ROUVY vs. TrainerRoad: Which One Should You Use?

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This is my comparison of ROUVY vs. TrainerRoad. These apps are among the most popular indoor cycling apps, but they are vastly different. I tested both to help you decide which one to use. The answer depends mainly on your preferences…

Continue reading to learn more.

ROUVY and TrainerRoad Summary

The most significant difference between these two apps is their concept.

In ROUVY, you ride with an avatar through real-world routes. You can just ride and enjoy the scenery, do structured workouts, or race.

TrainerRoad, on the other hand, is designed with one goal: to make you a better cyclist.

They accomplish this by sophisticated algorithms that create personalized training plans based on your fitness and goals.

See my summary of the main features below.

Features Comparison

Let’s now dive deeper into the individual features.

Concept

ROUVY is an app with a comprehensive library of real-world routes. You move your avatar by pedaling. You can also meet other riders, eventually join races, or do structured workouts.

ROUVY lets you relive memories of places you’ve visited or explore new ones. But you can also gain pretty good fitness, for example, by trying to beat your PRs.

TrainerRoad is much simpler and more boring. It’s a training tool that helps you get better. Its main screen shows only the basic data you need to know for a structured workout. These include your power, targeted power, interval time, workout time, HR, and cadence.

During indoor training, you will sweat – a lot. Stay cool by using an indoor cycling fan.

Multiplayer & Social Interactivity

While in ROUVY, you can meet others and do group rides, TrainerRoad is only for people who don’t mind riding solo.

Both apps have large communities and user bases. But in TrainerRoad, it’s just you, your bike, and the app. No distractions.

Because of the large number of routes in ROUVY, you won’t meet as many people as in Zwift (which has a limited number of worlds/routes at a given period). You can learn more in my Zwift vs. ROUVY comparison.

Races & Events

You can race and do group rides in ROUVY, but not in TrainerRoad.

ROUVY races are usually not too crowded unless you participate in official races. For those, a smart trainer is a must.

One of the benefits of ROUVY is that it hosts races from famous events like La Vuelta and Ironman, so you can compare your times with pro athletes. However, you can do this on selected routes too.

Improve your indoor cycling comfort with a rocker plate. It will allow your trainer to move from side to side, reducing the friction between your butt and saddle.

Workouts

Here is where things are more comparable because both apps will allow you to create and follow structured workouts.

ROUVY offers a workout library and a workout builder. They also have structured training plans. However, your workouts won’t adjust based on your fatigue.

With TrainerRoad, that’s another story. It takes training to a whole new level.

TrainerRoad’s plan builder will guide you through a series of questions. Then, based on your answers, it will design a personalized training plan to help you accomplish your goals.

This feature works like magic. You can specify almost everything – how much time you invest in your training, which days you want to train, what discipline you want to focus on, and much more.

Additionally, TrainerRoad has so-called Adaptive-Training that adjusts your training plan based on your load and fitness. Watch the following video for more details.

And last but not least, if you like to dig deeper into your training data, you can because TrainerRoad offers helpful analytics tools for each activity.

Gamification

Gamification, in other words, the use of game-like features in non-game applications, is relatively modest in both apps.

ROUVY has a Career where you collect experience and reach levels. The Career consists of 9 levels (Starter to Legend) and 80 sub-levels. I don’t understand why they split them this way; it’s pretty confusing.

Luckily, you don’t have to complete specific tasks (obtaining TSS, participating in races, etc.) like you had to in the past. The only thing you have to do now is ride and collect coins. By collecting them, you level up your avatar and get exclusive deals (discounts, free trials, etc.) from ROUVY’s partners (TrainingPeaks, Elite, and more).

TrainerRoad has no gamification. It’s only up to you and your internal motivation.

User Friendliness

TrainerRoad’s user interface is clean and intuitive. Some buttons or fonts could be larger, but that’s just me being picky.

The ROUVY app seemed outdated before the major redesign in 2023. Unfortunately, I still don’t like it after the redesign. I am not a fan of the dark purple, and the whole design doesn’t look consistent. But the longer I watch ROUVY, the more I appreciate their work and how they are improving. For example, the revamped dashboard and entire navigation are much better now.

Pairing sensors and the initial setup are straightforward in both apps, and I didn’t encounter any compatibility issues with multiple power meters, HR monitors, or smart trainers.

Platforms Availability

ROUVY is available on all major platforms, including iOS, Android, macOS, Windows, and Apple TV.

TrainerRoad is not available for Apple TV.

Pricing

ROUVY costs 19.99 USD/month or 179.99 USD/year. TrainerRoad is a bit more expensive. You can get it for 21.99 USD/month or 209.99 USD/year.

That’s a 10% difference. Is it justifiable?

There is probably no better app for structured training than TrainerRoad. If you are serious about your performance, this investment is worth it.

But ROUVY lets you virtually visit beautiful places worldwide – without actually spending a fortune to do so. So, it’s worth considering too.

Alternatives

Both apps have alternatives. The closest alternative to ROUVY is Fulgaz (acquired by ROUVY in 2025). It is not as widespread, but it offers many high-definition routes and a simpler user interface. On the other hand, it doesn’t use avatars and AR.

The closest alternative to TrainerRoad is Wahoo SYSTM. It’s a comprehensive training platform for endurance athletes. It offers similar features, but its structured training plans are less comprehensive and less personalized. I also compared these two apps in my Wahoo SYSTM vs. TrainerRoad comparison.

Or, check out other indoor cycling apps:

ROUVY vs. TrainerRoad: The Winner

There is no winner between ROUVY and TrainerRoad, as they are different apps. It’s like comparing apples to oranges.

While ROUVY offers thousands of route videos to explore the world and improve your fitness, TrainerRoad is suitable for dedicated athletes looking to improve their performance.

I recommend you consider your goals and why you want to use an indoor training app. Do you want to visit beautiful places from the comfort of your home or pain cave?

Are you a dedicated athlete looking for ways to become a faster cyclist?

ROUVY and TrainerRoad FAQ