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.
The short answer
- Strong — the classic minimalist logger. You bring the program; it records it cleanly.
- Hevy — the same idea with a better free tier, social feed, and basic AI generation (Hevy Trainer).
- 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 | Basic (Hevy Trainer) | No — manual | Suggestions only | Yes — adapts weekly |
| 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 (excellent) | Yes | Yes + rep detection |
| Free tier | Generous | Limited | Limited | Yes |
| Price | Free–£2.99/mo | Free–£4.99/mo | ~£10/mo | Free, £7.50–£20/mo |
Hevy — best free logger with a social feed
Hevy wins on value. The free tier covers real training — logging, history, progress graphs — and the social feed is genuinely motivating. Hevy Trainer now generates a starter program, though it won't autoregulate from your Reps in Reserve or track nutrition. Pick Hevy if community and a great free tier keep you consistent.
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 day-to-day thinking of the three, building each session from your recent training and recovery. But it suggests workouts rather than writing a periodised mesocycle with a goal and deload — and at ~£10/month it's the most expensive here. Pick Fitbod if you want "what should I do today?" answered and don't mind the price. (See our Fitbod alternatives.)
Where Gymex fits — the coaching tier
Hevy and Strong log; Fitbod suggests. None of them coaches. Gymex writes and revises a full multi-week program, reads your RIR to adjust loads set by set, flags plateaus and overtraining, logs by voice, and tracks macros — the things you'd otherwise pay a remote coach £100+/month for. It's free to start, then £7.50–£20/month. Pick Gymex if you want the app to do the programming, not just the paperwork.
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 or Hevy if you follow your own program and just want to log it — Hevy has the better free tier, Strong the longer track record. Choose Fitbod if you want the app to generate your workouts. If you want genuine coaching, an AI coach like Gymex goes beyond all three.
Is Fitbod better than Hevy and Strong?
Fitbod does more thinking for you because it generates each session from your recovery and history. But it suggests workouts rather than writing a periodised block, and it's the most expensive of the three at around £10/month.
Which workout app is cheapest?
Hevy is the cheapest, with a generous free tier and paid plans from about £2.99/month. Strong is a little more; Fitbod is priciest at ~£10/month. Gymex is free to start, with full AI coaching from £7.50/month.
Do Hevy, Strong or Fitbod write a training program for you?
Not really. Strong is manual, Hevy Trainer generates a basic plan, and Fitbod suggests individual sessions. None writes and adapts a full multi-week mesocycle with autoregulation — that's what a dedicated AI coach like Gymex is built to do.