Barry2 

Non paying users are consuming Server time and Internet bandwidth, I won't count support because that is likely minimal for non paying users.

Given the choice between non stop adverts (like some free services) or paying $10/year, which would you choose?

Barry

Jay Turberville

If it were just one subscription, I'd tend to agree. But it seems that so many companies are moving to this model. Frankly, I'd rather just have a fitness watch that downloaded to my phone. Why does it have to go to the cloud? My phone has a bucketload of compute power.

That said, I like the subscription model more than an advertisement or sell-your-data model. Though I see more and more "subscriptions" also using my subscription to advertise to me. Sigh.

theblackbullet

I cancelled my subscription and never needed to replace it because the paid features aren't worth anything to me. If they charged $10-20 a year for everyone, I'd still not pay it. Rather they have ads on their website.

I'd leave Strava altogether if I didn't have to migrate years worth of data. Also some of my favorite websites such as Wandrer utilize Strava to make some pretty cool use of my data.

One Wheel

Ads.

Doge

I have an account. I mainly had one for my kid and got so much crap about his results (20 second power over 1,200W). Nobody really wants to cross ref to real results - they just argue.
I stopped paying for it and now he is an adult.

daviddavieboy

Except that it's the free users that really ad value to that platform in the form of the data the user freely gives and the directed advertising the user if forced to see. Ad revenue is the golden goose for internet companies.

As far as features the only one I really used was live tracking which I just use the garmin version of and the fitness trend which I use the free Elevate platform now. FWIW I was a strava user from around 2012-2012.

datlas 

You both have good points.

My hope is that they continue a free version, but allow an ad-free “basic” subscription for $25/year (like BikeForums!) and maybe drop the premium subscription rate to something like $50-75/yr.

I think that might work for everyone. But I am not in charge, so we must stand by and wait.

chaadster

Since when did Strava have ads?? I’ve never seen one… Brand-sponsored Challenges, yes, but that’s clearly not what you’re talking about.

msu2001la

I pay for Strava because it's a product that I use almost every day and I find to be a valuable addition to track my fitness, milage and goals.

Is the free version "good enough"? Probably. I pay for a lot of things in life that I don't really need though, and in the context of cycling/fitness purchases spending $79/year on Strava is relatively minor.

Certainly, the extra $20 a year (over the previous $59 subscription cost) is not something I would have even noticed if it weren't for the dozens of blogs and cycling media outlets complaining about it.

CAT7RDR

I looked into joining the Strava free version a couple years ago but did not feel comfortable answering multiple health questions with my name attached so I terminated the process.

Joined ridewithgps instead for that reason.

alcjphil

my Strava account goes back to when it was free. I don't need it for many of the features that it now includes because my Garmin account provides me with that. I use my account as a way to keep in touch with people I know

datlas 

I believe the ads concern is hypothetical given the need for them to increase revenue.

redtires

I used Strava a number of years ago (could be five-ish or more). Connect has a better "ROI" for me. Sure, I need to buy a device, but it's a "one time fee" basically for years and years of data that really only I use or even want. Also, I don't have to buy a new device, I can always get a used/refurbished one if I want something newer (I've done that a couple of times while at the same time selling my older device). Strava is primarily a social platform which spits out a lot of user data I've no interest in nor am I particularly interested in providing , so "meh". Connect syncs up with my Rouvy and my Apple activity and provides me with the actual data I want and includes route planning, uploading routes, nav, etc... Personally, I don't see them ever going full pay with no free version. Strava needs large numbers of users to produce the aggregate data they sell to third party buyers. They also need those numbers to attract companies to fund "Sponsored Challenges". From what I can find, these two plus subscriptions are their main income streams. I could see ads as part of their future and they may have some success with sport specific adverts based off a users primary sport.

Kabuki12

I’ve been with Strava for quite some time, since about 2016. I use the free version to keep track of my rides and mileage. I don’t ride competitively so I don’t care what others are doing or what route they are taking. It works well but a few times it has failed , especially up in Central California when I ride up the coast. They will charge what they have to charge for the service if you want the extras . A few years ago they took away a lot of features that used to be free and changed things . That didn’t bother me . I have gotten way more out of the service than what I’ve paid! I ride with my friend occasionally and he uses something else that works really well with his Garmin and I believe it is free when you buy one of those devices. I guess if Strava takes away the free version , I will buy a Garmin or just keep a log manually , I can write and do the math!

L134 

Personal heatmaps, a favorite of mine.

I figure free users add value to me and cyclists in general to the extent their data is shared with city planners etc, possibly leading to improved cycling infrastructure. I'm assuming that also provides some revenue for Strava?

katsup

OP, the beacon feature you mentioned became available to free users awhile back. I just use Strava to track my mileage (beacon for the wife), don't care about the social aspect, so the free version is good enough for me

Chuck M 

From what I understand that is only true if you are recording the activity with the Strava app. I use my Edge or Forerunner for activity recording.

If LiveTrack were reliable I would have never used Beacon. And I can't for the life of me understand why Beacon always worked well and LiveTrack hardly ever works. Bot would seem to rely on a connection to the gps device and my phone, but why Strava knew where I was and Garmin didn't is a mystery.

katsup

That's maybe it. I don't use any other device, just the phone.

Chuck M 

I played around with Garmin's course planner and it made my route I'm considering this spring. While I still think I like Strava's route planner a bit better, I don't like it well enough to pay almost 80 bucks for it. I also played around a bit with google maps and it appears that there is a site that will make a gpx file from a google map but I'm not sure all the roads are paved.

And scrolling through the Strava activity feed, I have only one connection that appears to still be a subscriber.

Koyote

It's $79.99/yr. Is that close enough for you?

datlas 

Discussion included some who felt recent price increase was mean and that premium members are paying part of what free users should pay. Hence suggestion for a modest drop in premium price.

It’s not my company obv, so just a suggestion on what seems reasonable.

Koyote

I'm not arguing those points...Only pointing out that the actual price is only five dollars (<7%) more than the range you requested. It seems like they are practically already doing what you requested.

biker128pedal

I almost signed up for a paid account in Strava when it had different levels. I did not need all the bells and whistles. It was interesting but I did not want another thing to pay for. Trying to get the SO to drop all the streaming services and just rotate one every 6 months. Heck the daily paper is pretty much useless now. I retire next week so after the dust settles I may sign up. Compared to what I would have to pay for a Smart Trainer app access Strava is a deal. Still would need to get a smart trainer. I did not know about Beacon. After I retire it may make the SO fell better about me riding the road. Or may be not. I have used the Garmin Livetrack twice with my son. It worked well. I may try and teach the SO how to use it but it may make her worry more.


I like the idea of not putting my stuff in the cloud. I still use Basecamp but it only sees routes and temperature.

Turnin_Wrenches

I just canceled my Strava subscription. The paid features are not of much value to me at the current annual pricing. I'll keep the free version as a way of tracking total miles and hours. I was using Today's Plan for more ride analysis, but I just got a message saying the site is shutting down in March . I'm now on the lookout for something new that will provide decent ride analysis and training metrics at an affordable price. Right now I'm leaning towards TrainerDay.

Barry2 

Give a look at Intervals.icu

Barry