I built Gymgress, so read this knowing that. I've tried to make it the comparison I wanted when I was picking a tracker: real prices, real free-tier limits, and a straight answer about which app fits which lifter. Strong and Hevy are both good apps. Here is where each one wins.
The short version
- Pick Strong if you train alone, want an Apple Watch app, and run one or two fixed programs. Its free tier caps you at 3 routines but never locks your log.
- Pick Hevy if you want the cheapest Pro plan, Android or web access, and a light social feed. Its free tier caps routines and custom exercises and limits advanced graphs.
- Pick Gymgress if you lift with friends, a team, or a gym crew and want the social side to be the point: leaderboard, clubs, challenges, group chat, all free with no Pro tier. Skip it if you need Android or a Watch app today.
Price and free-tier limits
| Gymgress | Strong | Hevy | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Free tier | Everything. No Pro tier exists. | Unlimited logging, 3 routines, advanced stats are Pro | 4 routines, 7 custom exercises, advanced graphs limited to a 3-month window |
| Monthly | — | $4.99 | $2.99 |
| Yearly | — | $29.99 | $23.99 |
| Lifetime | — | $99.99 | $74.99 |
Strong and Hevy prices are from their App Store listings and a July 2026 check; they change, so confirm on their pages. Gymgress has no in-app purchases at all as of September 2026.
Features
| Gymgress | Strong | Hevy | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Set logging (reps, weight, RPE) | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Automatic PRs | Yes, free | Advanced stats are Pro | Graphs limited on free |
| Routines / plans | Unlimited | 3 on free | 4 on free |
| Friends feed | Yes | No | Yes |
| Leaderboard / rankings | Yes | No | No |
| Clubs and challenges | Yes | No | No |
| Group chat and DMs | Yes | No | No |
| Streaks | Yes | No | Weekly goal |
| Share cards to Instagram / TikTok | Yes | Workout sharing | Yes |
| Import from other apps | Strong and Hevy CSV | CSV | Strong and others |
| Apple Watch | Not yet | Yes | Yes |
| Android | Not yet | Yes | Yes |
| Web app | Not yet | Strong Cloud | Yes |
| Ads or data selling | None | None | None |
Where Strong is better
Strong has been around for more than a decade and it shows in the logging screen. The Apple Watch app is the best of the three, the rest timer lives in the Dynamic Island, and it never touches your history: the free tier limits routines, not what you've logged. If you lift alone and want the most polished solo logger, Strong is a fair pick and $99.99 once buys it forever.
Where Hevy is better
Hevy is the cheapest paid option and the only one of the three on Android, web and Watch at the same time. It has a following-style feed, so you can see friends' workouts, and its import tool accepts Strong exports. If you have Android friends, or you like reviewing your training on a laptop, Hevy is the practical choice.
Where Gymgress is better
Gymgress starts from the group, not the individual. You add friends, the feed shows what they hit today, and a Rankings leaderboard turns the week into a competition. A club can be your dorm, your team or your gym crew, and clubs run challenges with their own leaderboard. There's a group chat for the club and DMs for your training partner. Streaks and rest days are tracked per person, so a friend's rest day shows on their week and not as a gap.
None of it is gated. There is no Pro tier, no routine cap, and stats, PR history, muscle breakdown and strength progress are all free. I built it for my own lifting group and I'd rather have more users than a paywall.
Where Gymgress is behind
Honestly: it's iPhone only, there's no Watch app yet, and it launched in September 2026 so the exercise library and the polish are younger than the other two. If those matter to you today, pick Strong or Hevy and check back.
Switching without losing history
Both Strong and Hevy export a CSV. Gymgress imports both: Settings → Import history, pick the app, choose the file. Imported workouts show in your history and strength-progress chart, and feed the "last time" numbers while you log, but never count toward streaks, rankings, achievements or the PR list, so nobody can top a leaderboard with a pasted file. Step by step guide: how to switch from Strong or Hevy.
FAQ
Is Gymgress really free?
Yes. No subscription, no lifetime unlock, no locked features. If that ever changes, existing features stay free.
Can I use Gymgress alone?
Yes. It's a complete tracker on its own. The social side just sits empty until you add someone.
Does Gymgress sell my data or show ads?
No. There are no ads, no analytics SDKs and no ad tracking. See the privacy policy.
When is Android coming?
It's planned but there's no date. The app is built with React Native, so an Android build is realistic. If you want it, email [email protected]; it helps me prioritise.
Free · iPhone · no subscription, no paywall
More guides
Strong and Hevy are trademarks of their respective owners and are not affiliated with Gymgress. Prices and limits as of September 2026.