Strong vs Hevy vs Flux in one table
Most people searching Strong vs Hevy already have a programme. They want a fast log. Flux is for the person who also wants the next session built from that log. In 2026 those are still different jobs. A better tracker is not automatically a better training app.
| Job | Strong | Hevy | Flux |
|---|---|---|---|
| Log sets you already planned | Core product. Free log, 3 custom routines | Core product. Free log, Pro unlocks extra routines, history and custom exercises | You can log; after 14 days you need Full Access |
| Be told the next session from your log | You write or copy the routine | You write, copy a friend’s routine, or use the community | Core product: generate from goals, equipment and completed work |
| Apple Watch logging app | Yes, including without the iPhone | Yes, with live phone sync | No. Flux is iPhone and iPad |
| Android | Yes | Yes | Not yet |
| Avoid a rolling membership | Pro is a subscription; US listing also shows Strong PRO Forever | Pro is monthly or yearly; US listing also shows Hevy Pro Lifetime | No subscription. 14-day trial with no payment, then one Lifetime Unlock |
Prices on those listings change by country. Apple shows the Flux Lifetime Unlock price for your storefront before you confirm. Do not trust a blog screenshot for Strong or Hevy either — open the live App Store page.
Hevy vs Strong: pick a log, not a coach
Hevy vs Strong is a logger debate. Both let you save workouts for free. Strong’s US listing says the free app can save unlimited workouts but is limited to three custom routines; Pro is sold as a monthly or yearly subscription, and the same listing includes Strong PRO Forever. Hevy’s US listing sells Hevy Pro monthly, yearly and lifetime, and uses Pro for unlimited routines, graph history, custom exercises and extra measurements.
Choose Strong if you want the simplest, least social log and a mature Watch app. Choose Hevy if you want community, copying friends’ routines, iPad and Watch, and a more social planner-logger. Neither one writes an adaptive week from your recovery and equipment the way a dedicated planner does. If that is the job, see the Fitbod alternative for the membership-shaped planner, or stay on this page for the pay-once option.
What Flux does that a log cannot
Flux builds the session around your goal, time and kit, then uses completed sets to decide whether to add reps, add load or hold. That loop is the progressive-overload guide turned into the next workout. You can still edit and swap. You are not in a chat that regenerates a random session.
If the missing piece is which split to run, use the Split Finder, the full body vs PPL comparison or the 4-day split guide before you pick an app.
A worked week
| Need | In Strong or Hevy | In Flux |
|---|---|---|
| Monday’s lifts | Copy last week or a saved routine | The session is waiting from your profile and last log |
| A missed Wednesday | The log does not care. You decide | Keep the next session in sequence; do not double up |
| Friday’s squat load | You remember, or you scroll history | The earned increase or hold is already on the set |
Frequently asked questions
Is Hevy better than Strong?
Not in a way that matters if you already have a programme. Hevy wins if you want social copying, iPad and a busy Watch/live-activity layer. Strong wins if you want a quieter, simpler log. Try both free tiers for a week of real sessions rather than picking from a feature list.
Does Strong have a lifetime option?
Yes. The US App Store listing for Strong includes Strong PRO Forever alongside monthly and yearly Pro subscriptions. Hevy’s US listing includes Hevy Pro Lifetime alongside monthly and yearly Pro. Exact amounts change. Flux’s paid offer is only the Lifetime Unlock after the trial — there is no Flux Pro subscription.
Is Flux better than Strong or Hevy?
Not at logging for its own sake. It is the better fit when you want the log to change the plan. If you love Strong’s or Hevy’s logging and already have a programme, stay. Switching costs you a familiar history. Flux is also iPhone and iPad only; it is the wrong buy if you need Android or Watch-first logging.
Can I use Flux only as a tracker?
You can log in it. After the 14-day trial you still need Full Access to keep training in the app. That is an expensive notebook. Use Strong or Hevy if a notebook is all you want. The no-subscription comparison explains the Flux bill.
How do I try Flux beside the logger I already use?
Keep Strong or Hevy until you are sure. Download Flux Free for 14 days with no payment. If you still open the logger to decide the next session, Flux is not doing the job. If you open Flux first, you can stop paying for a second brain.