Are you looking for the best running and fitness tracking apps but are unsure which one to choose? We have a solution to help you out here. This article assists you in choosing your preferred running app among the best free running apps on the market.
Your smartphone has taken the place of many items in today’s modern world, including the radio, your wristwatch, your contact list, etc. If you’re a fitness enthusiast, you might be relieved to learn that your smartphone can take the place of your exercise equipment. You may remember the time when you needed a personal trainer to monitor your stamina, fitness, and regular exercise. Those times are over now that there are so many apps available to guide you and track your daily fitness activities like running, jumping, etc. in addition to tracking your activity.
Here, we’ve compiled a list of some of the best running apps that can help you monitor your daily exercise and improve your stamina. So, here’s the list of some of the top Android and iPhone running apps available for free.
12 Best Free Running Apps for iPhone and Android Devices in 2023
Below is a list of some of the best fitness-tracking apps that we have hand picked for you. So, have a look at them and start your training session with any of them you find the best
1. Map My Run
Map My Run can be the most adequate app for you if you are confused about where to run. The app has a comprehensive tracker that can help you choose your running track and keep a check on your running pace. This UnderArmour-created app offers some unique and significant features to its users.
Features:
- The app provides stats such as distance covered, pace, calories burned, etc.
- It also provides audio feedback after the completion of your run.
- Map My Run allows you to sync the data with various wearable devices such as Apple Watch, Android Wear, Google Fit, etc.
- It helps you to keep a check on your running shoes as it tells you when to replace the pair of shoes as per your running stats and the shoes you wear while running.
- Map My Run is suitable for any type of workout.
- As the app has its community hence, it compares your stats with other users and helps you to stay motivated.
- It can be easily synced with the My Fitness Pal app which helps you to keep a check on your exercise and diet altogether.
- Map My Run offers some more advanced features in its paid version.
- Map My Run can sometimes irritate you by showing too many ads.
2. Charity Miles
Charity Miles might be the ideal app for you if running for a good cause is what inspires you to get moving. With the assistance of corporate sponsors, this app donates to one of more than 40 charities for every mile you travel.
Features:
- In order to combine your fundraising efforts, you can also form teams with other runners.
- Syncs with Apple Health and Strava to compile all of your fitness data in one location.
- Charity Miles prompts you to run and keep raising money in order to keep you motivated.
- The business makes charitable contributions on your behalf.
- keeps track of a variety of activities, including biking, dancing, running, and walking.
- From more than 40 charity options, runners can select their favorite.
- Not the best for tracking fitness.
- Compared to many other apps, it has few features.
- The interface is simple.
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3. Garmin Connect
This app is only for users of Garmin running watches. If you own a Garmin running watch, then this is the best run tracking app that you’ll ever come across. Here are some features, pros, and cons of the app it offers.
Features:
- You just need to connect your Garmin wearable device with this free running app for Android and iPhone, then after that, it offers you some exceptional features.
- Garmin Connect app allows you to download the previous tracking data that can help you to analyze your own performance.
- It allows you to compete with yourself, as you can set goals as per your previous performance.
- It allows you to set your own training plan.
- The app is highly customizable as you can set your own training routine.
- Garmin Connect helps you to analyze your performance data in a better way as you can download your previous reports.
- It can be synced with other fitness and running apps for Android and iPhones such as My Fitness Pal & Strava.
- The Garmin Connect app is only for those who own a Garmin wearable fitness device.
- It can decrease the battery life of your phone drastically.
4. Nike Run Club
Here comes another famous brand from the health and fitness industry. Nike Run Club is one of the best free running apps. It is totally free and offers some great features.
Features:
- Nike Run Club is a completely free app.
- The app provides some personalized training modules for each individual.
- It is also highly compatible with Apple watches and hence it can be considered the best running app for Apple watches.
- You can even listen to music while training yourself.
- The app provides audio coaching from different experts.
- Even when you skip any session the app automatically customizes your future training program.
- Nike Run Club allows you to get connected with your friends and also allows you to compete with them.
- The GPS tracking system needs some improvement as sometimes it does not show the accurate pace and mileage.
5. AllTrails
Alltrails is an app that helps you have fun and adventure while you are on your run, hike, or ride. It shows trail maps and you can select any one of them as per your preferences such as child-friendly trails, dog-friendly trails, etc.
Features:
- The app allows you to download the maps you want to run, ride, or hike on.
- AllTrails offers you to share your activities over various social media platforms.
- It enables you to select the trail of your choice.
- AllTrails also offers a safety feature through which your contacts can track your run or ride.
- Apart from being just a running app for Android phones or iPhones, it offers the features of being an adventure app.
- We do not suggest AllTrails if you are looking for a running app to be a running/fitness expert.
- It is better to be considered as an exploration app.
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6. Runkeeper
Here is another best-running app on this list. Along with analyzing performance, keeping records, and providing personalized training plans, Runkeeper provides various other features as well.
Features:
- Runkeeper provides personalized and customizable training plans as per your busy schedule and capacity.
