Running is a great way to burn out a few extra calories, lift up the mood or build your stamina. While you can easily track your speed and distance when you’re on the treadmill, running in the real world is a completely different experience. You don’t know how fast you’re going, how far you’ve gone, and whether you’re edging towards your fitness goals.
Luckily, your iPhone now has all the tools required to track your runs, monitor the overall progress, and keep you motivated. If you’ve been struggling to find the right running app, here’s a list of some of the best running apps designed for you iPhone.
From high-end, advanced training apps to fun-filled, adventurous gamified versions, these apps promise to make your runs more immersive, predictable and enjoyable than ever.
10) 5K Runner
Do you want to build up your stamina and run for longer durations, without stopping to catch your breath? Do you want an app that has an actual “plan” to turn you into a lean runner from being a lazy couch potato?
5K runner is here for you.
Unlike other running apps that you can keep forever on your phone, 5K runner is a highly focused and easy-to-use app that comes with an extensive eight-week training program, aimed at getting you to run the coveted 3.1 miles (5 kilometers) distance.
The app offers a built-in audio coach that guides you through your runs and keeps you motivated. It tracks your pace, distance and heart-beat, so that you understand how much calories you’re burning and whether you’re improving with every workout. It also keeps you motivated with badges and inspirational quotes, ensuring that you go the distance and stick to your goals.
That being said, it’s best-suited for beginners and enthusiasts who want to jump-start their running schedule, and may not be very appealing to advanced runners.
Pros
Pro-active, adaptive training with built-in audio coach
Motivated program with small wins and badges
Optimized for weight-loss
Integrated with Apple Health for calorie calculation and workout history
Cons
Drains battery when used for prolonged duration
Not recommended for advanced runners as you can’t skip training
Recommended if…
You’re a beginner and want an easy-to-follow plan for running 5 kms
You want to gradually build up your stamina
You need motivation to complete your runs
(Free/Paid Version: $2.99)
9) Zombies, Run
How many times do we hear people joke that the only way to make them run is to chase them with a knife? After all, nothing beats survival instinct.
But what if that experience could be simulated in real-life to get your adrenaline pumping and feet moving? What if could actually experience the thrills and spills of a high-action chase?
Zombies, Run is one fun-filled app that helps you turn your boring walks into an exhilarating adventure. As the protagonist of the story, you’ll literally run through the missions to retrieve supplies, save people and do various other tasks, while zombies are out there to grab you by your neck.
The storyline is extremely gripping, and is powered by amazing voice acting and sound-effects. You’ll literally feel the zombies racing towards you, if you lower your pace and they’ll ensure that you complete your training.
If you’re looking for an app that could pull you out of your comfort zone and put you in good shape, while ensuring that your runs stay more exciting and enjoyable, it’s time to race up against the zombies and save the world.
Pros
Ultra-immersive running game and audio adventure
Excellent voice work and sound-effects
Gorgeous, easy-to-use interface
200+ action-packed runs
Cons
Can’t listen to audiobooks, podcast or any other commentary
Gets boring once you’ve completed the story
Recommended if…
You don’t like running and want an app that literally pushes you to go the distance
You want to make your runs entertaining and immersive
(Free/Paid Version: $2.99/month)
8) Runkeeper
Runkeeper is one of the favourite apps among professional runners and athletes (including me) due to its highly accurate pace, distance and steps tracking.
The app tracks your workout in real-time and gives you audio updates about your total mileage, calorie count, pace and speed. You can set your own personalized goals and track the progress over time. It also integrates advanced training plans designed by professional fitness coaches to help you improve your overall fitness and stamina.
Runkeeper also lets you to play your favourite tracks from your iTunes library or Spotify and matches the rhythm of the songs with your run, so that you don’t have to skip the tracks.
The app can be also paired with a wide array of fitness devices, including Pebble, Fitbit, Apple Watch and more. It also provides a convenient way to maintain a detailed workout history of all your fitness activities, including running, and lets you share your progress with your friends through popular social media channels like Facebook or Twitter.
Our word?
Download Runkeeper, if you’re looking for a multifunctional app that’s easy to use and syncs seamlessly with your fitness gear.
Pros
Highly accurate pace, distance, steps and calorie tracking
Adjust the pace of the workout to suit your mood and fitness level
Advanced 10k, Half Marathon and Full Marathon training plans
Maintain detailed workout history and share your progress with friends
Cons
Paid version is expensive
Constant reminders to upgrade to the Pro version
Recommended if …
You’re an advanced level athlete looking for personalized training plans
You want an app that’s simple, intuitive and easy-to-use
You wish to sync your runs with smart fitness devices or apps
(Free/Paid Version: $9.99/month)
7) MapMyRun
With a community of over 30 million members and ability to track more than 600+ activities, MapMyRun is one of the most popular running apps for your iPhone.
