Strava leaderboard updates are now a paid feature, which is going to piss off a lot of people. On Monday, Strava announced some key changes to the increasingly popular app. Due to high demand and in the interest of making improvements, Strava is putting paid subscriptions at the center of their platform. This means that some of their previously free features will be moving to subscription-only access.
In an open letter to the community, Strava founders Mark Gainey and Michael Horvath wrote of plans to “put subscription at the center of Strava”, but will “always offer a version of Strava for free”.
As part of the latest update, Strava has also simplified its subscription model, improved training metrics, and overhauled its website-based route builder tool.
The Biggest Change is Strava Leaderboard Updates are Now a Paid Feature
As of today, only the top 10 of a KOM/QOM leaderboard will be visible to non-paying users. The rest of the leaderboard, along with an individual’s past efforts will also sit behind the paywall. So not only will you not be able to compare yourself to KOM/QOMs you won’t be able to compare past performances.
Free Strava users will still be able to explore, create, flag and search for segments, as well as see their PRs and CRs. However, those who wish to analyse their past efforts, compare results or view results beyond the top 10 fastest (all-time / women) will need to subscribe.
Strava’s New Route Builder
Also part of the latest update, Strava has also simplified its subscription model, improved training metrics, and overhauled its website-based route builder tool.
Responding to the rise of gravel cycling as a cycling discipline, Strava’s route builder now overlays popularity heatmaps and includes surface types for those who are looking to find – or avoid – the road-less-travelled.
Strava has done away with the Summit brand and the Training, Safety or Analysis package subscription model introduced in 2018. Instead, it has reverted to a single paywall, whereby users either subscribe, or they don’t.
Strava’s new pricing structure consists of an annual subscription of $59.99 which equates to $5.00 per month. Or there is a monthly subscription of $7.99. There is also an unprecedented two-month free trial of Strava’s paid subscription for new users or those currently on the free platform.