Hevy Coach vs. WorkoutLabs: An Overview
WorkoutLabs Train is promoted as a simple, flexible, and powerful platform for personal trainers, coaches, and medical professionals. Naturally, we were curious about it, so we tested every feature and compared it to Hevy Coach.
The platform is worth considering if you’re a fitness professional because it does a few things well. It has decent program and workout builders, and an extensive exercise library. You can track clients’ progress, assign workouts by date, and even monitor individual exercise performance.
That said, while the platform excels in some areas, it lacks in others. It doesn’t have a dedicated dashboard for at-a-glance client tracking, the workout builder isn’t as flexible as you’d probably like, and it doesn’t even have a coach or client app.
Hevy Coach is better than WorkoutLabs because it has a more organized program library with pre-made plans, a curated exercise library, a more flexible and functional workout builder, detailed client profiles, an informative dashboard (WorkoutLabs doesn’t have one), and the best client app for workout logging, progress tracking, and socializing.
Read our in-depth breakdown to learn why Hevy Coach beats WorkoutLabs.
| Features Comparison | ||
| Feature | Hevy Coach | WorkoutLabs |
| Client Activity Feed | ✅ | ❌ |
| Individual Exercise Performance | ✅ | ✅ |
| Body Measurements | ✅ | ✅ |
| Progress Photos | ✅ | ❌ |
| Program Folders | ✅ | ❌ |
| Drag and Drop | ✅ | ✅ |
| RPE | ✅ | ❌ |
| Automatic Rest Timers | ✅ | ❌ |
| Manage Coaching Teams | ✅ | limited |
| Lead Generation | ✅ | ❌ |
User Interface and Navigation
WorkoutLabs has a sleek, easy-to-navigate interface. It offers a handful of options and doesn’t feel cluttered like other coaching platforms. As you log in, you are presented with several sections to access your client list, see other coaches in your organization, message clients or trainers, and build training plans.
You can access each client’s profile and navigate to different subsections (such as their calendar or progress), add a new training program, and open the workout builder to create individual sessions.
However, the platform doesn’t have a dedicated overview section for convenient client monitoring, whereas Hevy Coach has an informative and streamlined dashboard. On it, you can see your list of clients, their activity status, and their recently logged activities on a feed.
Like WorkoutLabs, Hevy Coach has a simple main menu that allows you to access all the relevant sections to visit client profiles and chat with them, create new programs or edit existing ones, build individual workouts, access the exercise library, build and manage your team of coaches, and make a lead generation form.
“It’s a simple and easy dashboard that has a very clean app with UI. It has all the tools required 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
WorkoutLabs has some programs that are automatically added to your library. You can edit, rearrange, or delete them. There is also an option to create as many training plans as you want.
Once you create a plan, you are prompted to name it and add the number of weeks you want it to have. You can also make a single week, duplicate it as many times as you want, and only modify some of the training variables.
When you mouse over on a day of the week, you can create a workout (it opens the workout builder) or split the day if you want to assign two sessions.
Once you add some workouts to a plan, you can mouse over on each to reveal additional options: edit, assign to client, drag to copy, preview, download as PDF, copy to templates, or delete.
You can rearrange, add, and delete weeks and freely move workouts around with the drag-and-drop functionality. All of this makes for some straightforward program building because you don’t need to create each workout from scratch.
Hevy Coach has an equally functional program library, though we have a slightly different approach. Like in WorkoutLabs, all programs are listed in the program library, where you can move them up and down, delete them, click on each to see details or make changes, and assign them to clients.
However, unlike WorkoutLabs, Hevy Coach allows you to organize your programs into folders (for instance, based on experience or client goals) and see all the workouts that are part of a plan at a glance.
You can also access more than a dozen training plans in the HevyCoach Library, import any of them to your library, adjust the workouts, and assign them to one or more clients.
To save time, you can duplicate a training program, adjust some variables, and import individual workouts. Speaking of importing, you can open any saved plan, select a workout, and duplicate it to the same program or copy it to another program.
The best part is that you can build programs more quickly on Hevy Coach. Select the + Create Workout Program button inside the program library, add a title, set a duration, add a brief program note, and start adding or importing individual workouts.
On the right, you will see a program summary with a breakdown of the number of sets, total exercises, and muscle group distribution.
Workout Builder
WorkoutLabs has a decent workout builder, certainly better than what we’ve seen on other platforms like Nudge Coach. To access it, click the green + New workout button at the bottom of any tab or mouse over to any day inside a training plan and click the blue + icon (Create workout).
Any workout you create will appear at the top of the Plans and Templates sections, colored in dark blue.
Once inside, you can name the workout, write instructions or a description, and add exercises from the library on the right.
