Hevy Review: The Gym Log That Makes Progress Visible

Hevy Is Better Than a Notes App, But Not Quite Free Forever

Hevy gets the important gym stuff right: logging sets is quick, routines are easy to repeat, and progress charts show whether your training is actually moving forward. The Android app has a 4.9-star rating from around 288,000 reviews and more than 5 million downloads, which is unusually strong evidence for a fitness tracker.

The app is free to install, has no adverts according to its Google Play description, and includes enough functionality for casual lifters. The catch is in-app purchases. Hevy is generous, but serious users may eventually hit paid features or limits. Stronger than a basic workout diary, less cluttered than many all-in-one fitness apps, and far more useful than recording everything in your phone's notes.

Features, Pricing and Devices

Hevy is available on Android and listed as free on Google Play. The listing shows in-app purchases, but it does not provide a current UK price for the paid tier, so the exact cost should be checked inside the app before subscribing. The current Android listing identifies version 3.2.5 and an age rating of Teen.

The core toolkit is much deeper than the word “free” suggests:

• Log weights, reps and set types, including warm-ups, drop sets, failure sets and supersets.
• Build unlimited routines and plan sessions with a calendar.
• Browse hundreds of exercises with free instructional videos.
• Create custom exercises when the built-in library misses something.
• Track one-rep-max estimates, volume, best weight and total reps.
• View muscle-group graphs and full-screen progression charts.
• Set automatic rest timers and timers for duration-based exercises.
• Use routines and live workout tracking on a Wear OS watch.

The Google Play page does not publish an app size or minimum Android version. It also does not provide a detailed permissions list in the supplied listing data, so privacy-conscious users should inspect the Android permissions screen before installing. Social features let you follow friends, view their lifts and copy routines, which is useful for motivation but not essential to the app's main job.

Where Hevy Wins

The logging interface is the main victory. A gym tracker fails if entering a set takes longer than doing it. Hevy keeps the focus on exercises, reps, weight and rest, rather than burying the workout behind meal plans, coaching upsells or a noisy social feed.

The statistics are another step above a simple logbook. You can see volume, total reps, best weight and estimated one-rep max over time. That matters because a heavier final set is not the only sign of progress; more total volume or consistent rep increases can show improvement too.

The exercise videos are a practical touch. They will not replace a coach, but having a quick form reference inside the exercise library is more useful than hunting through unrelated videos while standing beside a squat rack.

Wear OS support is a genuine differentiator. Live syncing, heart-rate tracking, timers and automatic saving after reconnecting are features many phone-first trackers ignore. If you train with a compatible watch, Hevy can keep the phone in your pocket instead of turning it into a clipboard.

• ✅ 4.9 stars from approximately 288,000 Google Play ratings
• ✅ No adverts claimed in the store description
• ✅ Detailed progression charts rather than basic workout history
• ✅ Custom exercises, supersets, drop sets and failure sets
• ✅ Wear OS support with live syncing and heart-rate tracking

Where It Falls Short

The biggest uncertainty is pricing. Hevy presents itself as free, but in-app purchases mean the full experience may not stay free once you use it regularly. The store page does not state which tools sit behind the paywall or what the current UK subscription costs, so you should check those details before building your entire training system around it.

The social layer will not appeal to everyone. Following friends and copying routines can add motivation, but it also means more account and activity data may be involved than with a private spreadsheet. Users who only want a quiet personal log can ignore those features, though the app's broader community pitch may feel unnecessary.

There is also no iPhone information in the supplied listing data, so this review is specifically about the Android version. Cross-platform households should confirm iOS availability and feature parity before committing. The missing published app size and minimum Android requirement are small annoyances, but they make installation planning less transparent.

• ❌ In-app purchases are present, with no UK price supplied on the store listing
• ❌ Social features may feel excessive for private, solo training
• ❌ The supplied listing does not state app size or minimum Android version
• ❌ Wear OS benefits require a compatible smartwatch

Best Fit

Best for Android lifters who train two or more times a week, repeat structured routines and want proof that their numbers are improving. It is particularly useful for someone moving beyond beginner workouts and needing volume, one-rep-max and muscle-group data without paying for a personal coach.

It also works for budget-conscious gym members who want to start free and decide later if the paid features earn their money. Wear OS owners get the most distinctive experience, especially during sessions where checking a phone between sets is annoying.

Skip this if you only need a private, occasional workout checklist, dislike accounts and social features, or use a device outside Android and Wear OS. A basic spreadsheet may be enough for a few weekly sessions, while a coaching app makes more sense if you need form feedback and a personalised programme rather than better record-keeping.

The Decision

Hevy is best for Android gym-goers with structured routines, a regular lifting habit and a budget-sensitive approach to subscriptions. Start with the free version, test how much of your routine and history it unlocks, then decide if the in-app purchase is justified. The excellent rating and detailed tracking make it one of the more convincing gym-log apps available, but the unclear paid-feature boundary stops it being an automatic recommendation for everyone.

For a different kind of mobile companion, see Tolan Turns AI Chat Into a Tiny Digital Companion.