Strava puts popular “Year in Sport” recap behind an $80 paywall
Ars Technica••technology
Key Points:
- Strava has moved its popular “Year in Sport” annual summary feature behind a paywall for the first time, making it accessible only to subscribers who pay $80 per year, sparking backlash from users who previously enjoyed it for free.
- Users expressed disappointment, emphasizing that the animated recap fosters community motivation and social encouragement, with some calling the move greedy and criticizing the cost relative to the data users already provide.
- Strava defended the decision by stating that core app functions remain free and that users were given ample notice before the subscription-only feature launch, aiming to clarify subscription benefits amid a recent relaunch.
- The company’s user base has grown significantly to 50 million monthly active users, and with a valuation around $2
