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Your shoes are laced, your water bottle filled with the best-tasting protein powder, and you’re ready to log some miles. Whether you’re a seasoned racer, or the type of person who has to drag yourself out on a jog, running apps can help you find motivation, support your efforts, and track your progress. With features like personal coaching, route...
The post The 9 Best Running Apps of 2023 appeared first on BarBend.
Your shoes are laced, your water bottle filled with the best-tasting protein powder, and you’re ready to log some miles. Whether you’re a seasoned racer, or the type of person who has to drag yourself out on a jog, running apps can help you find motivation, support your efforts, and track your progress. With features like personal coaching, route tracking, and performance analytics, runners of all levels can find an app that makes gleaning the benefits of cardio that much easier. Figuring out what’s out there and what tools you want is the first step.
We are living in the age of the apps; anything you want, there’s probably an app (or 50) out there that does it. But, navigating this overabundance feels like a full-time job — asking friends, combing through reviews, browsing Reddit, and then two hours later, while watching a video of a dog and cheetah cuddling, wondering what you had come to Reddit for in the first place. Lucky for you, we’ve done the work. The BarBend team has tried and tested 20 of the most popular apps on the market to bring you the best running apps of 2023.
Best Running Apps
Editor’s note: The content on BarBend is meant to be informative in nature, but it should not be taken as medical advice. The opinions and articles on this site are not intended for use as diagnosis, prevention, and/or treatment of health problems. It’s always a good idea to talk to your doctor before beginning a new fitness, nutritional, and/or supplement routine. Individual needs for vitamins and minerals will vary.
How We Tested the Best Running Apps
The BarBend roster is filled with endurance runners, certified personal trainers, competitive athletes, and fitness nuts who logged some serious miles with 20 apps to whittle down this list to our top 9 recommendations. Keeping in mind users of all levels, our team scored each app based on our independent testing methodology and a five-point scale in regards to ease of use, pricing, equipment demands, GPS accuracy, and standout features.
We also made note of the availability between Android and iOS and what additional gizmos and gadgets you might need or want to get the most functionality out of the app. Did the author of this article download every running app on this list (they already had three or four of them) and use that as an excuse to go for a jog during work hours? You bet they did.
Best Overall Running App: Strava
Strava
Strava
Popular with cyclists and runners for a reason, the Strava app can be an excellent tool for taking your running to the next level. With a social network, GPS tracking, and loads of data insights, this app is capable of tracking a wide array of physical activities.
Shop Strava
Specs
Pros
Cons
If you’re looking for your fix, whether from a runner’s high or that sweet dopamine hit from social validation, Strava may be the running app for you. (1) Popular amongst runners and cyclists, Strava offers tracking for nearly 50 activities — trail running, golfing, surfing, and rock climbing to name a few.
After your run (or snowshoe, or sail, or cycle), you can add a photo and some text to share your activity with your friends. Due to the social aspect of this app, your routes are visible to others, allowing for feel-good “kudos” to be given when others support your effort with a digital thumbs up. I’ve been using Strava for a decade now, and this has been my favorite feature of the app. It’s like Instagram, but I get to show off how far I ran, plus like and comment on posts from my friends. Our testing team rated interactive features a 5 out of 5.
Social post on Strava.
Because of this route-sharing social feature, privacy has been a big concern for Strava over the years. However, it’s simple to enable Privacy Zone to hide where you start and end your activity so that creepers can’t figure out where you live.
Get active in the app with group challenges, and compare your time to others on stretches of popular running segments. Strava keeps track of your time, pace, calories burned, improvement, and personal records on paths you run and repeat. Not only is Strava compatible with heart rate monitors and an assortment of the best fitness trackers, but it’s also capable of working hand in hand with other apps you may want to track your run with.
Screenshot of segment tracking on Strava.
Is the subscription worth it? If you want access to more in-depth performance analytics, training plans, beacon tracking, and the ability to download routes when cell reception is poor, a subscription might be worth your hard-earned cash. However, our testers find that the free version of Strava is really impressive, fun, and worthwhile.
Best Treadmill Running App: iFIT
$25 Off
IFIT Class Subscription
IFIT Class Subscription
The iFit app features a library of over 16,000 live and on-demand classes that range from mental health and recovery to rowing, running, HIIT and strength classes. You can get the full studio experience virtually through iFit, and is a great boost to any home gym set-up — with or without equipment.
