Hevy is one of the best-designed workout trackers in the App Store. The free tier is also one of the most carefully built paywalls in the category: 4 routines, 7 custom exercises, 3 months of graphs, no nutrition tracking, no AI routine import. Most lifters hit the routine cap during their first mesocycle — at which point Hevy expects you to pay $2.99/mo (or $23.99/yr) for Pro, per Hevy's FAQ.
Plenty of apps fix one or two of those caps. A few fix all of them at once. Here are the 10 best Hevy alternatives in 2026, ranked — prices and free-tier limits re-checked against each publisher's own pages in October 2026 (see Sources at the end).
Quick-Pick Comparison
How each alternative compares to Hevy on the things Hevy locks down:
App | Best For | Free Tier | vs Hevy |
|---|---|---|---|
Ellim | Workouts + nutrition + AI import | Unlimited routines, full library, nutrition | No caps, more features |
Strong | Minimalist iOS logging | 3 routines free | Less generous routines, better Watch |
JEFIT | Deepest exercise library | Ad-supported, custom routines allowed | Bigger library, denser UI |
FitNotes | Truly free Android logger | Everything free | No caps, Android only |
Boostcamp | Pre-built free programs | Programs + tracking free | Different intent — program-led |
Liftin' | Apple Watch-first iPhone logger | 5 workouts/month | Tighter free cap; cheap Unlimited |
SmartGym | iPhone + Watch routine builder | 2 routines; subscription | Tighter free cap than Hevy |
Fitbod | Algorithm-planned daily workouts | 7-day trial only | Auto-programming — paid |
Caliber | Strength tracking + optional coach | Unlimited workouts, 800+ exercises | Coached upsell path |
HeavySet | One-time-purchase iPhone logger | Limited free; $19.99 lifetime | No subscription |
How We Evaluated Hevy Alternatives
Six criteria, weighted around the specific gaps in Hevy's free tier:
Routine cap on free — Hevy stops you at 4 routines. The alternatives that beat Hevy here are the ones we ranked highest.
Exercise library depth — Hevy ships 400+ exercises and expects you to add your own. Bigger libraries with demos are a real upgrade.
Graph & history retention — Hevy free shows only 3 months of progress graphs. Full history matters.
Beyond pure logging — Hevy is logger-first. Nutrition, AI routine import, progressive overload — features Hevy doesn't ship.
Free tier honesty — How long does the free tier stay usable before you're nudged to Pro?
Platform & Watch support — iOS / Android coverage, Apple Watch / Wear OS, HealthKit / Google Fit sync.
The 10 Best Hevy Alternatives in 2026
1. Ellim — Best Free Hevy Alternative
Ellim fixes the limitations in Hevy's free tier that matter most. Unlimited routines (vs 4), full workout history and PRs (vs 3 months of stats), 3,500+ exercises (vs 400+), AI routine import, and nutrition tracking with barcode scanning — all free. Custom exercises are the exception: they are a Premium feature in Ellim, where Hevy allows 7 on free.
Pros
Unlimited routines on free
3,500+ exercises with instructions
AI routine import — point your camera at any routine
Built-in nutrition tracking
Water tracking — one-tap cup logging with a daily goal based on your body weight (free; weekly trends are Premium)
Full workout history and PRs on free
Live Activities + Dynamic Island during workouts
Cons
iPhone only (no Android)
No Apple Watch app
Custom exercises are Premium (Hevy allows 7 free)
No public community feed — Ellim isn't social-first
Free tier: Workouts + nutrition + water + AI import, all unlimited.
Price: Premium $17.99/mo (optional — core training stays free).
See full Ellim vs Hevy comparison →
Skip the comparison? Download Ellim free — no 4-routine cap →
2. Strong — Best Minimalist iOS Alternative
Strong is the cleanest, fastest iOS logger and has the most mature Apple Watch app. But its 3-routine cap is even tighter than Hevy's 4 — pick Strong only if you train two routines forever and value Watch logging above all.
Pros
Best Apple Watch experience
Buttery iOS UX
Trusted strength-community pick
Cons
Tighter routine cap than Hevy (3)
No published exercise count
No nutrition or AI
Free tier: 3 routines + Watch logging.
