ROUVY vs. Zwift: Which App is the Right for You? (2023)

I’ve made an in-depth comparison of ROUVY vs. Zwift to help you decide which one is the right for you based on your personality and fitness goals. I used them both to find their pros, cons, and differences.

ROUVY differs from Zwift because it incorporates real-world footage and isn’t as socially oriented. In contrast, Zwift offers a fully virtual world, gamification elements, and many social interactions. Both apps host events, including races.

Read on to learn more.

ROUVY and Zwift Summary

The biggest distinction between these indoor cycling apps is the environment you ride in.

Zwift’s team created a completely virtual world, while ROUVY uses real-world footage from various worldwide locations and adds virtual elements such as avatars.

I summarized the essential features in the following table.

Features Comparison

Let’s now dive deeper into the individual features.

World

For many people, graphics are one of the most crucial aspects when choosing an indoor cycling app, and I am no exception.

ROUVY offers thousands of real-life routes from famous and lesser-known places, augmented with virtual objects like avatars.

Their library is easy to filter based on name, distance, duration, ascent, etc. You’ll always find the route that suits you best.

ROUVY’s diversity of routes is one of its greatest strengths. There are so many to choose from that you probably won’t have time to try them all!

Plus, you can compare your times with pro athletes on routes from events like La Vuelta, IRONMAN, and more.

In contrast, Zwift has multiple virtual worlds, such as Watopia, London, Paris, Richmond, and more.

However, only three worlds are available simultaneously, with Watopia permanently open and the other two rotating on a schedule.

As a result, the number of routes available in each world is limited, and Zwift’s routes can become repetitive.

The visual experience is entirely different from ROUVY, as you can see for yourself:

Winner: ROUVY

Multiplayer & Social Interactivity

Both apps offer multiplayer, allowing you to connect with other riders and organize group rides.

Thanks to a larger community and fewer routes, you’ll always find someone to ride with on Zwift.

In contrast, while ROUVY is also popular, you won’t encounter as many people on the routes, except on the most popular ones.

Zwift routes thrive thanks to a larger community and fewer routes. You always meet somebody.

BONUS TIP: Are you tired of your static indoor training? Check out my article on cycling rocker plates that can make your indoor cycling experience more comfortable and engaging.

Unfortunately, ROUVY lacks in-game chat, and you have to use third-party apps to communicate, which is a downside compared to Zwift*.

Additionally, ROUVY has no gestures like the wave, so you cannot greet your in-game friends.

Zwift, on the other hand, has a dedicated mobile app for this purpose called Zwift Companion.

Winner: Zwift

Races & Events

Both Zwift and ROUVY allow racing and hosting events. However, Zwift races are more popular due to its larger community.

On the other hand, ROUVY offers a diverse selection of official and unofficial races and events that cater to a wide range of preferences.

ROUVY promotes its official races and events more actively, which results in more participants. Unofficial races, however, are usually less crowded.

Winner: Zwift

Workouts

Both ROUVY and Zwift are suitable apps for structured training.

ROUVY merged its two apps (ROUVY AR and ROUVY Workouts), so you can browse workouts in one app.

However, there is no workout builder in the ROUVY app. You can create a workout on their web app or upload your own from other apps like TrainingPeaks.

Zwift has a more comprehensive selection of structured workouts and plans. You can create your own workouts using their workout builder or upload them.

In addition, Zwift offers pace partners that can help you maintain a constant tempo during your workout.

Zwift is the clear winner for structured training due to its larger selection of workouts and plans.

Winner: Zwift

PRO TIP: Use a fan while training indoors to stay cool and comfortable during your workouts.

Gamification

One area that distinguishes ROUVY from Zwift is their approach to gamification.

Zwift is a game that utilizes numerous gamification elements, such as collecting drops, achieving goals, finishing routes, and building equipment. These elements provide extra motivation for indoor training.

ROUVY was pretty much gamification-free (not counting the poorly designed challenges) until the end of 2021. However, they launched a new ROUVY Career at the beginning of 2022.

The new career consists of 80 levels that you complete by collecting coins. You get them by riding (regardless of the type of ride you do).

You can then spend these coins on new gear and customize your avatar just like in Zwift.

By completing levels, you also get extra rewards from ROUVY’s partners like TrainingPeaks (30 days premium account for free), Elite (discount on nutrition related-products), etc.

Although ROUVY’s career is not as comprehensive as Zwift’s yet, this update is a giant leap forward that makes ROUVY more attractive to a wide range of people.

Another difference worth pointing out is the lack of power-ups in ROUVY. Zwift’s power-ups are a clever way to make your in-app experience more entertaining.

Winner: Zwift

User Friendliness

The user-friendliness, or how easy the apps are to use, is pretty similar for ROUVY and Zwift. However, I don’t like either user interface.

ROUVY feels a bit outdated and gloomy due to its black color scheme.

In contrast, Zwift underwent a complete redesign in 2022. It’s no longer full of confusing buttons, and its user-friendliness has improved.

I had to study the ROUVY website to understand some of the app features, such as the training vs. time trial mode.

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

Zwift feels more intuitive and doesn’t take as long to load routes as ROUVY.

Winner: Zwift

Platforms Availability

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

Winner: It’s a draw

Total Score: ROUVY (1), Zwift (5), It’s a draw (1)

Alternatives

For those looking for indoor cycling apps similar to ROUVY, FulGaz is the closest option. Like ROUVY, it also uses real-world footage from different locations worldwide.

However, unlike ROUVY, it doesn’t use augmented reality, providing an uninterrupted view of the footage.

If you prefer an alternative to Zwift, Wahoo RGT is a good option. It also offers a virtual world, but with more realistic graphics and physics than Zwift.

However, RGT Cycling doesn’t have the same level of sophisticated motivation mechanisms to keep you motivated during your rides.

ROUVY vs. Zwift: FAQ

The Winner

Although Zwift won most direct comparisons, it cannot be said with certainty that it is a better app.

Both of these apps are different and target slightly different types of users. While Zwift is more of a “game” you play with friends where you challenge each other, ROUVY allows you to explore beautiful places worldwide or compete.

Therefore, I recommend trying both apps during the trial version and then deciding which one suits you better.