Shop IFIT
Specs
Pros
Cons
To run on a treadmill or not to run on a treadmill, that is the question. While running on a treadmill or outside pounding pavement are both beneficial for your cardiovascular health, choosing one over the other boils down to weather, location, comfort, and ultimately preference. If you’re an indoor cat who prefers avoiding inclement weather or you just don’t want to bump into your neighbor Dylan since you owe them money, iFIT is the app for connected indoor fitness equipment.
A front runner in the tech cardio space, one of BarBend’s expert product testers says that “iFIT has emerged as a true Peloton competitor.” However, with the loss of iFIT’s previous live classes, can this still be true? If not having the option to run in live sessions is a deal breaker, know that there are occasional live races that occur. However, we’ve noticed that the frequency of these has lessened drastically over the years. But, if you’re someone who’s looking for on-demand classes, iFIT might be the right fit for you.
Jake following an iFit workout. Credit: BarBend
Guided runs take users to some of the most exotic running trails on the planet. From Bolivia to New Zealand, you can even go on safari in Kenya and meet some elephants. Or, if you’re looking for exploration without the aid of a running coach, make your own routes with Google Maps and find yourself anywhere you want with Street View images. When on an iFIT compatible treadmill, immerse yourself in your workout by selecting AutoAdjust which will tune your incline and speed settings based on your coach’s instructions.
Over the years customers have occasionally complained about the organization of content in the app and the abundance of information on screen, such as workout history, milestones, and series suggestions. Our product tester could relate, “Within a few uses the app was easy to navigate, although I found it slightly less intuitive than something like the Peloton App.” Ease of use scored a 4.5 out of 5 with our tester.
While having an iFIT-compatible treadmill enhances the user experience, it’s not entirely necessary for the app. One tester appreciated having access to compatible equipment during testing, but also said, “It’s still a useful app that I can take with me on the go.” With the app’s sea of personal trainers, you can find the right coach, with the right energy, style, and stories, to keep you committed to creating and crushing your fitness goals.
Series and challenges can help your running improve over time while the selection of workout training styles, locations, and coaching tips and stories could help keep things feeling fresh and fun.
Best Running App for Personal Training: Future
Future Online Personal Training
Future Online Personal Training
Future offers online personal training in every facet of fitness. Every client gets a certified fitness professional who will prescribe training programs, follow up daily to assess progress, make program adjustments as needed, and offer accountability.
Shop Future
Specs
Pros
Cons
Finding the right personal trainer can give you the type of accountability that propels your running to the next level. Having someone in your corner takes the guesswork out of what you should be doing so that you can just do it.
The Future app pairs you with a trainer of your liking who takes your experience, time, equipment, and goals into consideration when creating your roadmap for success. Unlike other apps on this list, Future allows you the ability to text your coach, “I don’t want to do this!” and get back messages like, “You say that every week.” It’s a one-on-one relationship. Users are working with a real coach, a real person, getting weekly workouts, feedback, and motivation that helps them stay consistent no matter where they are. Our tester gave a 5 out of 5 rating when it came to accountability.
The price may leave you a little woozy, but with the Future app you’ve got a personal trainer right in the palm of your hand, fine-tuning your running plans. Due to the monthly cost, our testing team gave an average rating of 3.75 out of 5 for value. However, Future has teamed up with Truemed to help users save. After a brief 2-minute survey users can see if they’re eligible to use their Health Savings Account or Flexible Savings Account toward a membership.
Multiple members of our product testing team have been using this app for multiple years (and they won’t shut up about it. We get it, you and your yacht money love the app.) One tester appreciated how easy the app was to navigate, while also being able to use their Apple Watch to go through their workout. She noted, “It’s super easy for me to communicate with my trainer, and how clean and seamless everything operates is what sets this app apart.”
We believe the most enticing feature is the quality of coaches with elite backgrounds ranging from former D1 collegiate athletes, MLB strength and conditioning coaches, college strength and conditioning coaches, olympic national team head coaches, to competitive runners. If the price doesn’t scare you away, this is one way to train like a pro.
Best Free Running App: Nike Run Club
Nike Run Club
Nike Run Club
Nike Run Club is a free running app that allows you to track your run while providing training plans and coaching to keep you moving in the right direction.
