Strava is free in the same way many apps are: the basics cost nothing, and the extras are paid. For most runners who just want to log runs and see friends, the free account is enough. Below is exactly what stays free, what you pay for, and what it costs in the US, UK and Australia as of October 2026.
What you get on Strava for free
- Record any activity. Runs, rides, walks, hikes and more, with GPS, distance, pace and a map. You can record on your phone or upload from a watch.
- The social side. Your feed, kudos, comments, following friends and joining clubs.
- Safety features. Share your live location with someone you trust while you run.
- Personal records. You still see your best efforts and the top of segment leaderboards.
- Apple Health. On iPhone, Strava can send your activities to the Health app, according to its App Store listing.
That covers what most people use Strava for. If your goal is “log my run and let my friends see it,” you never have to pay.
Strava free vs paid: side by side
| Feature | Free | Subscription |
|---|---|---|
| Record runs, rides, walks and more (GPS, pace, distance) | ||
| Feed, kudos, comments, clubs and following friends | ||
| Safety features (share your live location) | ||
| Personal records and the top of segment leaderboards | ||
| Routes made for you and offline routes | ||
| Draw your own routes | ||
| Full segment leaderboards | ||
| Training history in one place and advanced workout insights | ||
| Custom goals | ||
| Create challenges with friends | ||
| Effort across activities and Fitness Score | ||
| Training plansNow sold by Runna, not in the normal subscription |
Based on the free vs subscription table on strava.com/subscribe, checked October 2026. Segment details from Strava’s May 2020 change (Triathlete).
Strava used to give away more. In May 2020 it moved full segment leaderboards, segment analysis and the route builder behind the paywall. Free users kept the top-10 view on each segment and their personal record alerts. Since 2025, training plans have moved to Runna, which Strava owns but sells separately (see Strava vs Runna).
Keep Strava free. Add a garden.
Run&Grow is a free iPhone run tracker. Every run grows a plant in your garden, including runs you record in Strava. Skip a week? Your garden waits.
Free on iPhone · Also on Android
How much is a Strava subscription? (October 2026)
| Plan | US | UK | Australia |
|---|---|---|---|
| Monthly | $11.99 | £8.99 | A$14.99 |
| Yearly | $79.99 | £54.99 | A$99.99 |
| Student (yearly, verified) | $39.99 | Check in app | Check in app |
| Family, up to 4 people (yearly) | $139.99 | Check in app | Check in app |
| Strava + Runna (yearly only) | $149.99 | £119.99 | A$199.99 |
iPhone App Store listings (US, UK, AU) and strava.com/subscribe, checked October 2026. Tax may be added, and web or Android prices can differ, so check at checkout.
- Yearly is much cheaper. 12 months at $11.99 is $143.88; the yearly plan is $79.99, about $6.67 a month.
- 30-day free trial. New subscribers can try everything for a month. Cancel at least 24 hours before it ends if you don’t want to pay.
- Discounts. Verified students get 50% off. Strava’s subscribe page also lists 25% off for teachers, military members and medical professionals.
- Family plan. Up to 4 accounts for $139.99 a year in the US, about $2.92 per person per month.
Trying to decide if it’s worth paying? We go through that in detail, with a cost-per-run test, in is Strava Premium worth it.
Who is fine on the free plan
- You run a few times a week on the same loops.
- You mostly want a log and your friends’ kudos.
- Your watch app (Garmin Connect, COROS, Apple Fitness) already shows your training charts.
- You are new to running. What you need first is a reason to keep going, not leaderboards.
You may want to pay if you explore new places and want suggested or offline routes, love chasing segments, or train for a race and want goals and Fitness Score.
Free running apps compared
If you want to spend nothing at all, these apps all have a free option (as of October 2026):
| App | Price | Best for | Apple Health |
|---|---|---|---|
| Strava (free account) | Free; subscription $79.99/yr | Logging runs and seeing friends | Exports to Apple Health |
| Nike Run Club | Free | Guided audio runs and free plans | Syncs with Apple Health |
| ASICS Runkeeper | Free; GO $39.99/yr | Simple tracking and audio cues | Shares to Apple Health |
| adidas Running | Free | Challenges and virtual races | Not stated on listing |
| Run&Grow | Free on iPhone | Staying consistent: every run grows a plant | Reads runs from Apple Health |
From the US App Store listings for Nike Run Club, ASICS Runkeeper and adidas Running, checked October 2026.
Nike Run Club is the biggest fully free option, with guided runs and plans in many countries (see Nike Run Club vs Strava). Runkeeper is free for tracking, with an optional GO upgrade (see is Runkeeper free). For the full list, read the best free running apps and our Strava alternatives.
You don’t have to pick just one. Run&Grow reads your runs from Apple Health, so you can keep recording in free Strava and still grow a plant in your Run&Grow garden for every run. No public feed, no pace shaming, and if you skip a week, your garden waits.
Strava free in the UK and Australia
The free account works the same everywhere. Only the subscription price changes: £8.99 a month or £54.99 a year in the UK, and A$14.99 a month or A$99.99 a year in Australia. If you run parkrun, free Strava is enough to log your Saturday 5K, and your parkrun result comes from parkrun itself, not from Strava. Curious how your pace stacks up? See average mile time and is a 10-minute mile good.
Frequently Asked Questions
- Is Strava free to use?
- Yes. Strava is free to download, and a free account can record runs, rides and walks, follow friends, give kudos, join clubs and use the safety features. The paid subscription adds routes, full segment leaderboards, custom goals and deeper training data.
- How much is a Strava subscription?
- As of October 2026 it is $11.99 a month or $79.99 a year in the US, £8.99 a month or £54.99 a year in the UK, and A$14.99 a month or A$99.99 a year in Australia (App Store prices). Verified students pay $39.99 a year in the US.
- Does Strava have a free trial?
- Yes. New subscribers get a 30-day free trial of the individual plan, and verified students get a 30-day trial too. If you do not want to pay, cancel at least 24 hours before the trial ends.
- Can you see segments on free Strava?
- Partly. Free users still get personal records and can see the top of each segment leaderboard, but full leaderboards and segment analysis need the subscription. Strava moved them behind the paywall in May 2020.
- Are Strava training plans free?
- No. As of October 2026 new running plans come from Runna, which Strava owns but sells separately. Runna is $19.99 a month or $119.99 a year in the US, or $149.99 a year in the Strava + Runna bundle. Week 1 of any Runna plan is free.
A free reason to keep running
Run&Grow turns every run into a plant, including runs from Strava via Apple Health. Free on iPhone.
Free on iPhone · Also on Android