If you want a free alternative to Hevy or Strong, the main reasons to switch are routine limits, RIR logging and food tracking. Hevy’s free plan allows 4 routines and Strong’s allows 3, while FitArchive has no routine cap and also logs calories and macros for free. Hevy and Strong are mature apps with Apple Watch support, which FitArchive does not have, so stay with them if you log from your wrist or value a large community.
We make FitArchive, so read this with that in mind. Competitor prices and limits come from each vendor’s own pages, checked on 31 October 2026. They change and vary by country, so check before you pay.
Hevy, Strong and FitArchive compared
| Hevy | Strong | FitArchive | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Free routines | 4 | 3 | No cap |
| Free custom exercises | 7 | Not stated | No cap |
| Paid plan (US) | $2.99/month, $23.99/year, $74.99 lifetime | $4.99/month, $29.99/year, $99.99 forever | Logging is free. Plus and Pro add AI features |
| Effort logging | RPE | RPE | RIR on every set, RPE accepted |
| Calories and macros | No | No | Yes, free |
| Apple Watch app | Yes | Yes | No |
| Web app | Yes | Not stated | Yes |
| Ads | None | None | None |
Sources: Hevy on the App Store, Hevy’s account guide, Strong on the App Store and Strong PRO.
What the free plans limit
Hevy keeps logging free. Pro adds unlimited routines and custom exercises, your complete training history in its stats, and Hevy Trainer. If you downgrade, Hevy says your existing routines stay, but you cannot make new ones past the limit.
Strong lets you save unlimited workouts but only 3 custom routines. PRO also adds all charts, body measurements, and the plate and warm-up calculators.
Neither price is high. If you run one routine and like the app, paying $24 to $30 a year is a fair deal, and switching may not be worth the effort.
When switching makes sense
You rotate more routines than the free plan allows. An A/B split fits easily, but a push/pull/legs and Arnold rotation or a separate block for travel can pass 3 or 4 routines quickly.
You program by reps in reserve. Hevy and Strong log RPE. You can convert it, since RIR is roughly 10 minus RPE, but you do that in your head on every set. FitArchive records RIR per set and still accepts RPE if you prefer it. The RPE vs RIR guide explains the difference.
You want training and food in one log. Neither Hevy nor Strong tracks food, so most lifters pair them with a second app. FitArchive keeps meals and workouts together, so you can read a stalled lift next to what you ate that week.
You would rather not create an account. FitArchive’s free log works without one and stays on your device. You only sign in to sync across devices.
When to stay on Hevy or Strong
Being honest about this saves you a pointless move:
- You log from an Apple Watch. Both have watch apps. FitArchive does not.
- You train for the social side. Hevy has a large community, with friends and a feed. FitArchive is a private log.
- You want a program picked for you at no extra effort. Hevy Trainer builds and adjusts programs in Pro. FitArchive’s AI plan builder is also paid, so this is not a free-plan advantage for us.
- You need a huge exercise library or years of track record. FitArchive has 360 exercises and is a much younger app.
What you keep if you switch
You do not have to start again. Both apps export a CSV, and FitArchive reads either one, as explained in how to move your history from Strong or Hevy. The import shows a preview first, and RPE values become RIR.
The import is in the web app at the moment, so use a browser for that step. Your history then appears on your phone once you sign in to the same account on both.
A sensible way to try it: import your history, run FitArchive for two weeks alongside your current app, and keep whichever you actually open at the gym.
Common questions
Is Hevy free? Yes, with no ads. The free plan limits routines to 4 and custom exercises to 7, and its stats show a shorter history.
Is Strong free? Yes. You can log unlimited workouts, with up to 3 custom routines.
Is FitArchive free forever? Logging workouts and food, your full history, backups and sync are free, and we have committed to keeping them free. Plus and Pro are optional and add AI meal logging, adaptive targets, reports and the plan builder.
Does FitArchive work on Android? Yes. It is on iPhone, Android and the web, and one account keeps them in sync.
Hevy and Strong are trademarks of their respective owners. FitArchive is not affiliated with or endorsed by either.
