Strava alternatives
People leave Strava for three different reasons, and each one points at a different app. Work out which one you are before switching.
"Strava alternative" is really three different searches. Sort yourself into one before you switch, because the right answer is completely different for each — and for two of the three, the answer is free.
Which of these is you?
01
You want the same thing, cheaper
You like recording and social, you just resent the subscription. Stay on Strava's free tier — it covers recording, the feed and basic stats — or use Nike Run Club, which is free outright with no subscription tier.
02
You want less social, more privacy
The feed is the product for many Strava users and the problem for others. A plain tracker without a social graph is what you want; most watch companion apps, Garmin Connect among them, do this without publishing anything.
03
You want to be told what to run
The common one, and not really an alternative to Strava at all — Strava never did this on either tier. You are looking for a coaching app, and you may well keep Strava alongside it.
If it is the third one
This is where the word "alternative" misleads people. Swapping one tracker for another does not get you a plan, because tracking and coaching are different products that happen to live on the same phone. Strava's own answer to this was to buy a coaching app — it announced an agreement to acquire Runna on 17 April 2025 and now sells the two together as a bundle.
Runsy sits in this third category. It builds the plan and rebuilds it when you miss a week. It does not replace your feed and does not try to — most people in this category end up running a coaching app and Strava side by side.
| Feature | Runsy — $12.99/mo | Strava — Free tier |
|---|---|---|
| Pricing model | One tier, $12.99/mo | Free tier plus a paid subscription |
| Free tier | ||
| Free trial | 7 days | |
| Builds a training plan for a goal race | ||
| Rebuilds the remaining plan after a missed week | ||
| Social feed and following other runners | ||
| Segment leaderboards | Subscription only | |
| Platforms | iPhone only | iOS and Android |
Prices checked 2026-07-25
When to choose Strava instead
Stay on Strava if what you actually want is the feed, the segments or the training history — nothing else has the scale, and its free tier already covers recording, community and basic route browsing. If your only complaint was the subscription, downgrading to free is a better move than switching apps. Strava is not a coaching app and never claimed to be, so it is only the wrong answer if coaching is what you came for.
If it's category 3
Runsy is $12.99/mo after a 7-day free trial. iPhone only.
7-day free trial · then $12.99/mo · cancel anytime
Fair questions
What is the best free Strava alternative?
Nike Run Club is free with no subscription tier. Strava's own free tier also covers recording and social if the subscription is the only issue.
Is there a Strava alternative that gives you a training plan?
Coaching apps do this — Strava does not, on either tier. That is a different category rather than a replacement.