Hevy Coach vs. Nudge Coach: An Overview
Nudge Coach is touted as a simple solution for personal trainers and coaches that blends a user-friendly interface with the functionality of more established platforms.
At first glance, that is the case because there are only a handful of options, such as managing clients, building training plans, and real-time chatting. The platform is free of fluff and is easy to navigate and figure out, even for a first-time user.
However, as you dive in to build your first workout plan, invite a client, or track an existing client’s progress, you realize how many valuable features the platform lacks. This includes an exercise library, a dashboard, and a proper workout builder.
In comparison, Hevy Coach maintains its core simplicity while being better in several major areas, including the workout and program builder, exercise library, coach and client app, and overall feel of the user interface.
Hevy Coach is better than Nudge Coach for trainers and coaches. The workout builder is more flexible, there’s a curated exercise library (Nudge Coach doesn’t have one), and the client profile is more detailed. You also get a coach app to log client sessions, whereas the Nudge Coach app only lets you see your clients’ assigned workouts.
Features Comparison | ||
Feature | Hevy Coach | Nudge Coach |
Client Activity Feed | ✅ | ✅ |
Individual Exercise Performance | ✅ | ❌ |
Body Measurements | ✅ | ❌ |
Progress Photos | ✅ | ❌ |
Program Folders | ✅ | ✅ |
Drag and Drop | ✅ | ✅ |
RPE | ✅ | ❌ |
Automatic Rest Timers | ✅ | ❌ |
Manage Coaching Teams | ✅ | ✅ |
Lead Generation | ✅ | ❌ |
User Interface and Navigation
Nudge Coach has a clean and simple interface. The platform was designed to be as easy to use as possible while providing coaches with the necessary tools. As such, even trainers inexperienced with such platforms can easily navigate Nudge Coach and try all the available features.
The main areas of the platform are Clients, Messages, Communities, Program Builder, and Business. In these sections, you can access your client list, chat with clients, create groups to organize clients, build and assign workout plans, and use some integrations, such as Stripe, through Zapier.
One crucial section Nudge Coach lacks is a dashboard, where you can keep a bird’s eye view of your clients, track recent activities, and click on client updates to visit their profile for more information.

Hevy Coach offers the same simplicity but with a sleeker user interface and more features that lead to a better coaching experience without making the platform challenging to figure out or use.
First, unlike Nudge Coach, Hevy Coach has a dashboard that provides an overview of all clients and who’s been active, as well as all recently logged activities, which you can select for more information.

Second, Hevy Coach has a more sophisticated workout and program builder and several sections Nudge Coach doesn’t: Exercise Library, Grow, and Team. We’ll discuss each of these below.
However, despite having more features, Hevy Coach doesn’t feel cluttered or difficult to navigate––it just presents the most relevant information and features in the right areas.
“It’s a simple and easy dashboard that has a very clean app with UI. It has all the tools to track progressive overload and ensure clients enjoy their workouts. Compared to other apps, they’re either too confusing or have too many bells and whistles that confuse clients. Hevy does a very good job at keeping things simple but extremely effective and easy to use. My clients love it.”
-Rashid K. (Source: Capterra)
Program Library
The Program Builder section in Nudge Coach consists of the Card Library and Sequences.
Cards are collections of content organized by category and purpose. You can use a card template to streamline the process and share helpful content (like announcements and recipes), create progress-tracking forms, build questionnaires, or even create training programs and meal plans.

When customizing a card, you can add a name, heading, and written content and use elements like bullet points, dividers, quote boxes, questions, images, buttons, and embedded YouTube videos.

Once you have cards, you can add them to sequences (which allows you to organize and schedule them as you wish). To create a sequence, give it a name, add cards for days of the week, add as many weeks as you need, and assign the sequence to a client or group.
In contrast, Hevy Coach has a dedicated program library where you can see all your current programs and individual workouts in each. You can click on any program to rearrange or edit workouts, add or remove sessions, change the program note, set a duration for the plan, and see a summary.
Instead of using cards to build workout plans as if you were writing them in a text file, you have specific fields for everything, and the drag-and-drop functionalities allow you to organize the workouts easily.

