ride with gps vs strava

3 min read 06-12-2024

Meta Description: Choosing between Ride with GPS and Strava? This in-depth comparison dives into features, pricing, route planning, social aspects, and more to help cyclists find the perfect app. Discover which platform best suits your riding needs – from casual spins to epic adventures. Decide which app is best for you today!

Introduction: Choosing Your Cycling Companion

For cyclists, choosing the right cycling app is crucial. It's more than just tracking miles; it's about enhancing your rides, connecting with others, and planning epic adventures. Two giants dominate the cycling app landscape: Ride with GPS and Strava. But which one reigns supreme? This comprehensive comparison will help you decide. Both Ride with GPS and Strava offer robust features, but they cater to different needs and preferences. Let's dive in!

Route Planning and Navigation: Finding Your Way

Ride with GPS: RWGPS shines here. Its route-building tools are incredibly detailed and powerful. You can create custom routes using a vast array of tools, including elevation profiles, importing GPX files, and adjusting difficulty. The navigation features during your ride are excellent, providing clear turn-by-turn directions.

Strava: Strava's route creation is more basic. While you can create routes, the level of customization is less extensive than RWGPS. Its strength lies in its community-generated routes, allowing you to discover and follow rides created by others. Navigation is functional, but not as refined as RWGPS's offering.

Which is best for route planning?

Complex routes and detailed planning: Ride with GPS
Discovering community routes: Strava

Social Features and Community: Connecting with Fellow Cyclists

Ride with GPS: RWGPS has a community aspect, but it's less emphasized than Strava's. You can follow other users and share your rides, but the social interaction isn't as central to the platform's experience.

Strava: Strava's social features are a major draw. It thrives on competition and camaraderie. You can connect with friends, join clubs, participate in segments, and compete for leaderboard spots. This aspect motivates many users.

Which is better for social interaction?

Competition and community engagement: Strava
Focus on individual riding and planning: Ride with GPS

Training and Performance Analysis: Tracking Your Progress

Ride with GPS: RWGPS provides comprehensive data tracking, including distance, time, speed, and elevation gain. Its analysis is detailed, allowing for in-depth performance review.

Strava: Strava offers similar data tracking but enhances it with its segment feature. Segments allow you to compete on specific sections of routes, adding a gamified element to training. Its performance analysis is equally detailed and provides insights into your fitness progress.

Which is better for tracking and analysis?

In-depth analysis and detailed data: Both are comparable.
Gamified training with segments: Strava

Pricing and Subscriptions: What's the Cost?

Ride with GPS: Offers a free plan with limited features and a paid subscription for full functionality. The paid version unlocks advanced features like offline maps and route customization.

Strava: Also uses a freemium model. The free plan provides basic tracking and social features. The paid "Summit" subscription unlocks advanced performance analysis, training plans, and additional features.

Cost Comparison

Free options available: Both
Paid options unlock advanced features: Both

Offline Maps and Navigation: Riding Beyond Cell Service

Ride with GPS: A key advantage of RWGPS’s paid subscription is the ability to download maps for offline use. This is crucial for rides in areas with poor or no cell service.

Strava: Strava's free and paid plans offer limited offline map capabilities, primarily for recently viewed segments. For reliable offline navigation, the paid version offers more robust features, but it's still less comprehensive than RWGPS.

Offline Maps?

Superior offline mapping: Ride with GPS

Conclusion: The Verdict

The "best" app depends entirely on your priorities.

Choose Ride with GPS if: You prioritize detailed route planning, superior offline maps, and in-depth performance analysis without the intense social competition.
Choose Strava if: You value a strong social community, gamified training through segments, and want a platform that emphasizes competition and connection with other cyclists.

Both apps are excellent tools for cyclists. Consider your individual needs and preferences to make the best choice for your riding journey. Happy cycling!