TL;DR
- For 2026, pick Hevy or Strong if you write your own programs and want fast logging, and Fitbod if you want the app to generate the workout. That split is the whole decision.[5]
- Hevy is the cheapest with the most usable free tier: Pro is $2.99/mo, $23.99/yr, or $74.99 lifetime. The free tier allows unlimited logging (with caps on routines, custom exercises, and history).[1]
- Strong PRO is $4.99/mo, $29.99/yr, or a lifetime purchase; the free tier limits custom routines.[2][3]
- Fitbod is the priciest at $15.99/mo or $95.99/yr with no permanent free tier, because it is an AI program generator, not a logger.[4]
Hevy, Strong, and Fitbod get grouped together as "workout apps," but two of them are loggers and one is a program generator. Hevy and Strong record what you tell them to do; Fitbod decides what you should do next. That difference drives both the feature set and the price. This comparison verifies the 2026 pricing and free-tier limits, then frames the pick. Verified as of 2026-05-25.
Verified comparison
| Item | Hevy | Strong | Fitbod |
|---|---|---|---|
| Type | Logger (+ social)[1] | Logger[2] | AI program generator[5] |
| Monthly (USD) | $2.99[1] | $4.99[2] | $15.99[4] |
| Annual (USD) | $23.99[1] | $29.99[2] | $95.99[4] |
| Lifetime (USD) | $74.99[1] | ~$99.99 (App Store)[3] | None |
| Free tier | Usable: unlimited logging, capped routines/history[1] | Limited custom routines[2] | Trial only, no permanent free tier[4] |
Hevy and Strong are loggers; Fitbod is a generator
The positioning is the point. Hevy and Strong are digital training notebooks: you bring the program, they record sets, reps, and load, then chart progression. Fitbod inverts that, using a recovery-aware algorithm to generate each session from your history, available equipment, and estimated muscle recovery.[5] If you already know what to train, a logger is faster and cheaper; if you want the app to decide, Fitbod is built for it. Hevy has added an AI program feature on top of its logger, but the core product remains tracking plus a social feed.[1]
Pricing and free tiers
Hevy is the value pick. Pro is $2.99 per month, $23.99 per year, or $74.99 once for lifetime, and the free tier is genuinely usable: unlimited workout logging, with caps on the number of saved routines, custom exercises, and history depth.[1] Strong PRO is $4.99 per month or $29.99 per year, with a lifetime option listed in the App Store, and its free tier limits how many custom routines you can save.[2][3] Fitbod is the priciest at $15.99 per month or $95.99 per year, with only a free trial and no permanent free tier, reflecting that you are paying for generated programming, not just storage.[4]
Multi-year cost math
On annual billing, the three-year cost spread is large because the products are not the same kind of thing:
Annual-billing cost over 3 years
─────────────────────────────────────────────
Hevy Pro 3 x $23.99 = $71.97 (or $74.99 lifetime, once)
Strong PRO 3 x $29.99 = $89.97
Fitbod 3 x $95.99 = $287.97Hevy's lifetime option at $74.99 undercuts even its own three-year subscription, so a committed Hevy user should buy lifetime outright. Fitbod costs roughly four times Hevy over three years, which is only worth it if you actually use the generated programming rather than logging your own plan.
Decision frame
- You write your own programs and want the fastest, cheapest logger: Strong, or Hevy if you also want a social feed.
- You want the app to program your workouts: Fitbod.
- You want the most generous free tier: Hevy.
- You will commit long-term: Hevy lifetime at $74.99 is the lowest total cost.[1]
Whichever app you log in, the program needs sound volume and progression targets. Set working weights with the One Rep Max Calculator, plan weekly sets with the Workout Volume Calculator, and read the evidence base in The 2026 Evidence-Based Programming Guide.
Verified as of 2026-05-25. App-store prices vary by region and promotion; confirm current pricing in the app or store listing before subscribing.
FAQ
Which is cheapest, Hevy, Strong, or Fitbod?
Hevy. Pro is $2.99 per month, $23.99 per year, or $74.99 lifetime.[1] Strong PRO is $4.99 per month or $29.99 per year.[2] Fitbod is the most expensive at $15.99 per month or $95.99 per year, because it generates programs rather than only logging them.[4]
Does Fitbod have a free tier?
No permanent free tier, only a free trial. After it ends, a paid subscription is required to keep using the app.[4] Hevy and Strong both have free tiers, with Hevy's the more usable of the two.[1][2]
What is the real difference between these apps?
Hevy and Strong are loggers: you supply the program, they record it. Fitbod is a generator: it builds each session from your history and estimated recovery.[5] Pick a logger if you program yourself; pick Fitbod if you want the app to decide.
Should I buy Hevy lifetime?
If you plan to use Hevy long-term, yes. The $74.99 lifetime price is lower than three years of the annual plan ($71.97 per three years, recurring forever), so the lifetime purchase pays off past roughly three years.[1]
References
- 1 Hevy pricing (Pro tiers and free-tier limits) — Hevy (2026)
- 2 What is Strong PRO? (PRO features and pricing) — Strong Help Center (2026)
- 3 Strong Workout Tracker Gym Log (App Store listing, in-app purchase pricing) — Apple App Store (2026)
- 4 Fitbod subscriptions (pricing and trial structure) — Fitbod Help Center (2026)
- 5 Fitbod (AI-generated workouts, recovery-based muscle recommendations) — Fitbod (2026)