Strava is a very popular fitness tracking app, designed for people who run, cycle, walk — and even do other sports. Its name “Strava” comes from the Swedish word “sträva,” which means “to strive.”
Founded in 2009 by two former Harvard rowing teammates, Michael Horvath and Mark Gainey, Strava has grown into a global fitness network. It is headquartered in San Francisco, USA.
Strava is not just a simple activity tracker. It’s a social platform for athletes — you can record workouts, share them with friends, join challenges, compare performance, and even discover routes mapped by others.
Why Is Strava Popular? – Key Features
Strava has earned popularity for its powerful features and the way it builds a social network for fitness enthusiasts. Below are some of the major reasons people love Strava:
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GPS Tracking for Activities
Strava uses GPS to accurately record your distance, pace, speed, elevation, and route when you run, cycle, or walk. (Wikipedia) -
Social Networking
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You can follow friends, see their workouts, and give “kudos” (Strava’s version of likes).
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There’s a news feed of activities. (Sports Tech Ireland)
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Users share photos, and activity summaries, and discuss their trainings. (bluewhaleinsight.com)
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Challenges & Goals
You can join monthly challenges (for distance, time, climbs) and set personal goals. Challenges help motivate and build accountability. -
Segments
One of Strava’s signature features: Segments are specific sections of a route (like a hill or a stretch of road). When you complete that section, Strava compares your performance with other people who have done the same segment. You can see leaderboards, personal records, and compare by age, gender, or club. -
Route Planning
Strava lets you plan or explore routes using its map features. You can save routes, choose surfaces, distance, and get recommendations. (bluewhaleinsight.com) -
Device Integration
Strava supports many external devices: smartwatches, cycling computers, heart-rate monitors, treadmills, Peloton bikes, and more. (CNBC) This integration allows more accurate and richer workout data. -
Freemium Model with Subscription
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There is a free version with basic tracking, social sharing, and access to many features.
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Paid subscription (called Strava Summit) gives advanced metrics, deeper analytics, personalized coaching, route recommendations, and more. (Business of Apps)
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Insights & AI Features
Strava uses AI (for subscribers) to analyze your workout data, give personalized summaries, suggest routes, and help you understand your training better. (bluewhaleinsight.com) -
Environment Awareness
A notable newer feature: Strava can estimate your carbon savings when you commute by running, walking, or biking instead of using a car. This appeals to users who care about eco‑friendly transport. -
Urban Planning Contribution
Through its Strava Metro program, anonymized and aggregated data from users helps city planners, researchers, and governments understand how people move. (Contrary Research)
Growth, Popularity & Business
Strava has grown massively and is now one of the biggest social fitness networks in the world.
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As of 2023, Strava had 120 million registered users. (Business of Apps)
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The company adds roughly 2 million new users every month. (Business of Apps)
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In 2023, Strava’s revenue was $275 million, marking a 25% year-over-year increase. (Business of Apps)
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Strava’s valuation has grown too — some sources put it around $2.2 billion. (CGAA)
This growth is a sign that many people find real value in the app — not just for tracking fitness but for community and motivation.
Pros & Benefits of Using Strava
Here are some of the major advantages of Strava for users:
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Motivation through Community: The social aspect (followers, challenges, clubs) keeps you engaged and motivated.
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Detailed Analytics: You can see splits, pace, heart rate (if connected), elevation — helpful for training.
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Route Discovery: Explore new running or cycling routes in your city or in places you travel.
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Goal Tracking: Set monthly or yearly goals and track performance.
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Competition: The “Segments” leaderboard introduces a fun competitive twist.
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Multi-Sport Support: Besides running and cycling, users also log other activities (swimming, hiking, skiing, etc.) (Contrary Research)
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Eco-Friendly Feature: Carbon-savings tool makes the app more socially and environmentally conscious.
Challenges & Criticisms
While Strava is loved, it also has some drawbacks. Here are a few challenges / criticisms, based on user feedback and expert analysis:
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Freemium Limits
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Data Privacy / Security Risks
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Because Strava shows workout routes, there have been concerns about sensitive data exposure (especially for individuals in sensitive jobs). (New York Post)
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Some worry about how much personal movement data is shared, even though data for planning is anonymized.
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API / Developer Limitations
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Some developers have complained about strict API rate limits. (Reddit)
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This can limit third-party integrations / apps built on Strava.
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GPS / Recording Issues
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Subscription Justification
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Several long-term users have said that for the monthly subscription fee, they don’t always get proportional value. (Reddit)
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Some features like AI insights or route recommendations are less useful for casual users.
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Who Is Strava’s Ideal User?
Strava is best suited for:
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Runners and Cyclists: Especially those who care about detailed analytics and route tracking.
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Fitness Enthusiasts: People who want to set goals, challenge themselves, and track progress.
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Social Athletes: Users who enjoy sharing their activities, seeing others’ workouts, and being part of a community.
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Commuters: Those who walk, bike, or run to work and want to measure their impact (including carbon savings!).
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City Planners / Researchers: Via Strava Metro, aggregated data helps in understanding movement patterns in cities.
How to Use Strava: Basic Guide
Here’s a simple step-by-step on how to start using Strava:
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Download & Register
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Get the Strava app from Google Play (Android) or the App Store (iOS).
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Create an account (email, password) and set up your profile.
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Set Up Your Device
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Allow location / GPS access.
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If you have a smartwatch, heart-rate monitor, or cycling computer, connect it via Strava settings.
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Record an Activity
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Open the app → choose the activity type (run, ride, walk, etc.) → tap “Start”.
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While tracking, you’ll see live stats like speed, distance, and time.
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When you finish, tap “Stop”, then “Save” to upload the activity.
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Explore Segments
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After saving, Strava will show you which segments (parts of your route) you passed.
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You can compare your times with other people.
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Join Challenges
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In the Challenges tab, browse monthly or seasonal challenges.
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Join any challenge that interests you and track your progress.
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Create / Use Routes
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Use the map in Strava to create a route or explore popular ones by other users.
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Save routes, then use them in future workouts.
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Interact with Others
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Follow friends, join clubs, leave kudos, comment on their activities.
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Share your progress on social media, if you like.
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Upgrade to Subscription (Optional)
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If you want advanced analytics, AI insights, or richer map features, consider Strava Summit.
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Use the in-app option to subscribe, and then unlock the premium tools.
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Why Strava Matters Today
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Global Fitness Trend: In a world where people are increasingly health-conscious, Strava provides a way to track and share activity.
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Social Motivation: Many people find it hard to exercise regularly. A community, leaderboards, and challenges help keep motivation high.
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Data for Good: Strava’s Metro program turns user data (anonymized) into insights for city planning — helping improve infrastructure for cyclists, runners, and pedestrians. (Contrary Research)
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Sustainability: Tools like carbon savings make Strava more than a fitness tracker — it’s a way to understand and promote eco‑friendly commuting.
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Business Potential: With its growing valuation and user base, Strava is a major player in the fitness tech space, and its business continues to expand. (CGAA)
Final Thoughts: Is Strava Right for You?
If you enjoy running, biking, or walking — and want not just to track but also share, compete, and improve — Strava is an excellent choice. Its combination of GPS tracking, social features, structured challenges, and data-driven insights makes it powerful for both casual athletes and serious fitness enthusiasts.
However, if you just need a simple step tracker or don’t care for advanced analytics or social interaction, there are simpler (and cheaper) apps out there. Also, consider how much you will use the paid features before subscribing.
Overall, Strava is much more than a fitness tracker — it's a community of athletes, a training tool, and even a platform for urban insights.