Strava offers a 30-day free trial of its subscription to eligible accounts. You add a payment method, Strava reminds you 2 days before the trial ends, and you're charged on day 30 unless you cancel at least 24 hours before. If your account is eligible, you'll see a Start Trial button where the Subscribe button normally sits.
Strava's free app already records runs, rides and walks, so the trial is about the paid extras: routes, segment leaderboards, deeper training analysis and goals. The trial is clear about its timeline, which I like. The rules that trip people up are about where you cancel and how quickly refunds disappear.
The Strava trial timeline
| When | What Strava says happens |
|---|---|
| Day one | Subscription features switch on |
| 2 days before the end | You get a reminder that your trial is ending |
| 24 hours before renewal | Last safe moment to cancel |
| Day 30 | You're charged the subscription amount |
| Within 14 days of purchase | Website subscribers may be eligible for a full refund |
Who can get the trial
Strava doesn't publish a long list of eligibility rules. Its help centre says that if your account is eligible for a free trial, you'll see a Start Trial button instead of Subscribe, on the website or in the app. If you only see Subscribe, your account isn't being offered a trial right now. If you have trouble subscribing at all, Strava suggests refreshing the page or reopening the app, then contacting support to check subscriptions are available in your region.
Verified students get a discounted subscription at half price, and Strava's subscribe page shows the 30-day trial on the student plan too.
How to start the Strava trial
Strava's help centre gives these steps for the website:
- Log in to the account you want to upgrade.
- Select the button in the top right. If your account is eligible, it says Start Trial.
- Follow the prompt to start your trial, and use More Billing Options to choose monthly or annual.
- Enter a payment method. Strava says it begins billing at the end of the free trial unless you cancel before then.
Strava accepts cards, PayPal, Apple Pay and Google Pay, among others, depending on your country. It also warns athletes not to buy subscriptions from unauthorised sellers or share their login details.
The Subscription Preview isn't a trial
Some free accounts suddenly find subscription features switched on without signing up for anything. Strava calls this a Subscription Preview: a complimentary 30 days of subscription features with no payment information required. Strava is clear that it isn't a trial and doesn't sign you up for a subscription.
- It's activated automatically on select accounts as a thank you.
- It can't be removed, so you just wait for it to expire.
- It can't be extended beyond 30 days.
- When it ends, your account simply goes back to free, with nothing to cancel.
So if you're on a preview, there's no charge coming. If you started a trial with a card, there is.
What you get during the trial
Strava's comparison lists these as subscription features on top of the free app:
- Routes made for you, offline routes and drawing your own routes.
- Advanced workout analysis and a Fitness Score you can track over time.
- Custom goals, segment leaderboards and challenges you create with friends.
- Effort measured across activities.
How to cancel the Strava free trial
Strava says you must cancel on the same platform where you subscribed, at least 24 hours before your renewal date.
On the Strava website
- Log in to your Strava account.
- Select your profile picture in the top right corner.
- Go to Settings, then My Account, then Cancel Subscription.
In the Android or iPhone app
- Open the Strava app and go to the You tab.
- Tap the gear icon to open Settings.
- Select Your Strava Subscription, then Manage Your Subscription.
- Finish cancelling in Google Play or the Apple App Store, which handle the billing.
After you cancel, you keep subscription features until the end of the current term. Strava says cancelling doesn't delete any of your activities or data; you only lose the subscription features.
Want AI doing the heavy lifting in your marketing?
I build the systems that handle the boring 80 percent, so you get your week back. Done properly, with the human kept in.
Refunds: two very different windows
This is the bit that catches people. If you subscribed on the Strava website, you may be eligible for a full refund within 14 days of purchase by contacting Strava support. After 14 days, Strava subscriptions are non-refundable. Cancelling right after a renewal doesn't trigger a refund on its own.
If you subscribed through the app stores, Strava can't help. Strava says refunds for Apple and Google Play purchases are handled by those companies, typically need requesting within 48 hours, and aren't guaranteed. Strava support can't issue, change or escalate Apple refunds.
So if you're trialling on a phone and the trial converts by mistake, act the same day. If you started on the website, you have two weeks.
My verdict
The Strava free trial is one of the better-behaved trials I've looked at: 30 days, a reminder 2 days before the end, and your data stays put if you leave. The trap is the refund window, which is short on the website and far shorter in the app stores. Start the trial on Strava's website if you can, and cancel at least a day before day 30 if you're not keeping it. If you're shopping around, I've compared Strava alternatives and looked at Runna vs Strava for runners who want training plans.
Frequently asked questions
How long is the Strava free trial?
30 days. Strava charges the subscription amount at the end of the trial unless you cancel at least 24 hours before.
Why can't I see a Strava free trial?
Strava says eligible accounts see a Start Trial button instead of Subscribe. If you only see Subscribe, your account isn't being offered a trial.
Is the Strava Subscription Preview a free trial?
No. Strava says the preview is a complimentary 30 days with no payment information, it isn't a trial and it expires on its own.
How do I cancel my Strava free trial?
On the website, go to Settings, then My Account, then Cancel Subscription. In the app, go to the You tab, Settings, Your Strava Subscription, then Manage Your Subscription.
Can I get a refund from Strava after the trial?
Website subscribers may get a full refund within 14 days of purchase. App store refunds are up to Apple or Google and typically need requesting within 48 hours.
