8 Best Hevy Alternatives in 2026
Hevy is one of the best free workout loggers there is. But "log it yourself" only takes you so far — if you want an app that actually writes your program, adapts to your recovery, or coaches you past a plateau, here are the eight alternatives worth trying in 2026, ranked by what they're for.
Why lifters look for a Hevy alternative
Hevy nails the basics: fast set logging, clean history, progress graphs and a genuinely fun social feed — all on a generous free tier. The reasons people still shop around usually come down to one thing: Hevy tracks your training, it doesn't design it.
- You still have to write your own program — Hevy logs it beautifully, but the thinking is on you.
- Hevy Trainer can generate a plan, but it doesn't autoregulate — it won't read your Reps in Reserve and adjust loads set by set.
- No real plateau detection or conversational coaching — you can't ask it "why has my bench stalled for a month?" and get a reasoned answer.
- Nutrition lives in a separate app, so training and macros never talk to each other.
- No voice logging to keep your hands free mid-set.
If none of that bothers you, stay on Hevy — it's excellent, and we'll be honest about where it still wins below. If it does, here's where to look. Torn specifically between the big three loggers? We break those down in Hevy vs Strong vs Fitbod.
How we chose these alternatives
A note on transparency: we build Gymex, which appears in this list, so we're not a neutral bystander. These eight apps made the cut because they're the ones lifters actually mention when asking for apps like Hevy — in communities, app-store searches and our own support inbox. For each one we checked the current feature set and public UK pricing as of July 2026, and we deliberately kept a "what Hevy still does best" section, because a list that pretends the incumbent has no strengths isn't worth reading. Prices are UK App Store prices where available and can change.
The 8 best apps like Hevy, by what they're for
1. Gymex — the full AI coach Best overall upgrade
The closest thing to a software replacement for a remote coach, and the biggest step up from a pure logger. Where Hevy waits for you to bring a program, Gymex writes one: it builds multi-week mesocycles with a goal and a deload, infers your Reps in Reserve from your set history and nudges loads up or down, and flags plateaus and PRs automatically. You log sets by voice mid-workout, ask the coach questions conversationally ("why has my squat stalled?"), and track macros in the same app with barcode scanning and a photo meal scanner. There's a free tier; paid plans run £7.50/month (Core), £15 (Premium) and £20 (Pro Premium), with 17% off annual. The honest caveat: Gymex is a newer app with a smaller exercise-media library than the veteran loggers here, though it now runs on both iOS and Android. Best for lifters who have outgrown manual logging and want the app to write — and adapt — the program. Full head-to-head: Gymex vs Hevy.
2. Strong — the classic minimalist logger
The most like-for-like Hevy alternative. Strong is the long-standing favourite for fast set entry, reliable plate-math and clean history, with arguably the best Apple Watch app of any logger. It's simple and dependable — but like Hevy, it's a logger, not a coach: you bring the program, it records it. The free tier limits how many custom routines you can save; the paid tier is around £4.99/month, and it runs on iOS, Android and Apple Watch. Best for people who already know their program and just want to record it. See how it compares in Gymex vs Strong.
3. Fitbod — adaptive workout generator
Fitbod builds each session from your training history and recovery, adjusting volume by muscle group. It's the most hands-off of the mainstream loggers and genuinely good at answering "what should I do today?" The catch: it improvises one session at a time rather than writing a periodised block with a goal and a deload, there's only a trial rather than a real free tier, and at roughly £10/month it's the priciest option here. Available on iOS and Android. Best for gym-goers who want sensible generated sessions without programming themselves. See our Fitbod alternatives guide too.
4. Boostcamp — free structured programs
Boostcamp lets you run proven programs — 5/3/1, PPL, nSuns and hundreds more — completely free, with clean logging built around them. It's a great way to add the structure Hevy leaves to you, without paying a penny. The trade-off is that you choose a fixed template rather than getting a personalised plan that adapts week to week from your performance and RIR. Available on iOS and Android. Best for lifters who want a named, battle-tested program at no cost. More detail in Gymex vs Boostcamp.
5. JEFIT — big exercise database
JEFIT pairs one of the largest exercise databases in fitness with deep manual planning tools and analytics. If you love building and tweaking your own routines from a massive movement library, it's hard to beat — but it's a manual planner, not an autoregulating coach, and the free tier carries ads (premium removes them for around £6/month). It runs on iOS, Android and the web. Best for data-lovers and tinkerers who want the biggest database and full manual control. Compared head-to-head in Gymex vs JEFIT.
