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Workout app buying guide

The best home workout apps for strength training

The apps that work best when you train at home with limited equipment, no coach on site, and sometimes weak signal.

Pick Hevy

Best public home logger

Pick Boostcamp

Best for following a home program

Pick Fitbod

Best for generated home sessions

Will Richards
Home gym setup with a workout tracking app, adjustable dumbbells, barbell rack, and training notebook
Home workout apps need to handle limited equipment, weak signal, and solo training decisions.

Top picks at a glance

Start with the job you need the app to do, then use the full reviews below to check the trade-offs. A manual logger, an AI coach, and a program library can all be good workout apps, but they solve different problems.

Best public home logger

Hevy

lifters who want free social logging or paid Pro Trainer planning

Best for following a home program

Boostcamp

people who want named programs or manual custom plans with free core logging

Best for generated home sessions

Fitbod

generated workouts around your available equipment

Workflow illustrations

Use these illustrations to compare layouts and training workflows, not as evidence of logging speed, offline reliability, or coaching results.

Hevy publisher screenshot showing saved routines and a start-routine button
The routine view illustrates choosing a saved session or starting an empty workout.
Boostcamp official-site screenshot showing program filters for goals and training days
The filtered-library example illustrates narrowing programs by goal and schedule.
Fitbod publisher screenshot showing target muscles and a workout exercise list
The session view includes target muscles and exercises. Displayed recovery percentages are app estimates, not physiological measurements.

The picks, explained

Best public home logger

1. Hevy

Hevy offers free logging with limits, charts, and documented offline watch workouts for an existing home routine.

Best for

lifters who want free social logging or paid Pro Trainer planning

Not for

people who want Trainer-level planning and progression without a Pro subscription

Product references

Hevy Trainer announcement

Hevy is the practical free pick for home lifters who already have a routine. If you train in a garage or basement and mostly need to record sets, compare last week's numbers, and keep a few routines ready, the free tier is unusually usable.

Hevy's free logger records your own routine. Pro Trainer also generates personalized programs and adjusts working weights from logged performance. Compare those tiers separately; the Trainer documentation does not establish which planning actions work offline.

Bottom line: Choose Hevy when you already own the home program and want a low-friction free tracker.

Best for

lifters who want free social logging or paid Pro Trainer planning

Not for

people who want Trainer-level planning and progression without a Pro subscription

Features and plans

App type
Workout tracker and adaptive planner
Price
Free logging; paid Pro (check current local offer)
Free tier / trial
Free logging with limits; paid Pro includes Trainer; check the current local offer
Platforms
iOS, Android, Apple Watch, Wear OS
Apple Watch
Yes
Offline logging
Yes; official watch section says Workout Offline
Program help
Trainer (Pro)
Generated workouts
Trainer (Pro)

Before you subscribe

Check price, free-tier limits, and device requirements at Hevy Trainer announcement. A watch app does not necessarily work without a phone or an internet connection. Try saving a short workout and syncing it on your own devices before relying on offline use.

Strengths

  • Free logging alongside paid Trainer planning
  • Trainer generates personalized programs and adjusts weights from performance
  • Social feed and following

Watch-outs

  • Trainer and its planning guidance are Pro features
  • The core logger still assumes you know which workflow you want

Product references

Hevy Trainer announcement
Full Hevy review

Best for following a home program

2. Boostcamp

Choose a named program from the free library; Boostcamp's store listing says it suits a full gym, a garage gym, or dumbbells at home, so check each program's equipment and schedule before starting.

Best for

people who want named programs or manual custom plans with free core logging

Not for

people who need demonstrated conversational coaching or a verified phone-free workflow

Product references

Boostcamp official site and Boostcamp Pro page

Boostcamp's store description documents offline use. For a garage with weak signal, check the exact logging and sync workflow on your device; the description does not establish recovery or syncing reliability.

Boostcamp solves the home-gym problem by giving you structure before you start logging. That is useful if you would rather run a known beginner, strength, or bodybuilding program than build a plan from scratch.

