Hevy vs Strong vs Gainwise (2026): Which Wins?

Hevy vs Strong vs Gainwise: Which Is Better in 2026?

Hevy wins for most lifters who want a clean, free logger with community features and the best long-term price. Strong wins for minimalists who log from their Apple Watch and want a fast, distraction-free tracker. Gainwise wins if you want hands-free voice logging and an AI coach that adapts to your routine, plus a guarantee your history is never deleted. Hevy is rated around 4.9 from 72,000-plus ratings, Strong around 4.9 from 108,000, and both are excellent loggers. The deciding factors are voice logging, AI coaching, and whether you want to pay.

All three are fast, native iPhone trackers built for serious lifters chasing progressive overload. Hevy and Strong are mature and beloved, which makes choosing between them genuinely hard. Gainwise is the newcomer that adds voice and AI on top of the same fast-logging foundation, so the real question is which trade-offs fit how you train.

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Hevy vs Strong vs Gainwise at a Glance

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What Is Hevy?

Hevy is the most-loved workout tracker on the App Store, rated around 4.9 from more than 72,000 ratings. It is a clean, fast logger with a generous free tier, an active social feed, and parity across iOS, Android, and web. Its biggest strength is balance: it does the core job well, looks great, and is the only one of the three with a true web app. Many power users even connect ChatGPT to their Hevy data to build progressive-overload routines.

Hevy Key Features

• Fast set logging: A large, well-organized exercise library with clear images.
• Generous free tier: 4 routines and 3 months of history at no cost.
• Social feed: Share workouts and follow other lifters.
• Cross-platform: iOS, Android, and a web app for desktop planning.
• Apple Watch app: Live sync between phone and wrist.

Hevy Pricing

• Free: 4 routines, 3 months of history, a few custom exercises
• Pro: $2.99/month, $23.99/year, or $74.99 lifetime

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What Is Strong?

Strong is a fast, minimalist workout tracker rated around 4.9 from roughly 108,000 ratings. It is built for speed and simplicity: start a workout, tap to log a set, move on, with no clutter. Its rebuilt Apple Watch app is one of the best wrist experiences for lifters who hate pulling out a phone between sets. Strong is the focused, no-distractions choice for people who want logging and nothing else.

Strong Key Features

• Distraction-free logging: A clean interface optimized for fast set entry.
• Apple Watch app: Rebuilt live-sync engine for logging from the wrist.
• Built-in rest timers: Manage rest across exercises.
• Plate calculator: Quickly work out which plates to load.
• Progress charts and PRs: Track strength trends and records.

Strong Pricing

• Free: 3 routines
• PRO: $4.99/month or $29.99/year (older and regional tiers also appear on the App Store)

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What Is Gainwise?

Gainwise is a private, reliable workout tracker for iPhone with an AI coach and hands-free voice logging. It keeps the fast-logging foundation Hevy and Strong are known for, then adds two things neither offers: you can log a set by speaking it, and an AI coach adapts to your equipment and injuries. Gainwise is launching soon, so it has no rating yet. You can join the waitlist on the Gainwise homepage for early access.

Gainwise Key Features

• Hands-free voice logging: Say "three sets of ten at 185" and it logs on-device.
• AI coach: Suggests your next set and adapts to your routine, equipment, and injuries.
• Progressive overload tracking: Estimated 1RM, PRs, and clean progress charts.
• Routines and splits: PPL, upper/lower, full body, and 5x5 with one-tap import.
• Your data is yours: On-device storage and free export, so your training history is always yours and never lost to an update.

Gainwise Pricing

• Premium app for serious lifters, on one clear price
• Your training history is always yours, on-device and exportable, never lost to an update
• Launching soon, so join the waitlist

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Head-to-Head Comparison

Logging Speed and Friction

All three are fast, but Gainwise removes the last bit of friction. Hevy and Strong both log a set in a tap or two, yet both still require the on-screen keyboard, which breaks flow during quick supersets. Gainwise lets you log hands-free by voice, so your hands stay on the bar. For pure tap-logging, Strong is marginally leaner; Hevy is close behind with a richer interface.

Winner: Gainwise - voice logging removes the keyboard entirely.

Routines, Programs, and Splits

Hevy has the most polished routine builder of the three, with supersets, easy sharing, and Hevy Trainer adjusting working weights. Strong covers routines well but limits free users to 3. Gainwise supports PPL, upper/lower, full body, and 5x5 with one-tap import, and layers an AI coach on top. For raw routine flexibility today, Hevy leads.

Winner: Hevy - the most polished, flexible routine builder available now. If Hevy is your benchmark, our Hevy alternatives roundup covers the wider field.

Progressive Overload and Progress Tracking

This is a near tie. All three show estimated 1RM, PRs, and progress charts, which is the core reason to use any of them. Hevy and Strong both have years of polish here, and Gainwise adds an AI coach that suggests your next set based on your trends. If you want the numbers alone, Hevy and Strong are excellent; if you want the app to actively suggest progression, Gainwise edges ahead.

Winner: Tie - Hevy and Strong for charts, Gainwise for active coaching.