Price: Strong PRO $4.99/mo or $29.99/yr.
3. JEFIT — Best Library-Depth Alternative
JEFIT has one of the largest in-app exercise libraries (1,400+) and a massive community routine database, plus Apple Watch and Wear OS. The trade is an ad-supported free tier and a dense interface; the Adaptive AI Coach and pro-built plans are Elite-only. If exercise depth and routine variety matter more than polish, JEFIT wins.
Pros
1,400+ exercise library
Huge community routine DB
Cross-platform, Watch + Wear OS
Cons
Ads on free tier
Dense interface
Adaptive AI Coach and pro plans are Elite-only
Free tier: Library + ad-supported logging.
Price: Elite $12.99/mo or $69.99/yr.
4. FitNotes — Best Truly-Free Android Alternative
If you're on Android and just want a free, ad-free, no-upsell logger with no routine caps, FitNotes is the answer. Android only, deliberately minimal.
Pros
100% free, no ads, no premium
Unlimited routines + custom exercises
Donation-supported
Cons
Android only
No demos / videos
No nutrition or social
Free tier: Everything.
Price: None.
5. Boostcamp — Best Free Program-Led Alternative
Where Hevy assumes you have your own programming, Boostcamp offers 130+ coach programs (most free) with auto-progression and tracking built in, plus a free custom program builder with no cap. Different intent: you follow a program rather than build one from scratch.
Pros
130+ coach programs, most free
Auto-progression
Free custom program builder
Cons
No published exercise count
No native Watch app
No nutrition
Free tier: Programs (most free), custom program builder, tracking.
Price: Boostcamp Pro $59.99/yr or $14.99/mo.
6. Liftin' — Best Cheap Apple Watch Logger
Liftin' is an iPhone and Apple Watch logger. Correction from our May version: its App Store listing describes a free version limited to five workouts per month — tighter than Hevy, not looser — and Liftin' Unlimited removes the cap for $2.99/mo, $24.99/yr or $99.99 lifetime, with one month free as an introductory offer. Fast, Watch-first and cheap, with no Android app that we could find.
Pros
Apple Watch app (watchOS 10.5+)
Cheap Unlimited tier ($24.99/yr)
Simple, fast logging
Cons
Free tier capped at 5 workouts per month
iPhone / Watch only
No nutrition
Free tier: 5 workouts per month.
Price: Liftin' Unlimited $2.99/mo, $24.99/yr or $99.99 lifetime (US App Store; regional prices differ).
7. SmartGym — Best iPhone + Apple Watch Routine Builder
SmartGym is iPhone and Apple Watch only — it runs fully on the Watch without the phone — with a flexible routine builder (supersets, drop sets, timed sets). Correction from our May version: the App Store listing describes a free version with 2 routines, and the rest is a subscription with a 7-day trial, not a one-time purchase.
Pros
Standalone Apple Watch app
Flexible routine builder
Deeply iOS-native
Cons
Free tier limited to 2 routines
Subscription (Premium+ $9.99/mo or $59.99/yr listed)
No nutrition
Free tier: 2 routines plus limited history and measures.
Price: Subscription — the App Store lists Premium+ at $9.99/mo or $59.99/yr; 7-day trial.
8. Fitbod — Best Automatic Daily-Workout Alternative
Fitbod generates your next workout each day based on history, equipment and recovery — "just open the app and train." Its own blog describes the engine as the Fitbod algorithm, not a coach you can talk to. There is no free tier: Fitbod's help center describes a 7-day trial that rolls into a subscription.
Pros
Algorithm-generated daily workouts
Adapts to muscle recovery
1,000+ exercise library; Apple Watch
Cons
No free tier — 7-day trial, then subscription
No nutrition
Limited routine customization
Free tier: None (7-day trial).
Price: $15.99/mo or $95.99/yr.
See free Fitbod alternatives →
9. Caliber — Best Alternative With a Human-Coach Option
Caliber's free tier covers unlimited workouts and 800+ exercises with form videos; Caliber Plus adds coach-designed plans and Premium Coaching adds a real human trainer. Caliber's release notes say supersets, custom exercises and the plan library are Plus features for accounts created after April 2024, and there is no native Apple Watch app.
