Strava adds developer fee and locks data to restrict web scraping ahead of IPO

Strava announced Monday it will charge developers $11.99 monthly for API access and require logins to view public profiles and club pages.mezha
The company framed the changes as anti-scraping measures, with a 90-day transition period, as it moves toward an IPO after filing confidentially with the SEC in February.strava
Strava is also adopting Model Context Protocol support and partnering with Anthropic’s Claude, signaling a shift toward controlled AI data access over open APIs.mezha

Strava Adds API Fees and Restricts Access Ahead of IPO

Strava announced on Monday a series of changes to its developer platform and website security, introducing a flat $11.99 monthly fee for API access and requiring authentication to view public profiles and club listings. The fitness tracking company framed the moves as necessary to combat AI-driven data scraping as it prepares for a public offering.mezha

Locking Down Data

Under the new policy, Strava will require users to log in before viewing individual profiles and club pages that were previously accessible without authentication. The company is also planning to phase out certain API endpoints, including those that expose club information, and will adopt Model Context Protocol (MCP) support to give it more structured control over how external applications and AI assistants access its data.mezha

Developers previously operated under a tiered free-access system that expanded as their applications grew. The new $11.99 monthly fee applies universally, though Strava noted the price may vary by geography. The company has allowed a 90-day transition period before the changes take effect. Strava said wearable and device integrations will not be affected by the new restrictions.strava

IPO Preparations

The changes arrive as Strava moves toward a public listing. The company confidentially submitted a draft registration statement on Form S-1 to the SEC in early 2026, according to an official press release dated February 2. Goldman Sachs is leading the IPO process, with JPMorgan also involved, Reuters reported in September 2025 when Strava was first shopping for underwriters. The company was valued at $2.2 billion in a 2025 funding round led by Sequoia Capital.reuters

Developer Pushback

The restrictions build on a tightening trend. In 2024, Strava updated its API terms to prohibit the use of developer data for AI model training and restricted the display of other users’ data to external parties, a move that drew criticism from third-party developers at the time. The new fee structure and endpoint retirements are likely to intensify that friction, particularly for independent developers and small projects that relied on free access to build training tools and community applications.mezha

Strava also announced a new integration allowing subscribers to connect their accounts to Anthropic’s Claude AI assistant, suggesting the company is channeling AI access through controlled partnerships rather than open APIs.yahoo