Strong is one of the most respected dedicated strength tracking apps available, and it has earned that reputation by doing one thing exceptionally well: logging barbell workouts. Fitiv does strength tracking too — and adds HRV readiness, cardio tracking, GPS, and recovery scores that tell you whether you should actually be lifting heavy today.
Feature Comparison
| Feature | Fitiv | Strong | |---|---|---| | Strength tracking (sets/reps) | Yes | Yes — best-in-class | | Exercise database | Moderate | Very large (400+ exercises) | | Custom exercises | Yes | Yes | | Apple Watch integration | Yes — wrist-based rest timers, logging | Yes — basic logging | | Workout builder / programming | Yes | Yes — detailed | | Progressive overload tracking | Yes | Yes | | 1RM calculator | Yes | Yes | | HRV readiness score | Yes | No | | Recovery score | Yes | No | | Training load (TRIMP/TSS) | Yes | No | | Cardio / running tracking | Yes — GPS, HR zones, pace | No | | Cycling / rowing tracking | Yes | No | | VO2 max estimate | Yes | No | | Garmin support | Yes | No | | Bluetooth HR monitor support | Yes (Polar H10, Wahoo TICKR) | No | | Community / challenges | Yes | No | | Plate calculator | No | Yes | | Program templates | Yes | Yes — extensive library | | Price | Free tier + premium from $4.99/month | Free tier + $9.99/month or $29.99/year |
What Strong Does Best
Strong is purpose-built for the gym, and that focus shows. The exercise database is one of the largest among dedicated strength apps — over 400 exercises with video demonstrations, filterable by muscle group and equipment. For powerlifters, bodybuilders, and gym athletes who need to log a specific movement they do not see in other apps, Strong almost certainly has it.
The user interface for logging sets is refined through years of iteration. Logging a working set in Strong is fast: load the exercise, enter reps and weight, hit confirm, and the rest timer starts automatically. The flow is clean and interrupts your workout as little as possible.
Strong's program library is extensive, covering popular templates like 5/3/1, Starting Strength, GZCLP, and dozens of hypertrophy programs. Athletes who want to follow an established strength program without building it themselves will find Strong's template library more fully stocked than most competitors.
The plate calculator — which tells you exactly which plates to load on each side of the bar for a target weight — is a small feature that regular barbell athletes genuinely miss when it is absent. Strong has it; Fitiv does not.
For athletes who train exclusively with weights and have zero interest in cardio tracking or biometric readiness scores, Strong is an excellent, focused tool.
What Fitiv Does Best
The fundamental question Strong cannot answer is: should you lift heavy today? Strong will dutifully log whatever weight you put on the bar, but it has no idea if you slept five hours, your HRV crashed overnight, and your body is running on empty. Fitiv does.
Fitiv's integration of HRV readiness and training load into the workout experience changes how you interact with your training plan. When your recovery score is low, Fitiv can prompt you to reduce intensity or shift to a deload. When your readiness is high, you know you are primed to go after a new personal record. This feedback loop — biometrics informing training decisions — is something Strong does not attempt.
Training load in Fitiv accounts for both lifting stress and cardio stress. If you ran a hard tempo run Tuesday and are planning a heavy squat session Wednesday, Fitiv's rolling load metrics reflect both stimuli. Strong sees only the squat session; it has no knowledge of the run.
Apple Watch integration is deeper in Fitiv. You can start a workout, log sets, monitor heart rate in real time, manage rest timers, and get your HRV readiness score all from the watch face. Strong's Apple Watch integration covers basic logging but lacks the biometric depth.
For hybrid athletes — CrossFit athletes, obstacle course racers, triathletes who strength train, recreational lifters who also run — Fitiv provides a unified view of all training stress that Strong cannot replicate.
GPS tracking for outdoor workouts is entirely absent from Strong. If you run, cycle, hike, or do any outdoor cardio, you need a second app. Fitiv handles all of it.
Honest Assessment: Where Strong Wins
If your training is exclusively strength-focused and you have no interest in HRV, recovery scores, or cardio tracking, Strong is the more specialized and refined tool for that specific job. The exercise database is larger, the interface for pure strength logging is slightly faster, and the plate calculator is a practical feature Fitiv lacks.
Strong also has a larger and more established community of strength athletes sharing programs and discussing training, which matters if you want social accountability within a powerlifting or bodybuilding context.
Athletes who already use a separate running or cycling app and only need a gym tracker will get more depth from Strong's dedicated strength features than from Fitiv's broader-but-somewhat-shallower strength module.
The Hybrid Athlete Case
The clearest use case for Fitiv over Strong is the hybrid athlete who trains for both strength and some form of cardio. According to NSCA data, fewer than 20% of recreational athletes train exclusively in one modality. If you run even one day per week alongside your lifting — which describes most people with fitness goals — you need a tool that understands your full training picture.
Strong sees only the gym. Fitiv sees everything.
Who Should Choose Fitiv
- Hybrid athletes who train for strength and cardio and want one app for both
- Athletes who want recovery-informed training — knowing if they should go heavy today
- Anyone who wants GPS running, HRV readiness, and strength tracking under one subscription
- Apple Watch users who want wrist-based biometrics alongside their strength logging
- Fitiv is the clear choice if you want your recovery score to reflect both your lifts and your runs
Who Should Choose Strong
- Athletes who train exclusively for strength and do zero cardio tracking
- Powerlifters and bodybuilders who need the deepest possible exercise database
- Athletes who follow established program templates and want the widest library
- Barbell athletes who want a plate calculator and fast, minimal set-logging flow
Frequently Asked Questions
Does Fitiv have a plate calculator? Not currently. Strong's plate calculator is a practical feature that regular barbell athletes appreciate, and it is one area where Strong has an edge for dedicated powerlifters.
How large is Fitiv's exercise database compared to Strong? Strong's exercise library is larger, with 400+ exercises. Fitiv covers the most commonly used strength movements with the ability to add custom exercises. For most gym athletes, both apps cover their needs, but Strong wins for depth.
Does Fitiv's Apple Watch integration work for strength training? Yes. You can log sets and reps directly from your Apple Watch, manage rest timers on your wrist, and monitor heart rate between sets — all without touching your phone.
Can Strong track HRV or recovery? No. Strong is a pure workout logger. It does not measure or use biometric readiness data. You would need a separate app like Athlytic or WHOOP alongside Strong to get that layer.
What if I only lift weights — is Fitiv worth it over Strong? If you truly only do barbell or machine training with no cardio, Strong is the more refined tool for your specific use case. Fitiv's advantages are most pronounced for athletes who mix training modalities. That said, even pure strength athletes who want recovery data will find Fitiv's readiness scores useful for informing intensity decisions.
Does Fitiv support strength programs like 5/3/1? Fitiv's workout builder allows you to construct custom programs and save templates. Dedicated 5/3/1 and other named program templates are more developed in Strong's library. Fitiv's advantage is that whatever program you build, it is contextualized by your daily recovery score.
