There’s no better way to lose weight than by going for a run.
You get outside, you see the world, you feel the wind on your face, and before you know it, you’ve burned half a million calories. And then when you’re done, you walk into the store and your abs are so defined they open the door for you.
But if you’re a beginner runner, this might not be your experience right away. You might not have that confidence that comes with being able to run a marathon after only one month of training.
So we’ve compiled a list of apps that can help support your weight loss journey in addition to helping you track stats like calories burned and distance covered on your runs.
Best Apps For Running For Weight Loss
Whether you’re a long-time runner or a fitness newbie, it’s never been easier to tech out your workout. At this point, options like GPS tracking and social sharing are pretty much par for the course, so here’s a look at some of the best running apps that bring a little something extra to keep you on the move.
- Running for Weight Loss
weight-loss-1
Best for: Interval training
If losing weight is your motivation for hitting the road (or the treadmill), Running for Weight Loss bills itself as the only running app specifically designed to help you lose unwanted pounds. Even if you’re not interested in shedding flab, it’s a great app for interval training. You choose from three levels based on your current running ability, then the app provides you with a program of interval workouts. Alternating between walking, running, and different levels of sprinting, the training sessions are challenging but totally conquerable.
Love: The interface is extremely easy to use, and the app doesn’t burden you with extensive setup. Press one button and you’re ready to start your warm up. Also, you can link it up with other apps — FitBit, RunKeeper, or MapMyRun — to integrate these workouts into your regular training logs.
Loathe: The intervals can get a bit predictable — once you figure out the “pattern” for the workout, you may find yourself backing off as you anticipate the sprints. You can play any music you like, but you need to have it running before you open the app; there’s no ability to alter music in the app.
iOS ($2.99) - Nike+ Running
nike-1
Best for: Serious Nike fans
Nike+ Running has been around for a while, and it’s continuously improving — Nike is, if nothing else, quite responsive to user feedback. They’ve recently added more extensive training plans, and finally made it so you don’t have to manually pause your workout every time you hit a red light, making it ideal for city running.
Love: If you’re serious about Nike, this is the app for you. You can integrate it with Nike products (like the Fuelband), tag and retire your Nike running shoes, load up on NikeFuel, and link it with non-running Nike apps (like Nike Training Club). Though all runners complain about apps not being accurate with distance, Nike+ Running is not too shabby when it comes to tracking your treadmill stats.
Loathe: There’s a huge amount of functionality here, but that also means a tremendous number of settings. It can take several runs to get Nike+ set up in a way that works for you. The defaults settings make it a fairly “talky” app, so it can turn into data overload. You can control music from your device (e.g., iTunes), but Nike+ doesn’t play well with other music apps (like Spotify).
iOS (Free), Android (Free) - Couch to 5K
couchto5k-2
Best for: Non-runners
If you’ve considered running but couldn’t figure out how to get started, this is the app for you. Couch to 5K makes starting a training program as painless as possible, with a sequence of workouts that begins with ultra-gentle walk-run interval training sessions. Use it three times a week, and in nine weeks you’ll be ready to finish a 5K.
Love: The app is easy to use, and simple audio cues take you through your workout. Need some extra motivation? You can use the app to search for a 5K near you and get registered.
Loathe: This app is great for outdoor running, but if you use a treadmill, you have to enter your workouts on your own.
iOS ($1.99), Android ($1.99) - Runtastic Pro
runtastic
Best for: Multisport athletes
The free version of this app gives you a surprisingly fully functional running app; the Pro version adds more bells and whistles (many of which aren’t available for the Blackberry and Windows Phone versions). The key difference makers between the free and Pro versions for most users will be the voice coaching and training plans, which you can only get by ponying up for Pro.
Love: There’s an ever-widening number of apps in the “-tastic” family, so you can track not only your runs but also your bicycling, walking, skiing, and more. This is also one of the only running apps that’s available for the full gamut of smartphones, though the Pro version is only on iOS and Android.
Loathe: The interface isn’t especially attractive or easy to use, and the app seems to be a little more crash prone than some of the other major running apps.
iOS (Free/$4.99), Android (Free/$4.99), Windows (Free), Blackberry (Free)
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- RunCracker
runcracker-pro
Best for: Distance runners
You can use RunCracker as a basic running app, but it’s most useful for the array of training programs (it’s actually a combination of several separate training apps, including Running for Weight Loss). If you want an easy-to-use training plan for a full or half marathon, this app is definitely worth the price tag. You can also move back and forth from one plan to another — or just go for a plain old run — so if your plans change, you aren’t locked into a routine.
Love: Choose your goal, pick your ability level, and get running! This app helps you track your progress, but doesn’t overwhelm you with data.
