Software · head to head
Strava vs Mindbody
The short version
- Only Strava has a free tier, so it costs nothing to try first.
- Each has a real cost: Strava segment leaderboards, custom goals, workout analysis, offline routes and fitness scoring all require a subscription; Mindbody pricing is expensive with frequent price increases over time
- They diverge on capability: Strava covers GPS activity tracking, Mindbody covers Appointment scheduling.
Where they differ
Only the attributes on which Strava and Mindbody actually diverge.
Identical on both: pricing model (Unknown), user rating (Not yet rated), category (Unknown).
What each one covers
Drawn from each product's published feature list. An absence here means we hold no record of it - not that the product lacks it.
Only in Strava
- GPS activity tracking
- Segment leaderboards
- Route discovery
- Training analysis
- Social feed and clubs
- Garmin
- Wahoo
- Apple Watch
Only in Mindbody
- Appointment scheduling
- Class booking
- Membership management
- Point of sale
- Marketing automation
- Client management
- Staff scheduling
- Business analytics
What people use each for
The jobs each tool is most often brought in to do.
Strava
- Recording runs and rides from a phone or watchnot Mindbody
- Segment leaderboards and competing on routesnot Mindbody
- Training analysis and fitness tracking on the subscriptionnot Mindbody
- Route planning with offline mapsnot Mindbody
- Following friends and clubsnot Mindbody
Mindbody
- Spa managementnot Strava
- Class schedulingnot Strava
- Membership salesnot Strava
- Client retentionnot Strava
- Business growthnot Strava
Where each one falls short
Documented limitations, not opinions. Every one is a constraint you would hit in normal use.
Strava
- Segment leaderboards, custom goals, workout analysis, offline routes and fitness scoring all require a subscription
- The $5 a month headline is the annual rate, billed as $59.99 a year
- The student rate and the Runna bundle are annual only, with no monthly option
Mindbody
- Pricing is expensive with frequent price increases over time
- Essential features require paid add-ons increasing total cost significantly
- Complex pricing model with multiple tiers makes cost comparison difficult
Pricing, plan by plan
Strava
Free- FreeFree
- Activity tracking
- GPS recording
- Basic segments
- Strava+$11.99/month
- Full segment leaderboards
- Training zones
- Heart rate analysis
Mindbody
$75/monthNo published plan breakdown. See the Mindbody review.
Which should you pick?
Choose Strava if
- You need gps activity tracking.
- You want to start without paying.
- You work on iOS, Android, Web, Apple Watch, Wear OS.
- You also want segment leaderboards.
Choose Mindbody if
- You need appointment scheduling.
- You work on Web, iOS, Android.
- You also want class booking.
Questions people ask
- Is Strava or Mindbody better?
- Neither clearly leads. Strava starts at Free and Mindbody at $75/month, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
- Which is cheaper, Strava or Mindbody?
- Strava has a free tier; the other does not. Paid plans start at Free for Strava and $75/month for Mindbody.
- Does Strava or Mindbody run on more platforms?
- Strava runs on iOS, Android, Web, Apple Watch, Wear OS. Mindbody runs on Web, iOS, Android.
- Can I use Strava for free?
- Yes. Strava has a free tier, so you can try it without paying. Mindbody starts at $75/month.
- What is Strava best used for?
- Strava is most often used for recording runs and rides from a phone or watch, segment leaderboards and competing on routes, training analysis and fitness tracking on the subscription, route planning with offline maps. Of those, recording runs and rides from a phone or watch and segment leaderboards and competing on routes are not what Mindbody is typically brought in for.
- What can Strava do that Mindbody cannot?
- Strava covers GPS activity tracking, Segment leaderboards, Route discovery, Training analysis. Mindbody covers Appointment scheduling, Class booking, Membership management, Point of sale.
Answered from the vendors’ own pages
Strava: Does Strava offer a free tier?
Yes. Strava Free includes basic activity tracking, GPS recording, activity feed, following other athletes, giving kudos, and basic segments with top 10 leaderboard access. The free tier does not include full segment leaderboards, training zones, or heart rate analysis.
SourceMindbody: What are Mindbody's pricing tiers?
Mindbody plans start at $159/month and include class scheduling and client data storage. The popular Ultimate Plus plan starts at $599/month. Entry-level pricing ranges from $75-$99/month depending on the plan selected.
SourceStrava: What does Strava Premium cost?
Strava costs $11.99 per month or $79.99 per year for individual users. A Family Plan costs $139.99 per year. Students receive 50% off at $39.99 per year with verification.
SourceMindbody: Does Mindbody have an API for third-party integrations?
Yes. Mindbody provides an open API with webhooks and multiple API types for integration. The platform integrates with 700+ partner solutions.
SourceStrava: Can I export my data from Strava?
Yes. Every Strava athlete can download their data for free at any time through the app, website, or direct download. However, API access now requires a paid subscription for Standard Tier developers costing $12 per month.
SourceStrava: Does Strava work offline?
Strava records activities offline using GPS on your device, but viewing historical data and accessing most app features requires an internet connection to sync and display data.
Source