Strong vs Hevy: which gym logger fits you?
The two biggest workout loggers are both genuinely good — they just optimize for different lifters. Here's a fact-checked comparison, with prices and limits pulled from each vendor's own listings in August 2026. Full disclosure: we build Arnie, a third option in this space — it's covered at the end and clearly marked as ours.
If you're choosing between Strong and Hevy, the good news is that there is no wrong answer: both are mature, actively developed trackers that log sets, reps, weight and rest with minimal friction. The differences are philosophical. Strong is the veteran, iPhone-first logger with a mature Apple Watch app and a private, solo experience. Hevy is the multi-platform challenger that grew fast by adding a social layer — a feed, friends, leaderboards — on top of the same core logging.
The numbers, as checked in August 2026 on each vendor's own App Store listing and help pages: Strong's free version saves unlimited workouts but is limited to 3 custom routines; Strong PRO costs $4.99/month or $29.99/year, with a 'PRO Forever' lifetime purchase listed between $79.99 and $99.99, and PRO gates unlimited routines, all charts, the plate calculator and the warm-up calculator. Hevy's free tier allows 4 routines, 7 custom exercises and keeps 3 months of workout history; Hevy Pro is $23.99/year, $2.99–$3.99/month, or $74.99 lifetime, per its App Store in-app purchase list.
Platforms are a real differentiator. Strong runs on iPhone, Android and Apple Watch. Hevy covers iPhone, iPad, Android, Apple Watch, Wear OS and a web app — the broadest coverage in the category. Both are built around an account: Strong prompts every user to sign up before using the app, and Hevy stores your training data on your account rather than on the device.
And the third option — ours: Arnie. It deliberately goes the other way. No account, no feed, local-first storage, and the complexity budget is spent on training math instead: half-point RPE logged inline, weekly volume per muscle tracked against editable MEV/MAV/MRV landmarks, and per-lift e1RM and tonnage updated on every set. It imports CSV exports from both Strong and Hevy, so trying it costs nothing but a paste.
Strong vs Hevy vs Arnie
Prices and free-tier limits as checked August 2026, from each vendor's own App Store listing and help pages.
| Feature | Strong | Hevy | Arnie |
|---|---|---|---|
| Paid tier | PRO: $4.99/mo or $29.99/yr; lifetime listed $79.99–$99.99 | Pro: $2.99–$3.99/mo, $23.99/yr, $74.99 lifetime | Pro: $4.99/mo, $29.99/yr, $59.99 lifetime |
| Free tier | Unlimited workouts, 3 custom routines | 4 routines, 7 custom exercises, 3 months of history | Unlimited logging, 3 routines, half-point RPE, e1RM — ad-supported |
| Platforms | iPhone, Android, Apple Watch | iPhone, iPad, Android, Apple Watch, Wear OS, web | iOS, Android |
| Social layer | None — private logging | Feed, friends, leaderboards | None — private by design |
| RPE | Supported | Per-set RPE (optional setting) | Half-point chips inline, RIR derived |
| Analytics | Charts + 1RM estimates (all charts in PRO) | Full data history requires Pro (free keeps 3 months) | Per-lift e1RM + tonnage free; MEV/MAV/MRV volume landmarks |
| Account | Sign-up required | Account-based — data stored on your account | None — data stays on device |
| Import & export | CSV export (to Notes or Email) | CSV export; imports Strong CSV | Imports Strong & Hevy CSV; CSV/JSON export with Pro |
Choose Strong if…
Strong has earned its reputation over years of refinement. It's the pick when the iPhone + Apple Watch experience matters more than platform breadth.
- ✓You log from an Apple Watch — Strong's watch app works with or without the iPhone
- ✓You want a private logger with zero social layer
- ✓You'll use PRO's warm-up calculator and plate calculator for barbell work
- ✓Unlimited free workouts are enough, and 3 custom routines don't feel tight
- ✓$4.99/month or $29.99/year is comfortable for the depth you get
Choose Hevy if…
Hevy's bet is that logging sticks better when your training partners can see it. It's also the platform-coverage champion of the category.
- ✓Training with friends motivates you — feed, likes and leaderboards are built in
- ✓You want to log from anywhere: iPhone, iPad, Android, Apple Watch, Wear OS or the web
- ✓Its $23.99/year Pro is the cheapest annual plan of the three (August 2026)
- ✓You work with a coach — Hevy Coach connects trainers to the app their clients already use
- ✓The free tier's 4 routines and 3-month history fit how you train
Choose Arnie if…
Arnie is our own app, so weigh this section accordingly — but its differences are factual: it trades platform breadth and social features for training math and privacy.
- ✓You train by RPE: half-point chips (7, 7.5, 8…) sit inline next to the reps field, with RIR derived automatically
- ✓You want weekly volume per muscle checked against editable MEV/MAV/MRV landmarks
- ✓You don't want an account: everything is local-first — no sign-up, no feed
- ✓You prefer paying once: $59.99 lifetime is the lowest lifetime price of the three as listed in August 2026
- ✓You already have history in Strong or Hevy — Arnie imports both apps' CSV exports
Frequently Asked Questions
+Is Strong or Hevy better?
Neither is objectively better — they optimize for different lifters. Strong is the refined, private, iPhone-and-Apple-Watch experience. Hevy trades some of that focus for breadth: more platforms (including Wear OS and a web app) and a social layer that keeps many people consistent. Pick by workflow: wrist-first solo lifter → Strong; multi-device or social lifter → Hevy.
+Which is cheaper, Strong or Hevy?
As checked in August 2026: Hevy Pro's annual plan is cheaper ($23.99/year vs Strong PRO's $29.99/year). Monthly, Strong is $4.99 while Hevy's App Store listing shows $2.99–$3.99. For lifetime purchases, Hevy lists $74.99 and Strong's 'PRO Forever' is listed between $79.99 and $99.99. For comparison, Arnie Pro — our app — is $29.99/year or $59.99 lifetime.
+Do Strong and Hevy require an account?
Strong's help center states that all users are prompted to sign up for an account before using the app. Hevy is built around an account and login, with your data stored on the account rather than the device. If logging without any account is your requirement, that's the lane Arnie occupies: local-first storage with no sign-up.
+Can I switch between Strong and Hevy without losing my history?
Mostly, yes. Strong exports all of your data in CSV format, and Hevy imports Strong's CSV directly. Hevy also exports your workout and measurement data. Arnie imports CSV from both apps, so history carries over in any of the three directions covered on this page.
+Which app has the best free tier?
It depends on which limit bites you first. Strong's free version saves unlimited workouts but allows only 3 custom routines. Hevy's free tier allows 4 routines and 7 custom exercises but keeps just 3 months of history. Arnie's free tier logs without limits and includes half-point RPE, e1RM and CSV import, capped at 3 routines and supported by ads. All figures as of August 2026.
+Who wrote this comparison — and why should I trust it?
TrainRBoost, the studio behind Arnie — a competing gym logger. That's a real bias, which is why every price and limit on this page was pulled from Strong's and Hevy's own App Store listings and help pages in August 2026, and why both apps get their honest wins: Strong's Apple Watch app and Hevy's platform coverage are simply better than ours. If you spot an outdated figure, tell us via the support page and we'll fix it.
Keep comparing
Prefer logging without the feed?
Arnie is free to start — unlimited logging, half-point RPE and e1RM tracking — and it imports your Strong or Hevy history in one paste.
