Fitness tracker app Strava to charge for developer API access to counter AI data scraping

Strava is overhauling its developer API program to curb AI-driven scraping and heavy automated usage that have slowed performance.

The company is splitting access into Standard and Extended tiers, with Standard now paid for most developers and broader free access reserved for approved large apps.

Strava also launched an MCP Connector so compatible AI tools like Claude can analyze user-approved activity data.

The move could raise costs and limit third-party fitness app access, while showing how platforms are responding to AI data collection pressure.