Apart from tracking pace, route, distance, calories and other vital fitness parameters through your iPhone’s inbuilt sensors, the app also lets you track and import data from some of the most popular fitness devices (Apple Watch, Fitbit, Jawbone, Garmin, Withings, etc).
The award-winning app also comes with a Gear tracking feature that lets you add your athletic shoes and track its mileage, so that you know when it’s time for a new pair.
The best part about the app, however, is the ability to connect socially with millions of people worldwide. You can take up friendly challenges, climb the leaderboard and win prizes, and share your achievements with your friends.
If you’re into multiple fitness activities apart from running, MapMyRun makes tracking your workouts and connecting with athletic people simpler than ever.
Pros
Suited for multiple activities, including running, cycling, walking, gym workouts, cross training, yoga and others.
Accurate pace, route, distance, calorie burn and elevation tracking
Strong community with friendly challenges and leaderboards for constant motivation
Cons
Pop-up ads are annoying.
Too many handy features come locked in the free version
Recommended if …
You’re into a lot of fitness activities besides running and want one app to track everything
Looking to connect with other athletes or runners across the globe
(Free/Paid Version: $5.99/month)
6) Endomondo
Endomonodo has to be one of the finest running apps ever designed. Its clean, simple and easy-to-use interface makes it easy to accurately track and maintain log of over 40+ fitness activities, including running.
You can easily set a time, distance or calorie goal, and let Endomodo’s built-in audio coach guide you towards it.
It pairs up easily with Pebble, Apple Watch, Fitbit and similar fitness devices, and connects with Apple’s Health app to add workout data to your dashboard.
Besides seamless fitness tracking, social connect has to be one of the most celebrated features of Endomondo. You can now send and receive real-time audio pep talks from your friends, race against a friend’s personal best, or share your workouts on Facebook or Twitter.
Endomondo is a good pick, if you want a simple yet powerful app to reach your running goals with a personal training plan– doesn’t matter whether it’s 5K, 10K, or a marathon.
Pros
Clutter-free, easy-to-use interface
Accurately logs duration, speed, distance, calories, and more in your workout summary
Personalized training plans
Real-time audio pep talks from friends
Check out other people’s time on the route and take up challenges on-the-go
Cons
Can be inaccurate at times with distance tracking
Recommended if …
You’re a beginner and want a solid, no-nonsense running app
You like to socialize over your runs, and challenge friends in your neighbourhood
(Free/Paid Version: $5.99/month)
5) adidas Train & Run
adidas Train & Run is an expert fitness and running app that turns your iPhone into your personal trainer. It keeps track of all your workouts and training schedules, so that you stick to your fitness goals and stay in perfect shape.
The app is perfect for beginners as it provides expert real-time voice coaching and audio feedback, allowing you to train better and stay active even through the tough times. It also lets you view your workout history, heart rate curves and route maps, all of which provide valuable insights on the overall intensity and efficiency of your workouts.
Apart from actively tracking runs, the intelligent app can also be paired with Fit Smart for tracking your everyday activity and understanding how much effort you actually put in towards achieving your weekly goal.
Best part? The app is available for FREE, without any subscription or recurring monthly charges.
Pros
Expert real-time voice coaching and feedback
Daily activity tracking, when paired with fitness devices like Fit Smart
Personalized strength training plans with detailed schedule
Professional training tips, motivation and advice
No monthly charges/fees
Cons
Limited integration with other smart fitness devices
No support for Apple watch as of now
Recommended if …
You’re a beginner and want to turn your smartphone into a personal trainer
You own a Fit Smart band or any compatible accessory that works with miCoach
(Free Download)
4) RockMyRun
Don’t you hate skipping through tracks while you’re running and listening to slow, uninspiring music?
Research has shown that upbeat and lively music could significantly improve the performance and have a powerful impact on your exercise time. It could be the difference between giving it your all and losing the drive to push forward.
RockMyRun, as the name suggests, is an app that gives you the best workout music, so that you can consistently maintain your energy and tempo, while running.
The curated playlists are designed by some of the most talented DJ’s like David Guetta, Zedd, Afrojack, Major Lazer and more. With the mixes build in BPM (beats per minute), the songs deliver an unique workout experience.
To further improve your running intensity and efficiency, the app automatically adjusts the rhythm and tempo of the song mixes to match your steps. You would literally start feeling the difference in your workouts, once you’ve started using RockMyRun.
The app also works seamlessly with other running apps, like, Nike+, Runkeeper, MapMyFitness, Runtastic and Endomondo, so that you can conveniently track your run and forget about changing tracks.
