GYM RPG
Best for: lifters who want a reason to show up and friends who notice when they do not.
Every set earns XP and a muscle stat that feeds a skill tree and a daily party boss turn. Platforms: iOS and Android.
Free tier: free; one XP-rewarded workout a day and 3 saved plans, logging is unlimited. Paid: pro: $7.99/mo or $49.99/yr on the US App Store. The catch: smaller exercise library than the big loggers, and no import from other apps.
Hevy
Best for: lifters who want a clean log with a social side.
The most generous free tier of the big loggers, a social feed and a Strong CSV import. Platforms: iOS, Android, Apple Watch and Wear OS.
Free tier: 4 routines, 7 custom exercises and 3 months of stats history. Paid: pro: $23.99/yr or $74.99 lifetime (monthly $2.99 or $3.99 listed). The catch: pro is needed for unlimited routines and full stats history, and offline use was not verified.
Strong
Best for: lifters who want a minimal, fast log.
A plain log with an Apple Watch app and a one-time Forever purchase. Platforms: iOS, Android and Apple Watch.
Free tier: 3 workout templates and unlimited saved workouts. Paid: pro: $4.99/mo, $23.99 or $29.99/yr, Forever $79.99 or $99.99 (US App Store entries are inconsistent). The catch: the free tier caps templates at 3, and we found no import from other apps.
Boostcamp
Best for: lifters who want a large library of ready-made programs for free.
The free program library is the biggest of the loggers here. Platforms: iOS and Android; no watch app.
Free tier: free app with 14,000+ programs, tracking and progression. Paid: pro: $59.99/yr or $14.99/mo; adds auto progression, personalized programs and analytics. The catch: no watch app, and the monthly Pro price is high next to Hevy or Strong.
StrengthLog
Best for: lifters who want unlimited free logging.
Logging has no cap on the free plan. Platforms: iOS and Android.
Free tier: unlimited workout logging, basic stats and programs, 450+ exercises. Paid: premium subscription (1, 3 or 12 months, 14-day trial); price not verified. The catch: the Premium price is not shown on its own site, so check the store.
FitNotes
Best for: android users who want a simple, free logger.
Simple, free and ad-free, with spreadsheet export. Platforms: android only.
Free tier: free with no ads; no paid tier mentioned. Paid: none mentioned. The catch: android only, so there is no iPhone version, and a CSV export cannot be restored into the app.
Alpha Progression
Best for: lifters who want the app to generate and progress their plan.
Pro generates plans and recommends progression. Platforms: iOS and Android.
Free tier: unlimited logging, own plans, rest timer, records and CSV export. Paid: pro: about $12.99/mo or $79.99/yr on the US App Store (one listing showed $69.99/yr). The catch: the most expensive of these apps, and the plan automation is Pro only.
How to choose
- Most generous free tier from a mainstream app: Hevy.
- No logging cap and no ads: StrengthLog or FitNotes (Android only).
- A huge free program library: Boostcamp.
- A plain log with a one-time Forever purchase: Strong.
- An app that builds and progresses your plan: Alpha Progression (plan automation is Pro).
- A game on top of your log: GYM RPG.
GYM RPG, Hevy, Strong, Boostcamp, StrengthLog, FitNotes, Alpha Progression at a glance
| App | Best for | Free tier | Paid plan | Honest catch |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| GYM RPG | Lifters who want a reason to show up and friends who notice when they do not | Free; one XP-rewarded workout a day and 3 saved plans, logging is unlimited | Pro: $7.99/mo or $49.99/yr on the US App Store | Smaller exercise library than the big loggers, and no import from other apps |
| Hevy | Lifters who want a clean log with a social side | 4 routines, 7 custom exercises and 3 months of stats history | Pro: $23.99/yr or $74.99 lifetime (monthly $2.99 or $3.99 listed) | Pro is needed for unlimited routines and full stats history, and offline use was not verified |
| Strong | Lifters who want a minimal, fast log | 3 workout templates and unlimited saved workouts | Pro: $4.99/mo, $23.99 or $29.99/yr, Forever $79.99 or $99.99 (US App Store entries are inconsistent) | The free tier caps templates at 3, and we found no import from other apps |
| Boostcamp | Lifters who want a large library of ready-made programs for free | Free app with 14,000+ programs, tracking and progression | Pro: $59.99/yr or $14.99/mo; adds auto progression, personalized programs and analytics | No watch app, and the monthly Pro price is high next to Hevy or Strong |
| StrengthLog | Lifters who want unlimited free logging | Unlimited workout logging, basic stats and programs, 450+ exercises | Premium subscription (1, 3 or 12 months, 14-day trial); price not verified | The Premium price is not shown on its own site, so check the store |
| FitNotes | Android users who want a simple, free logger | Free with no ads; no paid tier mentioned | None mentioned | Android only, so there is no iPhone version, and a CSV export cannot be restored into the app |
| Alpha Progression | Lifters who want the app to generate and progress their plan | Unlimited logging, own plans, rest timer, records and CSV export | Pro: about $12.99/mo or $79.99/yr on the US App Store (one listing showed $69.99/yr) | The most expensive of these apps, and the plan automation is Pro only |