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athlate vs Strong
Quick answer: Choose Strong if you want a minimal log with an Apple Watch app, and nothing more. Choose athlate if you want charts, the plate calculator, warm-up sets and unlimited routines free, a spreadsheet or cards one tap apart, and an optional AI orchestrator, Rytme, that explains every change to your plan.
Why we built athlate
“I logged in a spreadsheet for years. It was fast, and last session sat right next to today’s, with RIR and RPE in plain sight. Most apps use cards, and that’s fine, but I wanted the choice. So athlate has both, one tap apart.”
Where Strong is better
- Apple Watch and Android. Strong has both. athlate is on iOS, and Apple Watch and Android are not available yet.
- A one-time price. Strong PRO is $99.99 once, or $29.99 a year. Rytme is a subscription, because it builds and explains programs with AI.
- Years in the category. Strong has been a staple for a long time, and it shows in how simple it is.
Where athlate is different
- One log, two views, one tap apart. A spreadsheet with every set, rep, weight and RIR in one grid, or cards with one exercise at a time. Switch mid session and nothing is lost.
- No caps on the free plan. Unlimited workouts, routines, custom exercises and full history. Charts, the muscle map, the plate calculator, warm-up sets and export to Excel, CSV and PDF are all free.
- Rytme explains every change. Write what you want in your own words and Rytme builds a full program around your days, your equipment and what you have actually lifted. Every number comes with one sentence on why. It suggests, you decide: nothing changes until you approve it.
- Your history comes with you. Import from ten sources, including Strong, Hevy, Strava, Whoop and Oura, plus Apple Health.
Who should pick something else
If you mostly run, ride or swim, keep Strava for that. athlate connects to Strava, so your cardio lands next to your strength training, and a Garmin connection is planned. We recommend using them together: it gives you a very strong base for both.
athlate and Strong at a glance
| App | Price (US) | What is free | Platforms | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| athlate | Free. Rytme, the optional AI orchestrator: $11.99/mo or $119.99/yr after 14 free days. | Everything except Rytme. No caps on workouts, routines, custom exercises or history. | iOS. Apple Watch and Android: not yet. | Lifters who want unlimited free logging, a spreadsheet or cards one tap apart, and a plan that explains itself. |
| Strong | $4.99/mo, $29.99/yr or $99.99 once (PRO). | Unlimited workouts. Capped at 3 routines. Charts, plate calculator and warm-up calculator are PRO. | iOS, Android, Apple Watch. | Lifters who want a minimal log with a watch app and nothing else. |
Prices and limits checked 4 October 2026 against each app’s own pages and its US App Store listing; athlate’s against App Store Connect on 5 October 2026. All prices are in US dollars as listed in the US store; your own store shows your currency. Apps change quickly. If something here is out of date, tell us at hey@athlate.com and we will fix it. Sources: Strong on the App Store (US), What Strong PRO includes.
Questions
Is Strong free?
Strong is free for unlimited workouts, but routines are capped at 3, and charts, the plate calculator and the warm-up calculator need PRO, at $4.99 a month, $29.99 a year or $99.99 once.
Can I move my Strong history to athlate?
Yes. Export a CSV from Strong and import it in athlate. See Import from Strong and Hevy.
Is athlate free?
Yes, everything except Rytme. Rytme is optional: 14 days free, then $11.99 a month or $119.99 a year. New subscribers pay $5.99 for the first month or $79.99 for the first year. If you stop Rytme, your whole log, graphs and export stay.
Does athlate have Apple Watch or Android?
Not yet. athlate is on iOS today.