Ironside vs Strong: No Routine Caps, One-Time Purchase
An honest comparison for lifters deciding between the two.
Ironside is a Strong alternative with no routine caps: unlimited workout templates, full analytics, and CSV import from Strong, all for a single one-time purchase. Strong's free tier limits you to 3 routines; Ironside never limits templates. Your workout history is stored on your device.
Ironside vs Strong at a glance
| Ironside | Strong | |
|---|---|---|
| Price model | One-time purchase for everything. $0/month, no ads, no paywalled features. | Free tier; Strong Pro also offers a one-time purchase option. |
| Routine / template limits | Unlimited workout templates. | Free tier caps you at 3 routines; Pro removes the cap. |
| Advanced analytics | Estimated 1RM, volume, and PR trend charts plus plateau and momentum insights: all included. | Charts and records, with more depth in Pro. |
| CSV import / export | Imports Strong, Hevy, FitNotes, JEFIT, and generic CSVs. Export CSV anytime. | CSV export via Settings → Export Data. |
| Data storage | Local-first: your history stays on your device. Optional Apple Health: saves your workouts and syncs weight and body fat. | Device storage with optional cloud backup via an account. |
| Apple Watch | No watch app yet. | Mature Apple Watch app: a genuine Strong strength. |
Where Strong is the better fit
Strong has been around for years and it shows: the app is stable, the logging flow is fast, and its Apple Watch app is one of the best in the category. To Strong's credit, it also offers a one-time purchase for Pro rather than forcing a subscription. If you log most workouts from your wrist, Strong remains a solid pick.
Ironside is for lifters who hit the free tier's 3-routine cap, want deeper progress analytics (estimated 1RM, volume, PR trends, plateau and momentum insights) and want a strictly local-first tracker with Apple Health sync, iOS widgets, and an optional BYO-AI coach (Claude, ChatGPT, or Gemini with your own API key). An Android version is planned for early 2027.
Switching from Strong
Ironside imports Strong's CSV export natively: export from Strong (Settings → Export Data), then import in Ironside (You → Settings → My Data → Import CSV). Your workouts, sets and reps come across, and your PR and 1RM charts are recalculated on your device. Follow the full step-by-step guide at how to import your Strong data into Ironside.
More comparisons
Coming from Hevy instead? Read Ironside vs Hevy. You can also explore everything Ironside does or check the Help & FAQ for details on importing, templates, and insights.
Try Ironside
One-time purchase. Unlimited templates, full analytics, and your workout history is stored on your device.
Download Ironside on the App Store