Hevy vs Strong vs Fitbod: Which Wins in 2026?
These are the three most-compared workout apps for lifters — but they solve different problems. Here's how Hevy, Strong and Fitbod stack up on logging, AI programming, price and Apple Watch in 2026, plus where a dedicated AI coach fits.
Disclosure: Gymex publishes this comparison and appears in it. Product features and prices were rechecked against official vendor pages on 20 October 2026. This is documentation-based research, not independent testing. See our editorial policy.
The short answer
- Strong — the classic minimalist logger. You bring the program; it records it cleanly.
- Hevy — social logging plus an algorithm-based Trainer that builds personalised programs and recommends progressive overload.
- Fitbod — generates each session for you from recovery and history; the most "hands-off" of the three, and the priciest.
- Gymex — if you want actual coaching (a full adapting program, not just logging or session suggestions), this is the category above all three.
Side-by-side comparison
| Hevy | Strong | Fitbod | Gymex | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Best for | Free, social logging | Minimalist logging | Auto-generated sessions | Full AI coaching |
| Writes your program | Yes — algorithm-based Trainer | No — manual | Adaptive sessions | Yes — multi-week blocks |
| RIR autoregulation | No | No | Partial (volume) | Yes |
| Plateau detection | No | No | No | Yes |
| Voice logging | No | No | No | Yes |
| Nutrition tracking | No | No | No | Yes |
| Apple Watch | Yes | Yes | Yes | No native app |
| Free tier | Generous | Limited | Trial | Yes |
| Published price | Pro $2.99/mo | Pro $4.99/mo | $15.99/mo | Free, £7.49–£20/mo |
Hevy — best free logger with a social feed
Hevy wins on value. The free tier covers logging, history, progress graphs and social features. Pro adds Trainer, which creates a personalised program and recommends load increases when rep targets are completed. Hevy says the system is algorithm-based rather than AI. Pick Hevy if low price, community and native watch or web support matter most.
Strong — the cleanest minimalist logger
Strong is the original fast logger: superb plate-math, reliable history and arguably the best Apple Watch experience. It doesn't program or coach — you decide what to do, it records it. Pick Strong if you already run a program and want the simplest possible way to track it.
Fitbod — hands-off session generation
Fitbod does the most session-level adaptation of the three, building workouts from recent training, recovery and available equipment. Its US website lists $15.99/month or $95.99/year. Pick Fitbod if you want “what should I do today?” answered by a mature adaptive engine. See our Fitbod alternatives.
Where Gymex fits — the coaching tier
Strong logs, Hevy logs and programs with a rules-based Trainer, and Fitbod adapts sessions. Gymex's distinction is the wider conversational coaching stack: multi-week programming with RIR context, plateau and overtraining analysis, voice logging and nutrition. The free tier covers core tracking; AI coaching begins on Premium at £15/month.
Bottom line: Strong for pure logging, Hevy for free + social, Fitbod for hands-off sessions. But if what you actually want is coaching — a plan that adapts to you — Gymex is the step up from all three, and it's free to try.
Frequently asked questions
Which is better, Hevy, Strong or Fitbod?
Choose Strong for minimalist logging, Hevy for low-cost social logging plus algorithm-based programming, and Fitbod for adaptive sessions. Choose Gymex if conversational coaching, RIR context, voice logging and nutrition matter more than watch or web support.
Is Fitbod better than Hevy and Strong?
Fitbod does more thinking for you because it generates each session from your recovery, history and available equipment. It focuses on generated workouts rather than a conversational coaching relationship; published US web pricing is $15.99/month or $95.99/year.
Which workout app is cheapest?
Hevy has the lowest published US paid price at $2.99/month or $23.99/year. Strong is $4.99/month in published US comparisons, while Fitbod is $15.99/month or $95.99/year on its US website. Gymex is free to start; AI coaching begins on Premium at £15/month. Local store prices vary.
Do Hevy, Strong or Fitbod write a training program for you?
Strong is manual. Hevy Trainer creates personalised programs and gives rule-based progressive-overload recommendations. Fitbod adapts sessions from training history and recovery. Gymex creates multi-week programs with conversational and RIR context.
Sources checked 20 October 2026
See Hevy Trainer, Hevy's pricing comparison, Fitbod FAQs, and the Gymex pricing page.