Discussions

Academic research use of the Strava API – longitudinal cohort study (Brazil)Hi everyone,I'm a master's student at a university in Brazil, building a non-commercial app for a prospective cohort study on running-related injuries (up to 200 recreational runners, followed for 52 weeks, with ethics committee approval).Participants connect their own Strava accounts with informed consent. We import only activity summaries (date, type, distance, time, elevation, heart rate) from the connection day onward. We use webhooks, store no maps, GPS data or photos, and make no AI/ML use.Reading the API Policy (June 2026), some points seem to conflict with research use:- the 7-day caching limit (§6.2), while the study needs the data for 52 weeks;- data displayed only to the athlete (§2.3, §5.10), while the research team needs to analyze it with the participant's consent;- restrictions on aggregated analysis (§5.4).Has anyone had an academic or research project approved under the Standard tier? Is there

Hi Strava Developer Community!I'm the founder of TryAthletes, an app that helps athletes create and share custom activity overlays using their Strava data.We submitted our application for an API rate limit increase and Development Tier upgrade 10 days ago, but haven't received any updates yet.Our app is growing steadily, and we're already hitting the current rate limits, which is preventing us from onboarding new users and affecting the experience of existing athletes.I've also tried reaching out to Strava Support, but only received an automated response directing me to the Developer Hub.A couple of questions: What's the typical review time for Development Tier upgrade applications? Is there any way to check the status of a pending application or get in touch with the team responsible? Client ID: 228389We'd really appreciate any guidance. We're excited to keep growing TryAthletes within the Strava ecosystem!

I am developing a web app for me and my friends to compare our data and statistics, as well as make training plans with integrated AI access. My buddy has a membership and we created an API on his account. However it seems to be limited to one person only. We are now wondering wether the upgrade to 10 persons would cost something or not, since after clicking the upgrade button we get asked wether we really want to upgrade.

I'm building an app that shows each runner which streets in their town they've covered over time. A street run two years ago still counts today, so the app needs a runner's whole history.The June 2026 API Policy limits caching to seven days (6.2) and says apps may not store geographic location information beyond that (5.7). How are other street-completion or lifetime-map apps handling this? Specifically:1. Is keeping a runner's GPS tracks while they stay connected, shown only to that runner, within an app's "operational scope" (5.5) and "necessary for the purpose" (6.4)?2. If not, is it acceptable to delete tracks within 7 days of import and keep only the derived result: which street sections the runner has completed, with no Strava coordinates?Each runner only sees their own data; nothing is shared, aggregated or used for AI; everything is deleted when they disconnect. Any experience from developers who've been through review, or guidance from the Strava team, would help a lot. Thanks

Hello Strava Developer Support Team,I am developing GOMATES, a social platform that allows athletes to find training partners, organize sports challenges, and track their achievements using activity data imported from Strava.I would like to clarify a few points regarding the Strava API integration: Developer subscription: Is my personal Strava subscription sufficient to create and activate an API application for GOMATES, or are additional subscriptions, fees, or approvals required? Free users: Can GOMATES users connect their personal Strava accounts and authorize access to their activity data even if they only have a free Strava account? Activity synchronization: Can GOMATES automatically retrieve authorized users' activities, including distance, duration, elevation gain, and sport type, without requiring a paid Strava subscription? Application limits: Are there any restrictions on the number of users who can connect to GOMATES, or any approval procedures required before making t

Over the weekend I got hundreds of 429 errors from Strava when requesting activity details after a webhook notification. It looks that athlete imported 100s of activities into Strava and for each one we received a webhook create-activity notification.Fetching the activities then quickly used up our apps rate limit:{"message":"Rate Limit Exceeded","errors":[{"resource":"Application","field":"overall rate limit","code":"exceeded"}]}Thus rendering our apps Strava integration non-functional for all connected Strava athletes. IMHO it would be better to have per athlete rate limits, so one athlete cannot break the integration for other athletes.We’re think about rate-limiting fetching activities from Strava on our side. But since there is barely any data of the actual activity in the web-hook request, it makes it hard to decide, if we really want to fetch the activity.Do you have any recommendations how to handle these situations? Thanks and best regardsMartin

Hello Strava Developer Community,App Name: Da HaloClient ID: 191535We submitted a request to increase our connected-athlete limit approximately two months ago, but we have not received any response or update regarding our application.We have now reached the current maximum connected-athlete limit, which means new users are unable to connect their Strava accounts through our app. This is directly affecting our users' experience.We understand that requests may take time to review, but after waiting for two months without any communication, we would greatly appreciate any update on the status of our application or guidance on how to move forward.Has anyone experienced a similar situation or found an effective way to get an update on a pending request?Thank you for your time and help.

Has anyone experienced submitted the athlete limit increase form and not hearing definite answer about your application? I’ve submitted and followed up by email but haven’t gotten a response. Saw this reply in a different thread, but having followed up by email and not getting a reply I’m stuck on what to do next. Thanks!  

