Best Free Gym Apps in 2026: What's Actually Free

Almost every gym app says it's free. Most of them are free to download and then limit something: how many routines you can save, how far back your charts go, or whether you see ads. The right free app depends on which of those limits you'll actually hit.

We checked each app's own website and App Store or Google Play listing in October 2026, so this guide says exactly what you get for $0 and where the catch is.

The short answer: for tracking lifts and seeing progress for free, Hevy, Strong and Liftly all let you log unlimited workouts. Hevy's free plan has no ads but caps you at 4 routines and 3 months of graph history. Strong caps you at 3 routines. FitNotes (Android) is fully free with no ads. Boostcamp is the best free option if you want a ready-made program to follow.

Free gym apps compared

Prices are US list prices for the paid upgrade, as shown on each app's own page or store listing. They can vary by country and change over time.

What "free" usually means

Before picking, know the four ways gym apps limit their free plans:

1. Routine caps. You can log as many workouts as you like, but only save a few templates. Hevy allows 4, Strong allows 3. If you run a 3-day full-body plan, that's fine. A 6-day push/pull/legs split needs more.
2. History caps. Hevy's free graphs show the last 3 months. You keep logging past that, but long-term charts need Pro.
3. Ads. Jefit and Liftly show ads on the free plan. Hevy says it has none. FitNotes says it is "ad free".
4. Locked analytics. Most apps keep basic charts free and put deeper analysis (per-muscle volume, strength levels, comparisons) behind the upgrade.

None of these stop you from tracking progressive overload, which is the part that actually makes you stronger. (If you're not sure how to do that, read how to track progressive overload.)

Hevy: best free app for social tracking

Hevy is a clean, fast workout logger with a social feed where you can follow friends and see their workouts. Its own pricing page lists the free plan as unlimited workouts with up to 4 routines, 7 custom exercises and 3 months of graph history. The App Store listing says it has no ads.

Good for: lifters who want a polished, ad-free logger and like seeing friends' workouts. The catch: if you want more than 4 saved routines or charts older than 3 months, you'll need Pro ($2.99 a month, $23.99 a year, or $74.99 once).

Strong: best free app for simple logging

Strong has been around for years and is known for a minimal, no-fuss logging screen. Its App Store listing says the free version saves unlimited workouts but is limited to 3 custom routines. Strong PRO is $4.99 a month or $29.99 a year in the US, with a lifetime option, and adds unlimited routines and more charts.

Good for: people who want a straightforward log and run a simple program. The catch: 3 routines is tight if you train 4 or more different days.

Liftly: best free app for seeing your progress

Liftly is a gym tracker built around progress. Logging is free and unlimited, and works offline. When you open an exercise, it fills in last session's weight and shows last time's reps as hints, so beating your last workout takes one tap. It flags a PR the moment you hit one and estimates your one-rep max from every set, with a free chart of your estimated 1RM over time. Free users also get the top leaderboards.

Liftly Pro ranks every muscle from Newbie to GOAT based on your strength for your bodyweight, suggests the weight for your next workout, and unlocks advanced analytics, a calendar day view and saved workout splits. Pro starts at $5.99 a month or $49.99 a year in the US, with a free trial.

Good for: lifters who want to see whether they're getting stronger, and who like a rank to chase. The catch: the free version shows occasional full-screen ads (Pro removes them), and muscle ranks are Pro. Free users see their ranks blurred.

Jefit: biggest free exercise library

Jefit's own pricing page lists free (Basic) features as free and custom routines, over 1,400 exercises with instructions, logging and history, and community access. Elite adds professionally designed plans, advanced analytics, Watch app support, video demos and an ad-free experience, at $12.99 a month or $69.99 a year.

Good for: people who want a huge exercise library and free custom routines. The catch: the free plan has ads, and the upgrade costs more than most others here.

