Cheer On Your Run Buddies With Strava’s New Built-in Chat Feature

Those of you on an Android device may be exhausted by the emotional turmoil brought on by messaging apps. I warn you: this next bit of news may be too much too soon. Strava, the fitness tracking app geared toward athletes and People Who Like Data, has announced that it’s launching messaging between its users on iOS and Android.

It’s good news for everyone using Strava since the app aims to help friends from Run Club coordinate the next meetup. And, hey, you won’t have to worry about revealing yourself as the sole Green Bubble at the next Hiking Moms meetup.

As I discovered while testing the app, you can use Strava’s new messaging feature to share routes and GIFs, too. Conversations can be between two people or a group. The company gave me early access to the ability, and I’ve been chatting with friends at other outlets. Strava’s messaging will not replace how I’d typically interact with folks. Still, it will make it easier to solidify relationships with people who work out alongside you or are cheering you along.

Strava’s messaging feature can be accessed from an icon at the top-right of the app’s home screen on both Android and iOS. Your platform doesn’t matter; I hopped into my messages on the Pixel 8 and the iPhone 15 Pro Max. Notifications for new messages to me came in at the same time on both devices.

Privacy is definitely on the mind regarding a feature like messaging, especially since Strava breached that trust a few years back. The company put in settings so you can control who can message you. I currently have the option set to Mutuals so that only those who follow me back can engage me in chat. You can also shut off the messaging entirely and select No One if you’d rather not deal with it.

Messaging is just one of the features Strava has recently introduced to make its app a little more socially-able. Earlier this year, the company announced it would allow you to see community photos taken within 48 hours to get a snapshot preview of the trail ahead.

Strava Messaging will roll out to Strava users on both platforms starting today. Look for version 335 of the app on iOS and Android. Subscribers will have access to additional features down the line. The company confirmed there are further feature updates scheduled for early next year.