BEST GYM APP
IN 2026?
HONEST COMPARISON
Every gym app tracks your sets. Only one tells you what those sets actually mean. We compared TORQ against the three most popular gym apps — Hevy, Strong, and Jefit — across every feature that matters to serious lifters. No fluff, no marketing spin. Here is what each app does, what it doesn't do, and who it's for.
The short version: if you want to know how strong you are relative to the gym population — not just compared to yourself last month — TORQ is the only app that answers that question. The others are workout loggers. Good ones, but loggers.
FEATURE COMPARISON
| FEATURE | TORQ | HEVY | STRONG | JEFIT |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Strength tier scoring | ✓6 tiers · 0–1000 pts | ✗ | ✗ | ✗ |
| Population comparison | ✓Exact percentile per lift | ✗ | ✗ | ✗ |
| Bodyweight-adjusted scoring | ✓Interpolated thresholds | ✗ | ✗ | ✗ |
| Strength radar (spider diagram) | ✓Strongest + weakest lifts | ✗ | ✗ | ✗ |
| Trajectory projection | ✓Weeks to next tier | ✗ | ✗ | ✗ |
| Deload detection | ✓ | ✗ | ✗ | ✗ |
| Session generator | ✓45 / 60 / 90 min | ✗Manual only | ✗Manual only | ~Pre-built plans only |
| Estimated 1 rep max | ✓Auto, Epley formula | ~Pro only | ✓ | ✓ |
| Workout logging | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| Custom exercises | ✓Unlimited | ~Pro only | ~Pro only | ✓ |
| Nutrition tracking | ✓Calories + protein | ✗ | ✗ | ✗ |
| No account required | ✓Zero sign-up | ✗Account required | ✗Account required | ✗Account required |
| Data stays on device | ✓100% local | ✗Their servers | ✗Their servers | ✗Their servers |
| Ad-free | ✓Always | ✗Ads in free tier | ✓ | ✗Ads in free tier |
| Social features | No | ✓Friends, likes, sharing | No | ✓Community forum |
| Platforms | iOSAndroid coming soon | iOS · Android · Web | iOS · Android | iOS · Android |
| Premium pricing | £14.99 lifetimeOne payment, forever | ~£8/mo or ~£50/yrRecurring subscription | ~£4/mo or ~£24/yrRecurring subscription | ~£10/mo or ~£55/yrRecurring subscription |
| Cost over 2 years | £14.99 total | ~£100+ | ~£48+ | ~£110+ |
EACH APP IN DETAIL
TORQ
The only app that scores every lift against real gym population data using bodyweight-adjusted estimated 1 rep max. Six strength tiers, 0–1000 point scale. Tells you exactly how strong you are — not compared to yourself, but compared to the gym population at your bodyweight.
- Only app with population-based strength scoring
- Bodyweight-adjusted tiers — relative strength, not just raw numbers
- Strength radar shows your strongest and weakest lifts at a glance
- Trajectory projection tells you weeks to next tier
- Session generator builds compound-first workouts automatically
- Custom exercises — add any lift you want, unlimited
- No account, no server, all data stays on your phone
- Ad-free always — even the free tier
- Lifetime pricing — pay once, never again
- iOS only at launch (Android coming)
- No social features — solo tool by design
HEVY
A popular workout tracker with strong social features. Log sets, follow friends, share workouts. Clean interface. Large exercise library. The most "social media-like" gym app on the market.
- Social feed — follow friends, share workouts, get likes
- Large built-in exercise library (900+)
- Cross-platform — iOS, Android, and web app
- Generous free tier with unlimited workout logging
- No strength scoring or population comparison
- No bodyweight adjustment — raw numbers only
- Ads in free tier interrupt your session
- Account required — data stored on their servers
- Subscription pricing — keeps charging forever
- Custom exercises locked behind paywall
STRONG
A clean, simple logging tool for lifters who know what they want to do and just need to record it. No social features, no AI. Stripped down to essentials — but starting to feel dated compared to modern apps.
- Clean, minimal interface — no distractions
- Quick workout logging — gets out of your way
- Ad-free even in free tier
- iOS and Android support
- No strength scoring or population comparison
- No bodyweight adjustment
- Interface feels dated in 2026 — no significant updates
- Free tier limited to 3 custom routines
- No session generator — fully manual
- No nutrition tracking
- Account required — cloud storage only
JEFIT
A veteran fitness app with the largest exercise library (1400+ exercises) and an active community. Feature-rich but often criticised for being bloated, confusing to navigate, and aggressive with upsells.