Pricing and Subscriptions

None of the three uses a predatory funnel, which is why all three are well regarded. Hevy is the cheapest long term at $74.99 lifetime, an unbeatable deal. Strong is $4.99/month or $29.99/year with no lifetime option. Gainwise is a premium app for serious lifters on one clear price. For lowest lifetime cost, Hevy wins clearly.

Winner: Hevy - $74.99 lifetime is the best long-term value.

Data Ownership and Export

All three let you export your data, which already puts them ahead of trackers that paywall history. Hevy caps free history at 3 months, then unlocks all of it on Pro. Strong keeps your logs and exports them. Gainwise goes furthest with a hard promise: on-device storage, free export, and a training history that is always yours and never lost to an update. For an explicit data-permanence guarantee, Gainwise leads.

Winner: Gainwise - on-device storage and a no-deletion, no-paywall guarantee.

AI Coaching and Ease of Use

Strong has no AI, by design, and stays clean and simple. Hevy's AI features are light and do not coach around your specific equipment and injuries. Gainwise is built around an AI coach that adapts to your routine and suggests your next set, framed as the anti-"AI slop" option. If you want a genuine AI coach, Gainwise is the only one of the three that offers it; if you want zero AI and maximum simplicity, Strong wins.

Winner: Gainwise for AI coaching; Strong for pure simplicity.

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Who Should Choose Hevy?

• You want the best clean, free logger with a usable free tier
• You want a web app to plan and review on desktop
• You want the lowest long-term price at $74.99 lifetime
• You value an active social feed and Android parity

Who Should Choose Strong?

• You want a minimalist tracker that stays out of your way
• You log most sets from your Apple Watch
• You prefer zero AI and maximum simplicity
• You are fine with 3 free routines or paying for PRO

Who Should Choose Gainwise?

• You want to log sets hands-free by voice
• You want an AI coach that adapts to your equipment and injuries
• You want a guarantee your training history is always yours and never lost to an update
• You are an iPhone lifter who wants a premium tool you can rely on

For a broader ranking beyond these three, see our best workout apps for iPhone guide.

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Frequently Asked Questions

Is Hevy better than Strong?

For most lifters, Hevy is the better all-around pick. It has a more generous free tier, a web app, cross-platform parity, and the lowest long-term price at $74.99 lifetime. Strong is better if you want a minimalist tracker and log primarily from your Apple Watch, where its rebuilt Watch app shines. Both are rated around 4.9 and both are excellent loggers, so the choice comes down to whether you value Hevy's flexibility and value or Strong's focused simplicity and wrist-first logging.

Can I use Hevy, Strong, and Gainwise together?

Yes, at least while you decide. All three let you export your workout data, so you can trial more than one without being locked in. A common approach is to log in your current app while testing another for a couple of weeks, then export and commit to one. Since Gainwise stores data on-device and exports freely, and both Hevy and Strong support export, moving between them is straightforward. Most lifters settle on a single main tracker after a short trial.

Which is cheaper, Hevy or Strong?

Hevy is cheaper, especially long term. Hevy Pro is $2.99/month, $23.99/year, or $74.99 once for lifetime access. Strong PRO is $4.99/month or $29.99/year with no lifetime option. Over five years, Hevy's lifetime plan costs roughly half of paying for Strong yearly. Both also have free tiers, though Strong caps free users at 3 routines while Hevy allows 4 routines and 3 months of history. For value, Hevy is the clear winner between the two.

Is there a better alternative to both Hevy and Strong?

It depends on what you want. Hevy and Strong are both outstanding loggers, so "better" only applies if you need something they lack. Gainwise is worth considering if you want hands-free voice logging, an AI coach that adapts to your routine, or an explicit promise that your history is never deleted. It is iOS only and launching soon, so it is not for everyone. If you simply want a proven free logger today, Hevy remains the safest pick of the three.

Which has the best Apple Watch app, Hevy or Strong?

Both have capable Apple Watch apps with live sync to your phone. Strong rebuilt its Watch app with a new sync engine and is often favored for minimalist wrist-first logging. Hevy's Watch app also syncs live and documents its ecosystem connections clearly, though it can lag slightly during fast supersets. If logging from your wrist is your priority, both work well; Strong edges it for pure simplicity, while Hevy adds community and cross-platform features around the Watch experience.

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Final Verdict: Hevy vs Strong vs Gainwise

Hevy is the best all-around choice for most lifters. It is a clean, fast logger with a usable free tier, a web app, cross-platform parity, and the unbeatable $74.99 lifetime price. If you want one safe recommendation, it is Hevy.

Strong is the pick for minimalists who log from their Apple Watch and want a fast, distraction-free tracker with no AI. It is excellent at one job and does not try to be more.

Gainwise is the choice for iPhone lifters who want more: hands-free voice logging, an AI coach that adapts to their routine, and a guarantee their training history is always theirs - safe, exportable, and never lost to an update. It is iOS only and launching soon, but it adds the two things Hevy and Strong do not offer. The bottom line: pick Hevy for value, Strong for minimalist Watch logging, and Gainwise if voice and AI coaching matter to you.

If you want hands-free voice logging, an AI coach that respects your routine, and a training history that is always yours, join the Gainwise waitlist. Gainwise is launching soon.

Join the Gainwise Waitlist

Gainwise is launching soon - the reliable workout tracker for iPhone with an AI coach, hands-free voice logging, and a training history that is always yours.