Strava criticised after monthly subscription price rises by almost 30 percent

Bunch of plonkers. I just cancelled

DC Rainmaker's take on all this is amusingly incredulous.

I've been a paid member in the US for a few years. It's $59.99 here, no change, which is currently about £49. Back when the pound was strongest in 2021, that would have been £42. I'm tempted to figure out a way to pay the UK price. I could open a UK bank account next time I'm over...

I probably don’t use a tenth of the premium features my annual subscription Strava account offers me & I’m way to old to scare KOM holder’s now as well but without Strava I would never have meet several of my best friends & the guys I go cycling with & have epic French Alp trips with over the years.

It was also used to verify my successful attempt on the Cingle du Ventoux so I am happy to pay the annual subscription because I still feel I get a lot more out of it than it costs although I understand the level of recent increase is a fair bit.

Now if someone can tell me why I continue to pay the full maximum family Netflix monthly price at near £200 a year despite not having watched anything on it for months now that would be useful! .

I think we tend to cut these businesses far too much slack in these scenarios. 

The great tech lay-off is not so much about tech companies losing money, and more about businesses wanting to maximise shareholder value. 

If other companies are laying off tech staff, you lay off tech staff too, using job market insecurities and fear to lever greater productivity from your remaining staff. It's a nasty business, driven by nothing but greed.

Likewise, in a cost of living crisis, what does it say about the company that doesn't increase their rates? Consumer - Were they charging too much previously? Shareholder - Are they strategically stupid? It's good sound business to raise subscriptions whether its needed or not.

Personally, seeing Strava play the corporate handbook so casually, leaves a bit of a sour taste in the mouth. 

Sorry guys it's all my fault. I enter the Le Col challenges hoping to win every time, but don't. Then I never use the 50% discount code. It's all collapsing because of me.

I quite like Strava, but it's been a few years now since I bothered about cycling performance so there aren't any premium features that fit social cycling - the base product provides enough interest and communication. I think if they tried to monetise the base product I'd go and tidy up my neglected and dusty Garmin Connect, which is a do everything mess but keeps track of mileage.

A nice feature which Strava have added in but haven't really got quite right yet is the component mileage tracking, so the product isn't entirely moribund and they aren't devoid of good ideas.

Strava is still super value and core to my ride record keeping. Love the App. 

Intervals.icu for me.

I only use free account Strava to share my rides with friends, my map planning is done with Plotaroute and analysis via the Bryton app which in effect is better than Strava.... My maps are linked for my ride pals to download in the format they prefer for their GPS units.... And sent via chat. I got miffed with Strava 2 years ago when for a random reason cancelled my account (£4.99) and when I asked they blamed Google who said Strava cancelled the subscription.....they then gave me a free year but it was up to £7 then to resubscribe....so I started doing what I do now.... I don't really need it to be honest

This is happening across the board with software subscriptions. Hosting costs are rising due to hardware supply chain issues and rising energy prices. Microsoft, Adobe, IBM all putting prices up - 25% in some cases. Currency fluctuations also playing a role, Microsoft have just announced further rises for certain territories.

Weak pound v dollar, yet another Brexit benefit!

Looks like I dodged a few previous increases, didn't realise it was £47.99 currently. Mine has always been £39.99 a year, and looks like it will renew at that too (hopefully).

It's always seemed over-priced in my mind, but then I generally don't like monthly fees (skinflint). I don't see why it should be so expensive to run as in my simplified view, they're just collating other people's data and then running some analysis on it - surely both of those activities are getting cheaper over time?

Their biggest selling point as I see it is the ability to compare your own stats with other people's and that's something I can happily live without.

I stopped using it when they allow cheats to prosper,especially on Virtual rides.How can a bloke go up Honister @39 mph and yet can't climb in real life @10 mph.It's a joke

Strava is impacted by the "cost of living crisis" as much as everyone else, employees want to be paid more, Stravas costs increase, the cost to power the infrastructure they run their service on will have doubled or at least tripled this past year, and they already struggle to make a profit (Im being generous as I dont think theyve ever posted a profit yet) how else do they pay the bills except raise their subscriptions ?.

if you think its excessive, its simple dont pay it, cancel your subs, I really do think sometimes people just expect a free lunch.

it was more annoying they offered significant discounts for new members before Christmas, but offered nothing to existing ones.