Running is a great way to see the world, get fit, and stay in shape.
Running apps have been around for years, but with all the technology out there, it can be hard to know which app is the best one for you and your needs. Some apps are designed to track your running data, while others are more social in nature. We’ve compiled a list of some of our favorite running apps so that you can pick the one that’s right for you!
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Best Apps For Running Tracking
Whether you’re training for your first 5K or your fourth marathon, the best running apps on the market will help you track your training and help you reach your goals. Most of the best running apps will connect to your running watch or fitness tracker for accurate data, they can also provide advice, motivation and just make heading out for that daily run a little bit more fun.
The world of running apps can seem overwhelming, and finding the right one for you can be costly. Like a class at the gym, there’s no one-size-fits-all running app, and each has its own pros and cons to suit different runs. To simplify the process, we’ve filled our phones up with some of the most popular running apps on the market to help you click download on the best one for you.
Whether you want an app that helps you smash your PB at your next half marathon, one that turns your daily run-commute into a game or just something to help you burn fat while running, we’ve found something for everyone. So download, lace-up, and let’s go find the best running app for your needs, whether you run outside or on a treadmill.
What are the best running apps for your smartphone?
The best running app depends on what you want the app to do. For tracking run data, the best running apps are Strava, Map my Run, and Runkeeper. Strava has the added benefit of tracking cycling, swimming, and cross-training workouts too, so you can keep all your training in one place.
If you’re a completely new runner, the Couch to 5K running app is a brilliant way to get started, building you up slowly from a run-walk, to a continuous 5K. For those hitting the treadmill, the Peloton app and Apple Fitness Plus both have a range of workouts to keep you entertained.
If you’re just a bored runner that’s looking for a running app that will make your runs more exciting, apps like Stride and Zombies! Run, are great at keeping you entertained.
The best running apps for Android and iOS
- Strava
Best running app overall
A screenshot from Strava, one of the best running apps
(Image credit: Strava)
If you need people around you to keep you motivated, Strava is the app to download right now. The community part of the app allows you to follow your friends, running frenemies, and work colleagues and even set up group challenges, like fastest 5K or longest monthly mileage.
That said, if you’re not a competitive runner, don’t let this put you off. Strava has all the running tracking features you’d expect – from running speed and distance travelled, to more in-depth performance analytics and weekly miles.
Strava supports a variety of running trackers in addition to Wear OS devices and Apple Watch. (Just make sure you opt out of the location tracking features if you happen to be around restricted areas.)
There are also handy features like Strava Beacon, which are designed to keep you safe, by allowing your friends or family members to track your live location on a run.
Strava supports a variety of running trackers in addition to Wear OS devices and Apple Watch. (Just make sure you opt out of the location tracking features if you happen to be around restricted areas.)
Alongside the free version of the app, Strava has a paid-for membership, named Summit. Strava Summit gives you access to more features, such as more in-depth race and performance analysis and the Strava maps feature, which allows you to easily find route suggestions from your current location. Strava Summit costs $5.00 per month or $59.99 per year.
Read our full Strava app review here.
Download Strava Running and Cycling: Android, iOS
- Map My Run by Under Armour
Best running app for map building
a screenshot from the ‘map my run’ running app
(Image credit: MapMyFitness)
Map My Run, now developed by Under Armour, uses the GPS and other sensors in your phone to track and map your running course, time, speed, and total distance traveled.
The app displays both your real-time stats and your end-of-run totals. Useful extras include support for a variety of fitness trackers and heart rate sensors, Wear OS support and nutrition tracking. A premium subscription provides voice coaching and location sharing and removes ads.
Another cool feature now that the app is developed by Under Armour is that newer Under Armour running shoes will connect to Map my Run via Bluetooth, allowing your shoes to sync your running data to the app the second you step back through the front door.
Enjoy other activities besides running? You’ll find separate apps for cycling, walking and general fitness from Under Armour in both Google Play and Apple’s App Store.
Read our full Map My Run app review.
Download Map My Run: Android, iOS
- Runkeeper
Best running app for training plans
a screenshot from the ‘runkeeper’ running app
(Image credit: ASICS Digital)
A perennial favorite among runners, Runkeeper uses your phone’s GPS to track your running, cycling, hiking and other distance activities. The app records your pace, distance, total exercise time, calories burned and other useful metrics, while delivering a variety of training plans, complete with reminders and gamified challenges.
Users can go freeform or download and follow popular running routes. You can measure your progress and workout history, as well as sync with numerous other apps and services and receive detailed reports of your tracked activity.
Runkeeper also works with a variety of smartwatches and fitness devices such as the Apple Watch and Wear OS devices.
Read our full Runkeeper app review.
