JOIN
Adaptive cycling training plans that re-plan from post-workout RPE, readiness and availability, with workouts pushed to Garmin, Wahoo, Zwift and Hammerhead.
Ranked #9 of 19 with an overall score of 3.0/5 (7 of 7 dimensions scored). Visit JOIN. Entry last reviewed 2026-10-13.
Cycling, Running AI level: Rule-based adaptive Adaptive plan AI only EUR 16.99/mo · EUR 119.99/yr pushes workouts to 7 devices
JOIN builds a cycling plan from goals and weekly availability and updates it after every workout using workout data, a perceived-exertion rating and a daily readiness score; the App Store listing also names illness, injury and WHOOP/Oura recovery data as inputs. It imports from Strava, Garmin, Wahoo, Zwift, TrainingPeaks and Rouvy and auto-exports the day's workout to Garmin, Wahoo, Zwift, Hammerhead and Rouvy, with run sessions exportable to Garmin and Apple Watch. There is no chat coach. Pricing is EUR 16.99 per month or EUR 119.99 per year after a 7-day trial.
Rule-based adaptive. The plan re-flows or scales by fixed rules (missed session, RPE, completed volume). Typical of incumbents such as watch-maker coaches and template-based running apps. source
What the coach does
Thirteen coaching capabilities as stated by the vendor. ● full, ◐ partial, ○ not offered, ? unverified. Each links to the page that states it.
| Plan | ||
|---|---|---|
| Builds a periodized planBuilds a periodized plan to a goal and date? | ◐ | Plan generated from goal, date, availability and current fitness, with phases. source |
| Precise workout prescriptionHow precise is each session? | ● | Interval-level targets (pace, power or HR) executable on a device. source |
| Race preparationRace-specific work, taper, pacing? | ◐ | Race blocks, taper and a pacing or race-day plan for the target event. source |
| Adapt | ||
| Adapts to lifeRe-plans around life? | ● | Missed or moved sessions and availability changes re-flow the plan automatically. source |
| Adapts to fatigueReacts to fatigue and readiness? | ● | Load changes from HRV, sleep, resting HR or subjective feel without the athlete asking. source |
| Handles injury and illnessHandles sick or hurt athletes? | ● | Pause and return-to-training progression, not just skip. source |
| Relationship | ||
| Post-workout feedbackExplains what a completed session meant? | ◐ | Per-session analysis referencing the athlete's data and the plan's intent. source |
| ConversationCan the athlete talk to the coach? | ○ | Free-text chat that can answer questions and change the plan. source |
| Check-ins and accountabilityDoes it come to you? | ◐ | Scheduled check-ins, debriefs or reminders initiated by the app. source |
| Human coach in the loopIs a human in the loop? | ○ | A human coach reviews or messages, included or as an add-on. source |
| Beyond endurance | ||
| Strength and mobilityStrength in the plan? | ? | unverified |
| Nutrition and fuelingFueling guidance? | ? | unverified |
| Multisport planningOne plan across sports? | ◐ | Balances load across sports in a single plan. source |
Works with
Partners the vendor states support for, by kind. A partner not listed is unverified, not unsupported.
Watches
| Partner | Direction | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Garmin (watches / Connect) | reads activities and pushes workouts | source checked 2026-10-13 |
| Apple Watch | pushes workouts Run sessions only. | source checked 2026-10-13 |
Bike computers
| Partner | Direction | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Wahoo ELEMNT | reads activities and pushes workouts | source checked 2026-10-13 |
| Hammerhead Karoo | reads activities and pushes workouts | source checked 2026-10-13 |
Indoor trainer apps
| Partner | Direction | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Zwift | reads activities and pushes workouts | source checked 2026-10-13 |
| Rouvy | reads activities and pushes workouts Release notes 10.4.5: planned workouts to Rouvy, completed rides back. | source checked 2026-10-13 |
Training platforms
| Partner | Direction | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Strava | reads activities | source checked 2026-10-13 |
| TrainingPeaks | reads activities | source checked 2026-10-13 |
Wellness and health data
| Partner | Direction | Source |
|---|---|---|
| WHOOP | reads wellness data Daily Recovery score feeds JOIN Readiness (10.4.6). | source checked 2026-10-13 |
| Oura | reads wellness data | source checked 2026-10-13 |
Smart trainers
| Partner | Direction | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Smart trainer (ERG control in-app) | reads activities and pushes workouts In-app Workout Player with ERG mode. | source checked 2026-10-13 |
Facts
| Platforms | iOS, Web source |
|---|---|
| Languages | EN, NL, FR, DE, ES source |
| Company | JOIN Sports B.V. source |
| Country | NL source |
| Launched | 2020 source |
Pricing
| Pricing model | Subscription source |
|---|---|
| Monthly price | EUR 16.99 source |
| Annual price | EUR 119.99 source |
| Free tier | Free trial source |
| Trial | 7 days source |
Scores
1–5 per dimension by the published rubric. Each score links to its evidence. Blank means no public evidence yet.
