Ironcraft: Bodybuilding

Best bodybuilding app alternatives to JEFIT, Hevy and Strong (2026)

There is no single best alternative: Hevy suits fast logging with friends, Strong suits a full Apple Watch app, and JEFIT suits video instructions and AI plan suggestions. Ironcraft is the option if you want a workout log, a food log and an event countdown in one app with no account, and can live without AI suggestions, exercise videos and a social feed.

Published 2026-10-29 · Updated 2026-11-01

Compare the approaches

Best bodybuilding app alternatives to JEFIT, Hevy and Strong (2026)
Approach	Useful for	Limit or tradeoff
JEFIT	Per its App Store listing on 1 November 2026: 1,400+ exercises with HD video, AI Adaptive Plan and progressive-overload suggestions (listed as core features; Elite adds an Adaptive AI Coach), charts with automatic 1RM, and Apple Watch live sync with heart rate.	JEFIT Elite costs $12.99/month or $69.99/year. In our review sample, 45% of 400 negative reviews since 2024 say a recent update or redesign made it worse, and 19% mention features moved from free to Elite.
Hevy	Per its App Store listing on 1 November 2026: fast set logging with last session’s values inline, a social feed and Gym Profiles, Strava sync, Apple Watch logging, and a free plan with no ads.	Hevy Pro ($2.99/month, $23.99/year or $74.99 lifetime) adds Hevy Trainer, unlimited routines and custom exercises, and the complete training history.
Strong	Per its App Store listing on 1 November 2026: a full Apple Watch app that logs with or without the iPhone, plate and warm-up calculators, Cloud Sync and CSV export.	The free version saves unlimited workouts but only 3 custom routines; Strong PRO costs $4.99/month or $29.99/year; the store rows also list PRO Forever at $79.99 or $99.99. Apple Watch and integration problems appear in 38% of 355 negative reviews in our sample.
Ironcraft	Workout log, food log with barcode lookups, Apple Watch entry saved on the watch first, and an event countdown, with no account, ads or tracking. Free includes unlimited custom exercises and routines.	No AI or progression suggestions, exercise videos, social feed, cloud sync or Android app. Free charts cover 90 days; Pro costs $3.99/month, $23.99/year or $79.99 lifetime. Released 26 October 2026, with no ratings yet.

Feature matrix

JEFIT, Hevy, Strong and Ironcraft: US App Store listings checked 1 November 2026
Feature	JEFIT	Hevy	Strong	Ironcraft
Free plan	Yes: free and custom routines, 1,400+ exercises, logging with history (jefit.com)	Yes, with no ads	Yes: unlimited workouts, 3 custom routines	Yes: workouts, food log, Apple Watch, 1 event, 90-day charts
Paid plan (US)	Elite $12.99/month or $69.99/year	Pro $2.99/month, $23.99/year or $74.99 lifetime	PRO $4.99/month or $29.99/year (description); store rows also list 6 months $19.99, 1 year $23.99 and PRO Forever $79.99 or $99.99	Pro $3.99/month, $23.99/year or $79.99 lifetime
App Store rating	4.76 from 47,052 ratings	4.92 from 101,232 ratings	4.86 from 108,537 ratings	No ratings yet (released 26 October 2026)
Exercise library	1,400+ with HD video	Size not checked; exercise videos with step-by-step instructions	Not checked	330+, filter by muscle or equipment; no videos
Plans or suggestions	AI Adaptive Plan and progressive-overload suggestions (core features on the listing); Elite adds an Adaptive AI Coach	Free routine library; Hevy Trainer programs (Pro)	Not listed	None; starter routines and last time’s values
Apple Watch	Live sync with heart rate	Logging with heart rate and complications	Full app that logs with or without the iPhone	Digital Crown entry, rest and heart rate; each set saved on the watch first
Social features	Not listed	Feed, friends, Gym Profiles with leaderboards	Not listed	None
Food and macro log	Not listed	Not listed	Not listed	7,500+ common foods, barcode lookups, macros and water (free)
Event countdown	Not listed	Not listed	Not listed	1 event free; unlimited with Pro
Data and connections	Not checked	Strava sync; export to Apple Health	Cloud Sync, CSV export; measurements with Apple Health	No account or cloud sync; CSV import and export; saves to Apple Health

"Not listed" means we did not find the feature in that app’s App Store listing on 1 November 2026; it does not prove the app lacks it. "Not checked" means we did not verify it. US prices; they can change.