Why not ranked higher: Choose a program that fits your equipment. Free features include auto-progression and unlimited manual custom program building; Pro adds a personalized builder and advanced analytics. These features do not establish that every plan suits your home setup.

Bottom line: Choose Boostcamp when you want a free program library more than personalized coaching.

Best for

people who want named programs or manual custom plans with free core logging

Not for

people who need demonstrated conversational coaching or a verified phone-free workflow

Features and plans

App type
Program library and workout builder
Price
Free core; paid Pro
Free tier / trial
Free core program library, full logging, auto-progression, and custom multi-week program building
Platforms
iOS, Android
Apple Watch
Website describes an Apple Watch companion; the App Store listing names only iPhone and iPad, so confirm before choosing it for watch use
Offline logging
Store description documents offline use; sync and device reliability not tested
Program help
Personalized builder in Pro; manual custom programs are free
Generated workouts
Personalized program builder in Pro

Before you subscribe

Check price, free-tier limits, and device requirements at Boostcamp official site, Boostcamp Pro page, Boostcamp free workout app page and Boostcamp App Store listing. A watch app does not necessarily work without a phone or an internet connection. Try saving a short workout and syncing it on your own devices before relying on offline use.

Strengths

  • Library of named coach and community programs
  • Performance-based auto-progression
  • Free manual custom plans; AI-assisted personalized building in Pro

Watch-outs

  • Advanced analytics and personalized programs are Pro features
  • Conversational coaching and offline reliability are not established here
Full Boostcamp review

Best for generated home sessions

3. Fitbod

Tell it the equipment you own and it builds a session, useful when your home setup changes.

Best for

generated workouts around your available equipment

Not for

people who only need a free manual logbook or want a demonstrated conversational workflow

Product references

Fitbod membership page and Fitbod subscription help

Fitbod is helpful for home training because equipment selection is central to the workflow. If you have adjustable dumbbells one day, a full hotel gym another day, and resistance bands while traveling, generated sessions can remove a lot of decision friction.

Why not ranked higher: Fitbod documents generated sessions and training-history inputs. Those descriptions do not establish a conversational explanation of each block, deload, or progression decision; compare that separately if it matters to you.

Bottom line: Choose Fitbod when the main issue is generating a good workout from whatever equipment is available today.

Best for

generated workouts around your available equipment

Not for

people who only need a free manual logbook or want a demonstrated conversational workflow

Features and plans

App type
AI workout generator
Price
US subscription help: $15.99/month or $95.99/year; store pricing varies by region
Free tier / trial
7-day trial after selecting a monthly or yearly plan, then subscription
Platforms
iOS, Android, Apple Watch; Google Play documents Wear OS integration
Apple Watch
Companion: iPhone required to start, add or swap exercises, and finalize/save workouts
Offline logging
Local workout generation and logging; Focus Exercises, some history, and uncached videos need internet
Program help
Generated sessions from training inputs
Generated workouts
Yes

Before you subscribe

Check price, free-tier limits, and device requirements at Fitbod membership page, Fitbod subscription help, Fitbod trial help and Fitbod FAQs. A watch app does not necessarily work without a phone or an internet connection. Try saving a short workout and syncing it on your own devices before relying on offline use.

Strengths

  • Equipment-aware workout proposals
  • Exercise selection can reflect available gym equipment
  • Documented local workout generation and logging offline

Watch-outs

  • Generation documented; conversational coaching not established
  • Focus Exercises and some history/media features need a connection
Full Fitbod review

Which app should you choose?

Use this section if you already know your training style and just need the fastest recommendation. The ranking above is editorial, but the best answer can change depending on whether you want a ready-made program, generated sessions, or a free logbook.

Choose Hevy for

Best public home logger

Choose Hevy for lifters who want free social logging or paid Pro Trainer planning. It is not the best fit for people who want Trainer-level planning and progression without a Pro subscription.

Choose Boostcamp for

Best for following a home program

Choose Boostcamp for people who want named programs or manual custom plans with free core logging. It is not the best fit for people who need demonstrated conversational coaching or a verified phone-free workflow.

