Strava

What is Strava?

Strava is a digital platform that uses GPS to track your physical activities like running, cycling and swimming, as well as more niche sports like rock climbing and ice-skating. The app records things like your route, distance, pace, elevation and time, and can also collect heart rate and calorie data using connected sensors. After you finish an activity, you can see the exact path you took displayed on a map along with your recorded stats. You can use Strava via the mobile app, your fitness watch, or through its website – though GPS tracking only works through the app or a connected device like a Garmin or Peloton.

The app includes social networking features where you can follow friends or fitness influencers. You can choose to share your workouts to your Strava feed where others can give ‘kudos’ (Strava’s version of a ‘like’) or leave comments. The app also includes a direct messaging feature, a ‘group activities’ feature that lets you track workouts done together with others, and ‘clubs’ you can join to connect with people with shared interests and take part in events. These social elements are optional and can be controlled through the in-app settings.

Strava uses the data of all its users to create a heatmap of popular routes and locations for a wide range of sports, including running, cycling, swimming, kayaking, and more.

Strava also offers timed challenge events (often created by Strava or fitness brands), such as running a set distance in a month. You might be awarded digital trophies when you complete a goal, and some brand-run challenges offer real rewards like free trials or discount coupons.

Because Strava uses GPS, it collects and shares location information by default. This means that, if your settings are not private, other users can see where you are or where you’ve been. If your activity starts and ends at home and is shared publicly, others may be able to identify your home address. To reduce this risk, you can enable a feature called ‘privacy zones’, which hides the precise location of your start and end points. Another optional feature with potential privacy risks is Flyby, which shows where and when users crossed paths, potentially revealing who they ran or cycled near – though this setting is not on by default and has to be enabled in privacy settings.

Strava also includes a safety feature called Beacon, which allows you to share your real-time location with up to three trusted contacts of your choice. These people will be able to view your live location on a map as you move. While this feature is designed to give users peace of mind during exercise, it could also be misused by someone trying to control and track another person. Read more on our page about coercive control.

Website: Strava

Apps: Android app, Apple iOS app

How do people use Strava?

Learn more about the benefits and risks associated with how people use messaging apps like Strava.

Strava is used for: location sharing, messaging/online chat, in-app purchasing, and photo/video sharing.

How can you report inappropriate behaviour or block someone?

These links are provided by Strava:

• Report abuse
  How to report inappropriate behaviour or content on Strava.
• Manage followers and block users
  How to remove followers or stop someone from contacting you.

How can you protect your personal information?

These links are provided by Strava:

• Manage privacy controls
  How to control who can see your Strava profile and what information is visible to others.
• Privacy policy
  Outlines Strava’s approach to data collection, use, sharing, and user privacy control.

Key safety links

These links are provided by Strava:

• Strava support centre
  Find answers to common questions and support for using the app.
• Privacy centre
  Tools and information to help you manage your privacy on Strava.
• Terms of Service
  The terms you agree to when you use Strava.