Software · head to head
Strava vs Hevy
The short version
- Each has a real cost: Strava segment leaderboards, custom goals, workout analysis, offline routes and fitness scoring all require a subscription; Hevy free tier severely limited to 4 routines and 7 custom exercises, requiring Pro subscription for most users
- They diverge on capability: Strava covers GPS activity tracking, Hevy covers Workout tracking.
Where they differ
Only the attributes on which Strava and Hevy actually diverge.
Identical on both: starting price (Free), pricing model (Unknown), free tier (Yes), user rating (Not yet rated), category (Unknown).
What each one covers
Drawn from each product's published feature list. An absence here means we hold no record of it - not that the product lacks it.
Only in Strava
- GPS activity tracking
- Segment leaderboards
- Route discovery
- Training analysis
- Social feed and clubs
- Garmin
- Wahoo
- Fitbit
Only in Hevy
- Workout tracking
- Social feed
- Progress photos
- Personal records
- Exercise library
- Apple Health
- Google Fit
- Apple-watch support
Both cover
- Apple Watch
- Ios support
- Android support
- Web support
What people use each for
The jobs each tool is most often brought in to do.
Strava
- Recording runs and rides from a phone or watchnot Hevy
- Segment leaderboards and competing on routesnot Hevy
- Training analysis and fitness tracking on the subscriptionnot Hevy
- Route planning with offline mapsnot Hevy
- Following friends and clubsnot Hevy
Hevy
- Workout trackingnot Strava
- Nutrition managementnot Strava
- Health monitoringnot Strava
- Fitness coachingnot Strava
- Wellness improvementnot Strava
Where each one falls short
Documented limitations, not opinions. Every one is a constraint you would hit in normal use.
Strava
- Segment leaderboards, custom goals, workout analysis, offline routes and fitness scoring all require a subscription
- The $5 a month headline is the annual rate, billed as $59.99 a year
- The student rate and the Runna bundle are annual only, with no monthly option
Hevy
- Free tier severely limited to 4 routines and 7 custom exercises, requiring Pro subscription for most users
- Strava integration is one-way only, preventing synchronization of Strava activities back into Hevy
- Social features are basic compared to dedicated social fitness communities, limited to workout feeds and comments
- No built-in nutrition or diet tracking, complementary to but separate from full fitness platforms
- Limited coaching and AI programming features compared to alternatives like Fitbod or Boostcamp
Pricing, plan by plan
Strava
Free- FreeFree
- Activity tracking
- GPS recording
- Basic segments
- Strava+$11.99/month
- Full segment leaderboards
- Training zones
- Heart rate analysis
Hevy
Free- FreeFree
- Unlimited workout logging
- Full exercise library (200+ videos)
- Progress charts and personal records
- Pro$2.99/month
- All Free features
- Unlimited routines
- Unlimited custom exercises
Which should you pick?
Choose Strava if
- You need gps activity tracking.
- You want to start without paying.
- You work on iOS, Android, Web, Apple Watch, Wear OS.
- You also want segment leaderboards.
Choose Hevy if
- You need workout tracking.
- You want to start without paying.
- You work on iOS, Android, Web, Apple Watch, WearOS.
- You also want social feed.
Questions people ask
- Is Strava or Hevy better?
- Neither clearly leads. Strava starts at Free and Hevy at Free, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
- Which is cheaper, Strava or Hevy?
- Strava starts at Free and Hevy at Free.
- Does Strava or Hevy run on more platforms?
- Strava runs on iOS, Android, Web, Apple Watch, Wear OS. Hevy runs on iOS, Android, Web, Apple Watch, WearOS.
- Can I use Strava for free?
- Both have a free tier, so you can try either at no cost before committing.
- What is Strava best used for?
- Strava is most often used for recording runs and rides from a phone or watch, segment leaderboards and competing on routes, training analysis and fitness tracking on the subscription, route planning with offline maps. Of those, recording runs and rides from a phone or watch and segment leaderboards and competing on routes are not what Hevy is typically brought in for.
- What can Strava do that Hevy cannot?
- Strava covers GPS activity tracking, Segment leaderboards, Route discovery, Training analysis. Hevy covers Workout tracking, Social feed, Progress photos, Personal records. Both handle Apple Watch, Ios support, Android support, Web support.
Answered from the vendors’ own pages
Strava: Does Strava offer a free tier?
Yes. Strava Free includes basic activity tracking, GPS recording, activity feed, following other athletes, giving kudos, and basic segments with top 10 leaderboard access. The free tier does not include full segment leaderboards, training zones, or heart rate analysis.
SourceHevy: Is Hevy completely free or does it have a paid tier?
Hevy has a free tier and a paid Pro tier. The free version includes unlimited workout logging and access to the full exercise library but is limited to 4 routines, 7 custom exercises, and 3 months of data history. Hevy Pro costs $2.99 per month, $23.99 per year, or $74.99 lifetime and removes these limits while adding advanced analytics and custom routine sharing.
SourceStrava: What does Strava Premium cost?
Strava costs $11.99 per month or $79.99 per year for individual users. A Family Plan costs $139.99 per year. Students receive 50% off at $39.99 per year with verification.
SourceHevy: What features does Hevy include for workout logging and progress tracking?
Hevy provides automatic rest timers, RPE tracking, one-rep max calculations, exercise performance charts, body measurement tracking, progress photos, and an exercise library with over 200 exercise videos. The app supports warmup calculators, drop sets, failure tracking, and note-taking on workouts.
SourceStrava: Can I export my data from Strava?
Yes. Every Strava athlete can download their data for free at any time through the app, website, or direct download. However, API access now requires a paid subscription for Standard Tier developers costing $12 per month.
SourceHevy: Does Hevy work on Apple Watch and other devices?
Yes, Hevy is available on iOS and Android phones and tablets. It also supports Apple Watch and WearOS for basic workout logging and tracking. Additionally, Hevy has a web/desktop version for managing routines and viewing progress data.
SourceStrava: Does Strava work offline?
Strava records activities offline using GPS on your device, but viewing historical data and accessing most app features requires an internet connection to sync and display data.
SourceHevy: What integrations does Hevy support?
Hevy integrates with Apple Health to sync your workouts and fitness data. It also supports Strava integration, though the sync is one-way only: Hevy can send workouts to Strava, but Strava workouts will not be reflected back in Hevy.
SourceHevy: Can I share workouts and interact with other users in Hevy?
Yes, Hevy has social features including the ability to follow other athletes, view their workouts, like and comment on workouts, and save routines created by other users. The app maintains a social feed and leaderboard features, though these are more limited compared to dedicated social fitness platforms.
SourceHevy: Does Hevy have an offline mode for gym workouts?
While Hevy is primarily a cloud-based app, the search results do not provide explicit documentation about offline logging capabilities. The app requires syncing to log workouts and access progress data.
Source