A group of health advocates opines that technology has a negative impact on the mind and the body. Then they changed their perception when they came to know about Strava. Well, that’s just made up. But isn’t that true? Who thought the smartphone that we carry in our hands could hold health for us, that too conveniently? Did I say convenience? Users don’t need to wake up at the earliest dawn to hit the gym. They can comfortably take out their cycles or simply go for a jog and workout at their pace and suitable timing. Not to mention the hefty price of gym subscriptions and the lack of motivation to workout after a couple of days.
What is the Next Milestone for the Fitness Tracking App Industry? The App Store and Play Store were launched back in 2008. Two years later, the first fitness mobile app was launched–Fit Phone. It was a simple fitness app, knitted with simple features. With the time and the evolution of smartphones, even mental health apps began coming to the fore and physical fitness apps were developed with motion sensors and GPS features for empowering users to take ‘virtual trainers’ for a jog, cycling, and even hiking for tracking their fitness levels. When the fitness tracking app industry was in its nascent stage, individuals had to purchase most mobile apps to be able to use them. However, for getting more customers onboard, developers began offering the app for free every three months in the App Store. Numerous users identified this pattern and began waiting for the app to turn free. This demotivated many fitness app businesses. The App Store and Play Store were launched back in 2008. Two years later, the first fitness mobile app was launched–Fit Phone. It was a simple fitness app, knitted with simple features. With the time and the evolution of smartphones, even mental health apps began coming to the fore and physical fitness apps were developed with motion sensors and GPS features for empowering users to take ‘virtual trainers’ for a jog, cycling, and even hiking for tracking their fitness levels. When the fitness tracking app industry was in its nascent stage, individuals had to purchase most mobile apps to be able to use them. However, for getting more customers onboard, developers began offering the app for free every three months in the App Store. Numerous users identified this pattern and began waiting for the app to turn free. This demotivated many fitness app businesses.
Strava Similar App Development: Build a Business that Speaks Convenience
Today, the fitness tracking app industry has come a long way, from being a static exercise mobile application to being a fully-functional GPS mobile application with real-time features. The advancement of the online fitness app market is proportionate to the technological progression.
The fitness tracking app industry is a nascent industry, with online or virtual workout being the next-gen fitness revolution. With or without a trainer, the fitness app tracking industry is flourishing, with innovation translating into profit.
The online fitness app industry has turned so broad that this needs to be categorised into different niches such as home-based workout and outdoor activity trackers. The online fitness app market is booming with the brightest ideas. It is the right time to be in the market. However, you need to analyze the right user sentiments and assess market needs.
To help you with the market-leading Strava similar app development, we have categorized the features into two categories–most viable features and advanced features.
Want to know more about this concept?
Download Detailed Business ModelIn-depth planning of Strava similar app development with TRooTech
Book consultationNew businesses often find it overwhelming to select the features and functionality while opting for Strava similar app development. In such cases, the modules and features are either under-functional or over-functional. Hence, it is extremely critical to decide the priorities and make an effective plan to run your businesses. We believe the below aspects can help you plan your features in a strategic manner
01
Activity Recording
Users can tap on the record button to begin recording the activity of their workout sessions.
02
Device Support
Any device with GPS integration can be compatible with the online fitness app. Strava is compatible with smartphones with an Internet connection and GPS features. Besides this, it is also compatible with wearable devices.
03
Social Network
Users can upload their activity and performance achievements on the social network section in the app and engage with other users’ posts.
04
Measure Performance
The app is synced with smartphones, GPS watch, head unit, as well as heart rate monitor to record the performance of users.
05
Compete on Segments
Users can maintain a record of their progress and even compete against the records of their friends.
06
Training Dashboard
The app consists of a dashboard that allows users to track their fitness level and see the course of their training.
07
Social Media Login
Users can log into their Strava accounts by using their social media accounts.
08
Multiple Payment Methods
Users can make payments either with a credit card or the debit card and even using their PayPal account.
09
My Activities
Users can add keywords and filters from various sports typesto view their activities along with the date, title of the training, time, distance, and elevation. Users can edit their activities, delete them, or share them with their network.
10
Upload Activity
Users can upload and sync to numerous devices from Apple Watch, Samsung, Fitbit, Amazfit, Bryton, etc.
11
Add Manual Entry
When the Internet connection in some areas is not good, users can manually add their workout sessions with information about the total duration, distance, and elevation.
12
Create a Post
Users can create a social media post by adding text and images pertaining to their activities and share them with their friends.
13
Segment Explore
Users can explore various segments using the option to look for areas from the map to suit the activity.
14
Athlete Search
Online fitness tracking apps are fun when users can have a friendly competition to be able to push their limits. Users can check the activities undertaken by their Facebook friends and users from nearby locations.
15
Training Calendar
Users can track the number of hours and distance they have been trained with Strava.
The Revenue Model for Strava Similar App
Transform your app idea into a revenue-generating machine
Book consultation
Strava Uses a Freemium Model
Your app is appealing in the App Store and Google Playstore. So, users are enticed to at least try it out. The moment they get it on their devices and open it, all their excitement fades away when they see a prompt, “Add Credit Card details to begin your trial”.
