Customer Reviews (100)

Gerald Gabion • 2025-07-15T11:26:56.680Z

this app automatically deduct on my account. and there is no refund policy.

Oliver Bevan • 2025-07-15T06:21:46.876Z

brilliant app

A Google user • 2025-07-15T05:39:55.481Z

love this

Strava App Review Analysis

1. Summary of Key Insights

Strava is a popular fitness tracking app with a large user base, but user reviews reveal a mixed sentiment. While many users appreciate its tracking capabilities, social features, and accuracy (in some cases), a significant portion express frustration with subscription costs, GPS inaccuracies, synchronization issues with wearable devices, and customer service. The app's transition towards more premium features is a recurring point of contention. The score distribution indicates a polarization of opinions, with a high percentage of both 1-star and 5-star reviews. The overall sentiment leans positive due to the higher number of 5-star reviews, but the volume of negative feedback highlights critical areas for improvement.

Key Strengths:

  • Accurate tracking (for some users)
  • Social features and community aspects
  • Variety of supported activities
  • Motivation through challenges and leaderboards

Key Weaknesses:

  • High cost of subscription and perceived paywalling of basic features
  • GPS inaccuracies and tracking issues on certain devices
  • Synchronization problems with wearable devices (especially Samsung Galaxy watches)
  • Poor customer service and lack of responsiveness
  • Bugs and glitches related to saving activities and the new UI
  • Automatic subscription renewals and refund issues.

Overall Rating: Based on the review data, the app's perceived rating is somewhere in the middle. The distribution is heavily skewed with 5-star (47%) and 1-star (30%) reviews, suggesting a polarized user base. Averaging the scores, we get roughly 3.3 stars.

2. Data & Methodology Overview

  • Data Sample Size: 100 reviews
  • Time Frame: Not specified but assumed to be recent based on the content of the reviews (mentions of "new update").
  • Analysis Methods:
    • Sentiment Analysis: Categorizing reviews as positive, negative, or neutral based on the language used.
    • Keyword Extraction: Identifying frequently mentioned keywords and phrases to understand common themes and issues.
    • Frequency Analysis: Counting the occurrences of specific issues to prioritize areas for improvement.

3. Key User Pain Points

  • Subscription Costs and Paywall: Many users complain about the high cost of the subscription and the feeling that essential features are now locked behind a paywall. This is a major source of dissatisfaction.
  • GPS Inaccuracies: Several users report inaccurate GPS tracking, leading to incorrect distance and pace calculations. This is particularly problematic for users who rely on Strava for training.
  • Synchronization Issues: Users experience difficulties synchronizing data between Strava and their wearable devices (especially Samsung Galaxy watches). This disrupts their workflow and leads to frustration.
  • Saving Activity Issues: The app sometimes fails to save activities properly, resulting in lost data and wasted effort.
  • Customer Service: Negative experiences with customer service are frequently mentioned, including lack of responsiveness and unhelpful support.
  • Automatic Subscription Renewals/Refunds: Complaints about automatic subscription renewals without confirmation and difficulties obtaining refunds.
  • App Performance Issues: Users report crashes, slow performance, and excessive battery drain.
  • UI Changes: Recent UI updates are criticized for being less user-friendly or introducing new bugs.

4. Frequently Requested Features

  • Free Calories/Fat Burned Counter: Several users requested a free calories or fat burned counter.
  • Improved GPS Accuracy: Users consistently request better GPS tracking, particularly on Android devices.
  • More Customization Options: Users desire more control over audio cues, display settings, and data presentation.
  • Better Integration with Wearable Devices: Improved synchronization and data transfer with devices like Samsung Galaxy Watches.
  • Option to see all leaderboard participants: Users want to see more than just the top 10 on leaderboards.
  • Return of old sharing activity mode: Users want the previous method of sharing photos and activities restored.

5. Strengths and Positive Aspects

  • Motivation and Community: The social aspect of Strava, including kudos, challenges, and leaderboards, is highly motivating for many users.
  • Tracking Capabilities: Users appreciate the ability to track a wide range of activities and monitor their progress.
  • Ease of Use (for some): Some users find the app easy to use and navigate (although others disagree).
  • Accurate GPS (for some): While GPS accuracy is a pain point for some, others find it to be accurate.
  • Comprehensive Data: The app provides detailed data and insights into workout performance.

6. Prioritized Action Recommendations

High Priority:

  • Address GPS Inaccuracies: Investigate and fix GPS tracking issues, particularly on Android devices.
  • Improve Device Synchronization: Resolve synchronization problems with wearable devices, especially Samsung Galaxy Watches.
  • Enhance Customer Service: Improve customer service responsiveness and provide more helpful support.
  • Fix Activity Saving Issues: Address the bugs that cause activities to fail to save properly.
  • Review Subscription Model: Re-evaluate the subscription model to balance premium features with free functionality. Consider offering a more affordable tier or providing more value in the free version.
  • Address Automatic Subscription Renewals/Refunds: Improve transparency and control over subscription renewals, and streamline the refund process.

Medium Priority:

  • Optimize App Performance: Improve app performance to reduce crashes, slowdowns, and battery drain.
  • Refine UI/UX: Address user concerns about recent UI changes and ensure a user-friendly experience.
  • Implement Requested Features: Consider adding popular requested features, such as a free calorie counter.
  • Improve leaderboard integrity: Take measures to prevent cheating on leaderboards.

Low Priority:

  • More Customization Options: Explore adding more customization options for audio cues, display settings, etc.

7. Opportunities for Startup Ideas

  • Fitness Tracker with Transparent Pricing: A fitness tracking app with a clear and affordable pricing structure, avoiding perceived paywalls for basic features.
  • GPS Accuracy Enhancement Service: A service or app that improves GPS accuracy on Android devices for fitness tracking applications.
  • Wearable Device Synchronization Tool: A tool that simplifies and improves synchronization between fitness apps and wearable devices, addressing compatibility issues.
  • AI-Powered Fitness Coach with Personalized Recommendations: An AI-driven platform that provides personalized workout plans, nutrition advice, and injury prevention strategies based on user data and goals, addressing the need for more advanced analytics and guidance.
  • Community-Driven Fitness Challenge Platform: A platform that allows users to create and participate in custom fitness challenges with enhanced social features and gamification elements, fostering a stronger sense of community and motivation.

8. Trends and Observations

  • Polarization of Sentiment: The high percentage of both 1-star and 5-star reviews suggests a divided user base, with strong opinions on both sides.
  • Subscription Fatigue: A growing trend of users expressing frustration with subscription-based apps and perceived paywalling of basic features.
  • Device-Specific Issues: Synchronization problems appear to be more prevalent with certain devices, such as Samsung Galaxy watches.
  • Impact of Updates: UI changes and app updates can significantly impact user satisfaction, highlighting the importance of thorough testing and user feedback.

9. Conclusion

Strava remains a popular fitness tracking app with a strong community, but user reviews reveal significant pain points related to subscription costs, GPS accuracy, device synchronization, and customer service. Addressing these issues is crucial for retaining existing users and attracting new ones. Re-evaluating the subscription model and improving app performance should be top priorities. By focusing on user feedback and addressing key pain points, Strava can maintain its position as a leading fitness tracking app.

Overall Recommendation: Address the high priority issues immediately, focusing on GPS accuracy, device synchronization, and customer service. Re-evaluate the subscription model to offer more value to free users and ensure transparency in pricing.

10. Original App Link

https://play.google.com/work/apps/details?id=com.strava