How to Earn More Drops on Zwift

Drops are Zwift’s virtual currency, used to purchase virtual frames and wheels from the Drop Shop. They’re also used to purchase bike upgrades, and it’s the recent addition of upgrading that has many newer Zwifters asking: How can I earn more Drops?

We’re here to help. Below, you’ll find a complete list of tips to help you maximize your Drops earning rate.

Earning Drops: the Basics

It is unknown precisely how your “Drop rate” (how quickly you receive Drops while riding) is calculated, as Zwift isn’t sharing the formula. But we know seven factors influence your Drop rate:

• Calories Burned: This is the main factor, and it is strictly based on the power you’re putting into the pedals.
• Current Gradient: The steeper the climb, the faster your earn rate. This bonus kicks in at 3% gradients, but scales up as the gradient increases.
• Ride Ons Received: When you receive a Ride On, your Drop rate doubles for 15 seconds. This is the “easiest” way to boost your Drop rate!
• Time Near a Robopacer: Sticking close to a Robopacer can increase your Drops rate (read more).
• Your Gender: Zwift awards female riders 10% more Drops than male riders for the same effort.
• Bike Frame: Upgrade an entry-level or mid-range bike frame to a high enough stage and it will earn 5% more Drops whenever you ride it (read more).
• Current Speed: This is a minor factor, but it’s true that more distance=more Drops.

Dive further into how these factors affect your Drop rate by reading How Zwift’s “Drops” Currency Works

Additionally, certain actions in the game award big Drops bonuses, including:

• A 50,000 Drop bonus each time you level up
• A Drops bonus if you complete the Ventoux KOM and the prize spinner lands on something you already own (example: 15,000 Drops for the helmet or gloves)
• A Drops bonus on the prize spinner for certain Zwift events like the Big Spin

Comparing Two Drop Farmers

Given the factors listed above, there are two “Drop Farmer Profiles” I would recommend if you’re looking to maximize your earn rate:

• The Robopacer Groupie: This rider sticks with a Robopacer for the duration of their ride, taking advantage of the Drops Multiplier game, increased speed in the draft, and Ride Ons from friendly nearby Zwifters.
• The Climber: This rider enjoys climbing steep, long hills and the extra Drops awarded when the road tilts upward.

Based on my tests, The Robopacer Groupie is the highest-grossing approach, earning around 25% more Drops than The Climber if both riders put in the same amount of work. A 75kg rider holding 200W for an hour while staying in a Robopacer group for the duration could expect to earn ~66,000 Drops, while The Climber would earn ~50,000 Drops if they spent their entire hour heading up a solid gradient of 8%+.

(For a baseline reference, a 75kg rider who receives no Ride Ons while just “doing their own thing” alone at 200W on a flattish course can expect to earn ~29,000 Drops hourly.)

The Ride On Question

Note that the estimates for my two Drop Farmers assume they receive 60 Ride Ons during their hour of riding, weighted toward the beginning of their activity. This is an imperfect but not impossible assumption, especially if you’re in a friendly RoboPacer group or you have lots of followers who like to give offline Ride Ons.

Ride Ons are a huge factor here, though, since they double your Drops rate for 15 seconds. Because of this, riding in a RoboPacer group gives you a major earning advantage, as nearby riders often drop “Ride On Bombs” in the group.

Ride Ons received in the RoboPacer group are especially lucrative when your Drops Multiplier is at 2.5x! In our tests, 5 minutes of solid Ride Ons when you first join the RoboPacer group will earn you around ~4800 Drops, while 5 minutes of solid Ride Ons when you’re at 2.5x will earn you ~12,000 Drops!

Ventoux Spinner

If you’re a climber, it’s worth mentioning that the newish prize spinner atop Ventoux helps to close the gap between The Climber and The RoboPacer Groupie approach. If you earn 15,000 extra Drops each time you summit Ventoux, you’re only 10-12% behind The RoboPacer Groupie approach… a margin that can easily swing in your favor if you’re a friendly Zwifter who gets a lot of Ride Ons.

3 Rules

In closing, here are three simple rules for maximizing your Drops earning rate:

1. Ride with RoboPacers. If you don’t want to do that, go hit a long, steep climb.
2. Make friends who give Ride Ons.
3. Go hard.

Questions or Comments?

What strategies have you used to maximize your Drops? Share below!