Strava is a big deal in the world of cycling. That doesn’t mean it doesn’t also work well for runners, but cycling is where it became popular and where it is still the best app. We love that the leaderboard lets you compare yourself to other riders who do the same routes, which are broken up into “segments.” A segment is like a time trial and can be anywhere from a few hundred meters to several miles long. You can see how you rank compared to all the other Strava users who have done the same segments on a daily, yearly, or all-time basis.
Strava Challenges are also set up to give you digital badges if you meet the challenge’s requirements. Some examples are the “How far can you ride?” and “Run a half marathon” challenges that happen every month, as well as climbing challenges for runners and riders. Oh, and we have to mention that the Strava app doesn’t drain the battery on your phone, which is great for those long rides and runs. Strava gives you the chance to meet other athletes from all over the world.
You can become friends with other riders or runners, follow them, give them high marks, or say something about their rides and runs. They can also thank you and start following you. You can also make online clubs and invite your friends to join. Runtastic is one of the most popular apps for running, cycling, and fitness. It’s made by Adidas and is simple but sturdy. In short, this tool has a great map feature and lets you see a lot of different metrics, such as your pace, total distance, calories burned, and your progress month by month.
When you open the app, all of your tasks are shown on the screen. When you click on one of your past activities, you can see your route, how far you ran or rode, how long it took, how many calories you burned, your average pace, your max speed, and more on a map. So, the free version of Runtastic gives you almost everything you need to keep track of your data. Once your run or ride is over, you can see a breakdown of your average metrics and add a picture, notes, information about your gear, etc.
Strava vs Runkeeper: Comparison Table
| Feature | Strava | Runkeeper |
|---|---|---|
| Supported activities | Running, cycling, swimming, and more | Running, cycling, hiking, and more |
| Social features | Follow other athletes, share activities, join clubs and challenges | Follow friends, share activities, join groups and challenges |
| Route planning | Create routes, save and share with others | Create routes, save and share with others |
| Tracking capabilities | GPS tracking, heart rate, power, and more | GPS tracking, heart rate, and more |
| Audio cues | Provides audio cues based on user preferences | Provides audio cues based on user preferences |
| Premium features | Beacon, personal heatmaps, goal setting, and more | Customized coaching plans, live tracking, and more |
| Pricing | Free and paid versions available | Free and paid versions available |
| Availability | Available on web and mobile platforms | Available on web and mobile platforms |
| Official link | Visit Website | Visit Website |
Strava vs Runkeeper Social Media Connection And Safety Features
The Strava app is a great way for athletes to talk to each other. You can talk about your adventures and join a group of people who lift each other up and help each other. If you don’t like biking, you can join running-only groups or clubs. Share photos of the amazing places you visit with your followers, family, and friends. This is a great way to find new places to visit when you’re tired of the same old spots.
The social connection goes a step further by adding a safety feature. Beacons are made to work with the GPS on your device to let your friends and family know where you are. The person you chose as your safety contact will be able to keep track of you and know when you might be in trouble.
Runkeeper’s social features aren’t as cool as Strava’s, but you can still tag your running buddy on the app to make it more social. You’ll also be able to see your friend’s running routes, pictures, and activities.
Technically, Spotify might not be a social integration, but what’s more powerful than running to the sound of your favorite music? You can connect Runkeeper to your Spotify account so you can listen to music while you run. Runkeeper has a safety feature that is similar to Strava’s beacon.
Strava vs Runkeeper Efficiency
Strava and Runkeeper are both useful apps that do a good job of keeping track of runs, giving detailed stats, and showing how users are doing. Runkeeper is great for new runners who want to build a running routine and get suggestions and audio cues. The app lets you choose free runs or work toward a goal like losing weight, improving your mental health, getting in shape, etc.
Strava is better for runners who want to get better at what they do. It’s a good app for people who like to compete and feel responsible, or for those who want to get ideas from other athletes. You can keep track of your workouts, share your stats, and see how far you’ve come.
Strava vs Runkeeper Premium Version Features
Even though the free versions of Strava and Runkeeper are good enough for running tracking, both apps made their paid versions very valuable and worth the upgrade. The paid version of Strava, called Strava Summit, gives you access to more advanced stats like HR and pace zones, real-time performance data, route creation, personal heatmaps, group challenges, leaderboards, Strava Beacon, and more.
When you upgrade to Runkeeper Go, your workouts will be tailored to your needs. The premium version of Runkeeper makes a custom training plan for you to help you reach your goals. Also, the app gives you feedback in real time and gives you detailed statistics, so you can learn from your past runs.
Strava: Pros and Cons
Pros
- Rich set of features
- Strong emphasis on community
- Supports many fitness trackers
Cons
- Privacy concerns
- Expensive Premium membership
Runkeeper: Pros and Cons
Pros
- Lovely clear ‘on the run’ screen
- Highly customizable
- Really helps with motivation and goals
Cons
- Advanced metrics and training plans
- Live tracking
Which one should you consider?
Runkeeper is the place to go if you’re a beginner or intermediate runner looking for coaching tips, workouts, and an easy way to track your runs and workouts. Strava is the right app for you if you’re a runner of any skill level and want to track and analyze your own workouts without any training advice. It will also keep you motivated with competitive segments and a social side with photos and comments. Why not give both a shot and see which one you like better?
FAQs
MapMyRun is one of the best running apps out there. This running app is one of the best. It has features like audio coaching, route finding, maps that are easy to see, and data analysis.
Both apps track your runs and give you information about your habits and progress. Strava is great for runners who like to run with other people. Runkeeper does the same thing, but it focuses more on the training and goals of each person. Both apps let users sign up for paid subscriptions.