- It offers various challenges to keep you motivated and moving forward.
- You can set your own goals as per your requirements.
- Runkeeper is not just a running distance tracker app as it tracks almost all kinds of fitness activities.
- It provides audio updates while you are training, so there is no need to check your phone again and again.
- Runkeeper has training modules from various fitness experts.
- The app provides an accurate real-time report of your workout.
- The paid version of Runkeeper is quite costly compared to other running apps available for Android phones and iPhones.
- Also, it constantly pokes you to upgrade your free plan to the paid one.
7. Running Distance Tracker Pro
Running Distance Tracker Pro, also known as Running Distance Tracker + for Android, is the most accurate tracking app currently available. Despite its accuracy, it offers various other benefits as well.
Features:
- Running Distance Tracker Pro comes with a quite simple user interface.
- The app accurately tracks your distance covered, pace, calories burned, etc.
- This can be considered the best-running app for iPhone as it is integrated with Apple Health.
- The app provides customizable audio feedback which may help you to keep moving forward.
- Running Distance Tracker Pro provides you access to your music player and hence you can listen to your favorite music while running.
- The app keeps a record of your past performance and also shows your improvement rate.
- It is quite cheaper than the other names on the list.
- Running Distance Tracker Pro does not offer many features as compared to other substitutes.
8. Couch to 5K Trainer
This app provides a running/training program that can help you to get up from your couch and become a 5K runner. Couch to 5K Trainer (C25K) has its 8 weeks training program which can make you a 5K runner quite quickly.
Features:
- It offers short 30 minutes training programs that can help you to be in a 5K shape.
- C25K offers a virtual audio coach.
- This one of the best free running apps allows you to meet various other runners and stay motivated as it is integrated with communities on various social media platforms such as Facebook and Twitter.
- You can also sync it with My Fitness Pal.
- C25K allows you to listen to your favorite songs while training.
- The app remains quite accurate even when your phone/device is locked.
- C25K can be considered as one of the best running apps for beginners.
- You might not find it suitable enough if you are an expert as this app is designed for beginners.
9. Pacer
Pacer is basically a step-tracking app that also offers some additional features such as tracking your calories burned, providing fitness plan videos, etc. Here are some salient features of the app.
Features:
- Pacer offers a BMI calculator and a counter to track and calculate your calories burned.
- You can sync this free running app with My Fitness Pal and Fitbit.
- Pacer doesn’t need any other device to be connected to track your steps, you just need to carry your phone while running, walking, and cycling.
- The app provides some amazing features for free and the premium version of the app is also quite cheap.
- Pacer also offers fitness videos if you are planning for a specific health goal.
- No additional tracking device is needed to track your fitness activities.
- You are always required to carry your phone while running, walking, or cycling.
- Pacer does not function properly in some phones and in that case, it does not track your steps while your phone is locked.
10. Runcoach
Runcoach is a highly customizable training app. It provides an amazing algorithm along with coaching from various experts. Here are some impeccable features of the app, due to which it can be considered one of the best running apps.
Features:
- It allows you to design your own workout plan.
- Runcoach asks you for your fitness information and your goal, then the app’s algorithm provides the best plan and workout guidance
- You can sync it with many major fitness tracking apps such as Strava, Runkeeper, etc.
- Runcoach is highly customizable you can adjust your workout plan as per your schedule even if you have missed some training sessions.
- Runcoach enables you to stay in touch with USATF-certified coaches.
- The app provides you with a 14-day gold membership for free, after that you can stick to your basic free plan if you want.
- Runcoach is also a battery-draining app.
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11. iSmoothRun
iSmoothRun is only available for iPhones, and it can be considered one of the best running apps for iPhones. It possesses some great features.
Features:
- This app is specifically designed for iOS.
- Along with running, walking, and cycling it can track various other fitness activities.
- iSmoothRun provides you with a lot of information such as your steps, distance covered, weather, and even the name of the street on which you are running.
- It also tells you the mileage of your shoes and when to replace them.
- iSmoothRun does not have your data locked, it allows you to export it to various other running and fitness tracking apps.
- It allows you to track your interval workouts.
- It is only available for iOS, Android users cannot use it.
12. Zwift
Zwift is the perfect blend of a video game and a distance tracking app. As it allows you to take your personal workout to the virtual world and compete with various other real virtual competitors. Here are some features of Zwift.
Features:
- Zwift is the perfect match for video games loving people who want to stay fit.
- The app allows you to virtually experience different new places.
- It makes fitness training fun.
- Zwift not only provides you with an amazing cycling virtual experience but also tracks your performance data and analyze it.
- The app requires various other supportive devices such as a foot pod, treadmill, etc.
Final Takeaway To the Best Running Apps in 2023
Since we’ve covered most of the best running apps for iOS and Android, we hope you now understand the various features, benefits, and drawbacks that each one of them has. Whether you’re a beginner or an expert, you can now choose what’s best for you based on your preferences or needs. We sincerely hope that our article assisted you in finding the best digital and online fitness tracker and trainer.
