Strava Dives Into the Hiking-App Market

Strava is expanding its fitness ecosystem into the hiking market by introducing trail search, custom route planning, and offline maps to compete directly with AllTrails and Apple Maps. According to company reports, Strava’s hiking clubs grew 5.8 times in 2025, leveraging a global base of 195 million users to challenge established outdoor navigation tools.

How does Strava’s hiking offering compare to AllTrails and Apple Maps?

Strava’s new updates split features between paying subscribers and free users. Subscribers paying $12 per month gain access to custom hike planning, route saving, offline trail downloads, and Apple Watch navigation. Free users receive 3D activity maps, live elevation readings, and markers for trailheads and campsites, according to the company’s announcement.

This puts Strava in direct competition with AllTrails, which TIME reports has 95 million users. AllTrails offers a “Peak” premium tier for $79.99 per year—the same price point as Strava’s yearly membership. While Strava focuses on social discovery and user-activity-based searching, AllTrails provides specialized data including air quality, mosquito activity, and camera-based flora identification.

Apple Maps represents a different threat by offering hiking features for free. Since 2024, Apple has rolled out topographic layers, downloadable maps, and national park trails in the U.S. and Japan markets. Because Apple’s tools are pre-installed on every iPhone, Strava and AllTrails must provide higher-value data to justify their subscription costs.

Why is the hiking app market growing so rapidly?

The surge in demand stems from a hiking boom that began during the COVID-19 pandemic. Strava’s data confirms this trend, noting that hiking clubs on the platform grew 5.8 times in 2025. As more users move from casual walking to technical hiking, the demand for specialized tools like topographic maps and offline navigation has increased.

The shift reflects a broader trend toward “social fitness.” Strava is betting that hikers want to see where their peers are going, rather than just following a curated list of popular trails. This creates a feedback loop where user activity drives trail discovery.

What happens next for outdoor navigation technology?

The competition is shifting from basic mapping to “hyper-local” environmental data. AllTrails has already moved into this space by integrating weather and terrain alerts. Strava’s entry suggests that the next phase of competition will be social integration—turning a solitary hike into a shared digital experience.

A likely consequence of this “app war” is the integration of more wearable hardware. Strava’s focus on Apple Watch navigation indicates that the industry is moving away from handheld phones toward wrist-based, glanceable data to increase safety and convenience on the trail.

Frequently Asked Questions

Does Strava charge for hiking features?
Some features are free, including 3D activity maps and trailhead data. However, custom planning, offline downloads, and Apple Watch navigation require a subscription costing $12 per month.

How many users does AllTrails have?
According to TIME, AllTrails has 95 million users.

Is Apple Maps free for hiking?
Yes, Apple provides hiking features, including topographic layers and national park trails, for free in the U.S. and Japan.