BKOOL vs. ROUVY: Which One Should You Use?

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This is my comparison of BKOOL vs. ROUVY. You will learn which one is better and worth your money. I tested them in depth to understand their differences, pros, and cons. Here is my summary:

BKOOL and ROUVY Summary

The most significant difference between these two apps is the world you ride in. While ROUVY’s designers and developers created a virtual world from scratch, BKOOL uses real-world footage from around the world. It also has a few routes recreated in 3D graphics, but in much worse quality than ROUVY. I summarized the essential features in the following table.

Features Comparison

Let’s now dive deeper into the individual features.

World

In BKOOL, you can choose from thousands of routes worldwide. Their filtering is basic, though. So, finding the route for the given moment may be difficult.

BKOOL routes are available as footage, 3D, or map view.

As you can see from the pictures, the video and graphics quality are poor.

ROUVY also uses real-world footage, but it’s higher quality and often* augmented with 3D objects like riders’ avatars.

*Not all routes are available with augmented reality (AR).

It’s clear from the pictures above that ROUVY footage is of much higher quality.

Other ROUVY advantages include counting outdoor riding toward your overall progress, and you can compare your Strava PRs thanks to the ROUVY–Strava integration.

Winner: ROUVY

PRO TIP: Use an indoor cycling fan to stay cool. You will perform better and feel more comfortable.

Multiplayer & Social Interactivity

Both apps are at opposite ends of the spectrum in terms of social interactivity. In ROUVY, you will see avatars of other people. However, you can’t chat with them, like in Zwift and Zwift Companion.

BKOOL is even more limited. You won’t even see the avatars; only the real-time leaderboards are available. So, ROUVY and BKOOL are more suitable for people who don’t mind riding alone. Thanks to the presence of riders’ avatars, ROUVY has a slight edge here.

Winner: ROUVY

Races & Events

ROUVY is racing-friendly. They often host races and events inspired by real-world events (such as La Vuelta and IRONMAN).

You can also compare your times on selected routes with pro athletes. This feature is unique to ROUVY.

BKOOL, on the other hand, hosts some events from time to time, but no races. Therefore, I recommend Zwift if you are into e-racing.

Winner: ROUVY

TIP: Use a cycling rocker plate to make indoor training more comfortable.

Workouts

If you are looking for an app that allows you to do structured training, both will satisfy your needs.

BKOOL’s workout library offers only basic filtering, but it has many workouts to choose from.

ROUVY has more sophisticated workouts and training plans, though.

I don’t have the expertise to evaluate which workouts are more effective. However, both companies claim that pro coaches and athletes created their workouts, so they should help you achieve your fitness goals faster than riding without them.

Both apps also have a workout builder in their web version. But Wahoo SYSTM or TrainerRoad are on another level. Use those if you are into efficient training.

Winner: It’s a draw

Gamification

ROUVY has the edge over BKOOL in terms of gamification, as it uses more elements.

Its career consists of 80 levels that you complete by collecting coins. You get them by riding (regardless of whether you ride indoors or outdoors). You can then spend these coins on new gear and customize your avatar just like in Zwift.

BKOOL is almost gamification-free. The only thing that BKOOL offers is buying new equipment.

The equipment and bike selection are limited. You can only buy a new jersey or a bike with in-game currency.

Winner: ROUVY

User Friendliness

The user-friendliness (how easy it is to use the app) is similar in both apps. In short, it could be much better. Both apps deserve a redesign. BKOOL feels outdated and laggy, and its screen is unresponsive sometimes…

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.

Winner: It’s a draw

I recommend downloading BKOOL routes in advance if you have a slow internet connection (under 20 Mbit/s) for an uninterrupted experience.

Platforms Availability

BKOOL and ROUVY are available on all major platforms, including iOS, Android, macOS, and Windows. However, BKOOL, unlike ROUVY, is not available for Apple TV.

Winner: ROUVY
Overall winner: ROUVY (5), BKOOL (0), It’s a draw (2)

Alternatives

FulGaz is the closest alternative to ROUVY. It also uses real-world footage but doesn’t augment it with AR.

Due to the nature of BKOOL (video + 3D graphics), it has multiple alternatives. I recommend checking out:

• FulGaz for its high video quality
• Kinomap for its sports versatility (cycling, running, rowing)
• and Wahoo RGT for its real-life physics in a virtual world

The Winner

ROUVY wins against BKOOL thanks to higher video quality, better use of gamification elements, and overall user experience.

It also lets you participate in races, compare your times with pro athletes or your PRs on Strava, and count outside activities too.

BKOOL tries to offer a lot, but doesn’t excel at any of it. It would deserve a significant update and a cleanup of the poor-quality routes.

BKOOL vs. ROUVY: FAQ