Boostcamp: best free app for following a program

Boostcamp's own Pro page says the free app includes the full workout tracker and a library of 14,000+ programs, most of its coach-designed ones included, plus RPE logging, rest timers, PR badges and a custom program builder with no cap. Pro adds exercise analytics, auto progression, personalized programs and 20+ exclusive coach programs, at $59.99 a year (with a 7-day trial) or $14.99 a month.

Good for: beginners who want a proven program to follow without paying for one. The catch: per-exercise charts and records are Pro, so tracking long-term progress is more limited on free.

FitNotes: best free app with no subscription

FitNotes is a simple Android workout log. Its Google Play listing describes it as free to use with no ads, and it covers the basics well: a workout log, routines, a rest timer, a calendar, backups to Google Drive or Dropbox, and CSV export.

Good for: Android users who want a no-strings log and don't mind a plain design. The catch: a small default exercise list and fewer progress features than the others.

Liftoff: free strength ranks

Liftoff is built around ranking your lifts. Its App Store release notes say you can get your rank on 500+ exercises for free. The app also logs workouts, shows progress charts and lets you compete with friends. Liftoff Pro is a paid subscription; the App Store lists several price points, so check the price in the app.

Good for: competitive lifters who mainly want to see how their lifts rank. The catch: the listing doesn't spell out what's free and what's Pro, so check in the app before you commit. Liftly and Liftoff both have ranks, so if that's what you want, try both and keep the one you prefer.

How to choose a free gym app

Answer these four questions and the choice usually makes itself:

• Do you follow a program, or make your own? If you want a program handed to you, start with Boostcamp. If you make your own, any of the trackers work.
• How many different workout days do you run? More than 3 or 4 means Strong's and Hevy's free routine caps will pinch. Boostcamp and FitNotes don't cap them. In Liftly, saved splits are Pro, but you can log any exercise on any day for free.
• Do ads bother you mid-workout? Hevy and FitNotes are ad-free on their free plans. Jefit and Liftly show ads unless you upgrade.
• What keeps you coming back? Friends' feeds (Hevy), a rank to chase (Liftly, Liftoff), or a plan to finish (Boostcamp). Pick the one that will actually get you to open it next session.

The most important feature is the boring one: seeing exactly what you lifted last time. If you can beat last session's weight or reps, you're progressing. Hevy, Strong, Liftly and FitNotes all show your previous sets for free.

How to test a gym app in one week

1. Log 2–3 real workouts. Don't judge an app from the store screenshots. Use it in the gym.
2. Time how long a set takes to log. Between sets you want a tap or two, not menus.
3. Check the second workout. Does the app show what you did last time without you looking it up?
4. Look at your charts after a week. Is it easy to see if your bench, squat or deadlift went up? (For targets by bodyweight, see how much should I bench for my weight.)
5. Only then think about paying. If the free plan already does everything you use, stay free. If you're weighing a paid plan, the best gym apps compares what each upgrade costs per year.

FAQ

What is the best free gym app?

It depends on what you want. For ad-free tracking with friends, Hevy. For simple logging, Strong. For seeing progress and strength ranks, Liftly. For a free program to follow, Boostcamp. For Android with no ads and no subscription at all, FitNotes.

Is there a gym app that's completely free with no subscription?

Yes. FitNotes on Android is free with no ads and no paid tier. Most other apps, including Hevy, Strong and Liftly, let you log unlimited workouts for free and only charge for extra features.

Is Hevy completely free?

Hevy's core logging is free and unlimited, with no ads. The free plan is limited to 4 routines, 7 custom exercises and 3 months of graph history. Hevy Pro removes those limits.

What's the best free app to track progressive overload?

Any app that shows last session's weight and reps when you start an exercise. Liftly fills them in for you and charts your estimated one-rep max. Hevy and Strong also show your previous sets.

Do free gym apps sell your data?

Each app explains what it collects in its privacy policy and on its App Store and Google Play privacy labels. Check those before you sign up, especially for apps that show ads.