You can also create folders and drag individual workouts to organize your plans based on client experience level, goals, available equipment, or other factors.
The best part is that you can build training plans more efficiently. Click a button to start building a new program (you can do so within a specific folder to keep things organized), give it a name, add a brief description, and start adding workouts––build them from scratch, use duplicates, and import them from the Hevy Coach Library.
Speaking of the library, Hevy Coach offers more than a dozen pre-made training plans for all experience levels, goals, and available equipment. You can import them into your library, edit them, and assign them to clients.

Workout Builder
The way to create workouts in Nudge Coach is not through a traditional workout builder. You must instead use the cards and sequences we discussed just previously.
When using cards to build workouts, you must add every detail in free text, which is quite basic. You can add headings for exercise names, text for instructions (like sets, reps, and weight), tips and directions, and YouTube videos for visual instructions.

In contrast, Hevy Coach has a proper workout builder with sections dedicated to specific details and training variables. This allows for actual workout building because there’s no guesswork involved.
To create a new workout, click + Add Routine > + Create New Routine, name it, write a brief note with helpful information, and add activities from the exercise library on the right. Use the search bar and filters to find the proper exercise or variation in seconds.
You can add a custom note with a tip or instructions for any exercise, set a rest timer for each movement (it starts when the client marks a set as complete), add rep targets or rep range, add the target load for each set, and include target RPE (enabled with a toggle switch at the top of a workout, below the routine note).

Add or remove sets with the click of a button and mark each set as normal, to failure, warm-up, or drop set.

You can also add a warm-up activity from the library on the right and use the exercise note feature to describe what the client should do. For example, do three minutes of dynamic activities like arm and leg swings, elbow rotations, and wrist twists.
“The best coaching app I’ve used (and I’ve used a few!). The ability to write up client workouts so that all they have to do is hit “start routine” is such a time saver on their side! It’s just super easy to use and intuitive.”
-Dan I. (Source: Capterra)
Exercise Library
Nudge Coach doesn’t have an exercise library or even a list of exercise names you can use when creating workouts. As noted earlier, their workout builder is like a text file where you can use elements like text and headings to add the relevant information––including the names of the activities you want the client to do.
In contrast, Hevy Coach has a curated library of 400+ exercises, each with written step-by-step instructions and information on target muscles and necessary equipment. Many of the exercises also come with an animation that demonstrates proper form.
You can add videos and edit the written how-to instructions for the exercises you commonly use.

Plus, unlike some platforms with bloated exercise libraries, the one in Hevy Coach consists of only the most relevant exercises, allowing you to find the movement you need with a keyword or two.
This translates to easier workout building and not wasting time or energy looking through countless exercises and variations.
That said, you can also add custom exercises with a name, image, equipment needed, target muscles, step-by-step instructions, and a video attachment.
Client List and Client Profile
The client list in Nudge Coach shows the client’s name and email. As a coach, you can click on any client to open a new window with feedback they’ve shared (organized by date), an activity feed that shows the latest completed activities, and your chat.

There is no in-depth progress tracking, the ability to add notes or goals, progress photos, advanced workout statistics, or individual exercise statistics.
Even if you use Nudge Coach with clients, you must find a third-party solution to track performance, body metrics, and visual improvements. This adds a layer of complexity and defeats the purpose of a coaching platform.
Hevy Coach continues the theme of simplicity by displaying your client list, along with the name of their current workout plan and activity in the last seven days.

As with Nudge Coach, you can click on a client’s name and visit their profile, which shows much more information about their performance and progress.
Under Overview, you can see the client’s latest activities, such as completed workouts or logged measurements, training plan, notes you’ve written for the client (visible only to you), and workout statistics like time spent training, volume, and sets completed.
Next, Exercise Statistics allows you to track the client’s performance on a graph and workout to workout for specific exercises. This is super valuable for coaches working with Olympic weightlifters, strongmen, and powerlifters.

