Looking for a Strava alternative?
Love Strava for logging and kudos, but need somewhere to actually plan your training? The Next Race is the free planning layer Strava doesn't have.
Strava is the best place in the sport to record and share your training — the feed, segments, and kudos are unmatched. But it was never really built to plan the training you haven't done yet, and in 2025 it retired its structured training plans entirely.
The Next Race is the other half: a fast drag-and-drop calendar, automatic multi-race planning, editable structured workouts, and an AI assistant — all free. It syncs your Strava activities in automatically, so you plan in The Next Race and keep logging and sharing on Strava.
The Next Race vs Strava
| Feature | The Next Race | Strava |
|---|---|---|
| Focus | Planning your training ahead | Recording & sharing what you did |
| Structured training plans | Multi-week, multi-race, editable | Removed in 2025 |
| Drag-and-drop calendar | Yes — built for fast edits | No planning calendar |
| Multi-race planning | Blends overlapping race blocks automatically | Not a planning tool |
| Social feed & segments | Not the focus | Best-in-class |
| Strava sync | Yes — pulls your runs, rides & swims in | — |
| AI assistant | Yes — plan with Claude, ChatGPT or Gemini via MCP | No |
| Indoor smart-trainer control (ERG) | Built-in | No |
| Best for | Planning your season | Logging and sharing it |
Strava's core recording is free, with a subscription (around $12/month or ~$80/year) for its deeper analysis; its structured training plans were removed in 2025. The Next Race is free.
Why athletes switch from Strava
Somewhere to plan, not just log
Strava shows you what you did. The Next Race builds what you'll do next — structured plans, a calendar you can drag around, and whole multi-race seasons.
Structured plans are back
Strava retired its training plans in 2025. The Next Race gives you editable, multi-week structured workouts — for free.
It plugs into Strava, not against it
Connect Strava and your activities flow into The Next Race automatically, so completed sessions line up against what you planned. Keep your feed, segments and kudos on Strava.
Plan with AI
Adjust your week in plain language through Claude, ChatGPT or Gemini over MCP — no equivalent lives inside Strava.
When Strava is still the better pick
Strava isn't going anywhere — its feed, segments, clubs and kudos are the best in the sport, and The Next Race doesn't try to replace them. Keep Strava for recording and community; add The Next Race for the planning it no longer does.
Strava alternative — FAQ
Is The Next Race a Strava alternative?
It's the planning side Strava lacks. Strava is the best place to record and share your training; The Next Race is where you plan it — structured plans, a calendar, multi-race seasons — and it syncs your Strava activities in automatically. Many athletes use both.
Does Strava still have training plans?
Strava retired its structured training plans in 2025. The Next Race offers free, editable structured plans and syncs with Strava so your activities appear against what you planned.
Can I connect Strava to The Next Race?
Yes. Connect Strava and your runs, rides and swims import automatically, so completed activities line up with your planned workouts.
Is The Next Race free like Strava?
The Next Race is free. Strava's recording is free too, with a paid subscription for its deeper analysis — but its structured training plans were removed.
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Compare other alternatives
A better way to plan your training.
Free multi-race planning, a fast calendar, and an AI assistant. Make the switch today.