Loathe: No music integration within the app — you’ve got to pick your playlist before you open RunCracker and be prepared to stick with it, especially if you’ve got a long workout ahead of you.
iOS ($7.99) - Zombies, Run!
zombies-run
Best for: Bored runners
Even experienced runners can find treadmill running dull, but if road or trail running is a snooze for you, this app is a wake-up call. Yes, it’s a running app with the basic features you’d expect (you can play music, there’s GPS tracking, and so on) — but it’s also a multi-player game. You choose your playlist, then in between tracks the app unspools more of the story. You’re never just running. You’re running to collect supplies, or you’re sprinting from the undead.
Love: The “Zombie Chases” mode is going to make you put in that interval training. You can hear the zombies’ breath right behind you! If that doesn’t make you run faster, we’re not sure what will. Just starting out? There’s also a zombie 5k app.
Loathe: You need to be pretty committed to the game to make this worth your while — you’re meant to use the app to continue your mission after your run (e.g., you picked up supplies, now you need to use them). Also, the cost is more or less the base price. If you’re into it and use up your missions, you either need to run/play them again, or purchase more.
iOS ($3.99), Android ($3.99)
7.TempoRun
temporun
Best for:
Music lovers
Practically everybody runs with music, but with TempoRun, you really run with your music. This app sorts all of the songs in your iTunes library based on their tempo, then scores them from 1 to 10. Pick your pace, and it picks perfect tunes that are just the right speed for a walk (1) to a sprint (10).
Love: The interface is really easy to see (and tap) mid-run, so it’s easy to speed up or slow down, with the music adjusting accordingly. Rainy or cold outside? This app is totally perfect for keeping you grooving through a treadmill workout.
Loathe: If you mainly listen to music via a streaming service, this won’t work for you. You’ve got to have a decent variety of music stored on your phone to really make the most of this app.
iOS ($2.99)
- Kitestring
kitestring
Best for: Night owls and trail runners
If you love to run solo but worry about safety, Kitestring has your back. It’s not even an app — you don’t have to download a thing (or even have a smartphone). Once you sign up, you text Kitestring to let it know you’re headed out and how long you’ll be gone. It sends you a text checking in on you after that amount of time has passed. If you don’t text back or check in online within a certain time interval (the default is 5 minutes), it will send an automated alert to your emergency contact.
Love: Though you still have to stay within cell coverage, you can feel much better about avoiding a 127 Hours scenario on that backcountry trail run.
Loathe: Unless you pay a subscription fee, you’re limited to 8 trips per month. Still, better safe than sorry.
Web (Free) - Strong Runner
strong-runner
Best for:
Injury-prone runners
This app is built as a standard training app, but it’s the extras that make a difference. Feeling a twinge? It’s no doctor, but the app can give you an overview and some tips for dealing with common running injuries. Even better, you can avoid injuries with the warm-up, stretching, and strength training exercises that were designed by an ultramarathoner and his physician just for runners.
Love: The clean, uncluttered design makes this app a snap to use. The exercises are easy to follow, and you get to watch real people do them (no creepy avatars here).
Loathe: To really make the most of this app, you’re going to need to make some in-app purchases. Without the workouts, it’s pretty much your basic tracking app.
iOS (Free), Android (Free) - Endomondo
endomondo
Best for: Fitness fiends
Endomondo isn’t just a running app — you can track almost any kind of outdoor workout, from kayaking to skiing. It’s got the standard social media integration you’d find in any app, but Endomondo really encourages you to get social. You can join challenges to compete against friends and other users in all sports, and sharing your victories is highly encouraged.
Love: This app offers integration with practically everything, including Fitbit, Garmin, Jabra, smartwatches, and much more, so if you’re already committed to a fitness tracker you don’t need to jump ship. It’s also available for most smartphones.
Loathe: You have to purchase a subscription ($2.50/month) to get rid of ads and to get running training plans, which seems a little steep compared to other running apps. You also have to enter indoor workouts (i.e. treadmill time) manually.
iOS (Free), Android (Free), Windows (Free)
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best running app for apple watch
The Apple Watch is now a seriously good running partner. Of all the smartwatches with run tracking, it’s the one that stands out for the right reasons.
With the arrival of the Series 7, Apple has largely stuck to the same formula as the Series 6 delivering a smartwatch that delivers strong GPS and heart rate performance based on our testing.
Bookmark this: The best Apple Watch apps to download
If you’re tracking your runs, you’ll likely turn to Apple’s Workout app first. If over time you feel like that app doesn’t quite cut it, there’s thankfully plenty of other Apple Watch running apps lurking inside of the Apple App Store that serve you better.
We’ve tested most of them across using the Apple Watch Series 7, the Watch SE, the Series 3 and other older Apple Watch models. These are the apps that have stood out for the right reasons.
