4 Strava alternatives for working out with friends

Start with what you want to see when you open the app: this week’s leaderboard, the sets in a workout, challenge progress or the details of a run. One app does not have to handle everything to be useful.

This selection is published by the Rally team and includes our own app. It compares features documented by each brand, without claiming that we tested every app or that one is the best choice for everyone.

Strava is not limited to running or cycling. Its current documentation supports adding exercises, sets, reps and weights to strength activities, as well as importing data from compatible apps such as Hevy. If that is what you were missing, review that flow first: you may be able to keep your history and add a complementary tool.

It also offers private Group Challenges based on time, distance and other goals. Its help center says that creating and joining Group Challenges requires a subscription or trial. That condition applies to that specific feature, not to every way of using Strava.

Rally lets you create a group, log workouts, earn points and follow a leaderboard that starts again each week. It may fit a group that wants to keep up with one another while everyone follows their own schedule.

Imagine three friends who want to share their week without comparing only the distance of a run. Start by logging one session and understanding how it contributes to the leaderboard. The points calculator on this website lets you explore the calculation before inviting everyone else.

Choose it for that social flow. If you need a particular mapping, syncing or workout analysis feature, check it separately before deciding. A points leaderboard does not measure equivalent physical effort across different people.

Hevy lets you log exercises, sets, reps and weight, build routines and review progress. Its social features include following people, viewing their workouts and sharing routines. Consider it when your group’s conversations focus on what happened in the gym.

Hevy also documents a Strava integration. For someone combining strength training and running, it can be a complement rather than a complete replacement. Check the connection and the data it shares before using your own sessions.

It has a free version and Hevy Pro, with different limits and features. Review which plan covers the routines and history you want to keep; a free download does not mean every feature is free.

GymRats offers challenges, teams, chat and different scoring options. Its Hustle points feature lets you assign points to chosen activities. It may fit a group that wants to build a challenge around a specific agreement.

Before starting, write down what counts as a check-in and how you will review the result. A group counting sessions needs a different agreement from one following minutes or distance.

Nike Run Club tracks run details such as pace and distance, offers audio-guided runs and supports challenges shared with friends. It is an alternative for a group whose main activity together is running.

If you also want to log gym weights or run a competition involving other activities, decide where you will review that information. This selection considers NRC for its running experience, rather than as a replacement for a strength log.

Start with one friend: log one session each and find the result you care about. If it is hard to find, adjust your agreement or try another option before sending more invitations.

Compare the cost of the features everyone would use, in your country and on your device. Note who needs a paid plan and review subscriptions and renewals in the store. Prices can vary; this guide does not assume every feature in all four apps is free.

It depends on the question you want to answer. For a weekly competition, try Rally’s group and leaderboard. For discussing sets and weights, review Hevy. For choosing challenge rules, look at GymRats. For shared running goals, consider NRC and Strava’s current features.

Using two tools can also be reasonable: one for the details of each activity and another for the group’s agreement. Everyone should know where to log and where to find the result.