Well, that’s not the case with Strava. It offers a real value even in the free version of the application. To put it into perspective, Strava leverages the freemium version as an instrument to acquire users and not as a means to earn revenue.
Real value = Real Acquisition
Engagement Factor
Users really want to find out how they are doing. If this wasn’t the case, the quizzes to find out which character they are from the series FRIENDS and similar ones wouldn’t have been viral. When you give your users a peek into themselves, they tend to spend more time in analysis.
That’s a winning point for your app, as they spend more time realizing how they are doing. So, comparison of their performance with themselves and their friends is one of the highest engagement quotients in the Strava app. Besides, the social media feed ensures that users come back to the app even when they are not working out just to keep a check on the activities of their friends
Lifestyle Companion
When users invest their time in any application, they expect something out of it. For instance, when they use social media applications, they either seek communication or entertainment out of it. Similarly, when they use Strava, they anticipate a future benefit for their health or to improve their skills as a runner/hiker/swimmer/jogger/cyclist.
Strava helps users to customize their goals and send reminders about their workout schedules. Hence, Strava distinguishes itself from being a common social feed-based fitness app to be an online motivator and workout partner..
Subtle Switch from Free to Premium Model
It is indeed difficult to strike the perfect balance between prompting users to pay for subscription and not coming out as a pushy business. We have seen various online apps that pop-up a Subscribe Now message every time a user opens the application. On the contrary, you can’t even have a laid back attitude when it comes to generating revenue; hence the dilemma.
Strava holds the subtle art of making money without annoying users with the perceived value. It sends out fewer triggers to its users and reminds them what they are missing out with the freemium model of the application.
Do More of What Resonates with Users
The first step that Strava takes is to get users knocking at the App Store and Google Play Store with the freemium strategy. At this point when users are using the free version of the application, the only thing that Strava receives is not revenue but loyalty.
Upon receiving the loyalty, Strava identifies the true expectations of users from the application and bundles it in the form of the subscription package. When users find out that what they have been seeking for is just a subscription away, they don’t mind paying for it for the value they are receiving.
Clubs, Events, and Customized Routes are all a part of the desires that users show that Strava catches and helps them manifest it with a subscription plan.
The Power of Subscription
Usually, no user will switch to the premium version of the app on the day they download it, had they not been hard sold or deeply influenced. The ideal process to switch from a freemium version to a subscription model takes experimentation and exploration from the users’ end to weigh the value of the app and its influence on their lives.
When they want to step up their efforts and leverage more benefits, they will opt for the subscription. Upon making the payment, if they do not see the value they were promised, they might end up not renewing it the next time. Hence, even subscription can disrupt the seamless sales funnel. However, Strava ensures that it offers visible value to users when they make payments.
Below are the top competitors of Strava:
Learn from the Best: How to Beat Strava?
Now that there are the best of the best fitness tracking apps, if Strava were to disappear, users would still have numerous options to select their next-best cycling/jogging app. If you aspire to be the next Strava, you might be intimidated by this fact. However, the secret to beat Strava is simple. You need to assess the pros and cons of Strava. Next, you can resolve the cons of Strava with the best benefits of others cycling/jogging/hiking apps.
Dailymile Cycling
Dailymile offers a unique set of features for athletes to leverage a full range of features to achieve their fitness goals faster. Besides being a cycling app, it also includes detail of the diet, food, and nutrition. It also enables users to share their achievements on social media profiles. The app consists of sponsored challenges and leaderboard positions to keep the users motivated about their fitness.
MapMyRide Cycling App
MapMyRide is a popular cycling app, next to Strava, that offers cyclists a user-friendly experience. Upon the completion of the workout, users can get essential metrics such as pace, speed, distance, elevation, and duration. The data gets automatically uploaded on the website to track the workout data, route, workout history.
Endomondo Cycling App
Endomondo is not restricted to just being a cycling app. It can be used to measure various workout activities besides running and cycling. A news feed consisting of the recent workouts of friends is integrated, where users can post comments and find more information about their activities. The app is also compatible with BT, BTLE, and ANT+ for users to track their heart rate.
Cyclometer Cycling App
Cyclometer collects accurate data and consists of multiple features for the fitness enthusiasts to participate in multiple sports. In addition, the Strava similar app enables users to sync their real-time ride information to their social media profiles of Facebook and Twitter. Users can even download their training logs and workout sessions in an Excel sheet.
Runkeeper
Runkeeper is one of the well-established fitness tracking apps, founded in 2008. As smartphones evolved, the owners of Runkeeper offered timely improvements and updates. It has been recently acquired by ASICS, a leading apparel manufacturer. The fitness tracking app helps users determine their fitness level
Nike Run Club
The Nike Run club offers users with the required inspiration, guidance, and innovation to help them become a pro athlete. Users can track their progress by offering them with the progress based on their elevation, heart rate, distance, location, pace, as well as mile splits. Using Nike Run club users can connect with their friends and compare their scores/activities.
Tech Stack for Building an App like Netflix
In order to win against Strava and similar apps, you need to be strong in two aspects–Business model and technology. Your app will be the face of your Strava like business. Hence, you will need the best of the technological stacks for Strava similar app development.
Android Studio
Java
Xcode as Tool
Swift as a Language
MySql as Database
PHP as a Language