The Best Running Apps: 16 iOS and Android Apps to Track Your Runs and Improve Your Workouts

Do you like running and keeping track of your workouts? Or do you want to start exercising and need a guide to reach your goals? These apps can help.

September 17, 2024, 05:01 ET

Yúbal Fernández

These are the best running apps. Some can help you build routines that include a variety of exercises, while others focus entirely on running. The best part? They’re all available for Android and iOS.

This list includes two types of apps: Those that help you track your workouts and those that provide workouts. Although most of them are free apps, some may charge a fee or have additional features that aren’t free.

If you know of other options not included in this lis, feel free to let us know if the comments.

Table of Contents (16)

Start Running For Beginners

This app provides a step-by-step beginner’s training plan for running. If you want to get started with the sport but need guidance beyond just leaving the house and starting to run, it can help.

Start Running For Beginners has a multi-level training plan so you can gradually increase the amount of time you run. It also offers classic options like workout statistics, GPS, a pedometer, and a calorie tracker.

Adidas Running

If you want to record your runs, this Adidas app is for you. Track your progress by consulting the statistics of workout, with a detailed map showing where you've worked out, including the distance you've run, the total time, and the calories burned.

The app also allows you to create a personalized training plan that syncs with smartwatches. You can also change your workout time and track your daily distance.

ASICS Runkeeper

This is another sports brand that has launched its app to track your workouts when you go running or walking. On its map, you can see the places where you've run, set goals, and improve your scores.

It also has personalized training plans. You can integrate Apple Music or Spotify to listen to music while you run. It syncs with smartwatches so that you can track your progress from your wrist.

Strava

Strava is one of the best apps for tracking your workouts. It includes more sports than just running. You can record all your sessions, see a map with the route you took in each one, and track your progress.

The app has both a free and a paid version. It offers routes based on other athletes’ data, aiming to create communities, and can synchronize with other popular training apps. There’s also a challenge system to make everything more dynamic and fun.

Runna

This is another one of the best apps for personalized plans to run progressively. It has training programs for races of different distances. Runna will offer sessions over several weeks, depending on the plan and your running level.

It’s not an app to track your workouts, but it does offer training plans. The downside is that it’s an expensive running app: $17.99 per month or $109.99 per year. However, you can try the free one-week trial to see if you like it.

Toteemi

Toteemi is a different app because it’s not a training tracker but a game to motivate you to train. It uses your Strava data to give you points. Then, you can conquer terrains in a game where you compete against other runners.

There are two teams, so choose which one you want to belong to. Then, help your teammates by conquering different areas of your city. This will also motivate you to run in places other than where you’re used to.

Download: Apple Store, Play Store

Stride

This app tracks your workouts using your smartphone’s GPS. Then, it turns your data into a game so you can compete with other nearby users. It’s similar to Toteemi in that you compete to control as much territory as possible. You have to pay for it, although it only costs $3.99 monthly. Try the 7-day trial to see if it's your jam.

Map My Run by Under Armour

Under Armour is another sports brand that has created an app to help people who wear its clothes to track their runs. This app allows you to choose a running plan that suits you and takes you step by step. One of its main features is real-time voice feedback, which tells you the parameters of your workout.

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Nike Run Club

It’s no coincidence that almost all sportswear brands, including Nike, have apps to track your physical activity. In fact, this is one of the most popular, with its achievement system and the possibility of challenging your contacts.

The app has detailed statistics on your workouts, training programs, and community challenges. It’s useful when you get bored of the same thing and want some guidance or new challenges.

Couch to 5K

Created by Fitness22, this app offers a program to help you run 5 kilometers (3.1 miles) if you've never run before. It progressively improves your fitness by alternating between running and walking three times a week for eight weeks.

The idea is to do a progressive workout to increase your endurance, with an adaptive self-trainer telling you when to walk and run during each workout. This will increase your running time until you can run 3.1 miles after eight weeks.

Zombies Run

This app turns your workouts into a game. You can choose a time to run or walk a certain number of miles. But you better start running if you want to survive this zombie hunt.

Zombies will chase you, and dynamic narration will tell you what’s happening. The game has different modes, including one with Marvel heroes, options to unlock trophies, and rewards and progress through the story.

RunMotion Coach

RunMotion Coach is an app for runners of all levels. It will help you achieve goals ranging from running 3 miles to running a marathon. In short, it’s a virtual coach that creates a personalized training plan and motivates you daily to achieve it.

The app has a basic free version, but a paid version allows you to interact with a real trainer and get exclusive content. However, the free version is enough to improve your workout.

Relive

Relive is a helpful app for running, but also for hiking. In fact, it shows its greatest strength in this discipline. You can keep track of your runs, recording your times, distances, and the places you go to. But when it comes to hiking, you have a 3D map to know the route you've followed.

The app also has social functions. It generates screenshots in a story format that you can share, showing your route and a photo of you arriving at your destination. You can also tag your favorite moments and places.

V.O2: Running Coach

If you want to improve your running, V.O2: Running Coach is for you. Although it’s a paid app ($9.99 per month or $99.99 per year), you can track your runs during the one-month trial it offers its users. It has features to assess your fitness, customize your training pace, and adjust it based on your improvements.

Google Fit

This is Google’s free app for tracking your exercise. You can log your runs, walks, or bike rides. This app also allows you to track your sleep. Then, with all this info, it provides weekly statistics of your activities.

The app works with a system of two rings, one for cardio points and one for steps, and your goal is to close them every day. Then, you can check how many days of the week you’ve reached your goals and your last workouts. It’s not as complete as other apps, but it’s totally free.

Apple Fitness

Last but not least, Apple Fitness. With its free version, you can record all your physical activities and get summaries of all your exercise data. It also has a system of three rings that measures movement, standing time, and exercise that you have to close each day.

The free version of the app is quite simple, but it has a paid version with which you can access different types of video training, personalized plans, guided meditations, and more. It's an exclusive app for Apple devices.

Image | Clem Onojeghuo (Unsplash)

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