Comparison

Tacx Training™ vs Challenger Indoor

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

Head to head
About

Tacx Training™

Transform indoor cycling into immersive outdoor experiences. Connect to a smart trainer to simulate real-world terrain and track performance data. Enjoy virtual rides, challenges, and sync with other devices for comprehensive training.

Highlights
  • Simulate real-world climbs and descents
  • Real-time speed, power, and cadence data
  • Automatic trainer resistance adjustment
  • Syncs with Garmin Connect and Coach
  • Virtual GroupRides and challenges
  • Access to 500+ video routes (Premium)
Read full description

RIDE INDOORS, FEEL OUTDOORS Connect your Tacx™ smart trainer with the Tacx Training app to turn indoor sessions into immersive rides. Tackle steep Alpine and Pyrenean climbs or conquer the cobblestones of Roubaix right from your living room. New routes around the world are added every month. TRAIN WITH REAL DATA, IN REAL TIME When paired with a compatible Tacx smart trainer and other accessories, you can see speed, power, cadence, and heart rate data on screen while your trainer resistance auto-adjusts for realistic climbs and descents. Connect with a Tacx Alpine gradient simulator for an even more immersive climbing and descending experience. INTEGRATE WITH OTHER GARMIN PRODUCTS When you finish a workout in the app, the data automatically uploads to the Garmin Connect™ app to update performance stats, inform training plan workout recommendations, and more. Your Garmin Connect workouts are automatically synced with the Tacx Training app. MOTIVATION THAT LASTS Earn badges by completing challenges, ride with others in real time, or organize virtual GroupRides with your Tacx friends. Download and use the app for free, or upgrade to premium at any time. Free: • Create and perform workouts based on slope, power, or FTP • View and complete your scheduled workouts from Garmin Connect and Garmin Coach • Your rides and workouts automatically sync to Garmin Connect for analysis • View your data across phone, tablet, and desktop Premium: • Gain access to more than 500 high-quality video routes • Download your favorite videos and ride offline • See other live riders and ride with others in real time • Participate in multi-stage challenges • Plan virtual GroupRides with friends Requirements: • Bluetooth 4.0 or later for Tacx Smart trainer connections • Internet is required for video streaming and live features Don’t forget to contact our support team if you have any questions, concerns, or feature requests. Official Garmin app.

About

Challenger Indoor

Features
Read full description

Download Challenger Indoor on your iPhone or iPad and turn your trainer and treadmill into a simulator! Try our experience paths in 4K, test your FTP, train with our 3-week ERG program prepared with the best professionals, or train with the youtube playlists we have prepared for you! Challenge yourself, your opponents and the best professionals on the Stelvio pass, Gavia, Mortirolo and many others! View your smartphone on your PC, Smart TV or monitor with HDMI port for a maximum experience without the need for PC installations, cables or annoying installation procedures! We will explain how: https://www.challengerapp.it/faq-it (Question 8) Challenger Indoor uses HealhtKit to read your heart rate and display it during your activity Try Challenger Indoor for free for a week and then, if you want, subscribe for € 9.99 / month and stop whenever you want! Challenger Indoor has been tested with interactive trainers and skillbikes: Technogym, Wahoo, Elite, TacX and Magnetic Days, but is compatible with any interactive trainer with standard communication protocol and with Technogym MyRun treadmill (and with any FTMS treadmill) Terms and conditions: https://www.challengerapp.it/privacy Subscription information: Name: 1 Month Subscription Duration: 1 Month What you get: Access to all Challenger Indoor courses Type of subscription: Automatic renewal

Screenshots

Tacx Training™4 screens
Challenger Indoor4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is in-app purchases: Tacx Training™ at none against Challenger Indoor's 1. Challenger Indoor's advantage is update cadence (weekly vs every 3 weeks) and iOS requirement (13.4 vs 16.0). On price, ads and device support 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. Challenger Indoor sells 1 in-app purchase, starting at $8.99 per month. Tacx Training™ asks for nothing beyond the download.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Tacx Training™ ships an update every 3 weeks, Challenger Indoor weekly. The most recent releases landed on November 2, 2026 and October 26, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard3 real differences · 7 level
Tacx Training™ versus Challenger Indoor: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterTacx Training™Challenger Indoor
PriceFreeFree
Rating4.6 (16K ratings) — better—
Positive reviews41.9% of reviews—
Number of ratings16K — better—
Update frequencyEvery 3 weeksWeekly — better
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesNo — betterYes
MonetizationFreemium—
DevicesiPhone, iPad, MaciPhone, iPad, iPod
Requires iOS16.013.4 — better
Further details — not scored
Size363 MB197 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperGarminChallenger

Bugs and requests

Tacx Training™

Reported bugs

5 issues
  • Inconsistent power and speed readings
  • Inability to resume paused rides
  • Connectivity issues with Bluetooth sensors
  • Calibration problems with trainers
  • Compatibility issues with older devices

Requested features

6 requests
  • Ability to download videos for offline use
  • More detailed performance analytics
  • Integration with other fitness apps (e.g. Apple Health)
  • Better customization options for data screens
  • Audio cues and prompts during workouts
Show 1 more
  • Ability to create and edit custom routes

Challenger Indoor

Not enough reviews yet to summarise bugs or requests.

In-app purchases

None

Tacx Training™

No in-app purchases

1 purchases

Challenger Indoor

Subscriptions1
  • 1 Month Subscription7 Days trial$8.991 Month

Questions

Is Tacx Training™ free?
Tacx Training™ is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Is Challenger Indoor free?
Challenger Indoor is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Do Tacx Training™ or Challenger Indoor have ads?
Neither Tacx Training™ nor Challenger Indoor shows ads.
Which is updated more often, Tacx Training™ or Challenger Indoor?
Tacx Training™ ships an update every 3 weeks, and Challenger Indoor weekly. Most recently, Tacx Training™ was updated on November 2, 2026 and Challenger Indoor on October 26, 2026.

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