Choose Fitbod for

Best for generated home sessions

Choose Fitbod for generated workouts around your available equipment. It is not the best fit for people who only need a free manual logbook or want a demonstrated conversational workflow.

How the picks compare

The best home workout apps for strength training
FeatureHevyBoostcampFitbod
Writes your programTrainer (Pro)Personalized builder in Pro; manual custom programs are freeGenerated sessions from training inputs
Chat coachNot established by linked documentationConversational workflow not established hereNot established by linked documentation
Auto progressive overloadTrainer (Pro); adjusts weights from performanceYes; adjusts loads from performanceGenerated targets use training history; exact progression rules are not established here
Generated workoutsTrainer (Pro)Personalized program builder in ProYes
Program librarySaved routines and Trainer-generated programsYesGenerated and saved workouts
Apple Watch appYesWebsite describes an Apple Watch companion; the App Store listing names only iPhone and iPad, so confirm before choosing it for watch useCompanion: iPhone required to start, add or swap exercises, and finalize/save workouts
Offline loggingYes; official watch section says Workout OfflineStore description documents offline use; sync and device reliability not testedLocal workout generation and logging; Focus Exercises, some history, and uncached videos need internet
Free tierFree logging; Trainer requires Pro; confirm current limitsFree core; paid Pro7-day trial, then paid subscription
Social / communityYesCommunity program library and program sharingNot established by linked documentation

Table values are category-level summaries. "Limited" means the sources for this guide show a limited, indirect, phone-first, or lighter workflow rather than a complete Apple Watch, offline, or coaching workflow. Offline descriptions are documentation summaries, not results of our own connectivity tests. Confirm whether a workout must be loaded in advance, whether it can be saved without a signal, and how it syncs afterward before relying on an app at a no-signal gym.

Other apps we considered

These apps may still be worth checking if your needs are narrower, but they were not the top picks for this specific strength-training use case.

Strong

Recording an existing home routine

Its documented routines and logging fit an existing plan. Automated equipment substitutions and home-program generation are not established by the linked description.

JEFIT

Exercise variety

Its documented exercise library and routine builder are relevant, but this guide does not establish home-equipment adaptation or comparative usability.

How we picked

This documentation-based shortlist compares equipment options, logging, programming features, and free versus paid access. Offline statements are limited to the workflow each source describes; we have not measured comparative reliability or training outcomes.

For strength training, compare the documented program tools, progression options, equipment choices, wearable support, and plan limits first. Calorie tracking or a large exercise library will not replace a missing program feature you need each week.

We also separate app types before ranking them. A free logbook can be the right answer for someone who already has a program, while a coaching app is a better answer for someone who wants the plan built and adjusted. The goal is not to crown one app for everyone; it is to make the use case obvious enough that a reader can choose quickly.

The order reflects our judgment of documented features for this training need, not measured performance or a numerical rating. Handler is our own private-beta product and is excluded from the public shortlist and comparison table.

Separate disclosure: Handler's private beta

Handler is our own product. Handler is in an invited iOS TestFlight beta and does not have a public App Store listing yet.

The private iPhone test build includes program setup, workout logging, coach chat, history and progress review. Apple Watch is in development and offline logging is under test. These are not verified public capabilities or evidence of better results.

See platform status and pricing status for first-party details.

Sources and further details

Follow these links for plan limits, device compatibility, and the features included in each subscription.

Official product pages, App Store/Google Play listings, help docs, and pricing pages are used for availability, platform, watch/offline, free-tier, and price claims. Third-party or community sources are treated as supporting context only and do not override official evidence. The guide record date is not a source-verification date.

