A genuinely free Hevy alternative.

Why people look for a Hevy alternative

Hevy is one of the most recommended workout trackers on the internet, and for good reason. The community rallied around it quickly because it solved a real problem: a clean, fast logging experience with the previous set shown inline — exactly where you need it during a rest period.

The search for a Hevy alternative usually starts for one of three reasons. Some users hit the ceiling of the free tier and start comparing what they get for the price. Others want features that Hevy does not offer in any tier — GPS-tracked cardio sessions, auto-regulated load suggestions, or tools for coaches managing clients. And some just want something that is unconditionally free, with nothing locked behind a paywall, so they can commit to tracking without a recurring cost.

This article takes an honest look at both apps. If Hevy works for you and you are happy to pay for its premium features, that is a completely reasonable choice. But if you want a free alternative that covers the same logging fundamentals while adding progression intelligence and cardio, read on.

What makes Hevy great (honest)

Any fair comparison starts with giving credit where it is due. Hevy has genuine strengths that made it popular.

• Clean, fast UI. The logging screen is minimal and gets out of the way. Weight and reps are large, tappable, and easy to edit mid-set.
• Previous set shown inline. The last session's weight and reps appear directly under each set as you log — a UX pattern that became the industry standard after Hevy popularised it.
• Routine builder and library. A well-structured routine editor with a large built-in exercise library makes setup quick for beginners and experienced lifters alike.
• Social and community features. Hevy has a social feed where you can follow friends, share workouts, and compare routines — a genuine motivational tool for some users.
• Cross-platform. iOS and Android apps are both polished and well-maintained.
• Large user base and third-party content. Because so many people use Hevy, you can find publicly shared routines, tutorials, and community advice built around its specific interface.

Where the free tier ends

Hevy's free tier is notably generous compared with many apps in the space. Core logging — workouts, sets, reps, weight — works without paying. The situation gets more nuanced when you want deeper analysis.

Some of Hevy's more advanced analytics, charts, and data features are part of the paid tier. The exact boundaries of what is free versus paid can change as the product evolves, so it is worth checking Hevy's current pricing page for the latest details rather than relying on any third-party summary (including this one).

Beyond analytics, Hevy does not offer auto-regulated load suggestions in either tier — the app records what you did but does not tell you what to do next based on your RIR or performance trend. It also does not include GPS cardio tracking. For users who want those capabilities for free, a different tool is needed.

SammaGym: what it actually offers free

SammaGym is a free-forever workout tracker built for people who want more than a log. Here is what is included with no subscription and no ads at launch.

• Previous set shown inline. The same UX pattern Hevy made famous: the last session's weight and reps appear in grey directly under each active set while you log.
• Auto-regulated progression. After each session, SammaGym suggests whether to add reps, add weight, or hold steady — using the double-progression method combined with reps-in-reserve (RIR) feedback. You rate how close to failure each set felt, and the app adjusts accordingly.
• Fast logging. Minimal friction. Weight, reps, and RIR on one screen, rest timer running in the background.
• Rest timer from the lock screen. The timer stays visible even when your phone is locked — no need to unlock and find the app between sets.
• Cardio GPS. Log runs, walks, or bike rides with distance, pace, and a route map. All tracked natively, no third-party app needed.
• PRs, volume charts, progress photos. Personal records are flagged automatically. Volume trends by muscle group are charted over time. Progress photos are stored locally, offline-first.
• Offline-first. Everything works without an internet connection. Data lives on your device (Dexie.js IndexedDB) and syncs to the cloud when you connect.
• Coaching toolkit. Trainers can use SammaGym to manage client programs and track client progress — included free.

SammaGym is available at app.sammagym.com as a Progressive Web App. Install it from your browser and it behaves like a native app — home screen icon, offline mode, and lock-screen timer.

Side-by-side comparison

The table below compares the two apps on the features most commonly cited in searches for a free Hevy alternative. Hevy free-tier status reflects publicly available information as of late 2026 — verify on Hevy's site for the latest.

Auto-regulated progression explained

The feature that most differentiates SammaGym from a basic log is auto-regulated progression. Understanding how it works helps you decide whether it matters to you.

