The Best Running Apps of 2024
Written by: BestApp.com App Testing Team - Updated: Feb 04, 2022
Pacer stands out as the absolute best running app available due to its excellent customer reviews and wide range of useful features. But depending on what you’re looking for, Pacer still might not be the right option for you — so we’ve also reviewed nine other top running apps you should check out below.
Top 10 Running Apps to Try
- Pacer — Top Pick
- Nike Run Club — Best Free Version
- Strava — Best Sharing Features
- Couch-to-5K — Best for Beginners
- Map My Run — Best Premium Version
- RunKeeper — Best for Setting Custom Goals
- Adidas Running — Most Popular
- Peloton — Best Customer Support
- Aaptiv — Best Selection of Classes
- RockMyRun — Best for Music
How We Chose the Best Running Apps
To determine which running apps were most worth including in this guide, we looked for features such as maps, performance tracking, and sharing tools. In addition to these features, we also considered factors like the cost of the app and customer support options.
Choose the running app that’s right for you
The best running app for one user may not be the best for another. For example, you might be looking for an app that can help you train for a 5K marathon, while other users may be more concerned with finding new music for their runs. Many of the apps listed below offer a variety of features, but even these apps tend to be better for some uses than others. Carefully consider your specific needs when making your selection.
Use coaching to take your running performance to the next level
It takes a lot of effort to keep up with a running routine and improve your conditioning. But with these apps, you won’t need to do it alone — to help you maintain your motivation, we only included apps that offer some sort of coaching feature (audio alerts, live performance feedback, streaming video workout classes, etc).
Our Running App Reviews
Pacer — Top Pick
Download: Android ★★★★★★★★★★ | iOS ★★★★★★★★★★
The customer reviews for Pacer are exceptional, with an average user rating of 4.8 out of 5 on Google Play and 4.9 out of 5 on the Apple App Store. Once you look into what Pacer is able to do, it’s no surprise this app is so well reviewed. Without any additional hardware, Pacer’s built-in pedometer allows you to use your phone to keep track of your steps, distance, activity time, and calories burned. Other features include BMI tracking, daily fitness plans, fun challenges that will motivate you to improve your performance, and sharing tools that you can use to connect with other runners.
Notable features:
- Free version available
- Premium version: $4.99/month or $49.99/year
- Support available: Help Center
| Pacer Pros & Cons | |
|---|---|
| What we like | What we don’t like |
| Excellent customer reviews | No live customer support |
| Particularly feature-rich running software | |
| Built-in integrations with MyFitnessPal and Fitbit | |
Nike Run Club — Best Free Version
Download: Android ★★★★★★★★★★ | iOS ★★★★★★★★★★
This app makes it especially easy to keep track of your running stats. Nike Run Club automatically collects information about your location, elevation, pace, distance, and heart rate. It also offers challenges that encourage you to improve your performance, as well as collaboration tools that help you share your running experiences and celebrate achievements. And unlike any of the other apps in this guide, every feature included with Nike Run Club is absolutely free.
Notable features:
- Free mobile app
- Support available: Email
| Nike Run Club Pros & Cons | |
|---|---|
| What we like | What we don’t like |
| All features included for free | No live customer support |
| Automatic performance tracking | No calorie counting feature |
| Robust sharing tools | |
Strava — Best Sharing Features
Download: Android ★★★★★★★★★★ | iOS ★★★★★★★★★★
Many other running apps have sharing tools, but Strava stands out as having an especially robust set of features for comparing your performance against others and competing in challenges. With the segment leaderboards, you can even see where you rank on particular stretches of road or trail. You can join a club to communicate with local runners and attend events as well. By upgrading to the premium version, you’ll be able to access advanced features such as customized workout plans, live performance feedback, and advanced data analysis.
