Hevy vs Strong (2026): Which Workout Tracker Is Better?

If you have been looking for a workout tracker app, you have probably narrowed it down to two names: Hevy and Strong. Both are excellent. Both have loyal followings. And on the surface, they look almost identical.

I have used both for extended periods — Strong for over two years, then Hevy after making the switch. This comparison was refreshed in August 2026 and covers what actually matters after months of daily use, not just a feature checklist from a spec sheet.

This article is for people who already train consistently and want to know which workout tracker app is worth their time (and possibly their money). If you are also looking for nutrition tracking alongside your workouts, I have a section for that at the end.

Whether you searched Hevy vs Strong or Strong vs Hevy, you are looking for the same answer — this comparison covers both apps in full, in either order.

Hevy vs Strong: Quick Comparison Table

Feature	Hevy	Strong
Free tier	✓ Full-featured	✓ Limited routines
Price (premium)	~$10/month or lifetime	~$10/month or one-time
Platforms	iOS, Android, Web	iOS, Android, Web
Apple Watch	✓ Generally reliable	✓ Sometimes inconsistent
WearOS (Android smartwatch)	✓	✗
Social / community features	✓ Follow friends, feed	✗
Exercise library	Large, with images	Large, clean
Body heatmap / muscle tracking	✓	✗
Different rest timers (warmup vs work)	✗	✓
Workout notes on templates	✗ (only on logged sessions)	✓
Import from the other app	✓ Import from Strong	✗
Nutrition tracking	✗	✗

Hevy In Depth

Hevy launched in 2020 and has grown rapidly, largely because it offered a genuinely free tier when Strong was moving features behind a paywall. Its design is clean, the onboarding is fast, and it has a few features that differentiate it meaningfully from Strong.

What Hevy does well

• Social feed: You can follow friends and see their workouts. This sounds like a gimmick until you actually use it — the accountability of seeing a friend log a session when you were considering skipping is surprisingly effective. Multiple users who switched from Strong specifically mention this as the reason they stayed.
• Body heatmap: Hevy shows a visual breakdown of which muscle groups you have trained in the last 30 days. It is genuinely useful for catching imbalances — legs getting neglected, shoulders overtrained, etc.
• Exercise images: Each exercise has images showing proper form. Not a dealbreaker either way, but useful for beginners or when trying a less familiar movement.
• WearOS support: If you use an Android smartwatch, Hevy is your only real option between the two.
• Active development: Hevy's team ships updates consistently. Users who switched from Strong cite this as a factor — Strong went through a period of slow development before picking back up.
• Import from Strong: If you are switching, you can bring your entire workout history with you. This is a significant practical advantage.

Hevy's real weaknesses

• No different rest timers for warmup vs work sets: Strong lets you set a short timer for warmup sets and a longer one for working sets. Hevy does not. Users who care about this (usually intermediate and advanced lifters) consistently mention it as a frustration.
• Notes don't carry over to templates: If you add a note to a logged session ("felt weak today, dropped weight"), that note lives on the session but not on your template. Strong handles this better.
• Apple Watch sync has had reliability issues: It is generally better than Strong's, but there have been periods where it fails to sync properly — usually resolved with updates, but worth knowing.

Strong In Depth

Strong has been around since 2014 and is the more veteran option. Its reputation is built on polish and reliability. The interface is slightly more compact than Hevy's, which experienced lifters who want fast logging tend to prefer.

What Strong does well

• UI refinement: Strong's interface is tighter and faster for pure logging. If all you want to do is get in, log your sets, and get out, Strong's flow feels slightly more dialed in. Several users who have tried both say they prefer Strong's UI despite using Hevy for other features.
• Rest timer granularity: Different timers for warmup sets and working sets is a small detail that matters a lot in practice. Strong has it; Hevy does not.
• Template notes: Workout notes attach to the routine template, not just the individual session. Useful for reminders like "increase weight next time" or cues for specific exercises.
• Reliability history: Strong has a long track record of stability. For users who have been burned by apps going dark or changing pricing structures, the longevity matters.

Strong's real weaknesses

• No social features: If accountability through community matters to you, Strong offers none of it.
• No WearOS support: Android smartwatch users are out of luck.
• Apple Watch integration is less polished: Multiple users report that Strong's Watch sync is less consistent than Hevy's.
• No body heatmap: You do not get the visual muscle breakdown that Hevy provides.
• Cannot import from Hevy: If you are switching from Hevy to Strong, you lose your history.

When to Choose Hevy vs Strong

Choose Hevy if:

• You want to follow training partners and use social accountability
• You use an Android smartwatch
• You are switching from Strong and want to keep your workout history
• You want the body heatmap to track muscle group balance
• You want to stay on the free tier with full features

Choose Strong if:

• You prioritize logging speed and UI refinement above all else
• You want separate rest timers for warmup and working sets
• You add detailed notes to your routines and want them to persist
• You value long-term product stability and history
• You train alone and have no use for social features

The honest answer: if you are an intermediate or advanced lifter who already has a solid program, both apps will serve you well. The differences are real but not dramatic. Try both — both have free tiers — and keep whichever feels better to use after a week.