| Dimension | Score | Evidence |
|---|---|---|
| Plan quality | 3 | Vendor states a polarized philosophy and tracks fitness/fatigue/form; a forum user's analysis suggests the level metric blends CTL with W/kg FTP, and users confirm a polarized structure, but no periodization model or methodology is published. evidence checked 2026-10-13 |
| Adaptation | 4 | Users confirm the plan asks for feedback after every workout and re-plans the whole week after skipped or swapped sessions; TrainerRoad forum users report it adapts to big outside rides and warns of overtraining. WHOOP/Oura readiness input is vendor-claimed only. evidence checked 2026-10-13 |
| Workout feedback | 3 | Users confirm power-structured workouts exported to devices and an RPE prompt after every workout; the vendor's Workout Score rates each session, but there is no narrative debrief and users note repetitive structure. evidence checked 2026-10-13 |
| Coaching relationship | 2 | No chat coach in the feature list; the app initiates daily readiness and post-workout feedback prompts, which users find useful, but nobody describes being able to ask why a change was made. evidence checked 2026-10-13 |
| Transparency | 2 | Forum users describe 'zero explanation of how it works exactly' and app-store reviewers say it is unclear why workouts were chosen; the vendor publishes only a general philosophy. evidence checked 2026-10-13 |
| Value for money | 4 | EUR 119.99/year with the full adaptive plan; app-store reviewers call it 'an incredible value', though one intervals.icu user did not renew after a price rise from 60 to 90 EUR. evidence checked 2026-10-13 |
| Athlete sentiment | 3 | Mixed-positive: intervals.icu users like the flexibility but find workouts repetitive; TrainerRoad forum users value results (one reports a 2nd place at a 275 km gravel race) but call the UI frustrating; aggregated app-store reviews are split. evidence checked 2026-10-13 |
What athletes say
Independent threads and reviews consulted, titles only; no paraphrase.
- JOIN cycling app (TrainerRoad forum, 38+ pages) (forum, checked 2026-10-13)
- JOIN Cycling Coach App on the App Store (4.7, 356 ratings) (appstore, checked 2026-10-13)
- Feedback about JOIN cycling app (intervals.icu forum) (forum, checked 2026-10-13)
Common questions
What kind of AI coach is JOIN?
JOIN is classified as "Rule-based adaptive": The plan re-flows or scales by fixed rules (missed session, RPE, completed volume). Typical of incumbents such as watch-maker coaches and template-based running apps.
Does JOIN push workouts to my watch or bike computer?
Yes. The vendor states structured workouts are sent to Garmin (watches / Connect), Wahoo ELEMNT, Zwift, Hammerhead Karoo, Rouvy, Apple Watch, Smart trainer (ERG control in-app).
Does JOIN include a human coach?
No. JOIN is AI-only according to the vendor.
Does JOIN adapt the plan to fatigue and sleep?
Yes: Load changes from HRV, sleep, resting HR or subjective feel without the athlete asking.
What does JOIN cost?
EUR 16.99/mo · EUR 119.99/yr, with a 7-day trial.
Which sports does JOIN coach?
Cycling, Running.
Similar tools
enduco LLM coach · AI Endurance LLM coach · Athletica Model · Garmin Coach Rules · TrainAsONE Model
Vendor sources consulted
- Why JOIN checked 2026-10-13
- JOIN Plan checked 2026-10-13
- Jim van den Berg (founder) checked 2026-10-13
- JOIN help: Integrations checked 2026-10-13
- Your Oura Readiness Score now shapes your JOIN training checked 2026-10-13
- Pause, don't quit: how JOIN handles training when you're sick checked 2026-10-13
- How JOIN works checked 2026-10-13