2026 Comparison · Updated April

Gymex vs Fitbod, Hevy, Strong,
Caliber, Future & MyFitnessPal

An honest, head-to-head comparison of the leading iOS workout and AI coaching apps. Feature matrix, pricing, pros and cons, and a clear verdict for different lifter profiles.

By the Gymex team · Updated 14 April 2026 · ~6 min read

TL;DR

The short answer

If you are comparing Gymex to Strong, Hevy, or MyFitnessPal, you are comparing different categories. Here is the decision in under a minute.

Pick Gymex if…

You want a single iOS app that writes your programs, detects plateaus, logs sets by voice, tracks macros, and stores progress photos — with AI coaching that would normally cost £150 to £300 per month with a human. It is currently free during the launch period.

Pick Hevy if…

You are on Android, you only want a polished cross-platform logger, and you do not need AI coaching, voice logging, nutrition, or body metrics.

Pick a human-coach service (Caliber / Future) if…

You specifically want weekly video calls, accountability texts, and a human programming for you, and you are happy paying £150 to £300 a month. Gymex is the software layer of that experience driven by AI instead.

Best AI coach on iOS · Gymex Best free option · Gymex (launch) Best Android logger · Hevy Best human coach · Caliber / Future Best calorie tracker · MyFitnessPal
Feature Matrix

Side-by-side capability table

Every row is a capability a serious lifter typically cares about. Scroll horizontally on mobile.

Capability Gymex Fitbod Hevy Strong Caliber Future MFP
Manual set loggingYesYesYesYesYesYesNo
Automatic PR detection (4 types)YesPartialPartialPartialYesYesNo
Conversational AI coachYesPartialNoNoHuman coachHuman coachNo
AI program generationYesYesNoNoHumanHumanNo
Voice set loggingYesNoNoNoNoNoNo
Auto periodizationYesPartialNoNoHumanHumanNo
Plateau detectionYesPartialNoNoHumanHumanNo
AI RIR inferenceYesNoNoNoNoNoNo
Macro + barcode trackingYesNoNoNoNoNoYes
Body measurements (13+)YesNoPartialNoYesYesPartial
Progress photos with sliderYesNoNoNoYesYesNo
Social feed + messagingYesNoPartialNoPartialPartialYes
Garmin pairingYesNoNoNoNoNoYes
Apple HealthYesYesYesYesYesYesYes
Offline + encrypted cacheYesPartialYesPartialPartialPartialYes
Android availableNot yetYesYesYesYesYesYes
Monthly price£0 launch · £7.50–£20~£10~£7~£5~£150~£199~£10
Head to Head

Gymex versus each competitor

What each app actually does well, and when to pick it over Gymex.

Gymex vs Strong

Winner: Gymex

Strong is the classic minimalist logger — fast set entry, clean history, not much else. That simplicity is its appeal, but it stops short of everything else a serious lifter wants. Gymex includes the same fast set logging, then adds a conversational AI coach, voice logging, plateau detection, nutrition tracking, body metrics, and progress photos.

Strong is better if

  • You already have a human coach writing programs
  • You want the cheapest paid logger
  • You are on Android and only need a logger

Gymex wins on

  • AI programming and auto periodization
  • Voice set logging during training
  • Nutrition, body metrics, photos in one app
  • Free during launch vs paid

Gymex vs Hevy

Winner (iOS): Gymex Winner (Android): Hevy

Hevy is the best polished cross-platform logger. Good UX, routine sharing, free tier. The catch: it is a tracker, not a coach. Gymex on iOS covers everything Hevy does plus an AI coach, voice logging, nutrition tracking, body metrics, progress photos, and Garmin integration — all free during the launch period.

Hevy is better if

  • You are Android-first
  • You want the biggest community-shared routines library today
  • You only need logging, nothing else

Gymex wins on

  • Conversational AI coaching and auto periodization
  • Voice set logging
  • Nutrition + body metrics + social in one app
  • Garmin integration

Gymex vs Fitbod

Winner: Gymex

Fitbod is the closest software-only comparison. It uses AI to recommend workouts and adapt to your history. But it is a solo workout engine — no conversational coach, no voice logging, no nutrition, no body metrics, no social. Gymex delivers Fitbod's core value plus everything Fitbod leaves out.

Fitbod is better if

  • You only want solo AI-recommended workouts
  • You are on Android
  • You prefer their specific UX and have used it for years

Gymex wins on

  • Conversational AI chat with access to your data
  • Voice logging + RIR inference
  • Nutrition, body metrics, photos, social included
  • Free during launch

Gymex vs Caliber

Different category

Caliber pairs an app with a human coach — real people programming and checking in. Excellent for users who need accountability and a relationship, but it is priced like a trainer, not a software product. Gymex ships the software half driven by AI: programming, plateau detection, RIR inference, weekly recaps. For most lifters who just want their program sorted and their plateaus called out, the AI version is enough — and a fraction of the price.

