Final Verdict 

Whether you’re new to running or training for a marathon, finding the right running app can help you stay focused and on track to meet your goals. A great app to start with is Runkeeper. It’s comprehensive, appropriate for all running levels, easy to use, and provides you with all the tools you’ll need to get started. Plus, it comes with tons of helpful tips for sticking to your training plan or race schedule. If you’re looking for an app that offers running classes and coaching, consider Running by Daily Burn. But if it’s support, structured training plans, and encouragement that you need, then check out C25K.   

Guide to Choosing the Best Running App

What Are Running Apps? 

A running app is an app you can download onto your personal devices, such as your phone, smartwatch, or tablet, that will help you track your running journey. Every app is a little different. Some have features dedicated solely to running, while others serve as broader workout apps that include running features. Regardless of whether or not it is running-specific, a good running app will, at a minimum, allow you to keep track of your runs, including time and distance. Ideally, it will also offer features like custom motivation, access to an online community, goal-setting, training tips, and more. 

Running Apps vs. Walking Apps

Running apps and walking apps are similar in form and function, but they often differ in content, training plans, and support. Both apps are designed to track metrics like miles, pace, distance, and time, but running apps often come programmed with training plans for specific races such as a 5K or marathon. They also feature longer running routes and trails that support a faster pace and workouts. Some have extra tools like calorie counters and heart rate tracking capabilities. The main difference between a running app and a walking app is usually the programmed workouts. With a walking app, the workouts will be slower in pace and often shorter in distance. They also focus on beginners or people new to exercise more than running apps.

Frequently Asked Questions

Are Running Apps Good for Beginner Runners?

Whether you’re brand-new to running or you’ve taken a long break from it and want to ease your way back, there’s a running app that’s suitable for you. Many of them are very user-friendly and have training programs and workouts that are designed for beginners.

Can Running Help Me Lose Weight?

Running is one of the best forms of exercise for weight loss, as it burns a lot of calories and is very affordable and accessible. The more you run, the more calories you’ll burn, so if you maintain a regular running habit, you’ll likely see better results. To help stay motivated, you can follow a plan, such as a 5K training program for beginners.

You’ll also want to avoid a common mistake that many runners make, which is assuming that running gives you the license to eat anything you want. The basic rule of weight loss is that you must burn (through life functions and exercise) more calories than you take in. The most effective approach is to follow a proper running program and a healthy, calorie-appropriate nutrition plan if you’re trying to lose weight.

Can a Running App Replace Your Gym Membership?       

If you use the gym primarily to run on the treadmill, you may find that using a running app to track your running stats and keep you motivated to run is a sufficient substitute. However, if you like to use other equipment and amenities at the gym and enjoy the face-to-face interaction with instructors and other gym members, you might regret giving up your membership.

In many cases, it works best to keep your gym membership and use a running app as a tool to supplement your training and help you reach your running-related goals.

How Much Do Running Apps Cost?

Most running apps are free to download, but they may include only basic features. You can make an in-app purchase to access a premium version with more functionality and no ads. Other running apps charge a one-time download cost, usually in the range of $2 to $5.

Some running apps also offer a monthly or yearly membership. Members get access to more robust and advanced features such as personalized training plans and in-depth data analysis. They’re available for a monthly or yearly subscription, which can range from approximately $3 to $20 per month. 

Which Running App Is Most Accurate?

The nice thing about running apps is that distance tracking is usually pretty accurate because it relies on your phone or smartwatch’s internal GPS. As long as you’re staying up to date on the app and device updates, you can feel fairly confident that distance tracking is accurate. Where it can get tricky is if you’re tracking physical health stats, such as calories burned, or relying on the app to give you future projections. It’s important to remember that apps are simply technology that relies on algorithms and your app history to come up with these numbers, so there is likely to be some margin of error in even the best app.

Methodology 

We looked at 10 different apps from reputable companies to curate this list of the best running apps. To start, we compared the free version of each app to the premium or paid subscription option. In order to make our list, the free version needed to provide enough features to make the app helpful and worth using, or there needed to be a free trial option for users to decide if the upgrade is worth the price. We also took stock of the training tools each app provided and only selected running apps that offer tracking features, running routes, graphs and charts, and stats. Bonus points were given to apps that focus on community support, challenges, and ways to connect virtually with friends.