Overview
Fitbod, Strong, and Hevy are three of the most popular strength training apps, each with a distinct philosophy. Fitbod uses an algorithm to generate personalized workouts based on your training history, available equipment, and muscle group freshness. It automatically balances volume across muscle groups and adapts as you progress - ideal for lifters who want their programming handled for them.
Strong is the minimalist's choice: a clean, fast workout tracker that lets you log sets, reps, and weight with zero friction. It does not generate workouts but excels at recording your training data with beautifully simple charts and a robust exercise library. Hevy adds social features to the tracking equation - you can follow friends, share workouts, and compete on leaderboards, making it the most community-oriented of the three.
Beacon takes a fundamentally different approach by connecting AI-generated workout plans with nutrition tracking, HRV and sleep data from your wearable, sleep coaching, breathwork and meditation timers, and voice coaching. Instead of optimizing just your lifts, Beacon optimizes your entire athletic life - recommending when to push hard, when to recover, and what to eat to support your training goals.
Feature Comparison
| Feature | Beacon | Hevy |
|---|---|---|
| AI Workout Generation | ✓ | Manual only |
| Workout Logging / Tracking | ✓ | ✓ |
| Exercise Library | 500+ | 900+ |
| Social Features / Leaderboards | AI coaching | ✓ |
| Nutrition Tracking | ✓ | ✗ |
| AI Photo Food Logging | ✓ | ✗ |
| Voice Coaching | ✓ | ✗ |
| HRV Tracking (from your wearable) | ✓ | ✗ |
| Sleep Analysis | ✓ | ✗ |
| Breathwork & Meditation Timers | ✓ | ✗ |
| Cycle Tracking | ✓ | ✗ |
| Apple Watch App | ✓ | ✓ |
| AI Daily Planning | ✓ | ✗ |
| Direct Integrations | WHOOP, Oura, Withings, plus Apple Health | Limited |
Pricing Comparison
Beacon
All-in-one AI health coach
Subscription only - no free tier and no trial
Beacon Premium: $19.99/month
Annual: $119.99/year ($10/mo)
Includes workouts, nutrition, sleep, meditation, voice coaching, cycle tracking, and all AI features.
Hevy
Fitbod vs Strong vs Hevy strength training comparison
Free tier
Pro: ~$5.99/month
Annual: ~$49.99/year
Basic workout logging with limited history
Unlimited workout history, advanced analytics, custom routines
All Pro features at a discounted rate
Who Should Choose Which?
Choose Hevy if…
- ✓You want a dedicated social strength tracking app with leaderboards
- ✓Following friends and sharing workouts motivates your training
- ✓You have your own programming and just need a clean logging tool
- ✓You prefer a large exercise library with community workout templates
- ✓Budget is your primary concern and you only need workout tracking
Choose Beacon if…
- ✓You want AI-generated workouts that adapt to your recovery and goals
- ✓You need nutrition tracking alongside your strength training
- ✓You value insights from your HRV and sleep data
- ✓You want one app for lifting, nutrition, recovery, and mental wellness
- ✓Voice coaching during workouts enhances your training experience
The Bottom Line
Fitbod is best for lifters who want algorithmically generated workouts that adapt to their training history. Strong is best for minimalists who want fast, clean workout logging with excellent data visualization. Hevy is best for social lifters who want to follow friends, share routines, and compete on leaderboards. All three are excellent at what they do - but all three focus exclusively on the gym.
Beacon is built for athletes who understand that what happens outside the gym matters as much as what happens inside it. AI-generated workouts are paired with nutrition tracking, HRV and sleep data from your wearable, sleep analysis, breathwork and meditation timers, and voice coaching. If you want a complete performance ecosystem rather than just a workout logger, Beacon delivers significantly more value for your training.
What is Beacon?
Beacon is an AI health coach for iPhone and Apple Watch. It logs food from a photo, barcode, or voice description, generates workouts, reads sleep and HRV from connected sources, and shows Sleep, Exercise, Diet, Focus, and Mindfulness scores alongside a daily plan. It also includes breathwork and meditation timers, cycle tracking, a friends timeline, and a coach with warm, stoic, or drill-sergeant tones. Beacon is subscription-only at $19.99/month or $119.99/year, with no free tier or Android version.
FAQ
Which is better for beginners: Fitbod, Strong, or Hevy?
Fitbod is best for beginners because it generates workouts automatically - you do not need to know programming. Strong and Hevy require you to create or find your own routines. Beacon also generates AI workout plans and adds nutrition guidance and recovery coaching, making it arguably the most comprehensive option for beginners who want full health support.
Can Beacon replace Fitbod or Strong for strength training?
Yes, for most users. Beacon generates AI-powered workout plans, logs your sets and reps, and tracks progress over time. It adds nutrition tracking, recovery analysis, and voice coaching that none of the three apps offer. Dedicated powerlifters who need granular barbell analytics may still prefer a specialist app, but Beacon covers strength training needs for the vast majority of lifters.
Does Hevy have AI workout generation like Fitbod?
No. Hevy is primarily a workout tracker and social platform. You create your own routines or use community templates. Fitbod generates workouts algorithmically. Beacon combines AI workout generation with the broader health context of nutrition, recovery, and sleep - creating workouts that account for your whole body, not just your lifting history.
Is Beacon worth the price compared to free versions of Strong or Hevy?
Strong and Hevy's free tiers cover basic workout logging. Beacon Premium at $19.99/month or $119.99/year includes AI workout generation, photo nutrition logging, HRV tracking from your wearable, sleep analysis, breathwork and meditation timers, voice coaching, and direct WHOOP, Oura and Withings connections plus everything that writes to Apple Health. If you currently pay for separate nutrition, recovery, and workout apps, Beacon consolidates them at a lower total cost.