How we make this list: we compare pricing pages, product documentation and public user reviews. Rankite is independent; if a vendor ever pays for a featured spot, that listing is clearly labeled Partner.
Key takeaways
- The best free starting point is Boostcamp: full tracker, 11,000+ programs and no ads, free; Pro is $14.99/month or $59.99/year.
- The cheapest paid plan in the category is Hevy Pro at $2.99/month ($23.99/year, $74.99 lifetime), with the most generous free tier of the simple loggers.
- Lifters who want the app to plan for them should look at Fitbod ($15.99/month or $95.99/year) or Alpha Progression ($12.99/month or $79.99/year); both generate sessions from your history.
- Simple loggers Strong ($4.99/month or $29.99/year) and JEFIT Elite ($12.99/month or $69.99/year) suit lifters who already know their program and just want clean tracking.
Quick comparison
| Tool | Best for | Starting price | Free plan |
|---|
 Strong | Lifters who want the fastest, simplest workout log | $4.99/month or $29.99/year (PRO; $99.99 lifetime) | Yes (unlimited logging, limited to 3 saved routines) |
 Hevy | Social lifters who want a generous free tier | $2.99/month or $23.99/year (Pro; $74.99 lifetime) | Yes (unlimited workouts, 4 routines, 3-month graph history) |
 JEFIT | Data-driven lifters who want a huge exercise library | $12.99/month or $69.99/year (Elite) | Yes (full logger with ads) |
 Fitbod | Lifters who want AI-generated sessions | $15.99/month or $95.99/year | No (trial only, then paid) |
 Alpha Progression | Hypertrophy lifters who want automated progression | $12.99/month or $79.99/year (Pro) | Yes (unlimited logging with limits on Pro features) |
 Boostcamp | Lifters following proven programs for free | $14.99/month or $59.99/year (Pro) | Yes (full tracker, programs library and builder, no ads) |
 Fitify | Home and bodyweight trainers | See website (Pro subscription price not published on the vendor's site) | Yes (free download with Pro upgrade for plans and extras) |
 Nike Training Club | Guided workouts and programs at no cost | Free | Yes (the whole app is free) |
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The best weightlifting tracker app
Picture two lifters. One opens an app, taps through a workout in ninety seconds between sets, and never thinks about the app again. The other opens an app that tells them what to lift today, adjusts for last session, and plans the deload. Both are "tracking workouts," but they need opposite products. The first wants a fast logger (Strong, Hevy). The second wants a coach in software (Fitbod, Alpha Progression, Boostcamp). These eight apps cover both ends, with real prices from the App Store listings and the vendors' own sites.
#1
Strong
Best for: Lifters who want the fastest, simplest workout log
Visit strong.app
Starting price$4.99/month or $29.99/year (PRO; $99.99 lifetime)
Free planYes (unlimited logging, limited to 3 saved routines)
Strong is the notebook, reinvented, and it stays out of your way better than anything else. Its own site and App Store listing price PRO at $4.99/month or $29.99/year (with a $99.99 lifetime option). Logging a set is two taps. Rest timers, plate math and warm-up sets are built in, and the Apple Watch app means leaving the phone in the locker. For a lifter running 5/3/1 or any fixed program, it is the least friction between you and the bar.
The honest catch is the 3-routine cap on the free tier. A four-day upper/lower split does not fit, so most serious lifters end up paying. Strong also never tells you what to lift: no progression suggestions, no program builder, no deload logic. If you know your programming, that is a feature. If you want guidance, look at Fitbod or Alpha Progression.
