GallopaLooking for a Ridely alternative?
Ridely has built a well-earned reputation around its training video library and structured programs. But if what you actually open an app for is tracking your rides, the comparison changes. Here is an honest look at what each app is really for, and which rider each one suits.
The short version
Ridely and Gallopa answer different questions. Ridely answers "what should I train, and how?" with a large library of videos from professional trainers, structured programs, a journal and horse health tools, largely under its Pro subscription. Gallopa answers "what did my riding actually look like?": automatic GPS and motion gait tracking on every ride, and an AI coach that reviews videos of you riding and scores your technique.
Feature comparison
| Feature | Gallopa | Ridely |
|---|---|---|
| GPS route, distance, speed | Yes, free | Yes, tracking features in the app |
| Automatic gait detection (walk/trot/canter/gallop) | Yes, free, GPS + motion, with time in each gait | Not the app's focus |
| Professional training video library | No | Yes: 600+ videos, 40+ structured programs (Pro) |
| AI coaching on videos of YOUR riding | Yes: scored seat, hands, leg, rhythm, transitions, harmony | AI assistant draws on its expert content library |
| Apple Watch, phone-free rides | Yes, with heart rate + Apple Health workouts | Limited |
| Horse health & care tools | No, tracking and coaching only | Yes: health tracking and baseline checks |
| Account required | No sign-up, no email | Account-based |
| Price | Free; optional Pro for unlimited AI coaching | Free download; library and tools largely in Ridely Pro |
Fair note: Ridely's feature set and pricing evolve; this table reflects its own App Store listing at the time of writing (July 2026). Check Ridely's current listing before deciding, and treat the Gallopa column as the precise one.
Choose Gallopa if...
- You want every ride tracked automatically: route, speed, and real minutes in walk, trot, canter and gallop, with no manual logging.
- You want feedback on your own riding, not general lessons: Gallopa's AI scores your technique from your videos, with timestamped corrections.
- You ride with an Apple Watch and want phone-free rides with heart rate and Apple Health workouts.
- You want the core to be free with no account, and your ride data stored on your device.
Ridely may suit you better if...
- You want a structured training curriculum: professional video lessons and multi-week programs to follow between real-world lessons.
- You use its horse health and care tools to manage routines, baseline checks and reminders.
- You value a community and trainer-sharing workflow around your journal.
- You ride with Android: Gallopa is currently iPhone and Apple Watch only.
The case for using both
Plenty of riders would honestly be best served by learning from structured content and measuring their actual riding. If that is you, the combination is simple: take the exercise ideas from your training content or instructor, then let Gallopa record the ride and tell you what really happened, from time in each gait to an AI read on how the work looked on your horse. Our guides to the four horse gaits and how much trot and canter a ride needs are a free place to start.
Frequently asked questions
What is a good alternative to Ridely?
It depends on what you use Ridely for. If it is mainly the ride tracking and journal, Gallopa is a strong free alternative for iPhone and Apple Watch: GPS route, speed, automatic walk, trot, canter and gallop detection, and an AI coach that analyses videos of your own riding. If you mainly watch Ridely's training video library, the two apps complement each other rather than replace each other.
What is the difference between Ridely and Gallopa?
Ridely is built around learning content: a large library of training videos from professional trainers, structured programs, plus a journal and horse health tools. Gallopa is built around your own riding data: automatic GPS and motion-based gait tracking on every ride, Apple Watch support, and AI video analysis that scores your seat, hands, leg, rhythm, transitions and harmony on footage of you riding.
Is Gallopa free compared to Ridely?
Gallopa's core is free with no account: GPS tracking, gait analysis, the riding logbook, Apple Watch support, sharing and export. An optional Gallopa Pro subscription unlocks unlimited AI video coaching. Ridely is a free download whose training library and premium tools sit largely behind its Ridely Pro subscription.
Can I use Gallopa and Ridely together?
Yes, and it is a sensible combination: many riders learn exercises from training content, then use Gallopa to track the actual rides and get AI feedback on how the exercises looked on their own horse. Gallopa needs no account, so trying it alongside another app costs nothing.