Caliber is better if

  • You specifically want weekly video calls
  • You need a human in the loop for accountability
  • Budget is not a constraint

Gymex wins on

  • Price — launch-free vs ~£150/mo
  • Voice logging and AI RIR inference
  • Built-in nutrition and social
  • Instant responses vs wait-for-coach

Gymex vs Future

Different category

Future is a premium human-coach service priced around £199 a month. Same category as Caliber. Same reasoning applies: if you want the accountability of a human, Future is the product. If you want the software capability of a coach driven by AI, Gymex covers it for a tiny fraction of the cost.

Future is better if

  • You want accountability texts from a real coach
  • You need someone to review your form via video
  • Budget allows £199/mo on fitness

Gymex wins on

  • Price — ~98% cheaper at launch
  • Voice-logged sets and AI recaps on demand
  • Nutrition and body metrics built in
  • No waiting for a coach to respond

Gymex vs MyFitnessPal

Winner for lifters: Gymex

MyFitnessPal is a calorie-tracking app with the largest food database on the market. Excellent at its job, but it is only a nutrition app — no workout programming, no PR detection, no AI coaching. Gymex covers macro tracking with barcode scanning and AI meal logging plus the full strength-training stack. For lifters, it replaces MFP entirely.

MyFitnessPal is better if

  • You only want calorie tracking, no training features
  • You need the largest food database for obscure products
  • You are on Android today

Gymex wins on

  • Single-app experience for training + nutrition
  • AI meal logging from natural language
  • Strength analytics MFP cannot produce
  • Free during launch
Which App

Pick your app in 10 seconds

Match your situation to the box that fits.

If you are

A serious lifter on iPhone

Intermediate or advanced. You want AI programming, plateau detection, and to stop juggling three apps.

→ Gymex
If you are

A bodybuilder tracking macros

You want lifting, macros, and progress photos in one app. MFP plus Strong plus a photo app is too many apps.

→ Gymex
If you are

Currently paying a human coach

You want to cut £150-£200 a month and still get programming, plateau detection, and weekly recaps.

→ Gymex (free during launch)
If you are

Android-first

You need it today and Gymex's Android build is still on the roadmap.

→ Hevy
If you are

A runner or triathlete

Cardio-first with GPS and routes. Strength tracking is not your primary need.

→ Strava or Garmin Connect
If you are

Happy with Strong, using it forever

You only want to log sets, you already have a coach, and you are not looking for an upgrade.

→ Stick with Strong
FAQ

Common comparison questions

The questions lifters ask when deciding between these apps.

Is Gymex a better alternative to Hevy or Strong?
Gymex and Hevy/Strong sit in different categories. Strong and Hevy are manual loggers. Gymex is AI coaching software that also logs — it writes programs, detects plateaus, infers RIR, logs sets by voice, and tracks nutrition. If you want more than a logger, pick Gymex. If you only want the cheapest cross-platform logger, Hevy is a good choice.
Is Gymex cheaper than Caliber or Future?
Yes, by a large margin. Caliber and Future are £150 to £300 per month because they include a human coach. Gymex delivers the software layer driven by AI for £7.50 to £20 per month when pricing goes live, and it is currently free during the launch period.
Does Gymex replace MyFitnessPal for nutrition tracking?
For most lifters, yes. Gymex tracks macros with barcode scanning, AI meal logging from natural-language descriptions, meal-type assignment, and visual progress rings. It also adds the full strength-training stack that MyFitnessPal does not have. If you need an extremely niche food database and do not lift, MFP may still be the right choice.
Is Fitbod or Gymex better for AI-generated workouts?
Both generate workouts with AI. Gymex adds a conversational coach you can chat with about your training, voice logging, plateau detection, nutrition, and social. Fitbod is narrower — solo AI-recommended workouts without those layers.
Which workout app has Garmin integration?
Of the apps in this comparison, Gymex is the only strength-training app with native Garmin pairing. Pair via a 6-digit code for activity sync. Gymex also reads from Apple Health. Strong, Hevy, Fitbod, Caliber, and Future do not include Garmin pairing.
Is Gymex available on Android?
Not yet. Gymex is iOS-only for iPhone and iPad. Android is on the roadmap. If you are Android-first today, Hevy is the best cross-platform logger and Fitbod is the best Android AI workout app.
Is Gymex actually free or is there a catch?
Genuinely free during the launch period. Every Core, Premium, and Pro Premium feature is remotely unlocked with no card required and no trial timer. When subscriptions go live, future pricing is Core £7.50 per month, Premium £15 per month, Pro Premium £20 per month, with a 17% discount on annual billing. Existing free users will be notified before any change.
I use Strong plus MyFitnessPal plus a photo app. Does Gymex replace all three?
Yes. That stack is exactly the problem Gymex is built to solve. Workout logging, macro and barcode tracking, and body measurements with progress photos are all first-class features in the same app. Most lifters can retire MFP and a photo app on day one.

Try Gymex Free While You Can

Every feature compared on this page — AI coach, voice logging, auto periodization, macros, body metrics, social, Garmin — unlocked at no cost during the launch period. No card. No trial timer.

Download Gymex Free