“If it’s not on Strava, it didn’t happen”, or so the age-old adage goes. But since the popular fitness tracking app remodelled itself in 2020, hiding some of its most popular features behind a monthly paywall, many riders have been on the hunt for free alternatives.
More than just an activity tracker, Strava appeals on a social level, too. Features like segment leaderboards, messaging, Kudos and challenges all gamify the user experience, incentivising engagement and giving you the chance to beat your mates on your favourite trails and roads – or gasp in bewilderment at the comparative speed of your local semi-pro.
However, most of these features are now only available to paying subscribers, even though many (segment leaderboards and route exploration) used to be available for free. So, if you’re looking to save some cash to put towards your post-ride cakes and coffees, here are four free alternatives to Strava that you should try.
Ride With GPS
Used by over three million cyclists for its route planning and step-by-step navigation features, Ride With GPS is a great free alternative to Strava’s premium navigation features.
Using satellite, topo, and OSM maps, RWGPS boasts all the data you could want, including in-depth elevation profiles and estimated timings.
Creating routes is easy. You simply tap or search for your destination and follow the auto-generated route, or plot your own waypoints.
There’s also a bank of existing routes to choose from, which can be easily edited to suit your needs, should you want to add a different start or end point, reverse the route or make a detour to your favourite cafe.
For more information, check out ridewithgps.com
Golden Cheetah
For those looking to dive deep into their training data, Golden Cheetah's mission is to provide an open-source platform for “cyclists and triathletes to download their power data to the computer of their choice, analyse it in whatever way they see fit, and share their methods of analysis with others”.
The software supports all popular file formats and also features cloud integration, linking to the likes of Google Drive and Calendar, Dropbox, Ride With GPS and even Strava.
Once you have downloaded your activity data, Golden Cheetah gives you access to its Forensic Ride Analysis, where you can view multiple metrics like Critical Power Modelling, Pedal Force/Velocity and HR vs Power, to name a few.
You can also track your performances and trends (using metrics like personal bests) and compare seasons, rides, intervals and even athletes using a drag-and-drop interface.
Golden Cheetah’s user interface is fully customisable, so you can focus on the metrics that matter to you.
For more information, check out goldencheetah.org.
Garmin Connect/Wahoo app
Okay, this suggestion is actually two apps. But if you’re into activity tracking, chances are that you already own a cycling computer or a sports watch, so why not just use the manufacturer’s software to log your rides?
Garmin Connect and the Wahoo app are both perfectly functional activity trackers, giving simple performance metrics and also featuring basic route planning tools.
If you’re looking for social functions, these cycling apps will leave you wanting more, but if you just want a simple log, these are absolutely fine.
Garmin has hopped on the paywall bandwagon, but less severely than Strava. While you can still access all your key activity details, health stats and performance metrics for free, Garmin’s subscription package boasts AI-powered training insights and suggestions, as well as enhanced versions of its LiveTrack feature.
Intervals.ICU
Another powerful activity analysis tool, Intervals.ICU offers a web-based interface which lets you dive deep into your training metrics. Its software is free to use, and funded by an optional donation of $4/month, which goes towards the website’s hosting costs and upkeep.
Since its launch in 2018, Intervals.ICU has seen over 100,000 athletes upload 111 million activities, integrating with Garmin, Polar, Suunto, Coros, Wahoo, Zwift, Hammerhead (via Suunto), Strava, Dropbox, Oura and WHOOP devices.
As well as having all the performance-analysis charts you could ever dream of, Intervals.ICU also offers a solid training calendar and workout builder. You can craft your ideal training plan and sync it with your calendar of choice for an easy overview of your training sessions.
There’s also a social chatroom, where you can chat to other athletes to share your rides, sessions and progress. You can also create your own group chats for your mates, cycling club or training buddies…
For more information, check out intervals.icu.
