Gravl vs Hevy

Gravl vs Hevy, with RIRLift in the middle

Hevy is the better log and the cheaper subscription; Gravl is the one that does the planning. RIRLift is the free pick for a Hevy user who wants the weights decided without handing over the program.

Where Gravl and Hevy really differ

• Who writes the program

  In Hevy you build routines yourself or pick one of its free ready-made splits; Hevy Trainer, a Pro feature, builds a full program for you. Gravl writes the whole week from your goal, gym and schedule, and rewrites it after each session.

• Who picks the weight

  Hevy pre-fills last time's numbers and shows charts and 1RM estimates, but you choose every weight. Gravl pre-fills a weight worked out from your estimated max and moves it on a rep ladder. RIRLift sets it from the reps you had left after each set, and the next set can change mid-session.

  

• What stays free

  Hevy's free tier logs unlimited workouts with up to 4 routines and 7 custom exercises; graphs cover the last 3 months. Gravl gives 3 free logged workouts, then asks you to subscribe. RIRLift's free tier keeps 4 active routines and sets every weight, with no workout limit.

• Price if you pay

  Hevy Pro is $2.99/month, $23.99/year or $74.99 once in the US. Gravl is $14.99/month, with yearly plans from $59.99 to $89.99. RIRLift Pro is $9.99/month or $79.99/year, and optional.

• Friends and feeds

  Hevy has a feed with follows, likes, comments and saved routines from other lifters. Gravl has friend groups, challenges and a Strength Score. RIRLift has friends, challenges and a weekly board, but no public feed.

Gravl, Hevy and RIRLift for the same lifter

Your own split in Hevy's 4 free routines

A year on Hevy free with push, pull, legs and an arm day you wrote. You pick every weight from last week's numbers and wonder if Gravl would push you harder.

App	What it does here	For this lifter
Hevy	Logs it all free and pre-fills last time's sets. Every increase is your call. Trainer would build a new program with Pro.	Fits if choosing the weight yourself works for you.
Gravl	Replaces your split with one it plans, picks every weight, and asks for a subscription after 3 workouts.	Fits if you're happy to give up the split you wrote.
RIRLift	Imports your Hevy CSV, keeps your four routines on the free tier, and sets the next weight for every exercise from your history and the reps you had left.	Fits if you want your program kept and the weights decided.

Gravl takes over the program; RIRLift only takes over the arithmetic.

Arm day, one set short of the target

Your Hevy arm day, imported. Close-grip bench came up a rep short on the first set.

Exercise	You logged	Next session	Why
Close-Grip Bench Press	Set 1: 165 lb × 7, 1 left	Set 2: 165 lb × 8	7 reps is short of the planned 8 but inside 6–10, so the weight holds for set 2.
EZ-Bar Curl	65 lb, 12 / 12 / 12 reps, 2 left	70 lb × 8	Every set at the top of 8–12: one 5 lb step, reps back to 8.

A short set didn't cost you weight, and a finished range earned the next step without you working it out.

Plans for a Hevy lifter who wants weights set

• The best workout for arms: biceps, triceps and forearms together

  Full gym, one arm day a week

  Close-grip bench and EZ-bar curls from the example, as a full arm day.

  1× a week · 18 sets a week · ~45 min

  Add to RIRLift

  Add to RIRLift

  Scan with your iPhone camera to add this plan.

  See the plan

• The best workout routine for men, for your week

  Busy: 3 gym days, push/pull/legs

  Push, pull and legs in three routines, leaving a fourth free slot for your arm day.

  3× a week · 48 sets a week · ~40 min

  Add to RIRLift

  Add to RIRLift

  Scan with your iPhone camera to add this plan.

  See the plan

Make it fit you

• Import your Hevy CSV first

  Export from Hevy's settings and import it in RIRLift. Weights worked out from it are marked From history, so you don't start light.

• Turn RPE into reps left

  RPE 8 is 2 left, RPE 9 is 1. Set your targets once per exercise.

• Keep your four routines

  The free tier holds 4 active routines, the same count as Hevy free. Group them into a program and swap in others from the library when you change plans.

• Want the last word? Use Ask first

  With Ask first, next session's weights wait on the recap until you confirm them, so nothing moves without you.

When a different app fits better

• You want a social feed and friends' routines. Hevy, with follows, likes, comments and saved routines.
• You want the exercises chosen for you each week. Gravl, which plans the week around recovery and neglected lifts.
• You're on Android or log RPE. Hevy or Gravl. RIRLift is iPhone and Apple Watch only and logs reps in reserve.

Questions

Read next

• Gravl review: what it does with your sets

  How Gravl's rep ladder, Watch app and pricing work.

• Hevy on Apple Watch, and what RIRLift does differently

  What Hevy does on the wrist, and what RIRLift adds.

• Gravl vs Fitbod

  The two workout generators compared.

• RPE vs RIR

  Moving from Hevy's RPE to reps in reserve.

• How RIRLift picks your next weight

  Why the curl went to 70 lb and the bench held.

• Hevy app review: free vs Pro, and who should pay

  What Hevy free and Pro give you.

• Fitbod vs Hevy

  The other generator against Hevy.

More ways lifters use RIRLift

• Gravl review: what it does with your sets

  How Gravl plans your week and picks each weight, what it costs, and when another app fits better.

• Hevy on Apple Watch, and what RIRLift does differently

  Hevy's Watch app logs sets and rest. RIRLift adds reps in reserve and sets the next weight on the wrist.

• Gravl vs Fitbod

  Both write your workouts. Here's how each picks the weight, what each costs, and the free third option.

Every lifter and goal