If you're looking for a gym tracker app, you've probably come across Hevy and Strong. They're two of the most popular options on Android, and for good reason — both are well-built and genuinely useful. But neither of them does everything a serious lifter needs in 2026.
This comparison breaks down how Hercules, Hevy, and Strong stack up across the things that actually matter: workout logging, analytics, AI coaching, and value for money.
Workout Logging
All three apps handle the basics well. You can log exercises, sets, reps, and weight in each one, and all three let you build custom workout routines. If simple logging is all you need, any of them will do the job.
Where they start to differ is in how smart the logging experience is. Hercules pre-populates your sets based on your previous session, so you always know exactly what you lifted last time and what you're aiming to beat. This makes progressive overload less of a mental exercise and more of an automatic process.
Analytics
This is where the gap becomes significant.
Strong offers basic charts and personal record tracking. Hevy adds some volume tracking and a social feed. Neither goes deep enough to tell you whether your training program is actually balanced or where your weak points are.
Hercules includes a full analytics suite — weekly volume trends, muscle group distribution charts, and the Balance Score, which measures your training across push/pull, upper/lower, and compound vs isolation movements. If you're running a PPL split and your pull volume is consistently lagging behind your push volume, Hercules will show you that. The other apps won't.
AI Coaching
Neither Hevy nor Strong has an AI coach. This is the biggest functional difference between Hercules and its competitors.
Hercules AI reads your actual training history and gives you personalised recommendations — not generic advice pulled from a database, but specific guidance based on what you've been doing. You can ask it to build you a new program, identify your weak points, or explain why your progress has stalled. It's the closest thing to having a knowledgeable training partner available 24/7.
Pricing
All three apps have a free tier. Strong's Pro plan costs around $9.99 per month. Hevy's Pro plan is around $5.99 per month. Hercules Pro is competitively priced and includes the AI coach, advanced analytics, Balance Score, and the full workout plan library.
Given that Hercules includes AI coaching that neither competitor offers at any price point, the value comparison isn't particularly close.
Which App Should You Choose?
If you want a no-frills workout log and nothing else, any of the three will work. If you care about understanding your training at a deeper level — volume trends, muscle balance, and personalised coaching — Hercules is the only option that covers all of it.
Hercules is free to download on Android. The Pro tier unlocks the AI coach, Balance Score, and advanced analytics.