In recent years, cycling, both outdoors and indoors, has grown in popularityー which isn't surprising considering how effective the activity is in terms of weight loss and health. Cycling is known to improve an individual's strength, balance, and coordination. And with its growing popularity, cycling apps have now also risen in demand.
Cycling apps help cyclists find the best routes, track their progress, and even compete with fellow enthusiasts. So whether you're checking this article out because you're a first-time cycler or are already a cycling pro just looking for a new app to download, this article has all that you need to find the best cycling app for you and your lifestyle.
Quick List - Top Cycling Apps
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To help you find and download the best cycling app to fit your needs and lifestyle, take a look at the buying guide below as we share what to look out for when searching for a cycling application.
Before you can download and use any application and get a general feel of the app and its features, it has to be compatible with your device. Luckily, for mobile phones and other portable electronics like tablets, most cycling applications work with the two commonly used operating systems - iOS and Android.
If the application is compatible with your device, you'll be able to explore the app further and its User Interface (UI) Design. Quality cycling applications are those that are aesthetically pleasing and are easy to understand and navigate through.
An app's UI design is vital to consider, especially while doing any physical activity that requires focus, such as cycling. Because the fact of the matter is that the better developed the cycling application, the better its visuals, navigational components, and input control, ultimately making it very user-friendly.
With lockdown and restrictions still in place in certain areas, not everyone can afford or are allowed to do outdoor recreational activities and exercises like cycling. That is why, to add more variety to your usual cycling routine, you may want to consider getting an app with both indoor and outdoor features.
Indoor and outdoor cycling apps have similar features. Both apps can track a rider's progress and personalize a training plan to help them get the most of the exercise. However, indoor apps have added visual features that help create a riding environment likened to the outdoors, with some even allowing you to make or join a peloton.
Since cycling is such an active sport that requires a lot of concentration, the last thing you'll need to worry about is an app that doesn't work when there isn't a signal or an internet connection. So when choosing an application, make sure that it is accessible despite having no connection to the internet.
Though it may be challenging to find an offline app, considering how most cycling apps include GPS maps for route planning, real-time updates, and the like, it is possible to find one that has both offline and online features. Some known cycling apps like Strava work offline.
For individuals with little to no riding experience, a cycling app will immensely help them develop their skills and prepare them physically and mentally for upcoming rides. So if you're a beginner on the lookout for the best app for you, we suggest going for apps that have the basics such as map tracking, voice navigation, and route difficulty.
First-time cyclists will benefit most from using apps that aren't too complicated to understand and one that won't bombard them with many advanced metrics and terminologies. Route planning cycling apps are ideal for cyclists who bike as a hobby and not necessarily as a competitive sport.
The more experienced the cyclist, the more features they want in the cycling app they are using, such as personalized training plans, live tracking, and advanced routing options. However, most of these features are available in paid cycling applications.
Some applications like Map My Ride and Strava do not require any payments upfront but have paid premium versions with added features that are most beneficial to advanced cyclists and those that compete professionally.
When it comes to analyzing whether any app is credible and trustworthy, a general rule of thumb is that the higher the ratings and the more frequent the positive reviews, the more reliable it is.
Cycling applications with at least 4-star ratings above usually indicate that the app is user-friendly and great for all cyclists, regardless of whether they are beginners or seasoned professionals. High ratings and reviews also mean that there are many constant upgrades, improvements, and bug fixes.
Products | Image | Click to purchase | Key features | |
---|---|---|---|---|
1 | Strava, Inc. Strava: Run, Ride, Swim | ![]() | The Ultimate Cycling Application | |
2 | Peloton Interactive, Inc. Peloton | ![]() | For All Your Indoor Cycling and Fitness Needs | |
3 | Under Armour, Inc. MapMyRide | ![]() | Gain In-Depth and Helpful Insights After Every Workout | |
4 | komoot GmbH Komoot | ![]() | Best for Planning Cycling Routes | |
5 | Bikemap GmbH Bikemap | ![]() | Explore Over 7 Million Cycling Routes Worldwide | |
6 | Zwift, Inc Zwift | ![]() | Train and Race With Other Cyclists in a Virtual World | |
7 | Abvio Inc. Cyclemeter | ![]() | Made With Advanced Cyclists in Mind | |
8 | Ride with GPS Ride with GPS | ![]() | Plan, Navigate, and Track Routes in Real-Time | |
9 | Sergey Filippov Exercise Bike Workout | ![]() | Basic Cardio and HIIT Workouts Perfect for Indoor Cycling | |
10 | Kudo Coach Fitness Training Ltd Kudo Coach | ![]() | Create Versatile Training Plans With This Cycling Fitness Tracker |
From all the cycling and fitness apps available for download, Strava has got to be one of the most popular out there. Strava lets cyclists track and analyze their rides, introduces new routes and maps, and even has a social aspect where riders can challenge and compete with others.
What makes Strava so distinguishable is its easy-to-use interface and advanced analytical capabilities. Individuals who use the app can thoroughly record their activity and progress and learn if they are going faster or slower than before if they've taken the track prior.
Strava also comes in a premium version, which users have to pay for, but it comes with added features such as a suffer score, which tells an individual how intense their workout was. Other premium features include goal setting, advanced metrics, and training logs. It can also sync with almost every GPS device like FitBit and Garmin.