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Best workout apps for Apple Watch users
Nike Run Club
Nike Run Club
Now rebranded as Nike Run Club as opposed to Nike+ Run Club, it’s no surprise to find that this particular Apple Watch app looks very slick. There’s a reason why an Apple Watch Nike edition exists. The two brands working together just makes sense.
Read this: Ultimate guide to Nike Run Club
Getting into the app, the essence of how things work is that you can view most recent runs, tracking runs (without your phone) and follow one of the many audio guided workouts from Nike coaches and athletes.
It’ll also track indoors runs and offers settings like enabling/disabling auto pause, deciding on the frequency of performance updates and a Twilight mode will change the display to more neon colors if the ambient light sensor detects that lighting conditions are dim.
It’s quick to load, easy to navigate and runs are simple to start. You can add a Nike+ Run Club complication to your Apple Watch face that launches straight into the app where you get to choose from Quick start, ‘Match Your Last Run’ or a choice of distance, duration and speed runs, although the latter requires your phone.
Things have improved when using the app and the big, bold screen metrics are really easy to read – and you can swap between data screens by scrolling the Digital Crown. You also get heart rate, duration and distance.
There’s an indoor mode for tracking treadmill runs, too, but you have to remember to flick between indoor and outdoor settings manually. In our tests, we also found the distance to be a long way off what the treadmill told us we’d run, though that isn’t too uncommon with wrist-based platforms.
There are other nice touches, like complications support and the ability to set a reminder for ‘When are we running’ next, but this is limited to time slots from the current day. It doesn’t recognise if you’ve already run and it would be nice to be able to set a reminder a little further into the future.
Works without phone: Yes
Complications to launch from home screen: Yes
Free | Download
Strava: Run & Ride Training
Strava: Run & Ride Training
If you’re a runner, there’s a strong chance you’ve heard of Strava. If you haven’t, you probably know a fair few people that won’t track a long Sunday run without soaking up the kudos on the popular app.
The good news is that there is a Strava Apple Watch app and it’s one that since its launch has evolved into one of the strong options to consider having packed onto your smartwatch.
It’s also one that can work without relying on your iPhone, letting you see real-time data straight from the Watch screen. We’re big fans, and we’ve found that the Strava app tends to be more accurate than the Apple’s native Workout app when you bring your iPhone along with you.
In terms of what it will let you do, you can track both outdoor and indoor runs offering staple running stats and will make use of Apple’s heart rate monitor to let you know how hard you’re working. You’ll also get audio cues to hear pace and distance updates.
If you’re willing to pay up for Strava subscription too, you can make use of the series of training plans and workouts to mix up your running sessions. Strava has since enabled users to import sessions from the Workout app – but these need to be paired manually, so we’re sticking with the Strava standalone app for now.
Works without phone: Yes
Complications to launch app from home screen: Yes
Free | Download
Apple Workout
Apple Workout
Workout has improved as the Apple Watch has become more focused towards fitness.
You can start a host of workouts from the Workout app, and there’s modes for Indoor and Outdoor run. And you get plenty of data displayed on the watch itself, as well – which can be edited in the Apple Watch companion app.
You can use your iPhone to choose to display distance, current pace, heart rate, duration, average pace, active calories or total calories. You can dictate the order in which they’re displayed, and also select between a single and multiple metric view.
Over time, Apple has added features like Automatic exercise detection, cadence tracking and things like rolling pace, which offers analysis of your speed in the last km/mile, in addition to average pace.
You’re given one screen showcasing your stats, while a swipe to the left makes it easy to switch your tunes up and a quick right swipe can pause or end proceedings.
The post run stats screen is fairly comprehensive with distance, time, active calories, overall calories, average pace, average heart rate. You can view outdoor routes back on your iPhone, pair up a Bluetooth heart rate monitor chest strap if you don’t trust the Watch data and also offers a power saving mode to help make sure the battery goes the distance when you do.
Works without phone: Yes
Complications to launch app from home screen: Yes
WorkOutDoors
WorkOutDoors
Over the last few years, WorkOutDoors has emerged as one of the standout Apple Watch apps for runners. Particularly if you’re big into your stats and having control over how those stats are displayed on your Watch too.
It’s the combination of the vector maps and the ability to fully customise data screens with up to 300 real-time metrics at your disposal that gives it real appeal over other Apple Watch running apps. That mapping approach makes it much easier to interact with them on the watch screen and makes surveying surrounding running terrain a more pleasurable experience.
You can go full screen with those maps and make use of real-time breadcrumb trail navigation, letting you use the Watch crown to zoom into areas. The color coding to help you point out hilly and flat parts of your location are also handy too.