- Massive exercise library — 1400+ exercises with HD videos
- Community features — share routines, compare with friends
- Pre-built workout plans from trainers
- iOS and Android support
- No strength scoring or population comparison
- No bodyweight adjustment
- Interface is bloated — too many menus, confusing navigation
- Aggressive push to upgrade — constant upsell prompts
- Ads in free tier
- Account required — cloud storage only
- Most expensive subscription of the four
THE FUNDAMENTAL DIFFERENCE
Hevy, Strong, and Jefit all answer the same question: "What did I lift today?" They track your sets, show your volume, and chart your progress over time. They are workout loggers. Good ones — but loggers.
TORQ answers a different question: "How strong am I?"
Not compared to yourself last month. Compared to the actual gym population at your bodyweight. TORQ uses the Epley formula to calculate your estimated 1 rep max, adjusts for bodyweight using interpolated thresholds, then places each lift into one of six tiers based on real population data from hundreds of thousands of logged lifts. You get a score out of 1000, a percentile rank, and a clear target for the next tier.
No other major gym app does this. Hevy does not. Strong does not. Jefit does not. If you want to know whether your bench press is average, good, or elite for your bodyweight — TORQ is the only app that gives you that answer.
PRICING — WHY LIFETIME MATTERS
Every other app on this list charges you monthly or yearly, forever. TORQ is a one-time payment. Here is what that looks like over time:
After 1 year: TORQ has cost you £14.99. Hevy Pro has cost ~£50. Jefit Elite has cost ~£55. Strong Pro has cost ~£24.
After 2 years: TORQ has still cost you £14.99. Hevy is at ~£100. Jefit is at ~£110. Strong is at ~£48. Every year, the gap widens.
TORQ's founding lifetime access at £14.99 is available for the first 100 members only. Price rises as spots fill — but it never becomes a subscription.
PRIVACY — YOUR DATA, YOUR DEVICE
Hevy, Strong, and Jefit all require you to create an account and store your workout data on their servers. If the company goes under, changes their terms, or gets breached — your training history is at risk.
TORQ stores everything locally on your phone. No account. No server. No analytics. No data leaving your device. Your lifts are yours. This is not a feature you can toggle in the other apps — it is an architectural decision baked into TORQ from day one.
THE VERDICT
If you just want to log sets: Hevy or Strong will do the job. They are mature apps with large user bases.
If you want to know how strong you actually are — where you rank, what tier you're in, and exactly what you need to lift to reach the next level — TORQ is the only app that does that. Population-based scoring, bodyweight-adjusted, with your data staying on your device. One payment, lifetime access, no subscription.
GET TORQ — FROM £14.99 LIFETIMECOMMON QUESTIONS
What is the best gym tracking app in 2026?
It depends what you need. For strength scoring against real population data with bodyweight adjustment, TORQ is the only app that does this. For social features and workout sharing, Hevy is the strongest choice. For minimal logging with no distractions, Strong is clean and simple. For a massive exercise library, Jefit has over 1400 exercises. No single app is best for everyone — but only TORQ answers the question "how strong am I?"
What is the difference between TORQ and Hevy?
Hevy is a social workout logger — it tracks sets and lets you share with friends. TORQ scores every lift against real gym population data using bodyweight-adjusted estimated 1 rep max, placing you in one of six strength tiers from Dusty (bottom 50%) to Goated (top 2%). Hevy tells you what you lifted. TORQ tells you what that means.
Is there a gym app that scores your lifts against other people?
TORQ is the only gym app that scores every lift against real gym population data using bodyweight-adjusted estimated 1 rep max. It places each lift in one of six strength tiers and gives you a score out of 1000. No other major gym app — including Hevy, Strong, or Jefit — offers population-based strength scoring.
What is the best alternative to Hevy?
TORQ is the best Hevy alternative if you want to know how strong you actually are, not just what you lifted. TORQ scores every lift against population data, adjusts for bodyweight, and requires no account. Strong is an alternative if you want simpler logging without social features. Jefit is an alternative if you want a larger built-in exercise library.
Which gym app has the best privacy?
TORQ is the most privacy-focused gym app available. It stores all data locally on your device with no account required, no server, and no data leaving your phone. Hevy, Strong, and Jefit all require accounts and store data on their servers.