What is Strong?
A workout log for the gym, and one of the most popular. It has more than 100,000 ratings on the US App Store, averaging 4.9, and runs on iPhone, Android and Apple Watch. You log sets and reps, follow your own routines, and see your records and one-rep max over time.
It's free to use for as long as you like. Your workout data stays available whether you pay or not.
Why do people look for a Strong alternative?
Usually one of three things:
- Three templates on the free plan. A template is a saved workout, and the free version lets you create up to 3. Unlimited templates, body measurements, all charts and the plate and warm-up calculators come with Strong PRO.
- The price of PRO. $4.99 a month, $29.99 a year or $99.99 once, on the US App Store.
- An account. Strong asks every user to sign up before using it, so your workouts sync through its cloud.
None of that makes Strong a bad app. Its yearly price is fair for what it does. But some people want a gym log with no account, a smaller one-time price, or suggestions for what to lift next.
What do these alternatives do differently?
All four are made by indie makers and run on iPhone. None of them shows ads. None has a free plan like Strong's either: three start with a free trial, and Maxed AI asks you to subscribe first. So the question is which way of paying suits you: Fiore sells a small lifetime purchase, Lift AI has the lowest yearly price here, and Maxed AI is the one that plans your next set for you.
In short
- Fiore: Gym Log Workout Tracker: best for a simple log you can pay for once
- Lift AI - Gym Workout Planner: best for the lowest yearly price
- Maxed AI - Smart Fitness App: best for being told what to lift next
- Muscle Man: Workout Tracker: best for a plain log of every workout
How do they compare with Strong?
| App | Free | To pay | Account | Stands out for |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Strong (for comparison, not listed here) | Free version with no time limit, up to 3 templates | $4.99/mo, $29.99/yr, or $99.99 once | Required | Apple Watch and Android apps |
| Fiore | Free trial | $6.99/mo, $29.99 to $39.99/yr, or $9.99 to $15.99 once | Not needed | A small one-time price, iCloud sync |
| Lift AI | Free trial | $1.99/mo or $14.99/yr | Optional | The lowest yearly price here, widgets |
| Maxed AI | None, you subscribe first | Pro from $7.99/wk or $19.99 to $34.99/yr; Body Scan Pro extra | Not stated | Suggested weight and reps for each set |
| Muscle Man | Free trial | $7.99/mo or $39.99/yr | Not stated | A plain log of workouts and progress |
Which apps are good Strong alternatives?
- Fiore: Gym Log Workout TrackerFor a calm, simple gym log you can pay for once.
Fiore is a minimal, good-looking workout log: create routines or pick existing ones, log your sets, and see your progress. There's no sign-in, your data syncs through iCloud, and next to its monthly and yearly plans it sells a lifetime purchase.
Good
- No sign-in needed
- A lifetime purchase, listed at $9.99 to $15.99
- Routines of your own or ready-made ones, with iCloud sync
Keep in mind
- Starts with a free trial, then a plan or the lifetime purchase
- Its App Store page doesn't mention an Apple Watch app
- Lift AI - Gym Workout PlannerFor lifters who follow a split and want to pay as little as possible each year.
Build or pick a split, swipe through training days and log weight and reps, with a rest timer and quick exercise swaps. Personal records update as you lift, and a 30-day view shows gaps in your training. It's $14.99 a year, and backs up to your own iCloud.
Good
- $14.99 a year, or $1.99 a month
- Automatic PRs, volume and muscle balance insights
- Apple Health sync and widgets
Keep in mind
- New, with only a couple of ratings so far
- Needs iOS 26
- Subscription only, no lifetime purchase
- Maxed AI - Smart Fitness AppFor lifters who'd rather be told what weight to put on the bar.
Maxed learns your strength across every exercise and predicts your next set, so you log with one tap or by voice. It can build a workout from a text prompt, work around an injury you mark, and follow multi-week programs from coaches.
Good
- Suggests weight and reps for every set from your history
- Voice logging: say "225 for 5"
- 500+ exercises, plus cardio, Pilates and sports
Keep in mind
- No free version: you subscribe before you can use it
- Body Scan is a separate purchase
- Muscle Man: Workout TrackerFor logging every workout and seeing your progress, from your first week to serious training.
Muscle Man is a straightforward tracker for lifters who want to train consistently and see real progress, whether they're beginners or serious about bodybuilding. You log each workout and watch your results build over time.
Good
- No ads
- Starts with a free trial
Keep in mind
- $39.99 a year, more than Strong PRO's $29.99
- Its App Store page gives few details
- No lifetime purchase
How do you choose between them?
- You want to pay once, and not much: Fiore.
- You want the lowest yearly price: Lift AI, at $14.99.
- You want each set planned for you: Maxed AI.
- You want a plain log and don't mind a yearly plan: Muscle Man.
- You need Android, Apple Watch or a free plan that never ends: stay with Strong.
When should you stay with Strong?
Stay with Strong if:
- you use Android, or want to log from your Apple Watch
- you want a free version with no time limit, and three saved workouts are enough
- you follow a barbell program like StrongLifts 5x5 or Starting Strength, which Strong is built around
- you'd pay $29.99 a year for a tracker with years of polish behind it
How did we pick these apps?
Every app here is listed on Launch Indie Apps, so a person reviewed it before it went live. We chose the ones that do Strong’s main job, and checked each one’s prices, account and storage on its App Store page and its maker’s site on October 28, 2026. The order is ours, not a ranking by votes or downloads, and makers can’t pay for a place on this page.
Common questions
Is Strong free?
Yes. The free version tracks workouts with no time limit and lets you save up to 3 templates. Strong PRO, $29.99 a year in the US, adds unlimited templates, body measurements, all charts and the plate and warm-up calculators.
Is there a cheaper alternative to Strong?
Lift AI is $14.99 a year, half of Strong PRO's $29.99. Fiore's lifetime purchase, $9.99 to $15.99, costs less than Strong's $99.99 PRO Forever. None of the four has a free plan like Strong's, so if free matters most, Strong's own free version is the answer.
Is there a workout tracker that doesn't need an account?
Fiore needs no sign-in, and Lift AI's account is optional. Strong asks every user to create an account before using it.
Is there a workout tracker you can pay for once?
Fiore sells a lifetime purchase, listed at $9.99 to $15.99 on the US App Store. Strong also sells PRO Forever, at $99.99.
Sources
- Strong Workout Tracker Gym Log, App Store (checked October 28, 2026)
- Strong: Workout Tracker & Gym Log, Strong (checked October 28, 2026)
- What is Strong PRO?, Strong Help (checked October 28, 2026)
- What is a Template and how do I use them?, Strong Help (checked October 28, 2026)
- Why do I need a Strong account?, Strong Help (checked October 28, 2026)
- Fiore: Gym Log Workout Tracker, App Store (checked October 28, 2026)
- Lift AI - Gym Workout Planner, App Store (checked October 28, 2026)
- Maxed AI - Smart Fitness App, App Store (checked October 28, 2026)
- Muscle Man: Workout Tracker, App Store (checked October 28, 2026)