Comparison

BETTER.FTP vs Ride Cave

Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.

Head to head
About

BETTER.FTP

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BETTER.FTP measures Functional Threshold Power using any FTMS-compatible smart trainer. No subscription, no account, no analytics. Pair your trainer over Bluetooth, select a protocol, and start the test. The app controls the trainer in ERG mode and guides you through warmup, test, and cooldown. FTP is calculated automatically when the test completes. PROTOCOLS • Ramp Test (~20 minutes) 10-minute warmup at 100 W. Power then increases by 20 W every minute until the rider can no longer maintain cadence. FTP is calculated as 75% of the best one-minute average power. • 20-Minute Test (~45 minutes) 15-minute warmup at 100 W. Followed by a sustained 20-minute maximum effort. FTP is calculated as 95% of the 20-minute average power. Based on the standard Coggan protocol. FEATURES • FTMS smart-trainer support (direct-drive and wheel-on) • Optional Bluetooth heart-rate monitor • Live display: power, target, heart rate, cadence, stage progress • Automatic FTP calculation • FIT file export for Strava, TrainingPeaks, intervals.icu, and other platforms PRIVACY All data is stored on the device. No account is required. The app contains no analytics or third-party tracking SDKs. REQUIREMENTS A Bluetooth FTMS-compatible smart trainer and iOS 13 or later. Open source: github.com/niecore/betterftp.

About

Ride Cave

This platform offers a comprehensive indoor cycling experience with structured workouts, AI coaching, and virtual racing. Explore real-world routes, compete on velodromes, and analyze detailed performance metrics. It integrates with popular fitness trackers and smart trainers for a complete training solution.

Highlights
  • Structured workouts and builder
  • AI coaching and fitness reports
  • Real-world GPS routes
  • Virtual velodrome racing
  • Group rides with voice chat
  • Advanced performance analytics
  • Integrations with Strava, Garmin, etc.
Features
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Ride Cave is a premium (and free) indoor training platform for cycling and rowing, built for serious training and serious fun: an endless supply of structured workouts, eRoutes anywhere in the world in a living 3D world, more than 20 velodromes, and now live rowing. Bring your runs, swims and gym sessions too, and every activity counts toward one picture of your fitness. ROWING Connect a Concept2 PM5 or a Bluetooth smart rower and train by split, watts and stroke rate. A live rowing screen with a target panel that shows every stroke against your target, 50+ rowing workouts, a rowing workout builder, your own Rowing FTP with UT2 to AN zones, and 2k, 5k and 6k tests that suggest your new number. MULTI-SPORT Import runs, rows, swims and gym sessions from Strava, Intervals.icu, Garmin and Wahoo. Each one earns an honest training load and counts toward one combined fitness and fatigue picture, free for everyone. STRUCTURED WORKOUTS Hundreds of workouts ready to ride or row, plus a built-in workout builder, an instant workout generator, community shared workouts, and Turbo Builder: type a workout one step per line and watch it build. TRAINING PLANS Multi-week cycling plans that scale to your FTP, discipline, and time. Sync your calendar to Intervals.icu or Wahoo. Send workouts to your bike computer to train outdoors. AI COACHING Most platforms push AI in your face and charge you a premium for it. AI is fully optional in Ride Cave. Use Atlas, the AI coach, to build plans, talk strategy, or create ride and row workouts and fitness reports. RIDES & ROUTES Real-world GPS routes with elevation in a 3D world with live riders. Race the leaderboard or ride alongside other people's past efforts. Open the globe, tap a spot and ride, or import your own routes. VIRTUAL TRACK RACING Single player workouts and races against AI ghost riders, or real-time group races on accurate virtual velodromes. Elimination, scratch races, points races, and more. GROUP RIDES Ride live with friends. Synchronized workouts, shared routes, and voice chat. ANALYTICS Full power, HR, and cadence breakdowns. Strain analysis, W' balance, training load. Data Lab reports and more than 100 data points, with views and widgets you can customize, even mid-workout. INTEGRATIONS Strava, Wahoo, Intervals.icu, and Garmin Connect. SIMPLE BY DEFAULT, POWER WHEN NEEDED Real physics, calendaring, social profiles, quests, custom alerts, mini-games and more. REQUIREMENTS Cycling: a compatible smart trainer or power meter with Bluetooth FTMS support (Wahoo KICKR, Tacx/Garmin, Saris, Zwift Hub, Elite, and most modern smart trainers). Rowing: a Concept2 PM5 or a Bluetooth smart rower.

Screenshots

Ride Cave4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is device support: Ride Cave at 3 against BETTER.FTP's —. BETTER.FTP's advantage is iOS requirement (13.0 vs 15.1). On price and in-app purchases there is nothing between them.

Scored on Price · Rating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings · Update frequency · Ads · In-app purchases · Monetization · Best chart rank · Devices · Requires iOS

CostPrice · In-app purchases · Ads · Monetization

Both are free to download. Neither carries in-app purchases, so what you see is what you pay.

Scorecard2 real differences · 8 level
BETTER.FTP versus Ride Cave: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterBETTER.FTPRide Cave
PriceFreeFree
Rating—5.0 (3 ratings) — better
Positive reviews—100.0% of reviews
Number of ratings—3 — better
Update frequency—Monthly
Ads—No
In-app purchasesNoNo
Monetization—Free
Devices—iPhone, iPad, iPod — better
Requires iOS13.0 — better15.1
Further details — not scored
Size66 MB30 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperNico MuellerCave Works LLC

In-app purchases

None

BETTER.FTP

No in-app purchases

None

Ride Cave

No in-app purchases

Questions

Is BETTER.FTP free?
BETTER.FTP is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Is Ride Cave free?
Ride Cave is free to download, with no in-app purchases.

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