Hevy vs Soma: Not Really a Close Call
Hevy is a popular workout tracker. It's been around since 2019 and people like it because it does one thing — log your lifts — without much fuss. Soma does everything Hevy does, and then a lot more. If you're deciding between the two, this will save you the time.
What Hevy Does
Hevy launched in 2019. The interface is clean and fast. You can build custom routines, log sets and reps, and track progress over time with basic charts. The exercise library is large. There's a basic social feed where you can see what friends are logging.
The free tier covers the fundamentals of workout logging. The paid tier adds more routine slots and some analytics.
Hevy does: Pure workout logging. That's it.
What Soma Does
Soma is built on the insight that training and nutrition can't be separated if you actually want results. It combines everything Hevy has, plus:
- AI workout plans built to your goals, equipment, and history — and adjusted automatically as you progress
- Real RPE tracking that feeds back into your programme (not just a note field — it actually adapts your training)
- Photo calorie tracking — snap a photo of a meal and AI estimates macros in seconds
- Full nutrition tracking with a complete food database
- A competitive social leaderboard — ranked by training volume, not a passive scroll feed
- AI coaching that sees both your training and nutrition data and guides you forward
Soma has a free tier too. And on the free tier, Soma covers everything Hevy's free tier covers — plus AI features and nutrition tracking that Hevy doesn't offer at any price.
Head-to-Head: Where They Differ
Workout Tracking
Both apps let you log workouts, build routines, and track strength progress. Soma matches Hevy on the fundamentals — fast logging, exercise library, set history — and adds native RPE tracking that Hevy can't match.
RPE (Rate of Perceived Exertion) is a 1–10 scale for how hard each set felt. Hevy technically has an RPE field — but it's just a text box. It doesn't connect to anything. Soma's RPE data feeds directly into your adaptive programme, so if you're grinding every set at RPE 10, the plan adjusts. Hevy just logs the number and forgets it.
Winner: Soma (everything Hevy has, plus functional RPE that actually does something)
AI and Workout Planning
Hevy has no AI programming. You build your own routines or copy ones from the community. The app will not tell you what to do, adapt to your progress, or suggest changes. You're fully on your own.
Soma generates personalised AI workout plans based on your goals, available equipment, and training history. The programme adapts based on your logged RPE and performance. If you're progressing well, the load increases. If you're struggling, it pulls back. This is not just a preset plan wearing an AI label — it actually adjusts.
Winner: Soma (Hevy has nothing in this category)
Nutrition Tracking
Hevy has no calorie or macro tracking. Zero. To eat well and train well with Hevy, you need a separate app — MyFitnessPal, Cronometer, something — and you'll be manually piecing together two data streams that should talk to each other.
Soma tracks nutrition natively. Photo calorie tracking (snap a photo, get macros in seconds) makes it dramatically lower friction than manual logging. Your nutrition data connects to your training plan — your calorie targets adjust based on your current goal phase.
Winner: Soma (Hevy has nothing in this category)
Social Features
Hevy's social feed shows what friends are logging. You can comment. There's no competition.
Soma's leaderboard ranks you against friends by training volume. There's something real at stake. Visible competition is a proven driver of workout frequency and effort. A feed is passive. A leaderboard gets people moving.
Winner: Soma
Price
Hevy has a usable free tier and premium at around $10/month. Soma is $11.99/month with its own free tier that includes AI features Hevy doesn't offer at any price.
You're not paying more for Soma and getting less. You're paying roughly the same and getting a full training and nutrition system instead of a logbook.
Winner: Soma (more for your money, and the free tier already beats Hevy's)
The Bottom Line
Hevy is a clean workout log. If all you want is to record your lifts with a nice interface, it does that job fine.
But Soma does everything Hevy does — workout logging, exercise library, progress charts, social features — and adds AI programming, real RPE-adaptive training, photo calorie tracking, full nutrition, and a competitive leaderboard. On the free tier. Hevy's only advantage over Soma is that it's been around longer, which means nothing to your training.
If you're choosing between the two, the question isn't really "which app?" It's "do I want a logbook or a training system?"
Download Soma free on the App Store and see what you've been missing.