite | Yes (ads) | iOS, Android, Web, Watches | Free; Elite $12.99/mo |
| Caliber / Future | Human coach | No | iOS (Caliber also Android) | £150–£300/mo |
| Nike Training Club | Preset classes | Yes | iOS, Android | Free |
What Hevy still does best
Fairness matters, so here's the honest case for staying put:
- The most generous free tier in the category. Logging, history, progress graphs and routines are all free — most rivals gate more of that behind a paywall.
- The best social feed of any lifting app. Following friends, sharing sessions and training in public is genuinely motivating, and no competitor on this list matches it.
- Free cross-platform logging. Hevy runs on iOS, Android and Apple Watch with the most generous free tier here. Gymex now covers iOS and Android too, so if you want free, no-frills logging, Hevy still wins on price; if you want a coach, Gymex is the step up.
- A low published paid price. Hevy Pro is $2.99/month in the US, which is strong value if logging and its algorithm-based Trainer are what you need.
If community is what keeps you consistent, or you're on Android, Hevy is probably still the right app. The alternatives above are for lifters whose bottleneck has moved from tracking training to designing it.
Bottom line: if you love Hevy and just want cleaner logging, try Strong. If you want free structure, try Boostcamp. If you want a human, look at Caliber or Future. But if you want everything Hevy does plus real programming, RIR autoregulation, plateau detection, voice logging and nutrition in one app, Gymex is the upgrade — and it's free to start.
Frequently asked questions
Is there a better app than Hevy?
It depends what you want Hevy to do. As a free logger it's excellent. If you want the app to write and adapt your training — programming, RIR autoregulation, plateau detection and nutrition in one place — an AI coach like Gymex does more. If you just want cleaner logging, Strong is the closest like-for-like.
What is the best free alternative to Hevy?
Strong and Boostcamp both have useful free tiers. Gymex also offers free workout, nutrition and body tracking; its AI programming is a paid Premium feature beginning at £15/month.
Does Hevy have AI programming?
Hevy Trainer creates personalised programs and automatically adjusts working weights when you meet the prescribed rep targets. Hevy says it is algorithm-based rather than AI. It does not provide conversational coach chat, RIR-led context, voice logging or nutrition; that is where Gymex differs.
Is Hevy or Strong better?
Strong is a minimalist manual logger. Hevy has stronger social features and a generous free tier, while Pro adds an algorithm-based Trainer that creates personalised programs and recommends progressive overload. Strong remains attractive for its mature logging and Apple Watch experience.
What's a good Hevy alternative with a coach?
Gymex combines conversational coaching, multi-week mesocycles, RIR context, plateau analysis, voice logging and nutrition. Core is £7.49/month without AI; AI coaching begins on Premium at £15/month. Caliber and Future pair you with a real human coach at substantially higher prices.
Is there a Hevy alternative for Android?
Plenty. Gymex, Strong, Fitbod, JEFIT, Boostcamp and Nike Training Club all work on Android. If you want a step up from logging to an AI coach, Gymex now runs on Android too; if you're happy logging your own program for free, staying with Hevy itself is honestly a strong choice.