Download Runkeeper: Android, iOS
- Peloton
Best running app for treadmill runners
a screenshot from the peloton app, one of the best running apps
(Image credit: Peloton)
If you’re a runner who prefers to clock your miles indoors, finding an app that makes treadmill running more fun can be a challenge. The good news? The Peloton app can be used on all treadmills, not just Peloton’s own Tread, and it’s got loads of great on-demand and live classes for runners to choose from.
The main plus with the Peloton app is its trainers – from Becs Gentry to Chase Tucker. There are themed runs for runners who want to have fun, we particularly loved the Disney run, and you can tailor the runs by time or your goal. The sessions were extremely motivating and were easy to follow even using an iPhone propped up against the screen of the treadmill.
Peloton offers a month’s free trial for their app, which is a fantastic amount of time to really test its different features (there are cycling and strength training workouts on there too). After that, it’ll cost $12.99 per month.
Read our full Peloton app review, and our Peloton Tread review here.
Download Peloton: Android, iOS
- NHS Couch to 5K
Best running app for beginners
A screenshot of the NHS couch to 5K running app
(Image credit: Couch to 5K)
An app that became extremely popular during the Coronavirus pandemic, the NHS Couch to 5K app is a brilliant way to take your first steps into the world of running. Developed by Public Health England, the app takes you from zero to running for 30 minutes in as little as nine weeks.
You can choose your own personal trainer, who give you audio prompts and encouragement along the way. The app starts with a mixture of run-walking intervals, giving you audio prompts of when to start running. You’ll then gradually build up to running more of the session than walking.
While it might be limited in some ways (it’s only really suitable for new runners, or runners returning from time off), it’s a brilliant way to get into a regular running routine. It’s also completely free.
Read our full NHS Couch to 5K app review here.
Download NHS Couch to 5K: Android, iOS
- Stride
Best new running app
Screenshot of the Stride running app
(Image credit: Stride)
Relatively new to the running app market, Stride allows you to track your runs and walks via your phone’s GPS and play against other users nearby to control the biggest territory. You can play with neighbours or friends for champion status, and you’ll get rewarded for determination over speed.
This isn’t the best app for serious runners – there are no training plans or competitive running metrics, but if you want to make running with your local running club more fun, it’s a cool way to do that.
There’s a 7-day free trial when you download the app, after that it’s $3.99 per month. There’s also a yearly subscription that starts from $22.99 per month.
Read our full Stride app review.
Download Stride: Android, iOS
- Apple Fitness Plus
Best running app for treadmill runners with an Apple watch
A screenshot of the Apple Fitness Plus app
(Image credit: Apple)
Another one for treadmill runners, the Apple Fitness Plus subscription has a number of treadmill workouts to keep you busy. It’s tough to choose between this and Peloton, we found the Peloton app slightly more user-friendly but loved the lively Hip Hop sessions on Apple Fitness Plus and the fact you get a three-month subscription free when you buy an Apple Watch.
The sessions are divided up by time and music, so if you’ve only got 10 minutes to spare, that’s enough to get a sweat on. There are not the same live workouts as there are on the Peloton app, but Apple has announced that group classes will be rolled out onto the platform later this fall.
Unsurprisingly, Apple Fitness Plus is only available on Apple devices. Apple Fitness Plus costs $9.99 for a month or $79.99 for a year.
Read our full Apple Fitness Plus review here.
How to subscribe to Apple Fitness Plus
- Nike Run Club
Best running app for runners with an Apple Watch
a screenshot from the Nike Run Club running app
(Image credit: Nike)
Nike may have ditched the FuelBand, but the company still makes a mean run tracker with the Nike Run Club, which now comes baked in with the Nike+ edition of the Apple Watch. The Nike Run Club app itself has added Apple Watch complications to provide at-a-glance stats and motivation, so this is an ideal option if you’re a new Apple Watch 6 owner.
Designed for beginners and veteran runners alike, the app is an all-around run tracker, music player and social networking tool for runners. The app measures a variety of metrics such as your pace, distance run and mile splits; it also includes a variety of coaching plans that adapt to your fitness goals and progress.
Once you’re done with your run, you can share your details complete with photos, stats and stickers, and compare your progress with other runners. In addition to the built-in music player, the app also allows you to listen to audio cheers sent by friends, as well as encouragement from Nike’s pro athletes.
Read our full Nike Run Club review here.
Download Nike Run Club: Android, iOS
- Zwift
Best running app for runners who run and cycle in the gym
a screenshot from the Zwift running app
(Image credit: Zwift)
If you find yourself doing a lot of exercising at home these days, Zwfit can help you change up your surroundings while you shelter in place. And the mobile app even adds a little gamification to your runs as part of the bargain.
With Zwift, you can take your runs to virtual courses, while staying on your treadmill. Along with the different courses, you’ll run alongside other people, using their times for encouragement or competition.