Guide record: June 6, 2026
Hevy official siteReference for logging, platform, and free-tier positioning.Hevy Trainer announcementBoostcamp official siteReference for program-library and free-program positioning.Fitbod official siteReference for generated-workout and equipment-aware training positioning.Fitbod offline helpStrong official siteReference for minimal logger and Apple Watch positioning.Hevy workout plan generatorofficial Trainer page documenting personalized program generation, adjustable working weights, and Pro availabilityHevy pricing pageReference link for checking the current offer; not readable in this audit and not used to establish exact pricesHevy free-version limits helpOfficial reference for free-tier limits; article text verified through Hevy's public help-center APIHevy App Store listingiOS, Apple Watch, ratings, and in-app purchase referenceHevy Google Play listingAndroid and Wear OS availabilityBoostcamp official sitefree program library, performance-based auto-progression, and AI program builderBoostcamp Pro pagePro personalized programs, advanced analytics, trial, and paid feature referenceBoostcamp free workout app pagefree program library, full tracker, custom multi-week builder, and platform availabilityBoostcamp App Store listingiOS availability and in-app purchase referenceBoostcamp Google Play listingAndroid availabilityFitbod membership pagemembership reference; not a verified checkout snapshotFitbod subscription helpsubscription plans, 7-day trial, and regional pricing caveatFitbod trial help7-day trial, auto-renewal, and post-trial access limitsFitbod FAQsbilling, features, integrations, trial, and platform-pricing caveatsFitbod App Store listingiOS, Apple Watch, ratings, and in-app purchase referenceFitbod Google Play listingAndroid availability and user-review contextFitbod Apple Watch helpwatch supportGarage Gym Reviews Fitbod reviewFurther-reading reference only; not used to establish product facts or rankingsLifehacker Fitbod reviewFurther-reading reference only; not used to establish product facts or rankingsFitbod subredditcommunity discussion link; not captured as review evidence

Who this guide is for

People choosing a first app

You want to avoid downloading five trackers and need a plain answer about which app fits your training style, budget, and equipment.

Lifters switching tools

You already train consistently, but your current app is too limited, too expensive, or not helpful enough with progression.

People comparing app categories

You are deciding whether you need a manual logger, generated workouts, a program library, or a coach-like product that changes the plan over time.

Before you commit to an app

During a free tier or trial, enter a familiar workout, log a few sets, and find them in your history. Check whether the program tools you need are included in that tier and whether you can change a suggested exercise or weight.

For watch or offline use, try the exact phone-and-watch setup you train with before taking it to the gym. A documented feature is a reason to shortlist an app, not proof that it will work reliably in your setup. Keep your existing log until you know how to export or recover your history.

Frequently asked questions

What is the best home workout app?
Compare Hevy for free logging of an existing routine, Boostcamp for a program library and custom building, and Fitbod for equipment-aware sessions. Check that the chosen plan fits your equipment. Handler is a separate invited-beta preview, not a public ranking winner.
Are there good free home workout apps?
Hevy offers free logging with limits. Boostcamp includes a free program library, auto-progression, and unlimited manual custom program building. Check each program's equipment requirements before starting.
Do home workout apps work offline?
Fitbod documents local workout generation, logging, and saving with later sync, but Focus Exercises, some history, and uncached media need internet. Hevy advertises offline watch workouts, and Boostcamp's store description documents offline use. These are feature descriptions, not a reliability comparison; Handler remains under private testing.
What should I look for in a home workout app?
Prioritize equipment filtering, easy substitutions, offline logging, progress history, and a plan that fits the equipment you actually own. A home app that assumes a commercial gym can become frustrating quickly.
Is a home workout app better than a spreadsheet?
A spreadsheet can work if you already know the plan. A good app is better when you want easier logging, exercise swaps, timers, history, Apple Watch support, or progression guidance without rebuilding the sheet yourself.

Invited TestFlight beta · iPhone-first

Interested in testing Handler?

Handler is our own product. Handler is in an invited iOS TestFlight beta and does not have a public App Store listing yet. The private iPhone build includes program setup, workout logging, coach chat, and history and progress review.

Request beta access

Related guides

Best workout tracker appOur overall ranking across all use cases.Offline workout trackingWhy offline matters in home gyms.Best free workout appsIf budget is the priority.Best workout apps for beginnersIf guidance matters more than equipment.Best offline workout trackersDocumented offline features and the limits to check in weak-signal gyms.Best progressive overload appsFor lifters who want clearer load and rep progression.Best Apple Watch workout appsFor lifters who want wrist logging during sets.