Notable features:
- Free version available
- Premium version: $5/month or $59.99/year
- Support available: Help Center
| Strava Pros & Cons | |
|---|---|
| What we like | What we don’t like |
| Especially robust sharing tools | No live customer support |
| Live feedback on running performance | |
| Customizable workout plans | |
Couch-to-5K — Best for Beginners
Download: Android ★★★★★★★★★★ | iOS ★★★★★★★★★★
Couch-to-5K has been featured in major publications such as The New York Times, The Washington Post, and The Guardian. It’s easy to see why this app has gotten so much attention — by working out just 1.5 hours per week for 8 weeks, Couch-to-5K can prepare anyone for a 5K marathon. Its user-friendly daily programs alternate between short bursts of walking and running to help you improve your conditioning over time. You can also map your runs and access their community forums to chat with other users.
Notable features:
- Free version available
- Premium version: $4.99/month or $49.99/year
- Support available: Email, Forums
| Couch-to-5K Pros & Cons | |
|---|---|
| What we like | What we don’t like |
| User-friendly interface | No live customer support |
| Daily programs with audio coaching | No calorie counting feature |
| Helpful community forums | |
Map My Run — Best Premium Version
Download: Android ★★★★★★★★★★ | iOS ★★★★★★★★★★
This app, which was created by the popular sportswear brand Under Armour, offers everything you need to improve your running performance. The free version includes progress tracking, audio coaching, and a helpful route finder tool. And the premium version of this app is especially impressive — it includes real-time location sharing, advanced heart rate monitoring, and comprehensive training plans.
Notable features:
- Free version available
- Premium version: $5.99/month or $29.99/year
- Support available: Help Center
| Map My Run Pros & Cons | |
|---|---|
| What we like | What we don’t like |
| Created and maintained by major athletics brand | No live customer support |
| Advanced heart rate monitoring | |
| Comprehensive training plans | |
RunKeeper — Best for Setting Custom Goals
Download: Android ★★★★★★★★★★ | iOS ★★★★★★★★★★
RunKeeper is another running app created by a major sportswear brand (in this case, ASICS). This app gives you a lot of freedom for setting your own custom goals, as you can choose a particular pace or weight you want to reach. You can even set a specific race as your goal. RunKeeper will automatically track your running stats as well as your progress toward the goal. The premium version of this app, RunKeeper Go, includes additional features such as prescribed workouts, detailed progress insights, and live location tracking.
Notable features:
- Free version available
- Premium version: $9.99/month or $39.99/year
- Support available: Help Center
| RunKeeper Pros & Cons | |
|---|---|
| What we like | What we don’t like |
| Created and maintained by major athletics brand | No live customer support |
| Users can set custom goals | |
| Personalized workout plans available | |
Adidas Running — Most Popular
Download: Android ★★★★★★★★★★ | iOS ★★★★★★★★★★
With over 50 million downloads on the Google Play store alone, Adidas Running stands out as the most popular app featured in this guide. It tracks the duration, distance, and calories burned for your runs, and you can use it to monitor your heart rate as well. There’s also an impressive set of sharing features — you can curate your own news feed to enjoy content published by other users and discover local running events in your community.
Notable features:
- Free version available
- Premium version: $9.99/month or $49.99/year
- Support available: Help Center
| Adidas Running Pros & Cons | |
|---|---|
| What we like | What we don’t like |
| Created and maintained by major athletics brand | No live customer support |
| Detailed performance tracking | |
| Robust sharing tools | |
Peloton — Best Customer Support
Download: Android ★★★★★★★★★★ | iOS ★★★★★★★★★★
Unlike other options in this guide, the Peloton app offers live customer support for immediate assistance whenever you run into an issue. Another thing that sets this app apart is that it gives you access to livestreaming workout classes taught by world-class instructors. Other features include activity tracking, heart rate monitor support, and a music library with thousands of songs. While the app was developed by Peloton, their equipment isn’t required for you to use it (you will be able to use it for free if you are currently a Peloton member, though).
