Everything That’s Changed Since Strava Bought Runna
Last April, Strava acquired Runna, combining one of the most popular fitness communities with one of the best training platforms for runners. Runna’s founders initially said that no existing features would be going away, but new ones were expected. Strava, for its part, emphasized expanding access to Runna’s coaching tools. However, we can already see that this acquisition is not purely incremental, at least from a user perspective. Let’s take a look at what has really changed for users since Strava acquired Runna.
Strava/Runna Combo Subscription
This has been a source of disappointment for many users who were expecting immediate integration or bundled benefits. Strava Premium costs $79.99 per year, while Runna costs $119.99 per year. Paying for both would cost $200 per year. Earlier this month , a combo offer was announced that drops the price by $50 to $149.99 per year. You can purchase aStrava combo subscription here or from the Android or Apple app stores.
However, this combined subscription has a number of limitations. First, the Strava/Runna package is only available as an annual subscription. There is no monthly subscription. Furthermore, there is nothing in this offer that would appeal to runners who have been loyal customers of only one app. A common suggestion on the community forums is that this purchase will provide “little or no additional value to Strava customers” in the short term.
As a long-time Strava user, I was excited to try Runna at a discount. Instead, my only option is to pay a large amount up front for an app I may or may not like.
No more Strava training plans
Last week, Strava removed training plans from its paid subscription and is now redirecting users to purchase a Runna subscription.
Strava’s training plans weren’t exactly the selling point, but the principle is still depressing. Strava subscribers paid for a service that included training plans. Now, mid-subscription cycle, Strava has decided you’re no longer entitled to those plans.
That said, Runna does have some great workout programs . But if you’re looking for alternatives that will give you more for your money, check out these options here .
Shaky signs of integration
The running communities at r/runna , r/running, and r/strava have generally been vocal about the acquisition when it comes to usability. Beyond having to deal with the loss of Strava training plans and the disappointing pricing of the packages, there are other minor annoyances. For example, users are complaining about the constant Runna ads in the Strava app. Likewise, Runna now automatically sends an unlabeled bar chart of your lap segments to Strava. (To turn this off, tap Runna Profile > Connected Apps & Devices > Strava > Add an image to synced activities .) I’m also seeing a lot of feedback about the combined subscription not syncing properly or otherwise requiring a call to Strava support.
What users should expect in the future
Only time will tell if Strava can fully integrate Runna, and Runna fans have every right to be wary. In 2023, Strava announced that subscribers would be able to access Fatmap, a mapping tool beloved by skiers and other adventurers. In 2024, Strava shut down Fatmap , integrating some, but not all, of its features into the main Strava app. Skiers are still furious .
Strava aside, we’re living in a time of subscription demise across the board, with subscription services gradually cutting features while maintaining prices. With no clear answer from either company about when full integration will happen, it’s understandable that users are concerned about whether Runna’s unique features will be cut or removed altogether.
I’ll be updating this article regularly as changes occur. Here’s what I’m keeping an eye on, for better or worse:
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Best Subscription Package Deals
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Deeper AI-powered training integration into Strava
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Possible expansion of Runna technology to other sports, such as cycling.
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More social features that connect the Strava community and Runna training plans
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Possible consolidation of applications on a single platform