Comparison
Cora vs Strong: AI coaching or minimalist workout logging?
Strong is a popular strength training logger known for its clean, minimalist interface for tracking sets, reps, and weight. Cora is an AI coach that generates recovery-adapted workout plans, tracks nutrition, and connects to your wearable. Here is how they compare.
The short answer
Strong is one of the most popular workout loggers for a reason. It has a clean, fast interface for tracking sets, reps, and weight, a built-in rest timer, superset support, a plate calculator, and a solid Apple Watch companion app for logging at the gym. It is a favorite among experienced lifters who program their own training. But it stops at logging. Cora takes a different approach: it generates AI workout plans that adapt to your Body Charge recovery score, includes nutrition and macro tracking, and connects to Apple Watch, Garmin, Fitbit, Oura, and Whoop. If you already know how to program your training and want a fast, clean logbook, Strong is excellent. If you want an AI coach that builds your plan, adjusts it based on your recovery, and tracks your nutrition alongside your training, Cora is built for that.
Cora vs Strong: Feature Comparison
| Feature | Cora | Strong |
|---|---|---|
| AI Workout Plans | ✓Recovery-adapted programs | ✗No AI plan generation |
| Manual Workout Logging | ✓Workout tracking | ✓Clean set/rep/weight logging |
| Custom Routines | ✓AI-generated routines | ✓User-built templates |
| Rest Timer | ✓Built-in timer | ✓Configurable rest timer |
| Superset Support | ✗Not yet available | ✓Full superset tracking |
| Plate Calculator | ✗Not available | ✓Built-in plate calculator |
| Apple Watch App | ✗Watch data integration only | ✓Companion app for logging |
| Recovery Tracking | ✓Body Charge score | ✗No recovery features |
| HRV / Sleep Analysis | ✓Full sleep + HRV tracking | ✗No sleep or HRV data |
| Nutrition Tracking | ✓Macros + meal logging | ✗No nutrition features |
| Wearable Integration | ✓Apple Watch, Garmin, Fitbit, Oura, Whoop | ✗Apple Watch workout logging only |
| Heart Rate Zone Training | ✓Zone guidance + tracking | ✗No heart rate features |
| Exercise Database | ✓Curated exercise library | ✓Large exercise library |
| Free Tier | ✓Free trial available | ✓Free with Pro upgrade |
A closer look at the differences
Workout logging: where Strong shines
Strong is purpose-built for lifters who want a fast, clean way to track their strength training. The interface is minimal and focused: you pick your exercises, log your sets, reps, and weight, and move on. There is no clutter, no social feed, and no feature bloat. It does workout logging and does it exceptionally well.
Strong also includes quality-of-life features that gym-goers appreciate: a configurable rest timer, superset and circuit support, a built-in plate calculator for loading barbells, and an Apple Watch companion app so you can log sets from your wrist between exercises. For experienced lifters who already program their own training, Strong is one of the best logbooks available.
The gap between logging and coaching
The fundamental difference between Strong and Cora is the difference between a logbook and a coach. Strong records what you did. Cora tells you what to do next, and why. Cora generates AI workout plans that factor in your Body Charge recovery score, sleep quality, HRV trends, and training history. If your recovery is low after a tough week, Cora dials back the volume. If you are fully recovered and ready to push, it programs accordingly.
Strong does not have any awareness of your recovery status. It does not know how well you slept, what your HRV looks like, or whether your body is ready for another heavy session. That decision is entirely on you, which works perfectly for experienced lifters who can autoregulate but can lead to overtraining or undertraining for everyone else.
Recovery and wearable data
Strong has an Apple Watch companion app, but it is designed for logging workouts at the gym, not for pulling recovery data. Strong does not track HRV, sleep stages, resting heart rate, or training load from your watch. It does not integrate with Garmin, Fitbit, Oura, or Whoop at all.
