Strava acquires UK-based Runna to strengthen coaching offering

Strava has announced the acquisition of Runna, a UK-based running training app, marking its first major move in the UK. The apps will remain separate for now.

Strava, known as the world’s largest fitness community with over 150 million users, has confirmed the acquisition of Runna, a tech company based in the UK that specializes in personalized running plans. Announced on April 17, 2025, the move is seen as a strategic response to the platform’s fast-growing running segment. In 2024 alone, users recorded nearly 1 billion runs on Strava, underlining the importance of structured training plans within the app’s ecosystem.

Filling a gap in Strava's offering

While Strava has built a reputation for activity tracking and social sharing, its training plan features have been limited. CEO Michael Martin acknowledged this, explaining that existing training plans were static and underused. With 43% of Strava users planning to compete in races this year, the demand for more advanced, dynamic coaching tools has become increasingly apparent.

Why Runna?

Founded by Ben Parker and Dom Maskell in 2021, Runna officially launched in March 2022. Despite being relatively new to the fitness app scene, it has expanded quickly, now supporting around 90,000 members and employing nearly 150 people. Its iOS app ranks #36 in the Health & Fitness category, and it was a finalist for Apple’s App of the Year in 2024.

The core appeal of Runna lies in its ability to generate customized training plans based on inputs such as weekly mileage, race goals, and user preferences. The app incorporates interval runs, easy runs, long sessions, and rest days, all tailored to individual schedules. Additionally, it supports integration with major devices like Apple Watch, Garmin, COROS, Fitbit, and Suunto, allowing users to access guided workouts directly on their wearables.

No immediate changes for users

Both companies have confirmed that the apps will operate separately “for the foreseeable future.” Martin stated, “Effectively, nothing changes for the user out of the gate. Our plan with this acquisition is to invest further into growing the Runna app, invest in the Runna team, and then continue to operate them as independent but in an integrated fashion.” This approach reflects Strava’s intent to support Runna’s existing structure rather than absorbing it outright.

Pricing model still unclear

The acquisition leaves open questions about the subscription structure. Currently, users must pay separately for Strava ($79.99/year) and Runna ($119.99/year). While both companies offer free versions, users have expressed concerns about paying for two premium apps. So far, Martin has said there will be no immediate adjustments to subscriptions, but analysts anticipate changes as integration progresses.

Long-term vision: Integrated user experience

Despite operating separately for now, statements from Runna CEO Dom Maskell suggest eventual integration is on the table. “At the moment, the user is often passed off quite a lot of times,” he said, describing how runners need to switch between apps for planning, routing, and coaching.

The rise of AI-driven coaching has made personalized plans easier to replicate, but Strava’s acquisition seems to focus more on gaining access to Runna’s experienced team, loyal user base, and refined platform. The deal enables Strava to fill a longstanding gap without building from scratch, while allowing Runna to grow with the support of a much larger global community.