Just received this email -

"We’re writing to inform you of changes to your Zwift Subscription pricing. The monthly Zwift subscription price will be increased to $19.99, plus applicable taxes. Your first payment at the new price will be on your next billing date after June 6th.

We hope you’re enjoying your time on Zwift. We have worked hard to keep prices locked since 2017 and have made this change to allow us to continue making indoor cycling fun with more content experiences and product innovation. "

Just in time for summer when most of us will be riding outdoors. I usually suspend my sub between May and Sept but this time it may be permanent.

It worked for Strava, so why not!

This may push me over the edge June, July, and August. Likely most folks will not care and just keep going. Post covid it seems road riding is more dangerous than it used to be. Plus there is some semblance of personal interaction with others while Zwifting. If only Zwift would fix some of the errors that they have ignored, although I don't see them. New routes, new features, keeping it fresh, well kinda. I only use some of what is there.

More than making me drop Zwift, this is more likely to get me to drop Strava. Other than the personal records on various segments bit (which I haven't been setting due to health issues), I get just about everything else I use Strava for these days on intervals.icu. Might just make that my full time app.

It’s hardly a surprise given that the price has remained frozen since 2017. I might now take advantage of the recent annual subscription discount. I think you can still lock in the current price for another year if quick.

I don’t mind the price increase as long as they keep improving. I think it is still relatively early days for virtual cycling. I certainly don’t want to see Zwift fail.

Only been a user since 2021. So 30% increase is a surprise. I will try out Rouvy before I decide to keep Zwift on an annual plan. I did buy a new Wahoo Kickr that came with an annual sub. Will see if that can be transferred. Starting over from my 33 level is not a big deal since they changed how points are awarded based on weekly use.

I saw the email. I was due to re-pause Zwift (which I normally do during the good riding months) but this time cancelled, knowing I can re-join at the same level as before when the colder weather settles in.
I got a survey asking me why I cancelled. I clicked on Price Increase. Then, another question asked if I would be more inclined to not cancel if there were a reduced monthly fee during the normal outdoor riding season. Yeah, now and then it would be good to jump on the trainer, especially when it's been raining for a few days, or there's no one to ride with. I said yes, but we'll see what happens.

Bald Paul Last fall after my summer cancel due to not needing it, I found that Zwift was giving a set amount of time free monthly before requiring renewal payment. Also as you noticed if you drop and come back you jump in exactly where you were as far as game level, history, follows and followers, and drops. If you use the Companion app you can even keep in contact with those you follow and continue to give ride-ons and comment on their activities.
For me it will really depend on the weather we have. Mine renews on 5-11, probably go another month then cancel. We still are having a number of windy days and it is nice to have options.

I like riding indoors at least a couple of times a week because it takes a lot less time. Especially now that zwift doesn't force you to upgrade when one's available. And if it's raining. I don't mind riding in the rain, but I find it nearly impossible to start when it's raining.

Yes, I think it's something like 25kms (or it used to be, may be less now.) For me, that's about one ride a month.

They don't make you stop the ride you're on, so you could get 2 rides up Alpe du Zwift or Ven-top if you really wanted to get your hours out of that 25 km.

right, back when i used zwift and stopped during th eoff season i could do a ride and stop at about 20km. then if i needed to again in that month i could start another, get to the 25km then just click "No" when prompted to join. after that click i could ride forever.

I am going to pause my subscription due to the increase since I don’t ride inside during the nice weather.

If I cancel and then rejoin later this fall, will it pickup where I left off or will it start as a new account? Or would the pause be the best option?

Thanks in advance!

Canceling is supposed to let you pick up where you left off (though the language has changed since last year). Pausing only lets you stop for a specific amount of time (I think it's up to 8 weeks) and then it automatically restarts and restarts billing you at that time.

i canceled my sub about 2 years ago. then earlier this year i did the 2 week free trial and picked up where i left off.

This sucks, definitely worth reviewing whether necessary.

For the amount I used it this winter it is worth every penny. I lost 40 pounds between dieting and riding Zwift.

What are your thoughts on Zwift giving themselves a 38% price increase.... just when summer is coming

They're doing it now because, when the weather gets bad and everyone wants to come back in on their bikes, they'll be over the sticker shock and will just pay up. Short term pain of extra people dropping now to be followed by long term gain of added revenue (and almost everyone coming back) when the winter comes from Z's point of view.

Had one of the competitors (especially one of the free ones) had a killer competition ready to go (ZRL clone, maybe), it might be a different story, but they weren't ready for it.

are there other comparable options?

I find it funny people actually pay for this stuff.

When the weather gets bad...just get better clothing or in the case of winter get a fat bike.

People pay? To ride their bikes? Indoors?

Yeah, gotta be outdoors to effectively yell at the clouds...

I think I heard someone say they have not had an increase in a while, maybe 2018 or something like that, could be off, but I know its been a while. I think they might be due one based on all the improvements they have made through the years.

Personally just not a fan of Rouvy and would switch to it only if Zwift was not around. It just feels a bit "off" and less polished than something like Zwift. Seems like they simply tried to make a replica of Zwift but in reality. When I'm riding indoors, I like the fact that I go off into more of a fantasy world such as the Highline in NY or Jungle Route in Watopia. It's much more fun to look at the fun animated details than to be sitting on a road near powerlines in Rouvy. In terms of scouting real world rides as I do some races in various locations, to me it's just not useful because the reality is that if I'm climbing or descending a route I've not done before then how I'm pedaling / handling the bike on the trainer will be completely different than the real world, especially if I'm passing or being passed by others when it's an actual race. Finally, Rouvy just has a creepy augmented feel for me where it's just a cut and paste avatar on the road lacking true realism and shading / shadows. Minor details in that things such as the watt savings in a draft is more info than I care or need to know...here I'm saving 7 watts and there only 6. Again, I want to just zone out a bit and either just enjoy the animated scenery or focus on the training program I'm running. Other minor factor is the social aspect where Zwift leads but again I'm mostly on Zwift to race or do a scenic training ride. To me Zwift just seems like the easy thing to hate on since it's the king of the hill, but in reality the refinement and detail within Zwift will take a bit longer for anyone to overtake. With one price hike in 7 years, I'll continue to support Zwift, but will continue to check in on other training apps at the start of each indoor season for something better. At the moment, Zwift is the best all-around choice imo.

I think you should refer to this thread in the proper forum: Zwift Price Increase - Bike Forums