What reviewers like and dislike

Hevy and Strong reviewers most often praise fast, simple logging (42% and 41% of 300 positive reviews each); JEFIT reviewers praise easy customization (27%) and plans with progressive-overload suggestions (25%). The top complaints differ: for JEFIT, a recent update or redesign (45% of 400 negative reviews) and bugs or crashes (39%); for Strong, bugs after updates (52% of 355) and Apple Watch or integration problems (38%); for Hevy, bugs (47%) and Apple Watch or integration sync (36%), from a small sample of 36 negative reviews.

What Ironcraft does not do

Ironcraft has no AI coaching or AI workouts, no weight or progression suggestions, no exercise videos or muscle maps, no social feed, and no account or cloud sync. There is no Android, iPad-native or web app, no Strava or Garmin connection, and it does not import from Apple Health. If you need any of these, JEFIT, Hevy or Strong may fit you better.

Where Ironcraft is different

Next to the workout log, Ironcraft has a food log (7,500+ common foods, barcode lookups through Open Food Facts, quick-add macros, saved meals and water) and a countdown to a show, meet, race, photo shoot or wedding. There is no account: logs stay on your iPhone and Apple Watch, the iPhone keeps them encrypted. Per the App Store on 1 November 2026, its App Privacy label lists Data Linked to You: search history and diagnostics, used for analytics and app functionality. On Apple Watch each set is saved on the watch first, then sent to the iPhone.

How we checked

Mister Business Enterprises LLC makes Ironcraft, so this is a publisher-written comparison, not an independent test. Every competitor fact is per its US App Store listing on 1 November 2026, or the competitor’s own website where named. Review themes come from App Store reviews written since 2024 in the US, UK, Canada and Australia that we tagged by topic; the percentages are shares of that sample, not of all users. Ironcraft facts are from its App Store listing and version 1.0.0 (build 36). Prices are US prices and can change.

Which one to choose

Choose JEFIT if you want 1,400+ exercises with HD video, plus AI plan or progressive-overload suggestions, and you are willing to pay for Elite.
Choose Hevy if you want fast logging, a social feed and Strava sync on a free plan with no ads. Its yearly Pro price is the same as Ironcraft Pro’s, and its monthly and lifetime prices are lower.
Choose Strong if you want a full Apple Watch app that logs without your iPhone, cloud sync and calculators, and 3 custom routines on the free version are enough or you will pay for PRO.
Choose Ironcraft if you want workouts, food and an event countdown in one app with no account, and you do not need AI suggestions, videos, social features or cloud sync.

Availability and languages

Ironcraft is for adults 18 and older on iPhone with iOS 18 or later; its optional Apple Watch app requires watchOS 11 or later. Available in 143 countries and regions, excluding China mainland, Russia, the EU, Iceland, Norway and the United Kingdom. The app interface is English; translated guides do not change app language or regional availability. Check your local App Store.

Product details or contact Download on the App Store

Questions and answers

Which alternative keeps unlimited custom routines for free?

Ironcraft’s free plan includes unlimited custom exercises and routines. Per their App Store listings on 1 November 2026, Strong’s free version is limited to 3 custom routines and Hevy Pro adds unlimited routines; jefit.com lists free and custom routines in the free Basic plan without stating a limit.

Does Ironcraft suggest weights or build workouts with AI?

No. Ironcraft shows what you did last time for each set and finds your records, but it does not suggest weights, progressions or workouts. JEFIT Elite offers AI suggestions, per its App Store listing on 1 November 2026.

Can I move my history from JEFIT, Hevy or Strong?

Ironcraft imports workout CSV files from other workout apps, with a preview before anything is saved, and exports your logged data as CSV. Check that your current app gives you a CSV export; Strong’s listing mentions one. We did not test every app’s export.

Is Ironcraft available in my country and language?

Ironcraft is on the App Store in 143 countries and regions, but not in China mainland, Russia, the EU, Iceland, Norway or the United Kingdom. The app interface is English; a translated guide does not translate the app.