Shop Nike Run Club
Specs
Pros
Cons
After beating a stomach bug likely caused by the cheap all-you-can-eat seafood buffet you knew was too good to be true, you learned your lesson: You get what you pay for. But that’s not the case with the Nike Run Club app. The free app gives you access to run tracking, training plans for all levels, leaderboards so you can see how you stack up against the competition, and a social aspect where you can share achievements with friends.
Nike Run Club route and elevation tracking.
This app was simple to use and easy to navigate. You can set a distance, time, or speed goal, stream music from either Apple Music or Spotify in the app, and take off running (or jogging). For more structured programming, choose a beginner, 5k, half marathon, or full marathon training program that sets you up over multiple weeks to tackle your ambition.
My favorite aspect of the app was the coach-guided runs, talking me through how much effort I should exert in various portions of the work while also sharing the benefits of what I was doing and why — whether I was warming up, attempting speed intervals, working on endurance, or simply picking up my pace. However, there have been times when I’ve recorded a run with this app and it didn’t save. Is there anything worse than that?!
Screenshot of Nike Run Club run levels.
We also love the ability to tag and track mileage you’re incurring on your favorite running shoes, so you’ll know when it’s time to retire an old pair. This free app packs a mighty punch, and we recommend it for casual...
Click here to view the article.
The post The 9 Best Running Apps of 2023 appeared first on BarBend.
Your shoes are laced, your water bottle filled with the best-tasting protein powder, and you’re ready to log some miles. Whether you’re a seasoned racer, or the type of person who has to drag yourself out on a jog, running apps can help you find motivation, support your efforts, and track your progress. With features like personal coaching, route tracking, and performance analytics, runners of all levels can find an app that makes gleaning the benefits of cardio that much easier. Figuring out what’s out there and what tools you want is the first step.
We are living in the age of the apps; anything you want, there’s probably an app (or 50) out there that does it. But, navigating this overabundance feels like a full-time job — asking friends, combing through reviews, browsing Reddit, and then two hours later, while watching a video of a dog and cheetah cuddling, wondering what you had come to Reddit for in the first place. Lucky for you, we’ve done the work. The BarBend team has tried and tested 20 of the most popular apps on the market to bring you the best running apps of 2023.
Best Running Apps
- Best Overall Running App: Strava
- Best Treadmill Running App: iFIT
- Best Running App for Personal Training: Future
- Best Free Running App: Nike Run Club
- Best App for Outdoor Runs: MapMyRun
- Best Running App with Classes: Peloton
- Best Running App for Tracking: Garmin Connect
- Best Running App for Beginners: ASICS Runkeeper
- Best Gamified Running App: Zwift
Editor’s note: The content on BarBend is meant to be informative in nature, but it should not be taken as medical advice. The opinions and articles on this site are not intended for use as diagnosis, prevention, and/or treatment of health problems. It’s always a good idea to talk to your doctor before beginning a new fitness, nutritional, and/or supplement routine. Individual needs for vitamins and minerals will vary.
How We Tested the Best Running Apps
The BarBend roster is filled with endurance runners, certified personal trainers, competitive athletes, and fitness nuts who logged some serious miles with 20 apps to whittle down this list to our top 9 recommendations. Keeping in mind users of all levels, our team scored each app based on our independent testing methodology and a five-point scale in regards to ease of use, pricing, equipment demands, GPS accuracy, and standout features.
We also made note of the availability between Android and iOS and what additional gizmos and gadgets you might need or want to get the most functionality out of the app. Did the author of this article download every running app on this list (they already had three or four of them) and use that as an excuse to go for a jog during work hours? You bet they did.
Best Overall Running App: Strava
Strava
Strava
Popular with cyclists and runners for a reason, the Strava app can be an excellent tool for taking your running to the next level. With a social network, GPS tracking, and loads of data insights, this app is capable of tracking a wide array of physical activities.
Shop Strava
Specs
- Price: Free option or $11.99/month, $79.99/year premium membership
- Compatibility: iOS and Android
- User Level: All levels
- Key Feature: Connect with friends
Pros
- A social network for you and your friends’ activities.
- With membership, beacon tracking shares your real-time location.
- Compete against yourself and others with GPS segment tracking.
Cons
- Customers have complained about surprising price hikes for premium access.
- If you want to create your own routes you’ll have to use a desktop computer.
- Many popular features are only available with a subscription.