Peloton directly translates to a group of cyclists in a race. So from its name, the fitness Peloton already shows a lot of promise. Peloton offers a wide array of exercises, over ten thousand workouts, from running to yoga and HIIT, but its bread and butter have got to be its indoor cycling.
With Peloton, cyclists can monitor their heart rates, metrics, progress, and even establish monthly fitness goals. The app also allows users to stay connected by having workouts done in real-time and have guided cycling classes that last 60 minutes, which is ideal for advanced cyclists and those prepping for outdoor cycling.
However, even though Peloton is free to download, users will have to pay a fee to access its classes and features when the free trial period of thirty days expires. So this may not be the app for individuals looking for a free and affordable cycling app.
Track and map all your rides with Under Armour's MapMyRide. With every mile that users complete when working out, MapMyRide provides cyclists with valuable feedback and statistics such as pace, distance, duration, and elevation that they can use to help improve their performance and train smarter.
Like most cycling apps available to download, MapMyRide comes with a paid premium version. But users also get several features with the free version; they can generate bike routes, see elevation statistics, and given instructions that users can cycle through, making it already a great version suitable for first-time cyclists and beginners.
Plan the perfect cycling route and go on an adventure with Komoot. Komoot isn't just a regular route planner application because it considers other aspects of the trail such as its difficulty, elevation, road surfaces, bike-friendliness, and fitness required.
Komoot also has turn-by-turn voice navigation, so cyclists won't have to worry about shifting their focus away from the road. Ultimately, Komoot is best for beginners and people who take cycling up as a hobby and not for advanced cyclists and athletes looking for a training app.
If you love to explore and discover different cycling maps locally and internationally, Bikemap is the perfect application for you. Bikemap works online and offline and has an impressive database with over seven million cycling routes in over a hundred countries right at your fingertips.
It doesn't matter if cyclists are using a mountain bike, cross bike - Bikemap constantly updates their cycling paths to fit the user's needs. Bikemap also comes in a paid premium feature where cyclists can access various map styles such as 3D, OpenStreetMap, OpenCycleMap, and Night Mode.
Exercise isn't always enjoyable, but Zwift has managed to find a way to join the fun of video games with the intensity of training and workouts. This virtual training application lets users worldwide compete in indoor cycling and running activities while simultaneously developing their biking skills.
Zwift offers cyclists an immersive and supportive experience, with users having access to their performance data that they could analyze after each workout. So Zwift isn't just fun and games, and with over a thousand structured exercises and plans to choose from, this app is perfect for riders who prefer to do their cycling indoors.
Cyclemeter is an application packed with tons of features - it can track a user's heart rate, bike speed, bike cadence, and bike power with sensors, making it the ideal application for advanced cyclists. The app also doesn't require log-ins or passwords, but users will need to enter data like weight, gender, and age.
Cyclemeter taps into a phone's GPS to create a mapping display and training log, and users can share workout data through email and apps like Strava. It does come with a fee after the free trial period, but it is worth it for serious cyclists who want to personalize training plans and know more about their training performance.
Plan rides accordingly and with no fuss with the Ride with GPS cycling application. This cycling app centers on finding the best routes for cyclists by giving riders detailed elevation data, voice navigation, and detailed notes made by people who have cycled on the track.
Users can also access maps and navigation offline and in airplane mode, keeping cyclists on route regardless of cell service. Cyclists also have access to their stats from the number of rides done, calories burned, and elevation gain. Cyclists with a competitive side can even challenge friends and set fitness goals to stay motivated!
If you've ever gone spinning or to an indoor cycling class before gyms and fitness centers closed and are looking for a no-fuss and easy-to-understand application to help you continue cycling at home, the Exercise Bike Workout app is what you need.
The Exercise Bike Workout app has audio prompts to guide you as you cycle, tracks heart rate, can calculate the number of calories burned, and allows users to customize their workouts. This app is exclusively for indoor cycling, and its basic features make it an ideal app for first-timers.
Kudo Coach is a relatively new cycling app, but despite it being new to the game, its shown a lot of potential. What sets Kudo Coach apart from other cycling apps is that right off the bat, its focus is on creating a cycling training plan that is smart and adaptive to busy lifestyles.
Training plans in Kudo Coach tailor to fit the user's needs, whether to achieve simple fitness goals or to prepare for upcoming cycling events. With Kudo Coach, cyclists can track their rides and data in real-time, from things like speed to cadence. Users can also access training advice from three-time Olympic cyclist Oli Beckingsale.
Cycling isn't the only way to shed some extra pounds off. Other ways include doing strength training, yoga, and other cardio exercises. So if you need a little guidance to keep you on your road to fitness, check out these articles to the best fitness applications and YouTube workout channels.
Cycling apps aren't just for experienced cyclists, but they are also for beginners and individuals looking for new ways to spice up their workout routine. And with several choices available to download, there is sure to be one that checks all your boxes!
Author: Mariah Hannah Beatrice G. Caga
No. 1: Strava, Inc.|Strava: Run, Ride, Swim
No. 2: Peloton Interactive, Inc.|Peloton
No. 3: Under Armour, Inc.|MapMyRide
No. 4: komoot GmbH|Komoot
No. 5: Bikemap GmbH|Bikemap
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