What we like- The quickest tap-through logging of any app here, built for use mid-set
- Plate calculator, warm-up calculator and rest timers included
- Apple Watch app and CSV export
Watch out for- Free tier caps saved routines at 3, which breaks multi-day splits
- No program generation or coaching, it only records what you do
Starting price$2.99/month or $23.99/year (Pro; $74.99 lifetime)
Free planYes (unlimited workouts, 4 routines, 3-month graph history)
Hevy is what Strong would be with a social layer and a cheaper subscription. The App Store listing (its official point of sale) prices Pro at $2.99/month, $23.99/year or $74.99 lifetime. The free tier is genuinely usable: unlimited workout logging, four routines, three months of graphs, no ads. Following friends, copying their routines and celebrating PRs in the feed turns out to motivate people who train better with an audience.
The catch is depth. The exercise library is smaller than JEFIT's 1,400+, and the analytics, while pretty, do not match JEFIT or Alpha Progression for data nerds. Pro adds unlimited routines, full graph history and the Hevy Trainer program generator. For most lifters, the free tier lasts a year before the caps matter.
What we like- Cheapest Pro plan in the category with a lifetime option
- Real social feed for following friends and copying routines
- Clean modern interface on iOS, Android, web and watch
Watch out for- Exercise library is smaller than JEFIT's
- Free tier caps routine count and graph history
#3
JEFIT
Best for: Data-driven lifters who want a huge exercise library
Visit jefit.com
Starting price$12.99/month or $69.99/year (Elite)
Free planYes (full logger with ads)
JEFIT is the power user's logger, around since 2010. The App Store listing prices Elite at $12.99/month or $69.99/year. Nobody matches the free exercise database: 1,400+ movements with HD demonstrations, plus community routines to download. The analytics go deeper than the prettier apps, with body-part volume tracking, one-rep-max projections and muscle recovery views that data-curious lifters actually use.
The catch is polish. The interface feels like 2015 in places, and the free tier carries ads that Elite removes. There is no lifetime option, and the AI coaching features are newer and thinner than Fitbod's or Alpha Progression's. If function per dollar matters more than aesthetics, it is a contender. If design matters, you will feel the age.
What we like- 1,400+ exercises with video demos, the deepest free library here
- Detailed analytics (volume, 1RM projections, muscle recovery)
- Long-established community with shared routines
Watch out for- Interface feels dated next to Hevy and Strong
- Ads on the free tier
- No lifetime purchase option
Starting price$15.99/month or $95.99/year
Free planNo (trial only, then paid)
Fitbod removes programming from your plate entirely. The App Store listing prices it at $15.99/month or $95.99/year (about $8/month on the annual plan). You tell it your equipment, available time and target muscles; it generates the session, adjusts for muscle recovery so you are not hammering chest three days running, and learns from your logged sets. For hotel gyms, home setups and lifters who hate planning, the equipment profiles alone justify it.
The catch is the price of admission: there is no free tier, just a trial, after which logging new workouts requires payment. The algorithm also needs 10 to 15 logged sessions before its suggestions get good; early recommendations can be odd. If you already follow a fixed program, you are paying for planning you do not need. If planning is the chore you skip, this is the app.
What we like- Algorithm builds each session from your equipment, history and recovery
- 1,600+ exercise library with video demos
- Strong Apple Watch and wearable integration
Watch out for- No permanent free tier, the trial is the only free taste
- Early weight suggestions need calibration over the first dozen sessions
Starting price$12.99/month or $79.99/year (Pro)
Free planYes (unlimited logging with limits on Pro features)
Alpha Progression is the thinking lifter's coach. Its own site prices Pro at $12.99/month or $79.99/year, with a 14-day free trial on the annual plan. The standout is progression: after you log a set with an RIR rating, it recommends the next set's weight and reps from your history, and it can adjust downward after a bad session. The plan generator builds full splits with periodization and auto-scheduled deloads, all editable.
The catch is the ecosystem. There is no Apple Watch app, and the community and program library are smaller than Boostcamp's. The free tier covers logging but gates the plan generator and analytics that make the app special. For hypertrophy-focused lifters who want evidence-based progression without a coach, it is the most sophisticated option here.
