Visit any running club around the globe, and you’ll likely find everyone sporting two essentials: a Garmin smartwatch to monitor their runs and a Strava account to share their accomplishments. Despite the worldwide surge in running, Strava’s absence of modern, in-app training plans has been both puzzling and noticeable—until now, as Strava is acquiring Runna.
For those who don’t start their day with a 6 AM run, this development is significant, even though the financial terms remain undisclosed. Strava is the leading fitness-focused social media app, while Runna, which launched in 2021, has rapidly gained popularity for its 5K, 10K, and marathon training plans. Runna has attracted $6.3 million in funding for its AI-driven coaching and boasts users in 180 countries. By 2024, it had tripled its team size and was in the process of recruiting around 50 new roles to enhance its product and technology. Discussions on running forums or RunTok often feature inquiries or endorsements of the app.
This acquisition is a strategic advantage for both Strava and Runna. Strava can address its lack of diverse running training plans, while Runna gains access to Strava’s extensive online running community and resources.
Strava CEO Michael Martin notes that while the company previously offered static, document-based plans, these were rarely used. Their research revealed a demand for more guidance, highlighting the need for dynamic training plans tailored to runners.
Users will not see immediate changes following the acquisition. Martin explained that the initial plan is to continue operating Runna independently while investing in its growth. Users can expect to notice changes in the upcoming weeks and months.
According to Runna cofounder and CEO Dom Maskell, seamless integration between the two apps aims to improve the user experience. He envisions a straightforward process where users find their daily run plan in Runna, discover routes on Strava, and access live coaching from Runna, capitalizing on Strava’s superior phone recording technology.
A lingering question is how subscriptions will be managed. Strava offers a free tier with a $79.99 annual fee for premium features, while Runna’s subscription is priced at $119.99 per year. Despite using Strava’s third-party API, users currently need to subscribe to both services for full functionality. Martin suggests the Runna acquisition will resemble the integration of Recover Athletics, a prehab and injury prevention app, which remains separate but is a free perk for Strava subscribers. In contrast, FATMAP, a 3D mapping platform, was fully integrated into Strava after its acquisition.
Subscription concerns are notable among both Strava and Runna users, especially given past grievances about feature restrictions behind paywalls. Strava’s earlier subscription price hike met with user dissatisfaction, similar to the backlash against Garmin’s subscription launch. Both Martin and Maskell understand these apprehensions.
“We have an active Reddit community, and we know they often voice strong opinions,” says Maskell. “We strive for transparency and genuinely believe this acquisition benefits all users. I’m ready to engage with everyone and address any questions.”
Martin acknowledges the challenges of pursuing growth amid economic uncertainty, emphasizing that this move focuses on growth and investment, not efficiency.