The Advanced Statistics tab shows the client’s time spent working out, volume load, and sets completed on a graph.
Finally, the Body Measurements and Progress Pictures tab show your client’s visual improvements (you can compare photos) and important metrics like body weight, body fat, and circumference measurements on graphs.
Client App
The Nudge Coach client app has a nice user interface and several sections:
- Program – this section shows the client’s assigned workouts. The client can click on the workouts for details, but there are no options to start sessions or log them set by set.
- My Data – this section shows the client’s responses to questionnaires with an option to click and edit the feedback sent to the coach.
- Messages – the client can chat with their coach in real time.
- Communities – the client can see the communities they are part of, along with the group chat and an option to see the leaderboard (if one exists).

It works well and is responsive, but there isn’t much for the client to do apart from see what workout to do and chat with the coach. Clients who are part of a group can also participate in group discussions.
In contrast, Hevy is a 5-start app with far more features used by millions of athletes. It works as a stand-alone product because users can build routines and log them, track their performance, and upload body metrics and progress photos.

To start a new prescribed workout, the client should go to the Coach tab, select the workout they are supposed to do, and click to begin. The client will see the routine note from the coach and all the prescribed exercises, notes, sets, weight targets, reps (or rep ranges), and RPE.
The icon on the top right of the Coach tab allows the client to open their chat with you.

While logging, the client can change all the variables: weights, reps, number of sets and set types, and rest periods. They can also add RPE values if you’ve enabled the option for the workout.

The automatic rest timer begins once the client marks a set as complete. While resting, the client can leave notes for you under some exercises.
Also, before marking the workout as complete, they can leave a quick private comment about the session so it’s only visible to you and them, as well as upload images and videos.

Another thing that adds to Hevy’s flexibility is that your clients can pause their workouts and resume them later if something comes up and they can’t finish a session in one go. Clients can also log previously completed workouts by selecting the session’s date, time, and duration.
Unlike Nudge Coach, Hevy also has social features. People using the app can follow others in the vast community and get followed, see others’ workouts, and show support by liking them and leaving comments. That said, this aspect of the app is optional, and users can set their profile to private.
“My clients love using the app, from simple tracking and social sharing to more advanced features like 1rm predictions and workout muscle usage charts.”
-Pete S. (Source: G2)
Coach App
Like the client version, the coaches’ app is simple and to the point. The main sections are:
- Clients – this section shows the list of clients. The coach can click on a client to see their training program (as well as open rate in the last 7 and 30 days), their answers to questions you’ve sent, and your direct messages).
- Messages – here, you can directly see your existing chats with clients.
- Communities – this section shows you the communities (groups) you’ve created for your clients with an option to click on any of them and open the group discussion.

During our testing, we also noticed that coaches cannot log workouts for clients––for example, while training them in person.
The Hevy Coach app is also streamlined but more functional. Navigate to the Clients tab, pick a client, and see the available workouts. Click Start session and log the workout for the client set by set, just as they would through the Hevy app, which we discussed just above.

You can also go to the Chats section in the app, see all conversations with your clients, and start a new discussion.
Coaching Team
Hevy Coach has Team, a feature that allows you to create or join a group for coaches. As an admin or owner, you can invite trainers, change their roles, assign clients to coaches, and build a profitable business.

More importantly, Team allows coaches to pool their resources: custom exercises, workouts, and training plans. This saves time, shows trainers new workout methods and techniques, and helps create a collaborative atmosphere.
The feature also helps head coaches manage their businesses and clients. As a leader, you can assign clients to the right coach and monitor everyone to ensure coaches do their jobs well and clients get the guidance they need.
Nudge Coach has a team account feature. However, it has limited functionality and is only available on their $100/month plan. You cannot test it on a free trial.
Grow: Generating New Leads
Grow is a Hevy Coach feature that allows you to create a lead generation form (like a custom invitation or opt-in form) with a custom link, image, and message. You can share your custom link on social media, your website, your email newsletter, and elsewhere.

