Strava blames zero-code AI apps and scrapers as it tightens API access

In an update on its developer hub, Strava blames the change on “zero-code AI tools” that allow users to quickly create apps that “hammer” APIs. “We have felt this firsthand — developer applications to our program are up 448% year-to-date, API intermediaries have violated policy terms, and scraping attempts have degraded platform performance for everyone,” the company writes. Reddit similarly began charging developers to access its API in 2023.

Additionally, Strava users can now use a new tool that allows them to link their fitness data — including pace, per-second heart rate, GPS data, and more — to Claude. The company says the new API restriction won’t impact wearable and device integrations or users’ ability to download their data for free.