Pros
Unlimited workouts and 800+ video exercises free
Optional human coach
Apple Health + Health Connect sync
Cons
Supersets, custom exercises and the plan library are Plus for newer accounts
No native Apple Watch app
No AI generation or nutrition on free
Free tier: Unlimited workouts + 800+ exercises.
Price: Caliber Plus $12/mo or $72/yr (current US App Store listing); coaching priced separately.
10. HeavySet — Best One-Time-Purchase Alternative
HeavySet is an iPhone-only strength and bodybuilding log with a one-time lifetime unlock instead of a subscription. Correction from our May version: it is not Watch-first — the App Store listing is iPhone-only. The free version limits how many times you can run the routines you enter; the lifetime unlock is listed at $19.99 on the US App Store.
Pros
One-time price, no subscription
Built for strength and bodybuilding logging
Free to try
Cons
Free version limits how often you can run your routines
iPhone only — no Apple Watch app
No nutrition or AI
Free tier: Limited free version.
Price: Lifetime unlock $19.99 (US App Store).
Head-to-Head: Hevy vs Top 4 Alternatives
Direct comparison against Hevy's free tier:
Feature | Hevy (Free) | Ellim | Strong | JEFIT | FitNotes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Routine cap | 4 | Unlimited | 3 | Loose | Unlimited |
Custom exercises free | 7 | Premium | Yes | Yes | Yes |
Exercise library | 400+ | 3,500+ | N/P | 1,400+ | Small |
Workout history (free) | 3 months of stats | Full history (charts Premium) | Unlimited workouts | Full | Full |
Apple Watch app | Yes | No | Yes | Yes | No (Android) |
Nutrition tracking | No | Yes (free) | No | No | No |
AI routine import | No | Yes (free) | No | No | No |
Social feed | Yes | No | No | Community routines | No |
Platform | iOS / Android | iOS | iOS / Android | iOS / Android | Android only |
Full Feature Matrix
Every Hevy-relevant feature, every alternative:
Feature | Hevy | Ellim | Strong | JEFIT | FitNotes | Boostcamp | Liftin' | SmartGym | Fitbod | Caliber |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Free routine cap | 4 | None | 3 | None | None | None | 5 workouts/mo | 2 | No free tier | Workouts only |
Exercise library | 400+ | 3,500+ | N/P | 1,400+ | Small | N/P | N/P | N/P | 1,000+ | 800+ |
Custom exercises free | 7 | Premium | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | N/P | N/P | N/A | Plus |
Apple Watch | Yes | No | Yes | Yes | No | No native | Yes | Yes | Yes | No native |
HealthKit / Google Fit | Both | HealthKit | Both | Both | No | HealthKit | HealthKit | HealthKit | Both | Both |
Nutrition tracking | No | Yes | No | No | No | No | No | No | No | No |
AI routine import | No | Yes | No | No | No | No | No | No | No | No |
Social / community | Yes | No | No | Community | No | No | No | No | No | Coached |
Free tier honest | Capped | Generous | Capped | Ad-supp | Yes | Yes | Capped | Capped | Trial only | Yes |
Seen enough? Switch to Ellim — free, no routine cap →
Hevy Alternative by Need
Best Free Alternative Overall
Ellim — fixes every Hevy free-tier limitation and adds nutrition and AI routine import. The closest to "Hevy Pro for free."
Best for Lifters Who Loved Hevy's Social Feed
Honest answer: nothing fully replaces the Hevy community. JEFIT has community routines but no real feed. If social accountability matters most, consider keeping Hevy free for the feed and using Ellim for the actual tracking — many users do exactly this stack.
Best for Apple Watch Lifters
Strong (fully featured Watch app) or Liftin' (Watch-first, cheap). Ellim has no Watch app.
Best for Multiple Concurrent Programs
If you run a strength block + a hypertrophy block + mobility days + a deload week in parallel, you need unlimited routines. Ellim, FitNotes, Boostcamp (free program builder).
