Hevy
8.4
StrongLifts
7.8Hevy vs StrongLifts
Hevy and StrongLifts are weight-training apps for logging sessions, planning workouts and tracking progress. Hevy adds routines, analytics, social features and watch support. StrongLifts centers on scheduled strength programs with automatic weight changes, deloads and set guidance.
This comparison suits someone choosing a first lifting tracker, a structured barbell program, a flexible routine planner or an app that works with a watch and phone. The main differences are access, programming, integrations and how much each includes before payment.
| Hevy | StrongLifts | |
|---|---|---|
| Wrist score | 8.4 | 7.8 |
| Works with a watch | Yes | Yes |
| Watch families named | Apple Watch, Wear OS | Apple Watch |
| Free plan | Yes | No |
| Free trial | Yes | Yes |
| Paid from | $2/mo | $4.99/mo |
| Platforms | Android, API, iPhone, Web | Android, iPhone, Mac, Windows |
| Free plan | Yes | No |
| Workout programming | Adaptive | Adaptive |
| Progress tracking | Analytics | Analytics |
| Exercise library | Extensive | Extensive |
| Coach tools | Client review | None |
| Wearable sync | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile platforms | iPhone and Android | iPhone and Android |
| Paid from | — | $11.99/user/mo |
Hevy
Hevy suits lifters seeking an organized log, routine planning, progress records, and community accountability on phones, browsers, and supported watches. Its free tier works for a small routine collection, though regular trainers can reach the limits. Pro becomes relevant for unlimited routines, extended graph history, measurement tracking, or Hevy Trainer. Review the default public-profile choice if you prefer less sharing, and remember that API use is reserved for Pro accounts.
- Records sets, rest, notes, routines, and user-created exercises
- Apple Watch and Wear OS support includes offline workout recording
- Provides records, estimated one-rep max, volume, and exercise history
StrongLifts
StrongLifts suits someone who wants a prescribed barbell routine with progression handled inside the app. The beginner and intermediate templates give a clear starting point, while exercise substitutions and custom programs leave room to adjust the plan. Apple Watch users get set logging, rest alerts, and calculation tools on the watch. Budget for a subscription: there is no free plan, and only the yearly option carries a 7-day trial. Check platform needs carefully if you use a watch other than Apple Watch.
- Automatic progression responds to successful and failed sets.
- More than 100 exercises include videos and form guidance.
- Apple Watch logs sets and provides rest notifications.
Round by round
Published pricing
Hevy has a free plan and publishes Pro options at $2.99 a month, $23.99 a year or $74.99 one time. Its free trial is also listed. StrongLifts is paid, with a published starting price of $11.99 per user per month. Its yearly plan is $59.99 a year with a seven-day trial, while monthly and quarterly plans have no free trial. A five-year access listing costs $199.99. Hevy wins on the published entry price and the availability of a free plan, while StrongLifts requires a subscription to use the app after its trial terms.
Hevy takes this round
Free access and limits
Hevy offers a free plan, although it limits users to four routines, seven custom exercises and three months of graph history, with limited measurements. Pro removes those caps and adds unlimited measurement tracking on listed plans, plus Hevy Trainer. StrongLifts has no free plan. Its app is free to download but requires a subscription, with a seven-day trial only for the yearly plan. Because Hevy can be used without payment and states its limits clearly, it wins this round for people who want to begin without a subscription.
Hevy takes this round
Workout planning and tracking
Hevy combines routine planning, warmup, drop and failure sets, rest timers, exercise notes, custom exercises, charts, personal records, estimated one-rep max, volume, muscle activity, frequency, consistency and body measurements. It also includes exercise demonstrations, social workouts and optional Trainer recommendations. StrongLifts provides scheduled StrongLifts 5x5 and Madcow 5x5 programs, automatic progression, repeats after failures, deloads, assistance work, exercise replacement, warmup and plate calculators, rest timing, charts and history. Hevy is broader and more social; StrongLifts is more prescriptive for strength work. The facts do not establish one overall winner.