6. Caliber — real human coach + app
Caliber pairs you with a qualified human coach who writes your plan and reviews your logs through their app. A real person still wins on rapport, nuanced form feedback and personal accountability — but you're paying human-coaching prices, typically £150+/month for 1:1. Available on iOS and Android. Best for people who specifically want a real person in their corner and have the budget for it.
7. Future — premium human coaching
Future is a similar idea to Caliber with a very polished app and weekly video check-ins with your coach. It's excellent if budget is no object, and overkill if you mainly wanted to stop programming yourself. Plans run roughly £150–£300/month, and the service is iOS-only. Best for premium 1:1 human coaching with high-touch accountability.
8. Nike Training Club — free guided workouts
Not a lifting logger, but a polished, completely free library of coach-led follow-along sessions across strength, mobility and HIIT, with big-brand production values. It won't track progressive overload on your barbell lifts, log your PRs or periodise your training — it's guided fitness content rather than strength coaching. Available on iOS and Android. Best for beginners and home exercisers rather than progressive barbell work. More in Gymex vs Nike Training Club.
Quick comparison
| App | Writes & adapts your program | Free tier | Platforms | Price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Gymex | Yes — AI programming + RIR autoregulation | Yes | iOS | Free, £7.50–£20/mo |
| Hevy | Basic AI generation (Hevy Trainer) | Yes (generous) | iOS, Android, Watch | Free–£2.99/mo |
| Strong | No — manual | Limited routines | iOS, Android, Watch | Free–£4.99/mo |
| Fitbod | Suggestions only | Trial only | iOS, Android | ~£10/mo |
| Boostcamp | Templates | Yes | iOS, Android | Free |
| JEFIT | No — manual | Yes (ads) | iOS, Android, Web | Free–£6/mo |
| Caliber / Future | Human coach | No | iOS (Caliber also Android) | £150–£300/mo |
| Nike Training Club | Preset classes | Yes | iOS, Android | Free |
What Hevy still does best
Fairness matters, so here's the honest case for staying put:
- The most generous free tier in the category. Logging, history, progress graphs and routines are all free — most rivals gate more of that behind a paywall.
- The best social feed of any lifting app. Following friends, sharing sessions and training in public is genuinely motivating, and no competitor on this list matches it.
- Free cross-platform logging. Hevy runs on iOS, Android and Apple Watch with the most generous free tier here. Gymex now covers iOS and Android too, so if you want free, no-frills logging, Hevy still wins on price; if you want a coach, Gymex is the step up.
- The cheapest paid plan around. Hevy Pro is roughly £2.99/month, which is remarkable value if all you need is logging.
If community is what keeps you consistent, or you're on Android, Hevy is probably still the right app. The alternatives above are for lifters whose bottleneck has moved from tracking training to designing it.
Bottom line: if you love Hevy and just want cleaner logging, try Strong. If you want free structure, try Boostcamp. If you want a human, look at Caliber or Future. But if you want everything Hevy does plus real programming, RIR autoregulation, plateau detection, voice logging and nutrition in one app, Gymex is the upgrade — and it's free to start.
Frequently asked questions
Is there a better app than Hevy?
It depends what you want Hevy to do. As a free logger it's excellent. If you want the app to write and adapt your training — programming, RIR autoregulation, plateau detection and nutrition in one place — an AI coach like Gymex does more. If you just want cleaner logging, Strong is the closest like-for-like.
What is the best free alternative to Hevy?
Strong and Boostcamp both have strong free tiers. Gymex also has a free tier and adds AI programming on top of logging, so it's the best free option if you want coaching rather than just tracking.
Does Hevy have AI programming?
Hevy added Hevy Trainer, which can generate a program for you. It's a helpful starting point, but it doesn't autoregulate from your Reps in Reserve, detect plateaus, adjust loads set by set, or track nutrition. Gymex and Fitbod go further on adaptive coaching.
Is Hevy or Strong better?
Both are minimalist loggers. Hevy has better social features and a more generous free tier; Strong has the longest track record. Neither writes a periodised plan for you — for that you want Gymex or Fitbod.
What's a good Hevy alternative with a coach?
Gymex is the closest software replacement for a coach — multi-week mesocycles, RIR reading, plateau detection and voice logging from about £7.50/month. Caliber and Future pair you with a real human coach, but cost roughly £150–£300/month.
Is there a Hevy alternative for Android?
Plenty. Gymex, Strong, Fitbod, JEFIT, Boostcamp and Nike Training Club all work on Android. If you want a step up from logging to an AI coach, Gymex now runs on Android too; if you're happy logging your own program for free, staying with Hevy itself is honestly a strong choice.