You can create workouts, store maps for offline use and then head to the iPhone app to dig deeper into your data. It’s here where you can upload GPX route files to fire over to the Apple Watch.
It also has dedicated modes for other activities including cycling and hiking. If you’re runner though, this is one that’s well worth paying for.
Works without phone: Yes
Complications to launch app from home screen: Yes
$5.99 | Download
Watch to 5K
Watch to 5K
There’s a lot of Couch to 5k apps on the App Store, but the one that stands out for the Apple Watch is this one that works independently from your phone.
The concept is to get running beginners up to 5k distance within two months and three runs a week. This one is well optimised for key Watch letting you listen to music and will drop the volume to let you hear the audio cues telling you what you need to do and how you’re performing.
It’ll track key stats like distance, average pace, calories burned and heart rate in real-time. It’ll let you view workouts in Apple’s Fitness app and it’s compatible with Apple Health too.
The UI looks great, and it’s generally a really easy app to get to grips with, which is ideal if you’re delving into running for the first time. If you want a Couch to 5k Apple Watch app, this is the one we think you should be downloading.
Works without phone: Yes
Complications to launch app from home screen: No
$2.99 | Download
Runkeeper
Runkeeper
Unlike some options on this list, Runkeeper was early on the standalone app train. And just like Nike Run Club, it will also guesstimate your distance if you’re hitting the treadmill.
When it comes to the watch app, though, there’s not much to play with in terms of personalisation. Before you set out you can set a target pace and a maximum heart rate but that’s all.
One thing we loved about Runkeeper was the ability to create and follow set workouts. There are three pre-set options that include 20 Minute Easy Workout, 2.25 Mile or 2 Miles with Rest, or you can build custom workouts in the phone app and they’ll sync automatically to the list in the Apple Watch app.
This immediately turns Runkeeper into a more serious training tool, opening up all kinds of options for speed and interval sessions. Setting up a workout takes just a few minutes and the only real criticism we have is that the distance increments are too big (the smallest you can set is 0.25km, making it impossible to add 200m recovery sections into any speed work), and you can’t set intervals based on a distance and a time target. It’s either or.
In run mode, the screen is split into three areas with the top segment fixed to show duration and GPS signal strength. You can tap the middle segment to switch between distance and current pace, while tapping the bottom segment flicks between showing current and average pace, current pace and heart rate. You can also swipe left to see splits. There’s also audio cues here along with integration for Spotify and Apple Music
As with most Apple Watch running apps, there’s no run history shown in the app – you need to fire up the phone to delve deeper into your data. If you pay up for Runkeeper Go, you’ll get access to training plans. Without that spend, you’ll still get a solid Apple Watch running experience that will let you leave your iPhone behind too.
Works without phone: Yes
Complications to launch from home screen: Yes
Free | Download
RunGo
RunGo
A free Apple Watch app that lets you build your own offline routes or select from 400,000 pre-installed ones, RunGo’s specialty is its ability to cater for the visually impaired through voice assistance.
These supported routes include race courses, run tours and will chat to you about local landmarks and interesting stories about the area like your very own run tour. It’s now added a virtual run support for when you can’t get to those locations, but you can still learn about the history and get a trivia fix running closer to home or on a treadmill.
It can also give you the basics from the wrist, such as pace, distance, splits and elevation, while you can import GPX format routes to send over to the Watch and get turn-by-turn directions. Premium features include live tracking for friends and family to follow along, plus interval training.
While owners of the Series 2 and above can take advantage of workouts without the phone, RunGo has also jumped on to ARKit and developed a feature that allows to people to view routes and directions with the help of AR. We’d anticipate this solid Apple Watch running app could be a contender to branch out to Apple’s purported smartglasses when that time comes, but for now it’s limited to phones.
Works without phone: Yes
Complications to launch from home: Yes
Free | Download
SIT (Simple Interval Timer)
SIT (Simple Interval Timer)
This isn’t the best looking app you’ll ever download, nor is it a bonanza of run-coaching features. What it is, however, is a fantastically uncomplicated tool that has everything you need to set up interval sessions in a flash, direct from your Apple Watch. That’s right, SIT gives you the kind of control most of the apps on this list would benefit from.
All you have to do is choose the number of sets, the duration of your efforts and then the time you want to rest. Hit Go and you’re presented with a screen that shows which set you’re on out of the total number, a countdown of how long is left to go in this set or this rest period and your current heart rate.
There are many improvements we’d make to this app: for example, there’s no audio or vibration alert to tell you when you’re moving between work and rest. We’d also love to see a variety of interval types, such as distance and even heart rate-based efforts, but this isn’t a bad start.
Works without phone: Yes
Complications to launch from homescreen: No
Free | Download
Conclusion
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