If you’re looking for your fix, whether from a runner’s high or that sweet dopamine hit from social validation, Strava may be the running app for you. (1) Popular amongst runners and cyclists, Strava offers tracking for nearly 50 activities — trail running, golfing, surfing, and rock climbing to name a few.
After your run (or snowshoe, or sail, or cycle), you can add a photo and some text to share your activity with your friends. Due to the social aspect of this app, your routes are visible to others, allowing for feel-good “kudos” to be given when others support your effort with a digital thumbs up. I’ve been using Strava for a decade now, and this has been my favorite feature of the app. It’s like Instagram, but I get to show off how far I ran, plus like and comment on posts from my friends. Our testing team rated interactive features a 5 out of 5.
Because of this route-sharing social feature, privacy has been a big concern for Strava over the years. However, it’s simple to enable Privacy Zone to hide where you start and end your activity so that creepers can’t figure out where you live.
Get active in the app with group challenges, and compare your time to others on stretches of popular running segments. Strava keeps track of your time, pace, calories burned, improvement, and personal records on paths you run and repeat. Not only is Strava compatible with heart rate monitors and an assortment of the best fitness trackers, but it’s also capable of working hand in hand with other apps you may want to track your run with.
Is the subscription worth it? If you want access to more in-depth performance analytics, training plans, beacon tracking, and the ability to download routes when cell reception is poor, a subscription might be worth your hard-earned cash. However, our testers find that the free version of Strava is really impressive, fun, and worthwhile.
Best Treadmill Running App: iFIT
$25 Off
IFIT Class Subscription
IFIT Class Subscription
The iFit app features a library of over 16,000 live and on-demand classes that range from mental health and recovery to rowing, running, HIIT and strength classes. You can get the full studio experience virtually through iFit, and is a great boost to any home gym set-up — with or without equipment.
Shop IFIT
Specs
- Price Per Month: Family Plan: $39/month or $396/year, Individual Plan: $15/month or $180/yr
- Compatibility: iOS and Android
- User Level: All levels
- Key Feature: Compatible with various Nordictrack, ProForm, Freemotion, and Matrix treadmills.
Pros
- B-E-A-UTIFUL scenic backdrops for your instructor-led treadmill runs.
- Over 200 coaches and trainers to choose from.
- Thousands of classes including treadmill, bike, rower, yoga, and strength.
Cons
- Discontinued live classes and support for older machines.
- Some connectivity issues when moving between the app, TV, and treadmill.
- For the full benefits of this app, you’ll want to invest in compatible equipment.
To run on a treadmill or not to run on a treadmill, that is the question. While running on a treadmill or outside pounding pavement are both beneficial for your cardiovascular health, choosing one over the other boils down to weather, location, comfort, and ultimately preference. If you’re an indoor cat who prefers avoiding inclement weather or you just don’t want to bump into your neighbor Dylan since you owe them money, iFIT is the app for connected indoor fitness equipment.
A front runner in the tech cardio space, one of BarBend’s expert product testers says that “iFIT has emerged as a true Peloton competitor.” However, with the loss of iFIT’s previous live classes, can this still be true? If not having the option to run in live sessions is a deal breaker, know that there are occasional live races that occur. However, we’ve noticed that the frequency of these has lessened drastically over the years. But, if you’re someone who’s looking for on-demand classes, iFIT might be the right fit for you.
Guided runs take users to some of the most exotic running trails on the planet. From Bolivia to New Zealand, you can even go on safari in Kenya and meet some elephants. Or, if you’re looking for exploration without the aid of a running coach, make your own routes with Google Maps and find yourself anywhere you want with Street View images. When on an iFIT compatible treadmill, immerse yourself in your workout by selecting AutoAdjust which will tune your incline and speed settings based on your coach’s instructions.
Over the years customers have occasionally complained about the organization of content in the app and the abundance of information on screen, such as workout history, milestones, and series suggestions. Our product tester could relate, “Within a few uses the app was easy to navigate, although I found it slightly less intuitive than something like the Peloton App.” Ease of use scored a 4.5 out of 5 with our tester.
While having an iFIT-compatible treadmill enhances the user experience, it’s not entirely necessary for the app. One tester appreciated having access to compatible equipment during testing, but also said, “It’s still a useful app that I can take with me on the go.” With the app’s sea of personal trainers, you can find the right coach, with the right energy, style, and stories, to keep you committed to creating and crushing your fitness goals.