My app runs in Single Player Mode and shows Strava data only to the authenticated athlete.I would like to add a "Share" button.The athlete would click it to send their own activity (a route map image, or distance and pace) to someone they choose.The API Policy is not clear to me on this.Section 5.10 bars disclosing Strava Data to third parties, even if the user consents.Section 6.2 bars displaying Strava Data to anyone other than the user of the app.Section 5.13 refers to the user's "prior express consent", which seems to point the other way.My questions:1. If the athlete clicks “Share” to send their own data to someone, is that allowed with their prior express consent (5.13), or is it disclosure to a third party (5.10, 6.2)?2. Does the answer change if the shared item is a static image generated by the app?Thanks in advance!

Hi everyone,I’m developing an early-stage fitness platform and exploring the Strava API for verifying completed workouts.I’m hoping to better understand the policies around using activity data for third-party incentive programs, where users may earn points or real-world rewards from partnered brands based on verified physical activity.Has anyone worked on a similar integration or received guidance from Strava regarding these use cases?I’m particularly interested in understanding any restrictions or approval requirements.Thanks!

Hello Strava team and developer community,I am developing ZeloRitmo, a mobile application for workout planning, nutrition, sleep and personal well-being. Developer Support’s automated email directed me to this forum.We currently use OAuth to let authenticated users view their own Strava activities. Before implementing further features, we would appreciate clarification on two separate scenarios.SCENARIO 1 — Private workout records without analytics or scoringWith the user’s explicit consent, we would: Import an activity summary into that user’s private workout diary. Associate it with a workout previously planned by the same user. Display the workout as completed on their home screen. Keep Strava-derived information separate from scores, analytics, recommendations, AI and calculations involving nutrition or sleep. Would this scenario be permitted? Which activity fields could we retain, and for how long? How should we interpret Sections 5.5, 6.2 and 6.4 regarding a private workout

Hi! I submitted GearHealth to the Developer Program on 3 October 2026 and haven't heard back yet (about four weeks now). GearHealth is at 10 of 10 athletes, with testers on a waiting list to connect Strava. It uses webhooks only and deauthorizes inactive athletes automatically. Apple has approved the app, and the launch is waiting on Strava capacity. Could someone confirm the submission is in the queue? Happy to provide anything that helps. Thanks!

I have this idea for a feature that would allow Strava users who have trained for a race to generate a graphic that they could print out and add to the back of their race bib to remember all the training they put into getting to the start line -- the ultimate personalization of a race bib.Year In Sport summarizes an entire year and it’s intended to be share digitally. This feature would produce a printable asset that fits on a race bib. Users could choose between 2-3 styles fully branded for Strava, a defined data range, maybe the option to only choose ‘Run’ activities or activities tagged ‘Long Run’. I see sponsor integration potential for Strava Business.I ran my training block data through Claude and produced this example.  

Hello Strava Developer Team,I am developing MyBikeTrack, a web application that helps cyclists track the mileage of their bikes and individual components.I would like to integrate the Strava API so users can connect their Strava accounts and selectively import their cycling activities from the last 90 days.Before subscribing to Strava or creating an API application, I would appreciate clarification on a few points: Is a Strava subscription required to create and maintain an API application? Would a free trial be sufficient to get started? If my subscription expires, will my API application and its access continue to work? Can MyBikeTrack users import their own activities without having a paid Strava subscription themselves? What are the requirements and application process for obtaining Extended Access, and can a small application apply while it is still growing? MyBikeTrack website: https://mybiketrack.vercel.app/I would like to confirm these requirements before incurring any co

I have developed a community feature within my app which is 100% complimentary to the Strava experience, however, I would like to present a leaderboard within my app.I appreciate the API policy and stance regarding presenting other athletes times outside of Strava and this being a strict no. What I want to do is to present a handicapped leaderboard with no effort data but to do this it would mean taking the data and working out this calculation based on other athlete data within my app….so therefore outside of Strava. The leaderboard would simply be names and where they are in the standings.  I have a community that love the new feature and how it works alongside Strava and this is very much the last piece of the jigsaw.  Sorry this is a little cryptic but it’s very unique particularly within my app and I don’t want to give the game away! 😂I have logged a ticket for review and approval but any thoughts and guidance would be appreciated. 

I have a personal training and health app for myself and would love to just pull my activities strait from strava using the API. but my app does the planning with an Ai engine so am i breaking the strava API rules? 

Hey there,As a personal project, I am building an AI workout planner tool, where users can input some information about themselves (or connect their Strava account) and receive an AI training plan. They can their planned workouts in a calendar view, and as they complete them they will be automatically marked as completed if the activity on Strava roughly matches their planned activity.For this I am planning to use the Strava API to pull past ~3 months of running activities to help the AI understand the users capabilities. I am slightly unclear on what is / isn’t allowed from the API guidelines POV, any insight would be greatly appreciated!