What Reddit Actually Says About Hevy vs Strong

We pulled the active 2026 threads where lifters debate this exact question, on r/Hevy, r/strongapp, and r/AverageToSavage. The pattern matches what we found testing both apps ourselves.

Momentum has shifted toward Hevy in recent threads. A common theme in r/Hevy: "I subscribed to Strong but found out right after that many users have seemed to move on to Hevy due to lack of/speed of updates." A more recent thread agrees: "Hevy seems to have a more active development team... I tried both of them, but to me Hevy is better." (r/Hevy, 1 year ago)

UI and cost come up constantly. From a thread with 50+ comments this year: "I preferred the UI when using Hevy — it was easier to set up the routines and it had more exercises. And less expensive." (r/Hevy, 7 months ago) Another switcher pointed to hardware integration: "I switched to Hevy just over a year ago, the app is a lot better — the nail in the coffin for me was how well Hevy integrates with the Apple Watch." (r/Hevy, 7 months ago)

Strong still has defenders where polish matters most. In one of the freshest threads on this exact comparison: "Strong is very polished. The interface is..." (r/AverageToSavage, 3 months ago) — echoing exactly what we found testing it: Strong wins on UI refinement even as Hevy pulls ahead on features and update speed.

What If You Also Need Nutrition Tracking?

Here is the gap that neither Hevy nor Strong fills: nutrition tracking.

Both apps are pure workout trackers. They have no calorie counting, no macro targets, no meal logging. If you want to manage your diet alongside your training — which research consistently shows is the bigger driver of body composition changes — you need a second app. For most people that means MyFitnessPal, Cronometer, or MacroFactor running alongside Hevy or Strong.

That two-app setup works, but it is friction. Two separate experiences, two separate subscriptions, data that never talks to each other.

If you would rather have both in one place, PonteFuerteAI is the option worth looking at. It handles workout tracking with progressive overload (same core functionality as Hevy or Strong), adds AI-generated training programs if you want them, and integrates calorie and macro tracking using AI photo logging. One app, one log, no subscription required.

It is not a direct replacement if social features or Strong's rest timer granularity are dealbreakers for you. But if the reason you are reading a Hevy vs Strong comparison is that you want a complete fitness tracking system — workouts and nutrition — PonteFuerteAI is built exactly for that use case.

If you want a broader list beyond Strong, see our full guide to the best Hevy alternatives in 2026, including AI planners, free program apps, bodybuilding trackers, and Apple Watch options.

Download PonteFuerteAI free on iOS or Android.

Bottom Line

Between Hevy vs Strong, neither is objectively better — they are different tools with different strengths.

Hevy wins on social features, Android Watch support, body heatmap, and active development pace. Strong wins on UI polish, rest timer flexibility, and template notes.

Both are free to start. Try them. Keep the one you actually enjoy opening before every session — because the best workout tracker app is the one you consistently use.

If you need workout tracking and nutrition in one place, the conversation changes entirely. That is where PonteFuerteAI fills the gap that Hevy and Strong both leave open.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Hevy better than Strong?

Neither is objectively better — they serve different priorities. Hevy is the stronger choice if you want a generous free tier, social features (friends, public routines), a body heatmap, and Android Watch support. Strong is the stronger choice if you prioritize UI polish, granular rest timers, and detailed template notes. If you train consistently with a set program, try both free tiers for a week and keep whichever you actually enjoy opening before every session.

Is Hevy vs Strong free?

Yes, both apps are free to download with meaningful free tiers. Hevy's free tier is significantly more generous — most core features, including unlimited routines and the social feed, are available without paying. Strong's free tier limits you to 3 active routines. Both charge approximately $10/month for premium. Both also offer a one-time lifetime purchase, which is the better value for long-term users.

What is the difference between Hevy and Strong app?

The main differences: Hevy has a social layer (friends, following, public routines), a body heatmap that shows which muscles you've trained, and supports both Apple Watch and Android (WearOS) smartwatches. Strong has a more refined UI, separate rest timers for warmup and working sets, and persistent notes on individual exercises inside templates. Both are pure workout loggers — neither includes nutrition tracking or AI-generated plans.

Is there a better alternative to Hevy and Strong?

For pure workout logging, Hevy and Strong are genuinely among the best options available. The gap that both leave open is nutrition: neither tracks calories, macros, or meals. If you want workout tracking and nutrition in a single app, PonteFuerteAI covers both — strength logging with progressive overload tracking, AI-generated training programs, and calorie/macro tracking via AI photo logging. It's free on iOS and Android.

Can I switch from Strong to Hevy without losing my data?

Yes. Hevy supports importing workout history directly from Strong. The reverse is not true — switching from Hevy back to Strong means starting fresh with no history import.