You’ll need a compatible treadmill and footpod to make Zwfit work — the company lists compatible devices on its website. But the run aspect of Zwift is free to use. (Zwift also works with cycling, but after a 7-day trial, rides require a $15 monthly membership.) If you’ve got the right equipment, Zwfit offers a unique way to get more out of your at-home runs.
Download Zwift: Android, iOS
- Charity Miles
Best running app for motivation
a screenshot from the Charity Miles running app
(Image credit: Charity Miles)
Going out for a run can do more than just improve your health — it can also raise money for a good cause. Charity Miles looks to take all that exercise you’ve been logging and turning it into cash for the charities of your choice, whether you get friends, family and employers to sponsor you, or you direct money from Charity Miles’ corporate sponsorship pool.
When you launch the app, you can pick the charity of your choice — there are more than 50 supporting causes that range from Autism Speaks and Feeding America to the American Lung Association and the Nature Conservancy. The Charity Miles app then syncs with either the Apple Health data stored on your iPhone or the built-in pedometer on your Android device. (It also syncs up with Strava, the best running app on this list.) Then, every time you log a mile as you run, you’re earning money for your charity.
Download Charity Miles: Android, iOS
- Zombies, Run!
Best running app for Walking Dead fans
a screenshot from the Zombies, Run! running app
(Image credit: Six to Start)
Zombies, Run! gives you the chance to jazz up your 5K round the park with a Zombie apocalypse. Feel like you’re in a computer game as you attempt to gather supplies, rescue survivors, and save the world from the Zombies. In the app, you have the option to choose between GPS, step counting, or treadmill running, as well as whether or not you want to be chased by zombies during your run.
If this all sounds a little farfetched, do not fear – there’s still the option to link the app to your favourite music player and set a duration of how long you want to run for. While this probably isn’t the best app on the market for serious training, if you want to mix things up and have a little fun, it’ll do the job.
Download Zombies, Run!: Android, IOS
How to choose the best running apps
Most of the apps featured here are free, though a few offer subscriptions that deliver more advanced features, such as guided workouts, location sharing and training plans. You can decide if these extra features are worth the recurring cost or whether you can make do with the free tier. (Some free apps are ad-supported, so you’ll have to decide if that’s too much of a nuisance.)
As we’ve noted, different running apps focus on different things. So choosing the best running app for your needs depends heavily on what you want to use the app for — Tracking your stats? Mapping your runnings? Playing music that complements your workout? — and picking the one that ticks all those boxes.
If you do opt for an app that maps where you run, check out that app’s privacy policy to see where that data is stored and who has access to it.
Here’s how to train for a marathon
Best yoga mats for home workouts
Find the best running watches
offline running app
Whether you’re getting off the grid, don’t have a local SIM card yet, or just prefer not to be connected all the time, you’ll undoubtedly find yourself traveling without the internet at some point.
The good news is that being disconnected, by choice or otherwise, doesn’t mean being lost. Many navigation apps work entirely offline, and the GPS in most smartphones and tablets also doesn’t need a data connection to work. There’s no need to break out the paper maps quite yet!
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Can I Use GPS Without an Internet Connection?
Yes. On both iOS and Android phones, any mapping app has the ability to track your location without needing an internet connection. Without getting too complicated, the GPS system inside your smartphone works in two different ways.
When you have a data connection, your phone uses Assisted GPS, or A-GPS. This uses the locations of cell phone towers and known Wi-Fi networks to figure out roughly where you are.
When you first load your navigation app, you’ve probably seen your location go from a big blue circle to a smaller, more precise circle.
That big circle comes from the cell tower and crowd-sourced Wi-Fi information, while the smaller, more precise circle comes once the information from GPS satellites gets added to the mix.
A-GPS doesn’t work without data service, but the GPS radio can still get a fix directly from the satellites if it needs to.
Finding the initial location will take longer with this method, and the accuracy will be more dependant on things outside of your control like terrain and surrounding buildings, but it does work.
What About My iPad? Does That Have GPS?
In its infinite wisdom, Apple decided long ago to only put physical GPS chips into its higher-end iPads. Models with cellular data include a GPS chip, but the Wi-Fi-only models don’t.
Those cheaper models rely entirely on Wi-Fi triangulation, meaning they’ll track your location somewhat effectively if you have a Wi-Fi connection, but not at all otherwise. As a result, they’re not much good for navigating offline while traveling.
Does Using Airplane Mode Turn Off GPS?
Most people assume that putting their phone into airplane mode disables all radio services, but that’s not entirely true. While Wi-Fi, cell service, and Bluetooth all stop working in flight mode, there’s at least one important exception: GPS.