You can adjust the training variables to any movement you add:
- Number of sets
- Reps or seconds
- Weight, seconds rest, or minutes rest
Below these, you can write some instructions or a tip. The SS icon available upon mouseover adds the exercise to a superset. Click once, and a letter will appear behind the graphic for the exercise (e.g., A). Click the icon on a second exercise to add it to the same superset.
You can add as many exercises as you want to a single superset. However, if you want to create multiple supersets, click the icon on each exercise the required number of times:
- One click – A
- Two clicks – B
- Three clicks – C
- Four clicks – D
- And so forth.
When you have more than one movement in a workout, you can use a slider that goes from zero to three minutes to set a rest period between the different activities.
There’s also an option to drag an exercise to duplicate it. This can be handy when you want to add the same exercise more than once. For example, you could add a warm-up version of an exercise, drag and duplicate it, and have a second version with different instructions (sets, reps, weight, and other details).
Impressive, right? Here’s what part of a workout looks like when using the WorkoutLabs builder:
But here is how Hevy Coach handles existing features better and offers some things not found on WorkoutLabs:
- Unlike WorkoutLabs, where you write the number of sets the client should do, Hevy Coach allows you to add or remove sets one by one. You can also mark sets by type (normal, drop set, to failure, or warm up).
- For each set, you can write strict rep targets or ranges, weight recommendations, and rate of perceived exertion (RPE) goals.
- Adjust the rest timer between the sets of each exercise you add to the workout. Once the client marks a set as complete in the app (or you log it for them through the coach app), the rest timer starts. As such, you don’t need two or more versions of the same exercise in a workout. You can add all the variables and customize them how you want for each movement, even when programming pyramid or reverse pyramid sets.
- Click the three dots icon on the right of any exercise you’ve added to a workout and select the Replace Exercise option to swap a movement. The only option on WorkoutLabs is to add a new movement and delete the old one.
- Add a warm-up activity and use the note section to describe what the client should do and for how long. It’s not the most sophisticated option, but it’s a practical solution for something your client will do for a few minutes at the start of a workout.
We also noticed that the WorkoutLabs exercise library was slow to load. For example, we would write an exercise’s name (e.g., bench press) in the search field, and it would take several seconds for the options to load.
In contrast, results pop up immediately on Hevy Coach, which means you spend less time adding the individual movements to the workouts you’re building from scratch.
Simply put, Hevy Coach’s builder feels more like a builder because you add the different elements and fill in the blanks. WorkoutLabs also does a good job, but it lacks some of the flexibility and freedom you need to build the best workouts possible.
“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
The exercise library in WorkoutLabs is decent, but you can only access it by opening the workout builder. In contrast, Hevy Coach offers its library on a tab in the main menu and inside the workout builder.
Once inside the workout builder in WorkoutLabs, the library shows on the right (like on Hevy Coach) with a search bar and filters for:
- Exercise type
- Muscle targets
- Available equipment
There are over 600 exercises, each with at least one illustration and info on the primary muscle targets, step-by-step instructions, and a one or two-line helpful tip for the client.
By default, each exercise loads with its illustration when searching, which means you don’t have to go by name alone when looking for an activity.
However, the library is somewhat slow, with results taking several seconds to load once you type an exercise’s name in the search field. It also doesn’t have built-in synonyms, which means some popular terms like back squat don’t generate results.
That said, you can mark some exercises as favorites, making it somewhat easier to find the movements you most commonly add to client workouts.
You can also create custom exercises with information on primary and secondary muscle targets, equipment needed, instructions, a section for a quick tip or warning, and an image. However, you cannot upload a video or add a link to YouTube.
The Hevy Coach library is slightly smaller, but the 400+ exercises are curated for personal trainers and strength coaches. Each search brings up only the most relevant results, which means you don’t have to scroll through dozens of variations to find the right one.
You can also use the built-in filters to find movements quickly. Coupled with how quickly the results load, you save time adding multiple exercises to a workout.
That said, if certain movements you prescribe to clients aren’t found in our library, you can add them, along with an image, name, step-by-step instructions, a video link or file, and information on equipment needed, muscles trained, and movement type (e.g., Weight/Reps).
To further customize the library to your needs, you can edit the how-to instructions and add a video link or file to any existing exercises.
For example, if you coach clients in person and have a particular way of explaining specific movements and how to set up, you can update the instructions so clients can get a refresher any time they want.
Client List and Client Profile
Your list of clients appears under the Home section in WorkoutLabs. Clients are listed with their name, the last time they were online, the workouts they’ve completed in the previous 14 days (with options to switch to last month or all time), the number of scheduled workouts, and what’s on today’s agenda.
Once inside the client’s profile, you can access several subsections, including:
- Home – client’s tasks for today and tomorrow show up on top. Below, you can see the person’s weight, body fat percentage, and circumference measurements. You can add things you want to track.