Series and challenges can help your running improve over time while the selection of workout training styles, locations, and coaching tips and stories could help keep things feeling fresh and fun.
Best Running App for Personal Training: Future
Future Online Personal Training
Future Online Personal Training
Future offers online personal training in every facet of fitness. Every client gets a certified fitness professional who will prescribe training programs, follow up daily to assess progress, make program adjustments as needed, and offer accountability.
Shop Future
Specs
- Price Per Month: $199/month
- Compatibility: iOS and Android
- User Level: Best for intermediate to elite athletes
- Key Feature: Top-of-their-field coaches curate programming tailored to your goals
Pros
- Messaging and video calls in app with your trainer.
- Programming created with all of your available equipment in mind.
- Record your training in app for form feedback from your coach.
- Reference videos for every exercise, so you can see exactly what to do.
Cons
- $199/month may be too steep for some users unless you’ve got yacht money.
- Users have to track and log their work manually.
- Unlike other apps on this list, Future won’t track or give you running data.
Finding the right personal trainer can give you the type of accountability that propels your running to the next level. Having someone in your corner takes the guesswork out of what you should be doing so that you can just do it.
The Future app pairs you with a trainer of your liking who takes your experience, time, equipment, and goals into consideration when creating your roadmap for success. Unlike other apps on this list, Future allows you the ability to text your coach, “I don’t want to do this!” and get back messages like, “You say that every week.” It’s a one-on-one relationship. Users are working with a real coach, a real person, getting weekly workouts, feedback, and motivation that helps them stay consistent no matter where they are. Our tester gave a 5 out of 5 rating when it came to accountability.
The price may leave you a little woozy, but with the Future app you’ve got a personal trainer right in the palm of your hand, fine-tuning your running plans. Due to the monthly cost, our testing team gave an average rating of 3.75 out of 5 for value. However, Future has teamed up with Truemed to help users save. After a brief 2-minute survey users can see if they’re eligible to use their Health Savings Account or Flexible Savings Account toward a membership.
Multiple members of our product testing team have been using this app for multiple years (and they won’t shut up about it. We get it, you and your yacht money love the app.) One tester appreciated how easy the app was to navigate, while also being able to use their Apple Watch to go through their workout. She noted, “It’s super easy for me to communicate with my trainer, and how clean and seamless everything operates is what sets this app apart.”
We believe the most enticing feature is the quality of coaches with elite backgrounds ranging from former D1 collegiate athletes, MLB strength and conditioning coaches, college strength and conditioning coaches, olympic national team head coaches, to competitive runners. If the price doesn’t scare you away, this is one way to train like a pro.
Best Free Running App: Nike Run Club
Nike Run Club
Nike Run Club
Nike Run Club is a free running app that allows you to track your run while providing training plans and coaching to keep you moving in the right direction.
Shop Nike Run Club
Specs
- Price Per Month: Free
- Compatibility: iOS and Android
- User Level: Best for beginners, but suitable for all levels
- Key Feature: Coach-led guided workouts
Pros
- Access to free training plans for beginners and even marathon runners.
- Audio coaching from Nike trainers and athletes.
- Tag and track mileage on running shoes.
Cons
- The app has a tendency to glitch.
- Limited library of training options or modalities compared to other apps.
- Users have mentioned their runs not being saved.
After beating a stomach bug likely caused by the cheap all-you-can-eat seafood buffet you knew was too good to be true, you learned your lesson: You get what you pay for. But that’s not the case with the Nike Run Club app. The free app gives you access to run tracking, training plans for all levels, leaderboards so you can see how you stack up against the competition, and a social aspect where you can share achievements with friends.
This app was simple to use and easy to navigate. You can set a distance, time, or speed goal, stream music from either Apple Music or Spotify in the app, and take off running (or jogging). For more structured programming, choose a beginner, 5k, half marathon, or full marathon training program that sets you up over multiple weeks to tackle your ambition.
My favorite aspect of the app was the coach-guided runs, talking me through how much effort I should exert in various portions of the work while also sharing the benefits of what I was doing and why — whether I was warming up, attempting speed intervals, working on endurance, or simply picking up my pace. However, there have been times when I’ve recorded a run with this app and it didn’t save. Is there anything worse than that?!
We also love the ability to tag and track mileage you’re incurring on your favorite running shoes, so you’ll know when it’s time to retire an old pair. This free app packs a mighty punch, and we recommend it for casual...
Click here to view the article.
