Strength Training App Without Subscription: Is That Still a Thing?
Search for a strength training app and you’ll quickly see the same pattern: 14-day free trial, then €5–13 per month. For a digital logbook.
It doesn’t have to be that way. There are alternatives — honest ones.
The Subscription Problem With Fitness Apps
Most strength training apps rely on monthly subscriptions. The model makes sense: servers cost money, development takes time. But prices have climbed significantly in recent years.
Some examples (as of 2026):
- Alpha Progression: ~€13/month, no permanent free tier, no one-time purchase
- Fitbod: ~$13/month, only 3 workouts as a trial — then paywall
- JEFIT: ~$13/month (recently raised prices)
- Hevy: ~$9/month
- Strong: ~$5/month
That’s €60–156 per year. For a logbook app.
What’s Behind the Paywall
What really bothers me as a developer: many apps lock basic features behind the paywall.
Strong limits the free version to 3 routines. Custom exercises? Paid only. CSV export of your own data? Pay up. Plate calculator? Pay up.
Alpha Progression has no permanent free tier at all — after 14 days, everything is locked.
Fitbod lets you do exactly 3 workouts. After that: paywall.
The pattern is clear: the free version exists only to push you toward the subscription. The artificial limits aren’t a technical necessity — they’re marketing.
Honest Check: Which Apps Offer a One-Time Purchase?
I need to be fair here — hitPR isn’t the only app with a lifetime option. Several competitors offer that too:
| App | Lifetime Price | Free Tier | Core Features Free? |
|---|---|---|---|
| hitPR | €34.99 | All core features | Yes — no artificial limits |
| JEFIT | ~$60 | Limited | No — features behind paywall |
| Hevy | ~$75 | 4 routines, 3-month history | Partially |
| Strong | ~$100 | 3 routines | No — basic features locked |
| Liftosaur | ~$100 | Core features free | Mostly |
| Alpha Progression | No one-time purchase | 14-day trial only | No |
| Fitbod | No one-time purchase | 3 workouts | No |
The difference isn’t just in price. It’s in what you get without paying.
Why an Indie Developer Calculates Differently
hitPR is a solo project. I build the app alone, I train with it myself, and I fund the development on my own.
My costs aren’t those of a VC-funded company with 30 employees. I don’t need a €9/month subscription to pay for servers, offices, and a marketing team. I need a fair exchange for real value.
That’s why the model works like this:
- Free: Everything you need to train. No artificial limits, no ads, no forced account creation.
- Pro (€1.99/month, €19.99/year, or €34.99 one-time): Extended analysis (3M, 6M, 1Y, All-Time) and Cloud Backup.
The core app — Progression, Plate Calculator, Muscle Heatmap, PR tracking, 20+ programs, Body Tracking — is permanently free. Not as a 14-day demo. Not with a 3-routine limit. Permanently.
What hitPR Offers for Free — and What It Doesn’t
I want to be transparent here. This isn’t a marketing trick where “free” means you have to pay after two weeks.
Free — forever:
- Unlimited workout plans to create and use
- 20+ ready-made programs (Push Pull Legs, 5/3/1, GZCL, nSuns, and more)
- 8 configurable progression systems (Linear, Double, 5/3/1, GZCLP, and more)
- 1300+ exercises with animations
- Muscle Heatmap, Plate Calculator, PR tracking
- Body Tracking (weight, measurements, photos)
- Data export
- No ads
- Offline — no internet needed, no account required
Pro (one-time purchase €34.99 or subscription):
- Analysis timeframe: 3 months, 6 months, 1 year, All-Time (Free: last 2 months)
- Cloud Backup — automatic, encrypted, deduplicated
- Watch Companion for Wear OS
That’s it. No hidden features, no upselling, no “premium exercises” or “pro programs.”
Who hitPR Is For — and Who It Isn’t
hitPR is a logbook app with a progression engine. It’s built for people who train with structure and want to track their progress transparently.
Good fit for:
- Strength athletes who follow structured programs (or build their own)
- People who want transparent progression instead of a black box
- Anyone who doesn’t want to pay a subscription for a workout log
- Android and Wear OS users
Less suited for:
- Those looking for guided video workouts (not our focus)
- Primarily cardio tracking
- iOS users (coming soon, but not available yet)
Transparency Note
This article compares pricing models. The prices mentioned may change — I last checked them in June 2026. hitPR is my own app, so this comparison is obviously not neutral. But the facts are accurate, and you can verify the table above in the respective app stores yourself.
If you’re looking for a strength training app without a subscription: give hitPR a try — the core version is free with no time limit.