Hi Strava team and community,I’m following up on the Developer Program form I submitted for my app Runner Wars (Client ID 134374) on October 7, 2026. I asked for a higher athlete capacity (999 athletes). I haven’t heard back yet, and I’d be grateful if someone could check where the review stands or tell me if anything is missing.Since I submittedMy Strava subscription is now active, so the app meets the 2026 Developer Program requirement. The app has moved to its permanent domain, https://www.runnerwars.com. The callback domain has been updated to match. The webhook push subscription is set up, so new runs are imported as they are uploaded, with no polling.About the appRunner Wars is a free, mobile-first running game for runners in Đà Nẵng, Vietnam, started by the Ngũ Hành Sơn Runners club. The city is split into ~200 m hexagonal sectors. Runners capture sectors by running through them, earn XP, and compete individually and as clubs. Many of our runners train with COROS, Garmin, Suunto

Hello Strava Developer Community,We are looking for guidance regarding athlete capacity expansion for an approved production application.Our app is already live in production and has now completely reached the athlete connection limit.Current Status:- Athlete limit: 999- Currently connected: 999- New users are now unable to connect their Strava accountsApplication Details:- App Name: Dare2Gear- Client ID: 159933- Category: PerformanceWe have already submitted multiple athlete capacity increase requests through official support channels and replied with production details, screenshots, and compliance information. However, we are currently only receiving generic/template responses directing us back to the documentation and request forms.To clarify:- Our application is already approved and active in production- We use OAuth-authenticated access only- We do not scrape, resell, or redistribute athlete data- The app is being used by real users/athletes- The limitation is now actively blockin

Hi, I'm looking for guidance on how to increase the athlete connection limit for my existing Strava API application. My app has already been approved for a capacity of 999 connected athletes, and that limit has now been reached. As a result, new users are unable to connect their Strava accounts, and I'm receiving complaints from users who cannot access the app. I submitted the Strava API Program Submission Form several weeks ago to request an increase, but I haven't received any response. I also contacted Developer Support by email, but their automated reply stated that athlete capacity increase requests are not reviewed via email and directed me to the Developer Community Hub. Could someone from the Strava team please clarify: - What is the correct process for requesting an increase beyond the existing 999-athlete limit?- Is there a way to escalate a pending capacity increase request when the current limit has already been reached and new users are being blocked?- Is there an expected

Hi all,I run TailwindKompass (Client ID 150588), a read-only app that helps cyclists find Strava segments with favorable wind conditions. It's on the Standard Tier and currently has 978 of 999 allowed athletes connected. At our current growth of roughly 15 new athletes per week, we'll hit the cap within 14 days, after which new users can't connect and effectively can't sign up.I've emailed the developer team with a capacity request, screenshots of the connect flow and our Strava attribution. A few questions for anyone who has been through this:1. Is email the right channel, or is there a specific form for athlete capacity increases?2. How long did your review take?3. Is there anything that commonly causes delays or rejections that I should fix up front?Some context on compliance: read scope only, each athlete only sees their own data, no data is shared with third parties, data is deleted on deauthorization, and we use the official "Connect with Strava" button and "Powered by Strava" lo

Hi there,I am working with collaborators at the British Trust for Ornithology to develop an app that would allow teams of users to compare their aggregate movement with that of cuckoos wearing GPS tracking devices. The idea is to allow teams to virtually race real wild animals that are on their annual migration from Africa to Europe. We hope this will raise awareness about how amazing the migrating birds are and help to encourage their conservation as their populations are declining. For this to work we are hoping to use the Strava API to collate the total distances covered (on bike rides, runs etc.) in the relevant time period for members of each team. These would only be shown in the aggregate (i.e. all the team members cumulative movement) rather than with any individual data being displayed or shared with other users. We only need total distance and the date of the activity, not anything to do with the spatial location of the human athletes, segments, etc. The virtual position of t

Hello Strava Developer Community,I’m developing SEGCUP, a small independent mobile application currently in beta, focused on friendly cycling and running competitions between friends.We are considering simplifying our integration by using existing Strava segments instead of importing complete activities or GPS tracks.Our proposed workflow is:Each participant connects their own Strava account via OAuth. A league administrator selects existing Strava segments. Our application retrieves each authorized athlete’s segment efforts using the official API, where their permissions and subscription allow access. SEGCUP calculates points based on those efforts using its own competition rules. Participants see their own results and a shared ranking within their private league, consisting only of members who have explicitly agreed to participate.We would not reproduce Strava’s global leaderboards or display full activities, routes, or detailed workout data.After reviewing the API Agreement updated

Hello,I submitted my rate limit and athlete capacity increase request about 4 weeks ago (Client ID:185234 ) and haven’t received any response yet.For those who have gone through this process, how long did it typically take to get a response from the Strava team?Thanks!

Hi Strava Developer Support,I am writing to request an increase to the athlete limit for my API application, Wheel2Wheel (W2W), as we have reached our initial capacity of 10 connected athletes.App Details:- App Name: Wheel2Wheel (W2W)- Client ID: 254501Wheel2Wheel is a cycling route discovery and group ride coordination platform designed to help local cycling communities plan routes, organize meetups, and share rides locally and globally. Users can connect their Strava accounts to import their own activities securely into the platform's route builder, with automatic privacy trims applied to start and end locations.Could you please review our application and increase our athlete limit and rate limits so more cyclists can connect and use the platform?Thank you for your time and support!Best regards, Kenneth Tsang/w2w