PRGRS vs Strong vs Hevy: An Honest Comparison

Strong, Hevy, and PRGRS are three of the most talked-about workout trackers in lifting communities. Each takes a different approach to the same problem: logging your workouts efficiently. Here's an honest comparison from the perspective of someone who built one of them (full disclosure: I'm the developer of PRGRS).

Pricing

This is the biggest difference and worth addressing first.

• Strong: Free tier limited to 3 custom routines. Strong Pro costs €4.99/month or €29.99/year for unlimited routines, progress graphs, and export.
• Hevy: Free tier with ads and limited features. Hevy Pro costs €9.49/month or €49.99/year for ad-free experience, advanced analytics, and more.
• PRGRS: €4.99 one-time purchase. All features included. No free tier, no subscription, no ads.

Over three years, Strong Pro costs about €90, Hevy Pro about €150, and PRGRS costs €4.99 total. That's the simple maths.

Core features

All three apps handle the basics well: logging sets, reps, and weight; showing exercise history; and providing a rest timer. Here's where they differ:

Logging experience

Strong has a clean, minimal interface that's fast to use. It's the benchmark for simple workout logging. The free tier's 3-routine limit is the main pain point.

Hevy offers a social-focused experience with a feed, workout sharing, and friend features. The logging itself is solid but the app is heavier due to social features and ads (on free tier).

PRGRS focuses on speed and previous-set reference. Your last session's numbers appear inline while logging. Quick-start lets you repeat a recent workout structure in one tap.

Progress tracking

Strong has good charts behind the Pro paywall. Volume, estimated 1RM, and body weight tracking over time.

Hevy provides workout analytics, muscle group distribution, and personal records. The analytics are comprehensive but require Pro for full access.

PRGRS includes progress charts (Swift Charts), XP and achievements, and strength leagues that benchmark your lifts against standardised levels. All included in the one-time purchase.

Unique features

Strong: Apple Watch app, integration with Apple Health, clean design.

Hevy: Social feed, workout sharing, community features, large exercise library with videos.

PRGRS: Live Activities (lock screen workout), XP gamification, strength leagues, fully offline, no account needed.

Privacy and data

This is where the three apps diverge significantly:

• Strong: Requires an account. Data synced to their servers. Standard privacy practices.
• Hevy: Requires an account. Data synced to their servers. Social features mean your workouts can be visible to others (configurable).
• PRGRS: No account required. Zero data leaves your device. No analytics SDKs, no crash reporters, no server dependency.

If privacy matters to you, PRGRS is the clear choice. If social features matter more, Hevy wins. Strong sits in the middle.

Platform support

• Strong: iOS, Android, Apple Watch
• Hevy: iOS, Android, web app
• PRGRS: iOS and iPadOS only

If you're on Android, PRGRS isn't an option today. Strong and Hevy both have solid Android apps.

Who each app is best for

• Choose Strong if you want a minimal, no-nonsense logger and don't mind the subscription for full features. Great Apple Watch app.
• Choose Hevy if you want social features — sharing workouts, following friends, and a community aspect. Good if you train with a partner.
• Choose PRGRS if you want a fast, private, offline tracker with no recurring costs. Best for lifters who want to log and get out, without accounts or subscriptions.

The honest take

All three are good apps. Strong pioneered the clean workout logger category. Hevy built the strongest social features. PRGRS offers the best value proposition and strongest privacy stance.

The real question is what you value: social features (Hevy), cross-platform with Apple Watch (Strong), or privacy + one-time pricing (PRGRS). There's no wrong answer — but there is a cheaper one.