When a prospect clicks on the link, they are taken to your custom page and can fill out their name, email, and a short message explaining why they want to work with you. Each application appears under Leads within the Grow tab. You can review each application and accept or decline.
The closest thing Nudge Coach has is its Business section, where you can create various integrations to platforms like Stripe, MailChimp, and Google Forms through Zapier.

While there are some interesting and creative ways to leverage these integrations, you must do everything through Zapier, which diminishes the integrated feeling of doing everything on one platform.
Pricing
Nudge Coach has a free plan with up to five clients. Beyond that, their cheapest plan is $60 monthly for up to 50 clients.
However, that doesn’t include some options like automated coachless programs and branded apps. For those, you’d need their White Label plan. It requires a 12-month commitment, and its price is not disclosed publicly.
The more expensive plans with additional features don’t have a free test period.
Hevy Coach offers a 30-day free trial (no credit card required on record) with access to all the features, including Team, Grow, and the coach app.
Our most affordable plan is $25 monthly for up to 10 clients. As a bonus, your clients get a free Hevy Pro subscription. Check out our pricing page for full details.
Table Comparison | ||
Hevy Coach | Nudge Coach | |
UI and Navigation | It is clean, sleek, and simple for trainers and strength coaches to use. | It’s clean and easy to navigate, but it lacks crucial features. |
Dashboard | It overviews the active and inactive clients and their latest logged activities. | No |
Program Library | Organize plans in folders, see each program’s workouts, and easily assign them to clients. | Create individual cards for workouts and organize them in sequences. |
Workout Builder | Find the right exercises through the library and adjust all the variables (e.g., sets, reps, load, rest periods, RPE). Write notes and mark sets by type. | It’s not a traditional workout builder. Instead, you can create a card and use headings, text, and links to videos. |
Exercise Library | It has 400+ highly curated exercises with how-to instructions and other important information. Edit existing entries and create custom ones. | No |
Client Profile | See the client’s latest activities, write notes, track performance on individual exercises, dive into statistics, track body measurements, and compare photos. | See the client’s current workout plan and their feedback, and access direct messages. |
Client App | Clients can use the 5-star Hevy app to log workouts, track performance and body metrics, engage with the active community, and chat with you. | It shows the client’s assigned workout plan and allows them to leave feedback, send direct messages, and communicate with any group they are part of. |
Coach App | Track clients’ progress, send direct messages, and log sessions for clients while working with them in person. | Monitor the client’s open rate for the assigned plan and send messages. Sadly, you can’t log workouts for clients. |
Teams | Create or join teams of coaches to manage more clients and pool resources like training programs and custom exercises. | No |
Lead Generation | Create a lead generation form with a custom message, cover image, and a link. Prospects can apply for coaching through it. | Nudge Coach has a Business section where users create integrations to platforms like Stripe and MailChimp through Zapier. |
Pricing | Starts from $25/month. | Free for up to 5 clients. |
Free Trial | 30 days (no credit card required). | No |
To Conclude
Nudge Coach is a basic coaching platform with limited functionality. It can be a good start for a new trainer just because the platform is easy to figure out. Plus, there’s a free version.
They also have an interesting take on plan building (be it nutrition, training, or something else) with their cards and sequences. Coaches can exercise their creativity and use basic elements like headers, text, and video attachments to create various plans for clients.
That said, Nudge Coach lacks some crucial features, and many of its existing ones need to be improved to provide the functionality and flexibility you and your clients need.
This is why we stand behind Hevy Coach as the superior platform. The user interface is more refined, there’s a dashboard that provides all the information you need, the program and workout builders are superior, and it has a highly curated exercise library, whereas Nudge Coach doesn’t.
The coach app is also better because you can see all of your clients’ prescribed workouts and log them for them.
And what is there to say about Hevy––the 5-star client app? Millions of athletes use it to log workouts, track their progress, and engage with the community. Your clients can log sessions one set at a time, change variables (weight, reps, number and type of set, and more), leave notes for feedback, start new improvised sessions, and engage with the community.
So, if you haven’t tried Hevy Coach, create an account for free, take it for a spin, and see what it’s all about.