Ease of following workouts
Hevy is described as having a simple interface, quick routine creation and straightforward setup. Users can build routines from scratch or use body-part, beginner and equipment-specific plans, then log sets with notes and timers. StrongLifts is described as simple and easy to follow because its guided workouts choose exercises, sets, reps and weights. Automatic progression increases weight after successful sets, repeats weight after failures and deloads when needed. For someone who wants the app to decide the next workout structure and load changes, StrongLifts has the clearer guided path.
StrongLifts takes this round
Health and service integrations
Hevy can automatically share gym workouts with Strava followers, supports Apple Watch and Wear OS routine syncing and offline workouts, and provides data export for spreadsheet applications. Its public REST API covers workouts, routines, exercise templates, folders, history, measurements and user information, although access is restricted to Pro users. StrongLifts syncs workouts, duration, calories and body weight with Apple Health on iOS and Health Connect on Android, and its maker says workouts can sync between iOS and Android. Hevy wins for the wider set of stated service and export connections.
Hevy takes this round
Platforms and device coverage
Hevy lists Android, iOS, web and API access. Its browser version supports routine creation, progress analysis and viewing friends’ workouts, while watch tracking works on Apple Watch and Wear OS, including offline workouts. StrongLifts lists Android, iOS, macOS and Windows, with cross-device sync between iOS and Android. Its Apple Watch app logs sets, shows workout data, sends rest notifications and supports warmup and plate calculations. StrongLifts covers desktop operating systems, but Hevy adds a browser app, an API and both major watch platforms, so it wins on the stated range.
Hevy takes this round
Developer access
Hevy publishes an OpenAPI 3.0 REST API for workouts, routines, exercise templates, folders, exercise history, body measurements and user information. The API is currently restricted to Hevy Pro users, and its documentation warns that the structure may change or be abandoned. Hevy lists no official SDK, open-source license or self-hosting package. StrongLifts’ official product and support pages document no public API or SDK and provide no self-hosting instructions. Hevy therefore wins because it exposes a documented API, even with the stated access and stability limits.
Hevy takes this round
Pick Hevy if
- You want a free plan before paying.
- You need web, Apple Watch and Wear OS support.
- You want social workouts, Strava sharing or a public API.
Pick StrongLifts if
- You want scheduled 5x5 strength programs.
- You prefer automatic progression and deloads.
- You want warmup and plate calculators in guided workouts.
The short of it
Choose Hevy if you want a free starting point, flexible routine building, social workout features, web access, both Apple Watch and Wear OS support, or a documented API. Its free plan has limits on routines, custom exercises and graph history. Choose StrongLifts if your priority is a guided strength path built around 5x5 programs, automatic weight progression, failure repeats and deloads, with warmup and plate calculators. It is paid after its stated trial terms. Both track workouts, progress and personal records, so the deciding factor is flexibility versus prescribed progression.
What buyers ask
Can I use Hevy for free?
Yes. Hevy has a free plan with up to four routines, seven custom exercises and three months of graph history. Pro removes listed limits and adds Hevy Trainer.
Does StrongLifts have a free plan?
No. StrongLifts is free to download but requires a subscription to use. The yearly plan has a seven-day trial; monthly and quarterly plans have no trial.
Which app supports more watches?
Hevy supports Apple Watch and Wear OS, including routine syncing and offline workouts. StrongLifts lists an Apple Watch app with set logging and rest notifications.
Which app has automatic progression?
StrongLifts increases weight after successful sets, repeats weight after failures and deloads after repeated failures or a training break. Hevy Pro includes progressive-overload recommendations.
Do both connect to other services?
Hevy can share workouts to Strava, export data and provide a Pro-only public API. StrongLifts syncs workout data with Apple Health and Health Connect.
Listed together on Best Workout Tracking Apps in 2026.