What is ROUVY?
ROUVY is an indoor cycling platform that uses augmented reality to place your avatar on real-world video footage of roads around the world. Unlike purely virtual platforms, ROUVY films actual routes, everything from Alpine mountain passes to coastal roads, and overlays your rider onto the video in real time. Your smart trainer adjusts resistance to match the real gradient of the road you're watching.
It's the work of two Czech brothers, Petr and Jiří Samek, whose training software went through a decade of earlier names before launching as ROUVY in 2017; the company is now in Prague with over 100 staff. Its own count is 2,000+ routes across 139 countries, 384,400 km of road in total. Every workout syncs to Strava with full power, heart rate, and distance data.
Key Features
Augmented Reality Routes
ROUVY overlays your 3D avatar onto high-definition video of real roads. You see the actual scenery (switchbacks, tunnels, descents) while your trainer responds to the real gradient of the road in front of you.
The route library
2,000+ filmed routes covering 139 countries, including the famous climbs: Stelvio, Alpe d'Huez, Mont Ventoux. New ones arrive from both the ROUVY team and community filmers, and the Route Creator lets you film and upload your own.
Structured Workouts
Beyond free-riding routes, ROUVY offers structured workout plans with ERG mode support. Train with specific power targets while enjoying the scenery, or follow multi-week training plans.
Racing & Events
Compete against other riders in real time on AR routes. ROUVY runs a regular events calendar, and lists Lidl-Trek, Team Visma | Lease a Bike and IRONMAN among its partners. Races and group rides are subscriber-only.
Strava Integration
All ROUVY activities automatically sync to Strava with complete ride data including power, heart rate, cadence, elevation, and distance.
Who It's For
- Scenery lovers who find virtual worlds boring and want real roads
- Travel cyclists who want to preview or relive famous routes
- Indoor trainers looking for an alternative to Zwift's animated world
- Climb enthusiasts wanting to ride iconic mountain passes from home
- Racers competing in augmented reality esports events
How It Compares
Where Zwift offers a game-like virtual world with cartoon-style graphics, ROUVY's differentiator is realism. You're looking at real video of real roads. For cyclists who find virtual environments immersion-breaking, ROUVY's AR approach feels more like actual outdoor riding. The trade-off is that the social features and group riding scene are smaller than Zwift's massive community.
Worth knowing: Zwift acquired ROUVY on 29 April 2026, but both apps continue independently, with separate subscriptions and separate roadmaps, and both sides said at the time that nothing meaningful changes for existing riders. One practical upside: Zwift Ready trainers and the Zwift Ride frame now work with ROUVY. ROUVY has also absorbed FulGaz and BKOOL (the BKOOL app was retired in March 2026, with accounts and ride history migrated). See our full Zwift vs ROUVY comparison.
What equipment do I need for ROUVY?
You need a smart trainer (ANT+ or Bluetooth compatible) and a device to run the app. ROUVY works on Windows, Mac, iPad, iPhone, Android, and Apple TV. A heart rate monitor and cadence sensor are recommended for complete data.
Are the routes real video or computer generated?
ROUVY routes are filmed on real roads using high-definition cameras. Your avatar is then augmented into the video footage using AR technology. The gradients match the actual road profile, so your trainer adjusts resistance to the real terrain.
Does ROUVY auto-sync to Strava?
Yes. Connect your Strava account in ROUVY settings and every completed ride uploads automatically with full power, heart rate, cadence, and elevation data.
What does ROUVY cost, and is any of it free?
$19.99 a month for a single rider, or $179.99 a year, which works out at $15 a month. DUO is $29.99 a month or $249.99 a year for two riders; GROUP is $59.99 a month or $499.99 a year for up to five. Every plan starts with a 7-day free trial. There's no free tier to sign up for, but two things soften that: you can pause a subscription for 180 days once a year, and a registered account without an active subscription can still ride 20 km a month at no cost. Unused kilometres expire at the end of the month, and races and group rides need an active subscription. A Daily Pass buys full access for a while instead: $2.99 for 24 hours, $3.99 for 48, $4.99 for 72.
How is ROUVY different from Zwift?
The main difference is visual approach: ROUVY shows real-world video with AR overlays, while Zwift uses computer-generated 3D virtual worlds. ROUVY focuses on the realism of riding actual roads, while Zwift has a larger social community and more gamified experience.
