The short answer: Strava records your run and lets you share it with other people. Steady Pace helps you hold a target pace while you run. It plays a tone that rises when you slow down and falls when you speed up, so you can run by ear. The two apps do different things, and many runners use both.
How they differ
Strava is used mostly after a run. It records your route, saves your distance and splits, ranks you on segments against other runners, and posts the run to a feed. Several of its features need a paid subscription. During the run itself, it gives little feedback on your pace.
Steady Pace works during the run. You set a target pace, and the tone tells you when you drift off it, so you can correct without looking at a screen. It has no feed and no account, and it stores your runs only on your phone.
Steady Pace and Strava compared
| Steady Pace | Strava | |
|---|---|---|
| Main use | Holding a target pace as you run | Recording and sharing runs |
| Pace feedback during a run | A continuous tone you listen to | Numbers shown on screen |
| Social feed and leaderboards | None | Yes |
| Price | One-time purchase | Free tier; subscription for more features |
| Works offline | Yes | Records offline, needs a connection to sync |
| Your location data | Anonymized on your phone, never uploaded | Uploaded to Strava; sharing depends on your settings |
What Strava is for
Strava suits runners who want a record of their runs and a way to share them. It stores your history, ranks you on segments, and connects you with other runners. It does not help you hold a pace during a run.
What Steady Pace is for
Steady Pace suits runners who have trouble holding a pace, such as starting too fast or running easy days too hard. The tone keeps you on your target pace without a screen. It runs on your phone, needs no account, and costs one payment. You can still record the run on Strava if you want to.
Strava and Steady Pace do different jobs, so they work well together. Strava keeps a record of your runs. Steady Pace helps you run them at your target pace.
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Is Steady Pace a replacement for Strava?
They do different things. Strava records and shares your runs. Steady Pace helps you hold a target pace while you run. You can use Strava for the record and Steady Pace for the pacing.
Can I use Steady Pace and Strava together?
Yes. Holding your pace and recording your run are separate tasks, so you can use Steady Pace to hold your pace and record the run in Strava as you normally would.
Does Strava coach your pace with audio like Steady Pace?
Not in the same way. Strava shows your pace as numbers on the screen, and its live pacing features are mostly on the paid tier. Steady Pace plays a continuous tone that rises and falls with your pace, so you can correct without looking.
Is Strava free?
Strava has a free tier, but several of its most-used features need a subscription that, as of 2026, costs around $11.99 a month or $79.99 a year. Steady Pace is a single one-time purchase with every feature included. Prices change, so check the current listings.