Best for Lifters Who Also Track Food
Only Ellim offers nutrition tracking inside the workout app. Everyone else makes you stack with MyFitnessPal.
Should You Just Pay for Hevy Pro Instead?
Hevy Pro removes the routine cap, expands graph history, and unlocks advanced analytics and Trainer's algorithmic programming — for $2.99/mo or $23.99/yr per Hevy's FAQ. If you love the Hevy UI and community and only need to fix the routine cap, Pro is reasonable.
But Pro doesn't add what Hevy fundamentally doesn't do: nutrition tracking, AI routine import, exercise library depth. If you want those, paying Hevy doesn't solve it. Move to Ellim and get more on the free tier than Hevy gives on Pro.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why are people looking for Hevy alternatives?
Three reasons: (1) the 4-routine cap on free, (2) no nutrition tracking on any plan, (3) no AI routine import. Hevy is a great logger that doesn't want to be more than a logger.
What is the best free Hevy alternative?
Ellim — unlimited routines, 3,500+ exercises, full workout history, nutrition tracking, AI routine import, and now water tracking. All free on iPhone.
Can I import my Hevy data into Ellim?
Hevy exports CSV on the Pro tier. Ellim does not yet have a direct Hevy importer, but you can rebuild routines in seconds using AI routine import — paste your Hevy routine text and Ellim parses it.
Does Hevy still cap 4 routines in 2026?
Yes — the routine cap, 7 custom exercises, and 3-month graph history are still the standard Hevy free-tier limits as of 2026. Hevy occasionally bumps numbers but the structure stays the same.
Which Hevy alternative is best on Android?
FitNotes (truly free, no caps) or JEFIT (deepest library, ads). Ellim is iPhone-only today.
Which Hevy alternative has the best Apple Watch app?
Strong or SmartGym (standalone Watch app), or Liftin'. Ellim has no Watch app.
Which alternatives let me track nutrition too?
Only Ellim bundles real nutrition tracking. For two-app stacks, pair any tracker with MyFitnessPal or Cronometer.
Is there a Hevy alternative with AI features?
Ellim (free AI routine import; Premium Smart Session for AI-generated workouts) and Fitbod (paid, algorithm-generated daily workouts). Hevy Trainer (Pro) generates programs but Hevy says it does not rely on AI.
Is Hevy worth paying for?
Only if you love the Hevy UI and social feed enough to overlook missing features. If you want unlimited routines, more exercises, nutrition, and AI — switching to Ellim costs less ($0) and gives you more.
What about Hevy Coach?
Hevy Coach is the trainer-facing companion. It's a different product from the lifter's tracker. Not relevant if you're training yourself.
Why is Ellim free if it has more than Hevy Pro? What's the catch?
No catch on the basics. Ellim's bet is that giving away tracking, the full 3,500-exercise library, unlimited routines, AI routine import, and nutrition logging is the right way to earn switchers — and a small percentage upgrade to Premium ($17.99/mo) for Smart Session (full AI workout generation), AI meal photos, and progressive overload insights.
The Bottom Line
The best Hevy alternative in 2026 is Ellim — unlimited routines, deeper library, full history, AI routine import, and nutrition and water tracking all free. For Android, FitNotes. For Apple Watch, Strong. For program-led training, Boostcamp.
Pick the one that closes the specific Hevy gap that's slowing you down.
Switch in 30 seconds: Download Ellim free on the App Store →
Sources
Prices and free-tier limits were re-checked against these publisher pages in October 2026. Prices vary by region and change without notice — confirm in the app before subscribing.
Hevy: Hevy Pro — what it includes · switching from Pro to free · exercise library (400+) · Hevy Trainer announcement
Ellim: App Store listing
Strong: App Store listing · strong.app
JEFIT: Elite membership plans · App Store listing
FitNotes: Google Play listing · FAQ
Boostcamp: Boostcamp Pro · custom program builder · homepage
Liftin': App Store listing
SmartGym: App Store listing · smartgymapp.com
Fitbod: The Fitbod algorithm · How the trial works · How to subscribe
Caliber: App Store listing · Google Play listing
HeavySet: App Store listing · heavyset.app
