Editorial disclosure: Gainz publishes this comparison and makes the Gainz app. Product details were last reviewed July 14, 2026 against the Hevy and Gainz App Store listings, plus Gainz's current plan configuration. Features, plan limits, and availability can change.
What Makes Hevy Popular
Hevy's current App Store listing reports more than 10 million users. Its product combines workout logging and routine planning with a visible community layer.
What Hevy does well:
- Social features — Follow friends, share workouts, compare progress.
- Routine planner — Build and schedule workout templates.
- Progress views — Graphs for volume, weight, reps, and muscle groups.
- Apple Watch — Routines, live workout sync, set logging, and timers.
These features make Hevy appealing for lifters who want a community experience and enjoy the social aspect of training. But not everyone wants that.
Why Some Lifters Want an Alternative
Hevy's feature mix will suit some training styles better than others.
Social Features Can Be Distracting
When you open Hevy, you might see friend activity, workout comparisons, and community content. For some, this is motivation. For others, it's noise that pulls focus away from the actual training.
Gainz keeps the primary set-logging flow focused on the active workout. Optional sharing availability is plan-dependent.
Progress Is Presented Differently
Hevy's current listing includes full-screen progression graphs for volume, best weight, total reps, and muscle groups.
Gainz combines recent performance with weekly progress, catch-up planning, PR history, and muscle-volume and recovery status. Try both views with your own program to see which makes the next session clearer.
Planning and Training Context
Hevy emphasizes flexible routine creation and a calendar for scheduling. Gainz offers structured strength and hypertrophy programs alongside weekly progress and catch-up planning.
Neither approach is universally better: flexible planning suits lifters who build their own routines, while structured programs can reduce setup work.
Hevy vs Gainz: Feature Comparison
| Feature | Hevy | Gainz |
|---|---|---|
| Social features | Extensive (followers, sharing) | Core logging is focused; optional sharing is plan-dependent |
| Logging speed | Simple set-entry flow | Large controls and bulk logging for repeated sets |
| Progressive overload focus | Progression and muscle-group graphs | Weekly progress, PR history, and muscle-volume status |
| Routine planner | Custom routines and calendar | Structured programs and catch-up planning |
| Apple Watch | Available | Available on Premium |
| Current pricing | See App Store listing | See App Store listing |
| Free tier | Free to start; some features require Pro | Free to start; some features require a paid plan |
| Target audience | Training plus community | Strength and hypertrophy training |
Training Focus vs. Community Experience
This is the core decision point:
Choose Hevy if you value the social aspects of training—following friends, sharing PRs, community engagement, and extensive routine planning features.
Choose Gainz if you want a training-first workflow with bulk set logging, structured programs, weekly progress, and optional Apple Watch support on Premium.
Neither approach is "better" universally. It depends entirely on what motivates you and how you prefer to train.
The Verdict
Choose Hevy if: You want community features, flexible routine planning, progression graphs, and Apple Watch support.
Choose Gainz if: You want a focused iPhone workflow for structured strength or hypertrophy training and weekly training context.
How to Switch from Hevy
- Check export availability in Hevy — Plan limits can change
- Download Gainz — Free on the iOS App Store
- Import your workout history — Use Gainz's Hevy CSV importer if you have an export
- Start tracking — Confirm the workflow fits your program
Keep the original export as a backup until you have checked exercises, sets, dates, and units after import.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the best alternative to Hevy?
Gainz is an alternative for lifters who want bulk set logging, structured strength or hypertrophy programs, and weekly training context. Hevy may fit better if community and flexible routine planning are priorities.
Is Hevy better than Strong?
Hevy emphasizes community and flexible routine planning. Strong presents a more traditional general-purpose logbook. "Better" depends on the workflow you will use.
Does Hevy cost money?
Hevy offers free and paid options. Gainz is free to start on iPhone; check each current App Store listing for live pricing and feature details.
The Bottom Line
Hevy combines social features, routine planning, progression graphs, and Apple Watch support in one product.
Gainz uses a different product emphasis: fast set entry, structured strength and hypertrophy programs, and weekly training context. That may fit lifters who do not need community to be central to the workout flow.
Both are free to download. Try a normal session and keep the workflow that works better for your training.
Make your next workout count.
Log sets fast, track progressive overload, and know what to beat next.
iOS 17+ · Offline workout logging