How to Choose a Workout Tracker Without a Subscription (2026)

A workout logbook is not a service that needs a monthly fee. Yet most popular trackers now charge NZ$5–15 a month, and the useful parts (progress charts, unlimited routines, full history) are usually the bits behind the paywall. If you train for years, that adds up to hundreds of dollars for what is, at heart, a database of your sets and reps. This guide covers what to look for in a no-subscription tracker and which apps actually qualify.

What to look for

• One-time pricing (or genuinely free). Either pay once, or use a free app with no feature paywall.
• No feature gating on your own history. Your past workouts and charts should never lock behind a plan.
• Export anytime. You should be able to get a CSV of your data whenever you want, no lock-in.
• Import from your current app. Switching is only realistic if your history comes with you.
• Local-first storage. Data on your device means no account and no reliance on a company's servers staying online.

Which apps qualify

Ironside (iOS): free download, then a one-time NZ$9.99 unlock after your 10 free workouts or 30 days; every feature included, data local-first, imports from all the major apps. Strong offers a one-time Pro purchase as well as a subscription. FitNotes (Android only) is free and no-frills. Most others (Hevy, JEFIT, Fitbod, Boostcamp) are subscription-led, though several have free tiers with limits.

See the head-to-head write-ups: vs Strong, vs Hevy, vs JEFIT, and vs Fitbod.

The maths of paying once

At ~NZ$8/month, a subscription tracker costs nearly NZ$100 a year, around NZ$300 over three years. A one-time NZ$9.99 unlock pays for itself in the first month. Unless you're actively using a feature only a subscription provides (like Fitbod's auto-programming), a one-time app is simply cheaper for a logbook you'll use for years.