What we like- Set-by-set progression recommendations based on your performance
- Plan generator with periodization and deloads
- Vendor publishes clear pricing with a 14-day trial on the annual plan
Watch out for- No Apple Watch app
- Smaller community and template library than Boostcamp
Starting price$14.99/month or $59.99/year (Pro)
Free planYes (full tracker, programs library and builder, no ads)
Boostcamp is the best free deal in lifting apps, full stop. Its own comparison pages price Pro at $14.99/month or $59.99/year with a 7-day trial, but the free tier is the story: full workout tracker with RPE/RIR logging, 11,000+ programs including coach-designed 5/3/1 and nSuns variants, a custom program builder, and zero ads. Programs with auto-progression between cycles handle the coaching logic most lifters need.
The catch is that Pro is a nice-to-have, not a need: strength scores and volume heatmaps are great for data lovers but unnecessary for progress. If you want a named methodology to follow for twelve weeks without paying, nothing else is close. Start free; upgrade only if the analytics hook you.
What we like- The most generous free tier in the category: 11,000+ programs, full tracker, custom builder, no ads
- Coach-designed programs (5/3/1, nSuns, GZCL) free
- Web program creator
Watch out for- Pro's extras (strength score, volume heatmap) matter less to casual lifters
- Coaching content is program-based, not 1-on-1
Starting priceSee website (Pro subscription price not published on the vendor's site)
Free planYes (free download with Pro upgrade for plans and extras)
Fitify is the generalist: strength, HIIT, cardio, yoga and stretching in one app. Its Play Store listing confirms the download and basic use are free, with a Pro subscription adding training plans and extra features. The workout builder blends its 900+ exercise library into fresh routines, which suits home trainers who get bored doing the same circuit. A Wear OS app covers phone-free workouts.
The catch is specificity. This is not a barbell progression tool; there is no 1RM tracking culture or powerlifting program library here. The Pro subscription price is not published on gofitify.com, so check the app store listing before subscribing. For home and bodyweight training variety, it is solid. For serious barbell programming, pick Boostcamp or Strong.
What we like- 900+ exercise library with bodyweight and equipment options
- Workout builder mixes fresh routines so training stays varied
- Wear OS app for phone-free sessions
Watch out for- Built for general fitness more than barbell progression
- Subscription price is not published on the vendor's website
#8
Nike Training Club
Best for: Guided workouts and programs at no cost
Visit nike.com
Starting priceFree
Free planYes (the whole app is free)
Nike Training Club is the free guided-workout app, and "free" here means actually free: Nike's site offers the full app at no cost with no premium tier. The value is guided programming: video-led workouts and multi-week plans across strength, HIIT, yoga and mobility, with an Apple Watch app. For beginners who need someone to tell them what to do, it removes every excuse.
The catch is that it is not a lifting log. There is no set-by-set barbell tracking, no progression analytics, no program builder. It is a class schedule, not a notebook. Pair it with Strong or Hevy if you want both guidance and logging, or graduate to Boostcamp when you want real programming.
What we like- Completely free with no subscription tier at all
- Guided video workouts and multi-week programs
- Apple Watch support
Watch out for- Not a barbell logging tool: no set-by-set tracking culture
- Programming is Nike's, not yours
How we chose
We started with the searches lifters run: weightlifting tracker app, best gym log app, and workout tracker for powerlifting. For each candidate we opened the vendor's own site and the official App Store listing, since these apps sell through the app stores. Prices above come from the App Store in-app purchase lists or the vendor's own pricing pages; where the vendor publishes no price on its site, we wrote "See website." We weighted the free tier honestly, because most lifters start free, and favored apps with a real barbell workflow over generic fitness trackers.
What to look for before you download
Decide first whether you want a logger or a coach. Loggers (Strong, Hevy, JEFIT) record what you lift and get out of the way; they assume you bring the program. Coaches (Fitbod, Alpha Progression, Boostcamp) generate the program and progress it for you. Downloading a coach when you already follow 5/3/1 wastes money; downloading a logger when you have no program wastes months.