Notable features:
- 2-month free trial
- Free for Peloton members, $12.99/month for non-members
- Support available: Help Center, Phone, Live Chat
| Peloton Pros & Cons | |
|---|---|
| What we like | What we don’t like |
| Multiple options for live customer support | No free version for non-members |
| Livestreaming workout classes | No calorie counting feature |
| Built-in music library | |
Aaptiv — Best Selection of Classes
Download: Android ★★★★★★★★★★ | iOS ★★★★★★★★★★
Aaptiv offers more than 4,000 audio and video fitness classes for you to choose from, and 30 new classes are added every week. With so many options available, you’ll surely find running classes that are a good fit for your particular interests and fitness level. This app also offers personalized fitness plans, progress tracking, and motivating team challenges. But once your free trial runs out, you should keep in mind that Aaptiv is relatively expensive compared to other running apps.
Notable features:
- 7-day free trial
- $14.99/month or $99.99/year
- Support available: Help Center
| Aaptiv Pros & Cons | |
|---|---|
| What we like | What we don’t like |
| Wide selection of workout classes | More expensive than most running apps |
| Personalized fitness plans | No live customer support |
| Motivating team challenges | |
RockMyRun — Best for Music
Download: Android ★★★★★★★★★★ | iOS ★★★★★★★★★★
While most running apps have some music features, RockMyRun goes the extra mile to provide you with the optimal running music experience. You can choose from a wide range of genres, including pop, rock, hip-hop/rap, EDM, and country. Whichever option you choose, the songs will be selected to seamlessly blend together, and each mix builds in BPM to help motivate you during your workout.
Notable features:
- 2-week free trial
- Premium version: $7.99/month or $79.99/year
- Support available: FAQs, Email
| RockMyRun Pros & Cons | |
|---|---|
| What we like | What we don’t like |
| Carefully crafted running music playlists | No live customer support |
| Thousands of DJ-curated music mixes available | |
| Suggests mixes based on your preferences | |
Running Apps: Feature Summary Table
| Running Apps Comparison Table | ||
|---|---|---|
| App | Subscription Fees | Features |
| Pacer — Top Pick | $4.99/month or $49.99/year | ✓ Maps/GPS ✓ Speed/Distance Tracking ✓ Coaching ✓ Music ✓ Calorie Counter ✓ Community/Social |
| Nike Run Club — Best Free Version | Free | ✓ Maps/GPS ✓ Speed/Distance Tracking ✓ Coaching ✓ Music X Calorie Counter ✓ Community/Social |
| Strava — Best Sharing Features | $5/month or $59.99/year | ✓ Maps/GPS ✓ Speed/Distance Tracking ✓ Coaching ✓ Music ✓ Calorie Counter ✓ Community/Social |
| Couch-to-5K — Best for Beginners | $4.99/month or $49.99/year | ✓ Maps/GPS ✓ Speed/Distance Tracking ✓ Coaching ✓ Music X Calorie Counter ✓ Community/Social |
| Map My Run — Best Premium Version | $5.99/month or $29.99/year | ✓ Maps/GPS ✓ Speed/Distance Tracking ✓ Coaching ✓ Music ✓ Calorie Counter ✓ Community/Social |
| Runkeeper — Best for Setting Custom Goals | $9.99/month or $39.99/year | ✓ Maps/GPS ✓ Speed/Distance Tracking ✓ Coaching ✓ Music ✓ Calorie Counter ✓ Community/Social |
| Adidas Running — Most Popular | $9.99/month or $49.99/year | ✓ Maps/GPS ✓ Speed/Distance Tracking ✓ Coaching ✓ Music ✓ Calorie Counter ✓ Community/Social |
| Peloton — Best Customer Support | Free for Peloton members, $12.99/month for non-members |
✓ Maps/GPS ✓ Speed/Distance Tracking ✓ Coaching ✓ Music X Calorie Counter ✓ Community/Social |
| Aaptiv — Best Selection of Classes | $14.99/month or $99.99/year | X Maps/GPS X Speed/Distance Tracking ✓ Coaching ✓ Music ✓ Calorie Counter ✓ Community/Social |
| Rock My Run — Best for Music | $7.99/month or $79.99/year | ✓ Maps/GPS ✓ Speed/Distance Tracking ✓ Coaching ✓ Music ✓ Calorie Counter ✓ Community/Social |