The foundation is double progression: you work within a rep range (for example, 8–12 reps). You add reps each session at the same weight until you complete all sets at the top of the range. Then the weight goes up by the smallest available increment, and you restart from the bottom of the range.

On top of this, SammaGym incorporates reps-in-reserve (RIR) — a measure of how many more reps you could have done before reaching failure. After each set you rate: 0 = failure, 1 = one rep left, 2 = two left, and so on. If your RIR is consistently high (you feel the weight is too easy), the progression suggestion is more aggressive. If you are frequently hitting RIR 0 without completing the target reps, the app tells you to hold weight and focus on technique.

This is the approach advocated by exercise scientists including Dr. Mike Israetel (MEV/MAV volume landmarks) and Jeff Nippard (evidence-based programming with RIR autoregulation). SammaGym implements these principles in a tool that runs automatically in the background — you just log honestly, and the app does the math.

For more on the underlying method, see our guide on tracking progressive overload.

Cardio GPS and beyond

Hevy is built around resistance training. If you also run, cycle, or walk regularly, you currently need a separate app for GPS cardio — Strava, Nike Run Club, Apple Fitness, or something similar.

SammaGym includes GPS cardio natively. Start a session, choose cardio mode, and the app tracks distance, pace, elapsed time, and your route on a map. When the session ends, the data sits alongside your strength sessions in a single log — no exporting, no switching apps.

For athletes combining lifting with running or cycling, this matters. You can see at a glance whether a heavy squat day was followed by a long run, and whether that pattern correlates with slower strength progress. Having all training in one place makes that analysis possible without spreadsheets.

See the full exercise library for how SammaGym categorises cardio alongside resistance movements, and the training programs section for hybrid strength-cardio program templates.

Coaching toolkit for trainers

Personal trainers and online coaches face a specific problem: the tools they use to track their own training often cannot scale to client management. Most free tracker apps are single-user by design.

SammaGym includes a coaching toolkit at no extra cost. Trainers can create programs for clients, monitor their logged sessions, and review progression data — all inside the same app they use for their own training.

This is unusual in the free tier of any tracker. Apps that offer coaching features typically put them behind a professional subscription costing meaningfully more per month than the consumer tier. SammaGym's decision to include this free reflects its positioning as a complete training tool rather than a logging utility.

Who should stay on Hevy

An honest comparison means being clear about when the alternative is not the better choice.

• You rely on the social feed. If following training friends, sharing PRs, and seeing community activity keeps you consistent, Hevy's social layer has no equivalent in SammaGym. Stay on Hevy.
• You are embedded in the Hevy ecosystem. Years of history, shared routines you follow, friends you compare with — switching costs are real. If Hevy's free tier covers your needs, there is no reason to leave.
• You need a very large built-in exercise library immediately. Hevy has a larger community-built exercise database. SammaGym's library is solid but smaller; you may need to add custom exercises more often early on.
• You prefer a native app with a long track record. SammaGym is a PWA (Progressive Web App). It installs and behaves like a native app, but if you specifically want an app distributed through the App Store or Google Play, verify SammaGym's current distribution status before switching.

How to switch (or try both)

The lowest-friction approach is to run both apps in parallel for two to four weeks before committing. Log the same sessions in both and compare the experience. Pay particular attention to how the progression suggestion in SammaGym compares with what you would have done intuitively — that is the clearest way to evaluate whether auto-regulation adds value for you.

• 1Open app.sammagym.com on your phone and install it (Add to Home Screen from your browser's share menu).
• 2Recreate your current program using SammaGym's routine builder. Use the exercise library to find the right movements.
• 3Log your next session and rate your RIR honestly after each set.
• 4After the session, check the progression suggestion for each exercise. Compare it with what you would have done on instinct.
• 5If you use a 1RM calculator, SammaGym has one built in — use it to set starting weights accurately.
• 6After two to four weeks, decide which experience you prefer. Your data in SammaGym is stored offline on your device and is not deleted if you pause.

If you are evaluating free options more broadly, our guide to the best free workout tracker covers a wider field with the same honest methodology.