Then check the free tier against your split. Strong's 3-routine cap breaks a 4-day program. Hevy's 4 routines and 3-month history last most beginners a year. Boostcamp's free tier has no meaningful cap at all. Fitbod has no free tier, so do not start there unless you are ready to pay.
Finally, check platform fit. Apple Watch logging matters if you train phone-free (Strong, Hevy, JEFIT, Fitbod and Nike Training Club have it; Alpha Progression does not). Android lifters should confirm the app they want is fully featured on Android, since some iOS-first apps lag on feature parity. Web access (Hevy, JEFIT, Boostcamp) matters if you program on a laptop.
The free tier trap: when free stops being enough
Every app here is free to start except Fitbod, but "free" expires at different points. Strong's free tier ends when your program needs a fourth routine. Hevy's ends when you want more than three months of graph history. JEFIT's free tier never really ends, but the ads and locked analytics nudge you toward Elite. Boostcamp's free tier arguably never ends at all.
The practical move: run the free tier for a full training block (4 to 6 weeks) before paying. You will learn whether the caps actually bind you. Most lifters discover that one app's free tier covers them indefinitely (usually Boostcamp or Hevy), while a minority hits a specific wall, like Strong's routine cap or Fitbod's paywall, that justifies the subscription. Pay for the wall you hit, not the features you imagine.
Frequently asked questions
What is the best free weightlifting tracker app?
Boostcamp. The free tier includes the full tracker, 11,000+ programs, a custom program builder and no ads, which no competitor matches. Hevy is the runner-up for lifters who want a simpler log with a social feed.
Should I pay for a workout tracker app?
Only when the free tier blocks you. Strong's 3-routine cap, Hevy's history limit and JEFIT's ads are the usual triggers. A full training block on the free tier tells you whether the paid features matter for your lifting.
Is Strong or Hevy better?
Strong is the faster, more polished pure logger; Hevy has the better free tier, the cheaper Pro plan ($2.99/month vs $4.99/month) and social features. Lifters who know their program and want speed pick Strong. Lifters who want community and value pick Hevy.
Do I need an app that creates my workouts?
If you follow a proven program already (5/3/1, GZCL, PPL), no: a logger like Strong or Boostcamp's free tracker is enough. If programming is the part you skip, Fitbod or Alpha Progression will plan and progress sessions for you.
Can these apps replace a personal trainer?
For programming and tracking, largely yes for intermediate lifters. For technique feedback, no: no app watches your squat depth. Beginners benefit most from a few coached sessions for form, then an app for everything else.
Which app works best on Apple Watch?
Strong, Hevy, JEFIT, Fitbod and Nike Training Club all have Apple Watch apps for logging sets phone-free. Alpha Progression does not, which matters if you train without your phone nearby.
Sources we checked (12)
- https://www.strong.app/
- https://apps.apple.com/us/app/strong-workout-tracker-gym-log/id464254577
- https://www.hevyapp.com/
- https://apps.apple.com/us/app/hevy-workout-tracker-gym-log/id1458862350
- https://www.jefit.com/
- https://apps.apple.com/nl/app/jefit-workout-plan-gym-tracker/id449810000
- https://fitbod.me/
- https://apps.apple.com/au/app/fitbod-workout-gym-planner/id1041517543
- https://alphaprogression.com/en/blog/alpha-progression-pro-worth-it
- https://www.boostcamp.app/
- https://gofitify.com/
- https://www.nike.com/ntc-app
Is your product missing or out of date?
We review this list regularly. Vendors can request a listing, send updated pricing or ask about featured placement.
Shihab Mia · Founder, Rankite
Shihab has spent more than a decade helping SaaS and e-commerce brands grow through search. He writes Rankite's software buying guides from pricing pages, documentation and public user reviews. More about Shihab.