Zurge vs Hevy
Hevy is a popular, affordable workout logger with a big community. It has no running plans, paces or GPS, so runners who lift end up pairing it with another app. Zurge logs your lifting the same way and plans your running in the same week.
Choose Zurge if
- You run as well as lift and want one plan for both
- You want pace ranges and race plans, not just a timer for cardio
- You want a plan that moves a missed session for you
- You want a coach you can ask to change things
Choose Hevy if
- You only lift and want the cheapest paid tier
- You want a social feed to follow friends' workouts
- You use a Wear OS watch or want a web app
Feature by feature
| Feature | Zurge | Hevy |
|---|---|---|
| Lifting | ||
| Previous numbers on every set | Last time's numbers on every set | Yes |
| Set types, supersets, RPE | Warm-up, drop, myo-rep and failure sets, supersets, RPE | Yes |
| Plate calculator and warm-ups | Plates per side and auto warm-up ramps | Warm-up calculator is Pro |
| Automatic progression | Load goes up when you complete your sets, with deloads | Hevy Trainer, Pro only |
| PRs and charts | e1RM, heaviest set, volume and rep PRs from 1 to 30 reps | Free graphs cover 3 months |
| Per-gym machine settings | Machine settings and weights saved per gym | No |
| Running | ||
| Running plans | 5K to marathon, base building, back to running, run-walk | No |
| Pace guidance | Pace range plus effort, set from a recent race or hard run | Cardio logged as time |
| In-app GPS recording | iPhone, outdoor or treadmill, with spoken cues | No |
| One plan for lifts and runs | Lifts and runs in one week, placed so they don't collide | No |
| Coach, apps and price | ||
| AI coach | Chat coach; every change is a card you approve (Zolt Pro) | Send a finished workout to ChatGPT or Claude |
| Two-way AI connector | Claude, ChatGPT and other MCP apps (Zolt Pro) | No |
| Social feed | No feed | Yes |
| Watch app | Not yet; record runs in Apple's Workout app | Apple Watch and Wear OS |
| Free tier | Plans, logging, goals, PRs and history | Unlimited logging; 4 routines, 7 custom exercises |
| Paid price (US) | $39.99 a year for Zolt Pro, which also covers Zolt nutrition | $2.99 a month, $23.99 a year or $74.99 once |
In-app run recording is iPhone only. Coach chat and the AI connector need Zolt Pro, $39.99 a year, which also covers Zolt nutrition. Hevy free-tier limits come from its Pro paywall and published reviews.
Why hybrid athletes pick Zurge over Hevy
Your runs get a plan, not just a timer
Hevy logs cardio as time and recommends pairing it with Strava for runs. Zurge writes the runs for you: race plans from 5K to marathon, base building, intervals, threshold and long runs, each with a pace range and an effort.
One week instead of two apps
With Hevy and a separate running app, neither knows about the other, so a heavy squat day can land the day before your tempo run. Zurge holds both and keeps them apart, and it asks during setup whether a lift and a run can share a day.
Logging that feels familiar
If you like Hevy's logger you will feel at home: previous numbers on every set, supersets, warm-up and drop sets, RPE, rest timer on the Lock Screen and plates per side. Zurge adds machine settings saved per gym and a load that goes up when you complete your sets.
Ask, then approve
Hevy can send a finished workout to ChatGPT or Claude for comments. Zurge's coach works in the other direction too: ask it to swap a lift or move a run and it proposes a change you approve. Connect Zurge to Claude or ChatGPT and a plan you build there lands on your phone.
Where Hevy is ahead
Hevy has a social feed, a web app, Apple Watch and Wear OS apps, and the lowest paid price of any app here. If you only lift and want friends to see your sessions, Hevy is hard to beat.
Questions
Does Hevy track running?
Hevy can log cardio exercises by time, but it has no running plans, pace targets or GPS recording. Hevy's own guide suggests pairing it with Strava for runs.
Is Zurge a good Hevy alternative?
If you also run, yes. Zurge logs lifts in a similar way, with previous numbers, supersets, set types and plate math, and adds running plans and pace guidance in the same week.
How much is Hevy Pro?
In the US, Hevy Pro is $2.99 a month, $23.99 a year or $74.99 lifetime (checked 2026-11-05). The free tier allows unlimited logging with limits on routines and custom exercises.
Can I bring my workout history to Zurge?
Zurge imports Strong CSV exports today. Hevy import is on the way.
Does Zurge have a social feed?
No. Zurge focuses on planning and logging your own training.
How much does Zurge cost?
Plans, workout and run logging, goals, PRs and history are free. Zolt Pro is $39.99 a year in the US and adds the coach chat, the Claude and ChatGPT connector, measurements and progress photos, plus Pro in the Zolt nutrition app.
Sources
- Hevy on the US App Store (prices and features). apps.apple.com/us/app/hevy-workout-tracker-gym-log/id1458862350
- Hevy: best workout tracker app guide (pairing with Strava). www.hevyapp.com/best-workout-tracker-app/
Hevy details come from its public website, app store listing and published pricing, checked on Nov 5, 2026. Prices vary by country and change often; check the app before you buy. Hevy is a trademark of its owner and is used here only to identify the product. Spotted something out of date? Tell us.