- Calendar – it shows the client’s calendar with all the past, current, and future scheduled activities: workouts, cardio, and custom notes like Got the flu. Upcoming workouts are blue, and previous workouts are green or red, depending on whether the client has completed or skipped them.
- Workouts – here, you can create workouts from scratch for the client. You can delete, edit, and drag to copy.
- Progress – track and input various metrics, such as body weight or body fat. You can set a goal and deadline for each metric.
- Activity – this is a chat that shows all logged activities by the client.
Hevy Coach’s client lists and profiles are comparable in simplicity, functionality, and progress-tracking capabilities.
The list shows all clients, including their names, current training plans, activity in the last seven days, and coach (in case it’s someone from your team).
Inside a client’s profile, you get:
- Overview – see your client’s latest activities, such as logged measurements or completed workouts, training plan, notes you’ve written (for example, related to a previous injury or available equipment), and statistics: time spent training, volume, number of sets done, activity during the current month, and body weight.
- Workout Program – it displays the client’s workout plan with an option to edit it. All completed workouts are on a feed, and you can scroll through them to examine each and leave a comment on any of your client’s sessions.
- Exercise Statistics – you can search for any exercise from the library (including custom exercises you’ve created) and see that client’s performance on any activity, so long as they’ve logged it.
- Advanced Statistics – gain in-depth insight into your client’s training: set count per muscle group, time spent training, volume completed, and number of sets from week to week.
- Body Measurements – track your client’s body weight, body fat, and circumference measurements. Each is displayed on a separate graph.
- Progress Pictures – see all the progress pictures your client has uploaded through the app and compare them side by side.
While WorkoutLabs does a good job with the client profile outline, Hevy Coach provides more actionable information to guide your coaching decisions, along with the ability to display important data on graphs and compare progress pictures to track visual improvements.
Client App
The app your clients will use is called Hevy, and it’s been around since 2019. Today, millions of athletes use it to log their workouts, upload metrics and progress photos, track their performance, and engage with other members of the vast community.
To log a workout, your client must head to the Coach section and select the workout they want to do that day. A stopwatch appears on the top left; your client can see all the training details as you’ve outlined them and complete sets one by one.
The rest timer starts once a set is marked as complete, and your client can easily add or remove sets.
While logging a session, your client can also input the number of reps for each set, add RPE values, adjust their rest periods, mark sets by type, and leave a note for any exercise in the workout.
Before completing a workout, your client can upload photos or videos, add a note, and mark it as private so it’s only visible to you and them. They can also click the icon on the top right of the Coach tab to open their chat with you.
Your client can also click on the stopwatch on the top left to pause the workout if they have to stop and finish it later. They can also log previously completed workouts by selecting a previous date, time, and duration.
Beyond that, your client can start improvised workouts, track their performance on individual exercises they’ve done, log measurements, and upload progress photos.
Clients can also follow others, like and comment on their workouts, and build a following. This adds a layer of accountability and encouragement to stay consistent. That said, clients can set their profiles to private if they don’t want to engage with other users.
Here is what one coach had to say about the client app:
“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)
WorkoutLabs doesn’t have a client app. Here’s a quote from the FAQ section on their homepage:
“Is there a mobile app?
Not just yet, but the site works wonderfully on any mobile browser, and your clients can save the shortcut to their home screen for quick access, just like an app.”
So, to mark workouts as complete or skipped, your clients must log into their profiles on the website and add a shortcut on their home screen.
Coach App
The Hevy Coach app is simple and has the features you need to elevate your coaching practice and deliver the best experience for your clients.
To log a session for a client while coaching them in person, head over to the Client tab and select the right person. Pick the workout they will do that day, and you will be taken to a new screen where you can log the session for them just as they would through the client app.
Additionally, you can invite new clients through the app and chat with them.
WorkoutLabs doesn’t have a coach app, and you can’t log sessions for clients. Your only option is to open the client’s calendar, see the assigned workouts, and mark them complete.
This is a considerable drawback, given the platform’s design. You can build workouts with specific weight and rep targets as a coach, but you cannot log the client’s actual performance, and they can’t log it, either. So, if they happen to do better or worse than what you prescribed, there’s no practical way to log that for effective performance monitoring.
It also means you can’t readily access your chat with clients on the go. The only remotely practical option is to log into your account on a browser, add a shortcut, and log in occasionally to see if you have new messages.
Coaching Team
WorkoutLabs offers two account options while registering:
- Individual – one trainer with clients
- Organization – multiple trainers with clients
If you choose the latter, you can invite other trainers to your team. As the leader, you can:
- Invite and remove coaches
- See their list of clients
- Visit all clients’ profiles
- Reassign clients
- Add secondary trainers to oversee a specific client
You can visit all clients’ profiles, see their assigned workouts, and make changes or mark workouts as complete.
