Strong

Overview

Strong has earned its reputation as the gold standard for simple, effective workout logging. In a market crowded with feature-bloated apps, Strong stays focused on doing one thing extremely well: tracking your workouts quickly and reliably.

The philosophy is clear from the moment you open the app. Clean lines, clear typography, and an interface that gets out of your way. No social feeds, no gamification, no AI coaches - just you and your iron.

User Experience

Strong's interface is a masterclass in mobile design. Starting a workout takes two taps. Logging a set takes two taps. Everything you need is immediately visible, and everything you don't need is absent.

The workout screen shows your current exercise with previous performance right below. You always know what you lifted last time. Tap a set to log it with the same weight and reps, or swipe to adjust. The rest timer starts automatically.

Navigation is intuitive. Routines, history, exercises, settings - each section is exactly where you'd expect it. There's no learning curve; you'll be productive within minutes of downloading.

Apple Watch Integration

Strong's Apple Watch app deserves special mention. It's not a companion app - it's a fully functional workout logger. You can complete entire workouts from your wrist:

• View and start routines
• Log sets with weight and reps
• See previous performance
• Rest timer with haptic feedback
• Works independently from phone

For lifters who hate carrying their phone around the gym, this is invaluable.

The Tradeoffs

Strong's simplicity is both its strength and limitation. There's no complex periodization support, no percentage-based training, no scripting. If you're running 5/3/1 or another program with specific progression rules, you'll calculate those yourself.

The analytics are functional but basic. You get charts for exercises over time, but nothing like the deep analysis some competitors offer. For many lifters, this is fine - they just want to see their bench going up.

No web interface means you can't review your training history from a computer. This might bother some users, though most do their logging on their phones anyway.

Pricing

Strong offers several options:

• Free tier: Limited to 3 routines
• Pro Monthly: $4.99/month
• Pro Yearly: $29.99/year
• Lifetime: $199.99 one-time

The lifetime option is appealing for long-term users. If you plan to lift for years (you do, right?), the one-time purchase pays for itself.

Who Is This For?

Strong is perfect for lifters who:

• Value simplicity and speed above all else
• Want a polished, premium-feeling app
• Use Apple Watch for gym tracking
• Know their program and just need to log it
• Don't need social features or AI coaching

Look elsewhere if you need:

• Complex program logic or periodization
• Social features and community
• Web access for desktop planning
• Android smartwatch support

Final Verdict

Strong lives up to its name. It's strong in its focus, strong in its execution, and strong in its commitment to simplicity. For lifters who want a fast, reliable, beautiful workout logger without unnecessary complexity, Strong is the obvious choice.

It won't plan your training or tell you what to do. But if you already know your program and just need to track it efficiently, Strong does that better than almost anyone.