MileIQ vs Stride — Paid vs Free Mileage Tracking Apps!

When it comes to tracking your miles, there’s always one big question: should you pay for a dedicated mileage tracker like MileIQ, or just use a free app like Stride?

Stride is best known for being free and for offering access to health insurance plans, which can be helpful for some gig workers. But when it comes to mileage tracking specifically, the question is whether a free option can really keep up with the accuracy, reliability, and audit-ready reports that MileIQ provides.

On the surface, free sounds like the smarter choice. But in gig work and small business, “free” can sometimes cost you more than you realize. Let’s break down the differences so you know which one actually saves you money.

So in this video, We are talking about:

• The Difference between MileIQ and Stride for Gig Workers

• What they are saying vs How it ACTUALLY is

• Everything in between!

Disclaimer: The content of this video does not contain and is never intended to be legal, business, financial, tax, or health advice of any kind, This video is for entertainment purposes only. It is advised that you conduct your own research and consult with qualified professionals before applying anything you find online. 

I also want to be clear that everything we are going to go over is very market dependent, and what applies to me and my market may not apply to you.

DrivenWyld/YouTube

Ease of Use

Both apps are meant to make mileage tracking easier, but they approach it very differently.

MileIQ is seamless. You install it, it runs quietly in the background, and your drives are logged automatically. You don’t have to change your behavior — you just drive, swipe to classify, and move on.

Stride is entirely manual. You have to remember to start and stop tracking for every single drive. That means you’re building a new habit around the app itself — and if you forget, you either lose the trip or waste time adding it in later.

Real talk: MileIQ adapts to you, while Stride expects you to adapt to it. For busy gig workers juggling multiple apps, clients, and schedules, that difference makes MileIQ far less tedious and far more reliable.

Accuracy and Reliability

Accuracy isn’t just about technology — it’s about consistency.

MileIQ runs automatically in the background. Every trip is logged without you thinking about it, which means the data is consistent and reliable no matter how busy your day gets.

Stride puts the burden on you. Because everything is manual, the accuracy of your logs depends entirely on how disciplined you are at remembering to start, stop, or enter drives later. Some people may be great at it, but for most gig workers juggling orders, calls, and family responsibilities, it’s too easy to slip up.

Real talk: when it comes to something as important as your tax deductions, you don’t want accuracy to depend on willpower — you want a system that works independently. That’s where MileIQ has the clear advantage.

Reporting

At tax time, clean reports make all the difference.

MileIQ gives you professional, detailed reports that are structured for IRS compliance. You can export them monthly, yearly, or even schedule them automatically. Your tax professional can drop them straight into your return without extra questions.

Stride will give you mileage totals, but they’re more basic and less detailed. If you’re running multiple gigs or a small business, you’ll likely end up piecing things together yourself to make them usable.

Real talk: your tax pro wants something clear and audit-ready. MileIQ delivers that — Stride makes you work harder. And if you are looking for a Qualified Tax Professional that is going to simplify your tax reporting and save you time, energy and money, then GigTax is here to help!

Whether you’re a rideshare driver, do food delivery, or any other self employed work, your time is too valuable to waste on tax prep. So while you keep hustling, GigTax can help you save big! 

GigTax was founded by Joseph Mayo, a seasoned Gig Worker with over 7000 deliveries across 7 platforms since 2020, and they understand the challenges of freelancers, rideshare drivers, couriers, online sellers and gig workers of all kinds! 

Their #1 Online Tax Preparation service is designed to maximize your tax savings and save you time, energy and money!

Enjoy exclusive discounts on tax prep services as well as a range of additional benefits such as:

• Electronic Filing

• State Filing

• Year-Round Direct Access to Tax Pros and Financial Partners

• Client App and Portal

• Audit Support

All Absolutely Free and Incredibly Valued Benefits when filing with GigTax!

If you are ready to keep more of what you earn, check out drivenwyld.com/gigtax to book your strategy session and learn more about how GigTax can help you simplify and save on your taxes today!

Price/Cost

This is where most people hesitate because they don’t want to spend money unnecessarily so let’s break it down.

Stride’s Price: free. That’s the main reason people grab it — zero upfront cost.

MileIQ’s Price: a monthly or yearly subscription. There’s an actual dollar figure attached.

But here’s the key: price is what you pay, cost is what it actually costs you long-term.

The cost of Stride is missed miles if you forget to start/stop, messy records that take hours to clean up, and potentially leaving hundreds or thousands in deductions on the table.

The cost of MileIQ is the subscription fee — but in exchange, you get accuracy, reliability, and audit-ready reports that protect your deductions.

Real talk: investing in MileIQ isn’t just about paying for an app — it’s about investing in yourself and your business. You’re buying back your time, protecting your money, and avoiding the hidden costs of “free.”

Final Thoughts

So which one should you use?

If you only drive occasionally, Stride might work as a basic option — and some drivers use it specifically for the health insurance marketplace that comes with the app. 

But if driving is a serious part of your income — whether that’s gig apps, contracting, or running your own business — MileIQ is the smarter choice. The price of a MileIQ subscription is small compared to the cost of missed miles, messy logs, or lost deductions. In the long run, investing in reliable tracking isn’t just about saving time — it’s about protecting your money and building a stronger business.

And remember, mileage tracking is only part of the puzzle. A tax professional can help you turn those logs into real savings. That’s why I recommend GigTax — they specialize in gig workers and small business owners, so they know how to maximize deductions and keep you compliant.

🔗 Sign up for MileIQ here — and unlock automatic mileage tracking.

🧾 Check out GigTax here — for tax support built for gig workers.

If you would like to add some other perspective about MileIQ or Stride, feel free to email me: drivenwyld@gmail.com and who knows? Maybe your email or perspective and be featured in a post as well!