While the WorkoutLabs organization account allows you to oversee multiple coaches and their clients and do some management, there isn’t much else worth mentioning.
Hevy Coach has a similar feature called Team. The first difference is that you don’t need to pick an individual or organization account because you get access to the feature and can create or join a team at any point.
The second difference is that your resources, including training programs and custom exercises, are shared among all members. This saves you time because you don’t have to create everything from scratch, and provides opportunities to learn from others and see how they do things.
Besides these differences, you can invite and remove coaches, reassign clients, and monitor all clients and their coaches as a team’s owner or admin.
Grow: Generating New Leads
Hevy Coach offers Grow––the ability to create a lead generation form with a custom cover image, message for prospects, and invite link. You can create it in a few minutes and share the link with potential clients on social media, your website, your email newsletter, and elsewhere.
When a prospect clicks on your link, they are taken to your page, where they can reach out with their name, email address, and a brief message explaining who they are and why they want your coaching services.
All candidates appear under Leads within the Grow tab, and you can accept or decline any of them.
WorkoutLabs doesn’t have such a feature.
Pricing
WorkoutLabs offers a 14-day free trial. You don’t need a credit card on file.
The individual plan (if you don’t want a team feature) costs $59 per month or $599 for a whole year. Organization (where you can invite other coaches to your team) is $199 monthly or $2199 annually.
Hevy Coach offers a 30-day free trial (no credit card required). The basic plan is $25 monthly for up to ten clients. As a bonus, your clients get Hevy Pro (the paid version of the client app) for free. Check out our pricing page for more information.
| Table Comparison | ||
| Hevy Coach | WorkoutLabs | |
| UI and Navigation | The interface is clean, simple, and has many personal training and coaching features. | It has a sleek and simple interface with many useful features. |
| Dashboard | An overview of your clients, their activity status, and logged activities. | No |
| Program Library | Organize programs in folders, duplicate them, import them from the library, and assign and schedule plans with a few clicks. | Build, import, store, and assign programs. However, there is no option to organize plans in folders or with tags. |
| Workout Builder | Find the right movements in seconds, add a custom note to each, add or remove sets, mark sets by type, assign load, reps or rep ranges, RPE, and rest periods. | The workout builder has direct access to the exercise library. You can adjust variables, such as the number of sets and reps for each movement. |
| Exercise Library | It has 400+ curated exercises with how-to instructions, other helpful information, and an animation. Add custom exercises with details and attach a video to each. | There are 600+ exercises with how-to instructions and illustrations. You can also add custom exercises with details, but there’s no option to attach videos. |
| Client Profile | It displays an overview of your client, their training plan, and recent workouts. Dig into advanced stats, body measurements, and photos. | Client profiles have multiple subsections for an overview, calendar, assigned workouts, progress, and chat. |
| Client App | Clients will use the 5-star Hevy app to log workouts, upload body metrics and progress photos, track their performance, and engage with the active community. | No |
| Coach App | You can see your clients’ assigned workouts, log them for them (set by set), and chat. | No |
| Teams | Create or join a coaching team. As an admin, you can see and manage all trainers’ clients. Custom exercises and workout plans are shared among all members. | Only available on an organization account, which costs $199/month. Custom exercises are shared between team members. |
| Lead Generation | Build a lead generation form with a cover image, custom message, and link. People can apply for coaching. | No |
| Pricing | Starts from $25 per month for up to ten clients. | $59/month or $599/year for individual accounts (no team feature); $199/month or $2199/year for an organization account. |
| Free Trial | 30-day trial (no credit card required) | 14-day trial (no credit card required) |
To Conclude
WorkoutLabs is a treat for the eyes with its sleek, functional, and simple interface. It has a good workout builder, client profiles are detailed and organized, and the exercise library has 600+ options with how-to instructions and illustrations.
However, while the platform does a few things well, some areas need improvement. This includes the inability to organize training plans, the slow exercise library, the lack of editing options for existing movements in the library, and the lack of a coach and client app.
Plus, we can’t forget that neither you nor your clients can log actual workout performance for effective progress tracking. Your only option is to mark workouts as skipped or complete.
In contrast, Hevy Coach offers a more refined experience with its flexible workout builder, program library, and curated exercise library.
You can store and organize training plans in folders, add all the details your clients need to each workout (including weight, reps, and RPE for each set), edit existing exercises in the library, and share custom exercises and workout plans between all coaches on your team.
You and your clients can also log workouts in real time, along with the weight, reps done, and effort put (RPE) into each set. You can build workouts from scratch, duplicate existing workouts and programs to save time, and even import programs from the Hevy Coach library.
So, try Hevy Coach for free for 30 days and see what it’s all about.
