Once you've met the hardware equipment requirements, you're ready to create a Zwift account and install the Zwift software. This is quite straight forward and the installer walks you through the installation. The only software required to run Zwift is the Zwift software.
Creating a Zwift Account[]
Go to the Zwift account creation page and enter the required information. The first 7 days are included as a free trial. The free trial time starts with your first ride in Zwift. After the 7 day period expires, the monthly charge will start. It can be cancelled at any time or better yet, it can be suspended so you can start right back up after your time away.
Once you've created your basic account login, password and payment method, you'll be asked to create a Zwift profile.
- Enter first & last name. These can be changed if needed.
- Select your country of nationality. This will display the flag of your country next to your name in Zwift.
- Upload a profile picture if desired.
- Select your gender. Be accurate as changes to gender require Zwift approval to prevent cheating.
- Enter birth date. This is used to for age categories and can be set to private so no one else sees it.
- Select units to be used in the game. Metric is recommended as there is a slight advantage (0.6% more for metric) for experience points calculations.
- Enter height and weight. Be accurate!! No one sees this but you. Zwift uses these numbers for in-game speed and power calculations. These numbers can be changed as your weight fluctuates over time. You're only cheating yourself by using false numbers. Additionally, if racing, lying about weight and height is called 'weight doping' and can get you disqualified.
- If you have social media links (ie. facebook instagram, strava, twitter), you can enter them as well.
Installing Zwift[]
You may be prompted but if not, download Zwift to the appropriate internet connected device (PC, Mac, IOS Android or Apple TV). Follow the on-screen prompts to install the software. You can install Zwift on multiple devices using one account to access each of them. Once Zwift is installed, you can log into the game, connect your equipment and start riding. The free trial will start if you log into the game whether riding or not.
Optional Resources[]
With the above completed, you are ready to start riding. However, there are lots of additional resources to enhance your Zwift experience. They are briefly explained here.
Zwift Support[]
Zwift Support is the formal support method for Zwift issues and problems. You can look through the existing database to find answers or submit a support ticket.
Zwift Power[]
Put simply, ZwiftPower is a community-driven website that complements the Zwift app. It lets Zwift racers and race organizers track results and check out all the details of the races they've participated in, as well as monitoring and analyzing their data. It is free to create an account and will be linked directly to your Zwift account. Therefore, all your activities will be shown on ZwiftPower listing category, ranking average and max power, watts, cadence, calories and heartrate. It's nice to review this data and required if you plan on doing any racing on Zwift.
Zwift Forums[]
The Zwift forums are a great resource of information. Whether you're new, having a problem or just want to discuss Zwift, it's a great place to get answers. Zwift staff will often comment, when appropriate, to help users. Often, this is the fastest method to get answers to questions and issues.
Activity Trackers[]
There are many activity trackers that you can use to augment your Zwift training. Many Zwift users participate in multiple sports and utilize an activity tracker to manage all their data in one place. The three noted below are some of the more popular options.
Strava[]
Strava is a popular activity tracker that offers free and premium account membership. Strava can be linked directly with your Zwift account so that all your Zwift activities are automatically synced (available for both free and premium). The free membership is worth signing up for because of the syncing. The premium membership offers much more data and workout analysis for those that want it.
Training Peaks[]
Training Peaks is another activity tracker that offers both a free and premium membership. It also syncs your Zwift data with a linked Zwift account both both membership tiers.
Zwift Insider[]
Zwift Insider is a key resource for many Zwifters and while not associated with Zwift, they work closely with them to provide reviews, analysis and testing of Zwift and related products. Zwift Insider evaluates new Zwift software releases, worlds, routes, in-game equipment and anything Zwift related. If there is one external Zwift site you go to for reference, it should be Zwift Insider. No membership is needed.
Zwift Hub[]
Zwift Hub was started in the early days of Zwift as a software project by a student to help users track their achievements and badge awards (an area that Zwift was not fully addressing). It's a handy tool to easily see which routes and badges have been completed. Since then, Zwift has made improvements in achievement and badge tracking and the student was ready to end the project. Zwift Insider stepped in and acquired Zwift Hub to get the tool running and active. Zwift Hub is a free site.
Zwift Hacks[]
Zwift Hacks is another independent site that offers utilities and tools to augment your Zwift experience. For those seeking a bit more control or better access than what Zwift currently provides, they may have the tool for that. Tools like ZwifPref, Zwift Maps, Zwift Hotkeys are just some of what they offer. Zwift Hacks currently offers a more robust interface for finding and searching Zwift events.
Discord[]
Discord is a chat app that is used by Zwift groups and events to communicate during the ride/run. It allows users to join a preset channel and chat together for the duration of the event. It does require an app install on your phone or computer. Zwift Insider created a simple tutorial for using discord on Zwift.