Cora connects to all five of those wearable platforms and uses the data to calculate your Body Charge recovery score. This score directly influences your workout recommendations, creating a feedback loop between how you train and how you recover. For people who already own a wearable, Cora puts that data to work instead of letting it sit in a dashboard you glance at but never act on.
Nutrition tracking
Strong is strictly a workout app. It does not include calorie tracking, macro tracking, or any nutrition features. If you use Strong, you need a separate app for food logging. Cora includes nutrition and macro tracking with AI-assisted meal logging, keeping your training, recovery, and nutrition data in one place. When your nutrition is connected to your training and recovery, you can see how dietary changes affect your performance and readiness over time.
Apple Watch experience
This is an area where Strong has a clear advantage for gym use. Strong offers a full Apple Watch companion app that lets you browse your routine, start exercises, and log sets directly from your wrist. For people who prefer not to touch their phone during a workout, this is a genuinely useful feature. Cora uses Apple Watch data for recovery metrics like HRV, sleep, and heart rate, but does not currently offer a standalone watch app for in-gym workout logging.
When Strong might be the better choice
We believe in being honest. Strong is a great app, and it may be the better fit in certain situations:
- -You are an experienced lifter who programs your own training and wants a fast, no-frills logbook. Strong is built for people who know what they are doing and just need to record their work.
- -You want an Apple Watch companion app for logging workouts at the gym. Strong lets you browse routines and log sets from your wrist, which is a genuine convenience during training.
- -You rely on supersets, circuits, or drop sets and want those tracked properly. Strong has solid superset support built in, along with a plate calculator for quick barbell loading.
- -You prefer a minimalist app that does one thing well. Strong is focused entirely on workout logging with no distractions from social feeds, nutrition features, or recovery dashboards.
- -You want a free option with basic functionality. Strong offers a free tier that covers core logging needs, with a Pro upgrade for unlimited routines and additional features.
Why people choose Cora over Strong
AI builds your plan
Stop spending time programming your own workouts. Cora generates training plans that adapt to your goals, recovery status, and fitness level automatically.
Recovery-driven training
Your workouts adjust based on how your body actually feels, not a fixed schedule. Cora uses your Body Charge score from your wearable to calibrate every session.
Training + nutrition + recovery
No more juggling Strong for workouts, another app for food, and a third for recovery. Cora brings all three into a single intelligent system.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Cora better than Strong for strength training?
Strong is an excellent minimalist workout logger with a clean interface for tracking sets, reps, and weight. It is a favorite among experienced lifters who program their own training. Cora takes a different approach by generating AI workout plans that adapt to your recovery status from wearable data. If you want a fast, no-frills logging tool and you already know how to program your training, Strong is a great choice. If you want an AI coach that builds and adjusts your plan based on how your body is recovering, Cora is the better fit.
Does Strong have recovery tracking or HRV analysis?
No. Strong focuses on workout logging and does not include recovery scoring, HRV tracking, sleep analysis, or wearable-based readiness data. Its Apple Watch companion tracks workouts during gym sessions but does not pull recovery metrics. If you want your training to adapt based on how recovered your body is, you would need a separate recovery app or switch to Cora, which includes recovery tracking alongside training.
Does Strong have an Apple Watch app?
Yes. Strong offers an Apple Watch companion app that lets you log sets and reps directly from your wrist during workouts. This is a genuine convenience for gym use. Cora integrates with Apple Watch for health and recovery data like HRV, sleep, and heart rate, but does not currently offer a standalone watch app for logging workouts during a session.
Does Strong have nutrition tracking?
No. Strong is focused exclusively on workout logging and does not include calorie tracking, macro tracking, or meal logging. Cora combines AI training plans with nutrition tracking and recovery analysis, so you can manage training, food, and recovery in a single app instead of juggling multiple tools.
Can I use Cora and Strong together?
You can use both apps, but most users find it more practical to pick one. Strong is ideal if you want to manually log your own workouts with a clean, minimalist interface. Cora is designed for users who want AI-generated plans that respond to their recovery data, nutrition, and wearable metrics. Using both would mean duplicating your workout tracking.
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