ROUVY vs. TrainerRoad: Which One Should You Use? (2023)

This is my comparison of ROUVY vs. TrainerRoad. These apps are among the most popular indoor cycling apps but are vastly different.

I tested them both to help you decide which one you should use.

The answer depends mainly on your preferences…

ROUVY is adventure and exploration-oriented. TrainerRoad, on the other hand, is suitable for dedicated athletes who want to take their performance to the next level.

The main difference between ROUVY and TrainerRoad is that you ride real-world routes with augmented reality in ROUVY. TrainerRoad only shows you your current workout structure and data. But it has sophisticated algorithms that can create personalized training plans for you.

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 only – 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 allows you to revive memories from places you 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 you only the basic data you need to know when doing 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 cooled down 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 a large community and user base. 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 they host races of famous events like La Vuelta, Ironman, etc., 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 workouts library and a workouts builder. Unfortunately, they don’t have structured training plans.

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. You can get interesting rewards from ROUVY partners by reaching higher levels.

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

User Friendliness

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

ROUVY feels gloomy and a little outdated. I think it would deserve a major redesign.

Pairing sensors and the initial setup is 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 15 USD/month or 144 USD/year. TrainerRoad is a bit more expensive. You can get it for 19.99 USD/month or 189 USD/year.

That’s a 25% difference. Is it justifiable?

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

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

Alternatives

Both apps have alternatives. The closest alternative to ROUVY is Fulgaz. It is not as widespread but has 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 not as comprehensive and personalized. I also compared these two apps in my Wahoo SYSTM vs. TrainerRoad comparison.

Or, check out other indoor cycling apps:

ROUVY and TrainerRoad FAQ

ROUVY vs. TrainerRoad: The Winner

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

While ROUVY includes thousands of videos of routes so you can explore the world, TrainerRoad is suitable for dedicated athletes who want 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?

… or read my in-depth ROUVY review for more details.

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

You can also read my in-depth TrainerRoad review for more info.