Hevy vs Lyfta vs Strong vs LiftShift — which one should you use?
Hevy, Lyfta, and Strong are all excellent at logging workouts — but they all share the same gaps in analytics. Here's a practical comparison of the three most popular loggers, plus how LiftShift — a free and open source analytics add-on — fills every gap they leave behind.
Your gym stack = the logger you enjoy + LiftShift.
Hevy, Lyfta, and Strong are all excellent at logging your workouts — sets, reps, weight, rest timers. They differ in exercise libraries, social features, and API access. Pick the one that fits your style. Then add LiftShift for the analytics layer none of them provide: muscle heatmaps, plateau detection, set-by-set feedback, AI export, and more. All three connect in under a minute.
Quick comparison
| Feature | Hevy | Lyfta | Strong | LiftShift |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Workout logging | Polished & fast. Best UX in the category, but development has slowed. | Modern & clean. Newer player with active development, but occasional stability bugs. | Minimal & focused. The OG tracker, but hasn't received meaningful updates in years — feels abandoned. | Free, open source add-on to your logger. Not a replacement. |
| Exercise library | 400+ with GIF demos | 5,000+ with HD video demos | 200+ (custom exercises unlimited) | Combines exercises, muscle maps & videos from all three. |
| Social features | Feed, followers, comments | Community challenges | None | — |
| Muscle heatmaps | No | No | No | Interactive body map. Click any muscle, see contributing exercises with primary vs secondary weighting. Rolling 7-day windows, MEV/MRV volume zone scoring, hypertrophy score (0-100). |
| Plateau detection | No | No | No | Detects static vs general plateaus. Gives specific, actionable suggestions: add a rep, bump the weight, try double progression, or deload. Confidence levels per exercise. |
| Set-by-set feedback | No | No | No | Analyzes every set across 19 scenarios. Tells you if you jumped weight too fast, left reps in the tank, or hit normal fatigue. Weight-up / weight-down suggestions per exercise. |
| AI-ready export | No | No | No | 8 built-in analysis modules: junk volume audit, structural balance, joint health, fatigue correlation, redundancy check, intensity drift, unilateral balance, general audit. Custom prompts supported. |
| Multi-app merge | No | No | No | Switched from Strong to Hevy? Use both? LiftShift merges all history into one dashboard. Exercise names normalized, duplicates skipped, source labeled. |
| Runs locally, no account | No | No | No | All processing in your browser. No data stored on our servers. Nothing to sign up for. AGPL-3.0 licensed. |
| API access | Yes (OAuth2 + Pro API key) | Yes (API key) | No | Connects to all three: Hevy via OAuth2 or Pro API key, Lyfta via API key, Strong via CSV. |
| Pricing | $23.99/yr | Free + Lyfta Pro | $29.99/yr | Free & open source (AGPL-3.0) |
| What users love | "Prettiest UX and the best free tier in the category." — r/Hevy | "Crazy how much is available for free — 5,000+ exercises, unlimited routines." — App Store | "I've used nearly every logging app since the App Store launched. This is the best bar none." — App Store | "Better analytics than Hevy premium. I bought Pro for the charts but even that doesn't do as good a job." — r/LiftShift |
| What users complain about | Free tier caps history at 3 months, 4 routines, 7 custom exercises. No injury-aware program adjustments. Development pace has slowed. | Accidental workout reset bugs — pressing the wrong button can wipe a session. Apple Watch must be started from phone. Social homepage can't be hidden. | Hasn't received meaningful updates in years. Free tier limits to 3 routines — blocks PPL and most 4-day splits. Interface feels dated. No API. | Comprehensive dashboard can be overwhelming for users who just want minimal tracking. UI density is intentional (packed with data) but takes a few sessions to get used to. |
When to choose Hevy
- You want the most polished workout logging experience with social features, exercise GIFs, and a large community.
- You care about API access — Hevy’s API lets LiftShift sync your data automatically without CSV files.
- You want the best support for programs, routines, and workout templates.
- You’re on iOS and want Apple Watch support for logging.
When to choose Lyfta
- You want the largest exercise library — 5,000+ exercises with HD video demos and a clean, modern interface.
- You use RIR (reps in reserve) instead of RPE for intensity tracking.
- You like plan-based workout structures and want the newest, most actively developed option.
- You want automatic API sync — Lyfta’s API key lets LiftShift pull your data directly. CSV import is also available.
When to choose Strong
- You value pure speed and simplicity above everything else. Strong gets out of your way.
- You don’t need social features, API access, or modern bells and whistles. Just logging.
- You want offline-first reliability. Strong works without internet and syncs cleanly later.
- You’re comfortable importing via CSV into LiftShift for analytics — Strong has no API.
Pick any logger. LiftShift fills the rest.
LiftShift is not a replacement for Hevy, Lyfta, or Strong. It’s a free, open source analytics add-on that plugs into whichever logger you already use.
- Hevy — Connect via OAuth2 (credentials) or Pro API key. Automatic sync.
- Lyfta — Connect via API key. Automatic sync, pull your full workout history.
- Strong — Upload a CSV export. LiftShift’s parser handles all export variants automatically.
Switched apps over the years? LiftShift merges data from multiple sources into one dashboard. Exercise names are normalized across platforms, duplicates are detected and skipped, and every set is labeled so you know where it came from. Your entire training history, unified.
All processing runs in your browser. No account needed. Nothing stored on our servers. Free and open source under AGPL-3.0.
See the How it works guide for a full walkthrough of every feature.
Bottom line
Hevy, Lyfta, and Strong are all great workout loggers. The differences come down to exercise libraries, social features, API access, user experience, and how actively each is maintained. Pick the one that matches your training style.
Then add LiftShift. It works with all three, fills the analytics gaps all three share, and gives you muscle heatmaps, plateau detection, set-by-set feedback, AI-ready exports, and more — no matter which logger you chose. Your logger handles the logging. LiftShift handles the thinking.
Ready to see what your training data actually says? Open the dashboard and connect Hevy or Lyfta via API, or upload a CSV from Strong. It’s free and takes under a minute.