Comparison
Alzo vs Strong: when a logger is enough, and when it isn’t
Strong is one of the longest-running workout logs on the iPhone and the reference point for a no-nonsense gym log: routines, sets, a rest timer, a Watch app, CSV export. Alzo is a 2026 newcomer that keeps that core and adds a decision layer on top: it reads the log and tells you when to add weight. This report compares the two with every Strong claim taken from strong.app, its help center or its US App Store listing on September 5, 2026.
How do Alzo and Strong compare on the facts?
Prices are US App Store list prices as published by each developer, verified September 5, 2026; regional prices and promotions differ. Alzo prices are the App Store Connect list prices for 1.0.
| Criterion | Alzo | Strong |
|---|---|---|
| Suggests the next weight? | Yes. Free shows the diagnosis (“ready to add weight”); Pro shows the exact new number with one-tap “Apply”, adjusted to your plates. | Not described by the developer. The log shows previous sets; charts and a warm-up calculator are included. |
| Progression rule | 2-for-2 rule (NSCA): rep target in every set for two sessions in a row. +2.5 kg barbell, +5 kg squat/deadlift, +1.25 kg isolation, dumbbells by your increments. Eases the load when reps fall below range; scheduled deload. | No progression rule published. |
| Free version and limits | Unlimited log and history, unlimited plans, Watch app, voice, 206 exercises with video, records, Apple Health, plate calculator, first coach insight, export. Charts show the current 12-week window. | Unlimited workouts and history. Free version limited to 3 custom routines. |
| Account required? | No account. Nothing to sign up for. | “All users will be prompted to sign up for an account before using Strong.” |
| Apple Watch | Yes, watchOS 11+. Full workout on the wrist, phone can stay in the bag; needs the iPhone app installed. | Yes, watchOS 10+. “Fully-featured Apple Watch app to log workouts with or without your iPhone.” |
| Voice guidance | Yes: English and Polish. Announces exercise, weight and target; music ducks and returns. | Not listed by the developer. |
| Interface languages | 7 (English, Polish, Spanish, German, French, Italian, Portuguese (Brazil)). | 11 (English, German, Spanish, French, Italian, Portuguese, Japanese, Korean, Russian and two Chinese variants). |
| Price (US App Store) | $6.99/mo · $39.99/yr · $89.99 lifetime. 21 days of Pro from your first completed workout, no card. | $4.99/mo · $19.99/6 mo · $29.99/yr · $99.99 Forever |
| Ads and trackers | No ads, no trackers, no analytics SDKs, no account. | Not stated on the listing. Trackers: not assessed here. |
| Data export | Full-history Excel export, free. Alzo Reports (PDF + styled Excel) in Pro. | CSV export from the app. |
| Exercise library | 206 with looping video and technique notes. | “Comprehensive range”; count not published. |
| Social features | None. | Workout sharing; no feed advertised. |
| Platforms | iPhone and Apple Watch only (iOS 18+). | iPhone, Android, Apple Watch. |
What does Strong do that Alzo does not?
Strong is the more mature product and it shows in breadth. It runs on iPhone, Android and Apple Watch, so your log follows you across platforms. It speaks 11 languages. The Apple Watch app logs “with or without your iPhone”. It offers RPE logging, supersets, body-part measurements, custom timers, Siri Shortcuts and a warm-up calculator, and it has been through more than a decade of bug reports. Its free version has unlimited workouts and history with a single headline limit of 3 custom routines, and a “Strong PRO Forever” license exists at $99.99. What Strong does not do, according to its own site and listing, is recommend weights: it shows what you did last time and leaves the call to you.
What does Alzo do that Strong does not?
Alzo answers the question that follows every logged set: is it time for more? The rule is 2-for-2 from NSCA practice: hit your rep target in every set two sessions in a row. Free tells you when that has happened; Pro adds the exact new weight, rounded to your plates (+2.5 kg barbell, +5 kg squats and deadlifts, +1.25 kg isolation, dumbbells by the increments you own) and a one-tap “Apply” that edits the plan. It also backs off: when reps fall below range the load comes down without a tap, and after a stall a deload is scheduled.
Three further differences. Alzo needs no account at all and ships no ads, trackers or analytics; Strong prompts every user to sign up before use. Alzo has a voice that runs the workout, announcing exercise, weight and target and counting down rest in English or Polish, on iPhone and on the Watch; Strong does not list voice guidance. And Alzo’s free version has no routine limit, where Strong’s free version stops at 3 custom routines.
When should you choose Strong?
- You train on Android, or want the same log on more than one platform.
- You already program yourself and only need a reliable place to write numbers down.
- You want RPE, supersets and measurement tracking in a product with a long track record.
- You want the lower yearly price: $29.99 against Alzo Pro’s $39.99.
- You need one of the 11 interface languages Alzo does not offer, such as Japanese, Korean, Russian or Chinese.
When should you choose Alzo?
- You want the app to say when to add weight, and in Pro, exactly how much.
- You do not want an account, ads or trackers anywhere in the app.
- You lift with the phone in the bag and want a voice on the Watch, not just a screen.
- You want unlimited routines for free.
- You want the cheaper lifetime license: $89.99 against Strong’s $99.99, and 21 days of Pro to test the numbers first.
Where Alzo falls short against Strong
- New app (2026): a short track record and a smaller community than any app on this page.
- iPhone and Apple Watch only. No Android, no web version, no iPad-specific layout.
- No social feed, no following friends, no coach-client platform.
- 206 exercises: smaller than Hevy’s 400+ and far smaller than Alpha Progression’s 795. Custom exercises cover the gap, but the videos exist only for the built-in 206.
- Voice guidance in English and Polish only; the other five interface languages get on-screen cues.
- The Watch app is a companion: it needs the iPhone app installed, even though the phone can stay in the locker during the workout.
Sources & last verified September 5, 2026
Strong facts were taken from these pages on September 5, 2026. Alzo facts come from the app’s source and App Store Connect.
FAQ
Does Strong tell you when to add weight?
Strong’s website and App Store listing describe previous-set display, charts and a warm-up calculator, but no progression recommendations. Alzo’s coach is built for exactly that decision.
Can I use Strong without an account?
Strong’s help center says all users are prompted to sign up for an account before using the app. Alzo has no account at all.
Which is cheaper?
Yearly: Strong PRO $29.99, Alzo Pro $39.99. Lifetime: Strong $99.99, Alzo $89.99 (US App Store, verified September 5, 2026). Both free tiers log without limits; Strong caps routines at 3, Alzo does not.
Can I bring my Strong history into Alzo?
Strong exports CSV, but Alzo 1.0 has no CSV import. You would start a fresh log in Alzo and keep the Strong export as your archive.
Updated: September 5, 2026