Because the GPS radio can only receive, not transmit, it’s not necessary for it to be disabled during flight. As a result, GPS doesn’t automatically turn off when you enable airplane mode on recent versions of either Android or iOS.
That’s a benefit for travelers, especially those without affordable cell data overseas. Keeping your phone in flight mode lets you avoid roaming charges, while still being able to effectively use it for navigation.
If you’re paranoid about being tracked by GPS when you don’t want to be, however, you can still turn the GPS radio off manually.
To disable GPS tracking on iOS, go to Settings > Privacy > Location Services. On Android, you’ll find equivalent settings for turning off location tracking under Settings > Security & Lock Screen > Location on older versions or Settings > Location on newer ones.
Which Are the Best Offline Maps Apps?
There are many different offline navigation apps out there, but not all are created equal. We’ve covered seven of the best of them below, and since they all have somewhat different features and specialties, you may find yourself using more than one during your trip.
Note that no matter which app you go for, offline maps for the entire world won’t be automatically available on your device. Make sure you download the necessary map data for the country or region you’re going to ahead of time.
These maps are often quite large (hundreds of megabytes), so they’re best downloaded in advance over Wi-Fi.
MAPS.ME
MAPS.ME screenshot
With well over a hundred million downloads, MAPS.ME has easily proved its offline navigation credentials. The app gives you walking, cycling, or driving directions at any time, with real-time public transport and traffic information available when you’re online.
Maps are taken from OpenStreetMap’s extensive database, and there’s a wide range of points of interest including restaurants, cafes, and much more. The company has also put together custom itineraries for 600+ cities around the world, which are also available offline.
If you do happen to be connected, there’s a useful location-sharing feature that lets you send a link to a travel companion, or anyone else who wants to see where you are in real time.
All features of MAPS.ME are free to use as long as you’re happy to see a few ads. If not, you can pay for a weekly, monthly, or annual subscription to remove them.
Android and iOS, free (with ads)
CityMaps2Go
CityMaps2Go screenshot
Covering 150+ countries both online and offline, CityMaps2Go (iOS/Android) offers detailed city guides as well as the standard navigation features. You can choose to download both, or just the map data.
You can save any number of locations in advance, letting you create a custom itinerary of places to visit and things to do. Usefully, your saves sync across all of your devices.
All of the usual points of interest are included, along with short reviews written by other app users. Public transport information is also available for many cities.
The free version of the app is ad-supported and lets you download a single offline map at a time. Upgrading to the Pro version removes both the ads and the map limit.
iOS and Android, free or from $10.99 for Premium.
GuruMaps
GuruMaps screenshot
If you’re interested in recording your journey while you explore, check out GuruMaps. Formerly called Galileo Offline Maps, the app lets you track where you go, monitor real-time stats like distance covered and average speed, and share the resulting file in the common GPX and KML formats.
You can download maps for an entire country with a single tap, which is much more convenient than selecting individual areas or regions. Bookmarking and offline searching are also included.
Most features of GuruMaps are free, while the others (including GPS tracking) only cost a couple of dollars. It’s a straightforward, inexpensive, and useful offline navigation app.
iOS and Android, free or up to $3.99 for extra features
Here WeGo
HereWeGo screenshot
One of the pioneers of offline navigation, we’ve been using Here WeGo for several years (and reviewed it in the past). It remains an excellent choice, despite a new name and changes of ownership over the years.
Downloading maps for entire US states or 100+ countries can be done with a couple of taps, and includes walking, cycle, and vehicle-based navigation. Driving instructions are particularly strong, including turn-by-turn directions.
When you’re online, you’ll get public transit directions in 1300+ cities, and you can even book a taxi if needed.
Here WeGo is available for Windows and in a desktop browser as well as the mobile apps. Plotting out itineraries and bookmarking points of interest is easier on a big screen, and can be saved as “collections” that sync across devices.
iOS and Android, free (ad-supported)
OsmAnd
OsmAnd screenshot
If you like the idea of open-source, community-driven mapping, OsmAnd will be right up your alley. Using data from OpenStreetMaps and Wikipedia, and with viewing options ranging from roads and hiking trails to public transport and waterways, this is one of the most flexible offline navigation apps we’ve come across.
You’re able to download offline maps by region or country, choosing between the complete (larger) file or just the (smaller) road network information. The free app lets you download seven map files, with no limit in the Plus version.
Unlike (eg) Google Maps, you get full walking, cycling, and driving directions offline, with a specific navigation mode for those on foot or bikes. You’re even able to add a plugin that shows contour lines and hill shading to help avoid (or seek out!) steep climbs.
You’re able to record your trips and save them as standard GPX files, and quickly gauge distances via concentric circles overlaid on the map. If you encounter any changes or errors along the way, an editor is built into the app to provide updates back to Open Street Maps.
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