Strong is free up to 3 routines. Beyond that, a monthly subscription is required to create additional programs. Gaman is completely free with no program limits.

Does Strong support % of 1RM programming?

No. Strong lets you estimate your 1RM as a stat, but it doesn't program your sessions as a percentage of that 1RM. You calculate and enter weights manually each cycle.

Is Gaman really free?

Yes. Gaman is free with no program or exercise limits. The business model is built around coaching features, not usage restrictions.

I'm on Strong — how do I switch to Gaman?

Create your account at gaman.app, enter your current 1RM for each main movement, then choose or import your program. The AI import lets you paste or photo your existing program and import it in seconds.

Strong App Alternative — Gaman, Free Powerlifting Tracker

For 6 months I ran nSuns with a spreadsheet next to Strong. Every week, I’d calculate my percentages by hand, then enter them into Strong. One week I made a mistake on my deadlift 1RM. I spent 3 weeks training 12% too light without realizing it. A wasted cycle. That’s why I built Gaman.

What Strong does well and what it doesn’t

Strong is the reference app for logging sessions. Clean interface, iOS widget, full history. For someone training freely without a structured program, it’s excellent.

Where it falls short: Strong doesn’t program in percentages.

If your program says “Squat 5x3 at 85% of 1RM”, Strong can’t convert that. You calculate it yourself, enter the number, and if your 1RM changes after a PR, you recalculate everything. On a 12-week program with 4 main movements, that’s dozens of manual calculations per cycle.

85% of serious powerlifting programs (Sheiko, nSuns, GZCLP...) are based on % of 1RM

How Gaman solves this

You enter your 1RM once. Gaman calculates your weights for every session. You hit a PR? Your upcoming sessions recalibrate without you touching anything.

Gaman session with weights calculated from 1RM

If you work with a coach, they can build your programs directly in Gaman and push them to your account. No more PDFs, no more spreadsheets.

ℹ Info

Strong has a better iOS widget and a larger community than Gaman. If you just want to log sessions without programming, Strong is still a great option.

What each app offers

	Strong	Gaman
Free with unlimited programs	✗	✓
% of 1RM programming	✗	✓
Auto-recalibration after PRs	✗	✓
Integrated coaching	✗	✓
AI program import	✗	✓
Workout history	✓	✓
1RM estimation	✓	✓
iOS widget	✓	✗

Who is it for?

If you follow a percentage-based program, Gaman is built for you. It doesn’t matter which one: nSuns, Sheiko, GZCLP, a competition prep program, or your coach’s custom programming.

If you train by feel or you’re mainly looking for a clean workout journal with a solid iOS widget, Strong is still relevant.

Both are free to start. But if you want your weights to progress with you without manual calculations, that’s Gaman.

Comparing with Hevy too? We did the same comparison for Hevy.

Questions fréquentes

Is Strong App free?: Strong is free up to 3 routines. Beyond that, a monthly subscription is required to create additional programs. Gaman is completely free with no program limits.
Does Strong support % of 1RM programming?: No. Strong lets you estimate your 1RM as a stat, but it doesn't program your sessions as a percentage of that 1RM. You calculate and enter weights manually each cycle.
Is Gaman really free?: Yes. Gaman is free with no program or exercise limits. The business model is built around coaching features, not usage restrictions.
I'm on Strong — how do I switch to Gaman?: Create your account at gaman.app, enter your current 1RM for each main movement, then choose or import your program. The AI import lets you paste or photo your existing program and import it in seconds.