Pros
Increases motivation and keeps you going
Workout mixes from some of the most talented DJs and musicians
Works seamlessly with other running apps like Nike+, Runkeeper, MapMyFitness, Runtastic and Endomondo
Body Driven Music adjusts music tempo to match your steps
Cons
Limited accessibility in free version
Paid version is expensive
Recommended if …
You’re tired of skipping songs in your playlist while running
You want to spice up your runs with rocking music that literally pushes you to go that extra mile
(Free/Paid Version: $4.99/month)
3) Runtastic
Runtastic is for people who want more from a running app.
Its interface has been elegantly designed to suit a number of different fitness activities, including running, biking, skiing, snowboarding, kayaking and more. Besides tracking all the fitness activities in real-time, it also maintains a detailed log of all your workouts, letting you compete against yourself and see your progress over time.
The app comes with a built-in audio coach that guides you through challenging aspects of running like interval training, and helps you keep up with your goals. You can easily set a calorie, distance or pace goal at the tap of a button, and Runtastic will help you achieve it.
Perhaps, the most impressive part of the app is its ability to help you pre and post workouts. It pulls weather, temperature and sunset/sunrise information to help you pick tracks and schedule training sessions. Once your session is over, it logs all the information in the Apple Health module, and provides you hydration recommendations.
And if all that was not enough, Runtastic packs some even more cool features like Powersong (integrated music player for boosting performance), Auto-Pause (automatically pauses session when you stop moving), Runtastic Wearable Connect (workout insights on Runtastic Orbit & Runtastic Moment), Live Tracking & Cheering (Upload photos, share location and send/receive cheers from your friends in real-time), and Running Leaderboard (Top performers of the week/month) to keep you on your feet.
Pros
Real-time GPS tracking of your favorite fitness activities
Detailed statistics and monthly workout charts
Integrated music player & Powersong for action-packed workout
Live cheering and social sharing
Auto-pause mode for convenient tracking
Cons
Pro version of the app is expensive
Limited support for wearables
Recommended if …
You want a powerful, easy-to-use and effortless solution for tracking all your fitness activities
You wish to maintain a detailed history of your workouts
(Free/Paid Version: $6.99/month)
2) Strava
Strava is for runners who like to compete, take up challenges and set new personal records. Besides tracking key statistics like pace, speed and calories burnt, it brings up a list of different segments on your route, and tells you how you stack up against other runners.
That means– when you’re running on a random track, you’ll instantly be able to see how fast other runners crossed the segment and whether you beat their timing.
It also gives every user an individual ranking based on their performance, so you’ll be able to instantly compare your weekly or monthly performance with your friends or other runners in the neighbourhood. Since Strava keeps all the uploaded data public, you can click on profile of any runner across the globe and see their fitness activity.
If you’re a professional runner and want an app that helps you compete and connect with some of the best athletes in the world, you would love Strava.
That being said, if you’re worried about your privacy and want to keep your activities truly private, stick with other running apps on the list.
Strava is strictly for the alpha-runners.
Pros
Track your runs and measure your activity in detail
Visualize your training with Power Zone and Pace Distribution analysis
Set personal records and see how you stack up against your friends
Join challenges from across the globe
Share your activities on social media channels
Cons
Less control over what gets shared
Goal tracking feature limited to premium members
Recommended if …
You’re a social butterfly and want an app that lets you connect with runners around you
You want to stay on top the game by taking up challenges and training harder
(Free/Paid Version: $5.99/month)
1) Nike+ Running App
There are reasons why Nike+ is #1 on our list of best running apps for iPhone.
Firstly, Nike+ is extremely well designed and has a “no nonsense” look-and-feel to it. It’s power-packed with a lot of advanced features, but the design does not seem too overwhelming, and feels natural to use while you’re running.
Apart from tracking every minute detail of your run, Nike+ also provides real-time audio feedback and gives you expert coaching advice on how to improve your performance.
The app keeps you motivated with its Powersong feature that can be activated at the press of a button. The app also lets you receive live cheers from your friends and go toe-to-toe against them with Nike+ challenge.
Lastly, the heat map that shows the varying intensities of your run on the chosen route can be an immensely useful datapoint for runners, who’re looking to improve upon different aspects of their run.
It doesn’t matter whether you’re a beginner or professional runner, Nike+ is one app that you can download to track your runs and improve your performance. It’s being consistently rated as one of the best running apps, and you simply cannot go wrong with it.
Moreover, unlike most running apps on the list, Nike+ running app is available for FREE. That’s a huge plus, because you could end up saving at least $40 every year, and still get to use some of the best features that other running apps have to offer.
Pros
Measure your progress every mile with in-run audio feedback
Compete with your friends for the top spot
Get expert coaching advice and daily workout plans
Access all the features for free
Cons
GPS mapping might be inaccurate at times
Recommended if …
You’re serious about maximizing workouts and need motivation (Ideal for both beginners/professionals)
Don’t want to spend money on workout apps
(Free Download)
Have a personal favourite running app that did not make it to our list? Let us know in the comments section below.