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Hevy started as a straightforward set-and-rep logger with a social feed bolted on, and as of February 2026 it’s added something most budget logging apps skip entirely: an AI-driven auto-progression coach called Hevy Trainer. This review is for lifters deciding between “just log it” and “let the app also tell me what to lift” — and for anyone comparing Hevy against Strong before picking one.
What you get for free
Hevy’s free tier is genuinely usable, not a stripped-down trial. You get unlimited workout logging, the full exercise library, a rest timer, and a social feed where you can follow other lifters and see their sessions. The catch is on the organizational side: 4 saved routines, 7 custom exercises, and 3 months of history before older sessions roll off. For a beginner running one program with a handful of accessory swaps, that’s enough. It stops being enough the moment you want a push/pull/legs split with a deload variant — that’s 4+ routines before you’ve even added a hypertrophy block.
Hevy Pro: what its paid tier actually buys
Hevy Pro runs around $2.99/month, around $23.99/year, or around $74.99 as a one-time lifetime purchase. Pro removes the routine and exercise caps (unlimited of both), unlocks full all-time history instead of the 3-month window, adds a warm-up calculator, and — the newest piece — bundles Hevy Trainer, launched February 18, 2026. Trainer generates a program for you and auto-adjusts your working weight session to session based on how your previous sets actually went (did you hit every rep, grind the last one, or miss it), rather than leaving progression math to you.
That last part is the real dividing line in this app now. Hevy isn’t just “Strong but cheaper” anymore — Pro users get a coaching layer that competes more directly with AI-programming apps like Fitbod, while still keeping the simpler bring-your-own-routine mode as an option.
Where it still falls short
The social feed, while a nice touch for accountability, isn’t for everyone — if you just want a private log, you’ll be scrolling past other people’s PRs to get to your own workout. Trainer’s auto-progression is only as good as the exercises and rep ranges you feed it; if you’re running a highly specific peaking or powerlifting program, a generic auto-progression algorithm can misjudge load jumps that a real coach or spreadsheet would handle better. And like Strong, Hevy’s smartwatch support is aimed at logging sets mid-session, not full multi-sport GPS training — it’s not a Garmin Connect replacement.
Hevy vs. Strong vs. Fitbod
| Hevy | Strong | Fitbod | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Free tier | Unlimited logging, 4 routines, 7 exercises, 3-mo history, social feed | Unlimited logging, 3 templates | 7-day trial, then paywalled |
| Paid tier | around $2.99/mo, around $23.99/yr, around $74.99 lifetime | around $4.99/mo, around $29.99/yr, around $99.99 lifetime | around $15.99/mo or around $95.99/yr |
| Core model | You bring the program, or let Hevy Trainer (Pro) auto-progress it | You bring the program, it logs it | AI generates the program for you |
| Social features | Yes — feed, following, routine sharing | None | None |
| Best for | Lifters who want cheap logging with an optional coaching layer | Lifters who already know their split and want zero extras | Lifters who want zero programming decisions from day one |
If you want the cheapest full-featured logger with the option to add auto-progression later, Hevy is the pick — it undercuts Strong on every paid tier and now does more at that lower price. If you specifically want a bare-bones logger with no social layer and don’t care about Trainer, Strong’s slightly more mature charting is the tradeoff to weigh.
Editor’s pick: Hevy — no dedicated affiliate program is live on this site for Hevy yet; check the App Store or Google Play listing directly for current pricing and availability.
If neither app’s bring-your-own-program model fits and you want the software to build your entire routine from scratch, Fitbod is the one built for that — at roughly triple Hevy Pro’s annual cost.
What a real week with it looks like
Open the app to your scheduled routine, and each exercise shows your last session’s weight and reps right where you’re about to log the next set. Trainer users see a suggested weight for today’s set already filled in, adjusted from last time — you either accept it or override it if it feels off. The rest timer starts automatically between sets, and finishing a workout drops you into a summary with volume, duration, and any PRs hit that session. The social feed sits one tab over; you can ignore it completely or use it as a lightweight accountability check by following training partners.
The verdict
Hevy earns the value pick in this category: a genuinely free-usable logging tier, the cheapest Pro pricing among the major logging apps, and now an actual auto-progression coach for anyone who wants to stop guessing at load jumps. Skip Pro if you’re a beginner on one fixed routine — the free tier’s 4 routines and 3-month history cover that. Get Pro once you’re rotating more than a couple of routines, want full history, or want Trainer to handle the week-to-week math for you.
FAQ
Is Hevy actually free to use?
Yes — unlimited workout logging, the full exercise library, a rest timer, and the social feed cost nothing. You only pay if you need more than 4 routines, more than 7 custom exercises, history older than 3 months, or Hevy Trainer.
Is Hevy Pro worth around $2.99/month?
If you’re rotating multiple routines or want Hevy Trainer’s auto-progression, yes — it’s the cheapest Pro tier among the major logging apps. If you’re a beginner on one fixed program, the free tier already covers you.
What is Hevy Trainer and do I need it?
It’s an AI feature (bundled with Pro, launched February 2026) that builds a program and auto-adjusts your working weight session to session based on your actual performance. It’s optional — you can still log a hand-built routine manually without ever touching it.
Hevy vs. Strong — which should I pick?
Both log sets with your last-session numbers visible. Hevy is cheaper at every tier, adds a social feed and routine sharing, and now includes auto-progression coaching via Trainer. Strong has a longer track record and a slightly more polished charting view but no social or coaching features at any price. Try both free tiers for a week before committing.
Curious how these two directly compare? See our Strong vs Hevy head-to-head comparison for a side-by-side breakdown.
