Walking and running are great ways to stay in shape, relieve stress, and take a break from the hustle of everyday life. And these days, you don’t have to go on those walks and runs alone—there are all sorts of apps out there that can help you get the most out of your exercise.
We’ve rounded up some of the best apps for walking and running, so no matter who you are or what kind of goals you’re looking to achieve, there’s something here for you.
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Best Apps For Walking And Running
Our entire lives exist within our smartphones. Calendars, emails, messages, calls, and everything in between. Phones are excellent tools not only for communication but for tracking physical activity. Mobile applications combine the best of technology with staying fit.
As two of the most readily available physical activities, running and walking are a simple and effective way to stay fit. Running and walking mobile applications help track activity, progress, calories, distance, time, and can help you map out your activities through GPS tracking. No longer will you need to memorize where to turn (third stop sign past the school) and get lost on route.
Mobile applications run both on Google’s Android and Apple’s iOS, the two predominant operating systems. In this article, we break down our top-10 choices for running and walking apps, with links to each platform. All are free, although they do have premium features unlocked through a subscription.
Strava
Strava is the social media platform used by runners, walkers, cyclists, swimmers, and more. Similar to other social media platforms that have news feeds with updates, Strava users upload their activities for their followers to see. It’s a great app to stay connected to the community and to keep yourself accountable.
The app also has additional features beyond activity tracking including route builders, groups, challenges, and popular nearby routes. You can also add your shoes to each activity to track how distance. Since you should switch out your shoes every 500-750 kilometres, this feature is great to ensure you’re wearing footwear that hasn’t degraded.
AllTrails
AllTrails is the encyclopedia of trail running. Thanks to both user-submitted and common running and walking routes, AllTrails is your one-stop-shop for exploring new routes, whether it’s in your own neighbourhood or you’re traveling the world.
The database contains more than 200,000 trails with trail info, maps, detailed reviews, and photos curated by millions of hikers, campers, and nature lovers. AllTrails operates on a freemium business model. It is accessible through a mobile app or a web browser for computers.
Apple users may recognize AllTrails through iOS’s native maps. In the summer of 2020, Apple partnered with AllTrails to add hiking information to their Apple Maps feature.
MapMyRun
MapMyRun allows you to track your distance, connect your devices, and reach your goals. Although its name inherently indicates it’s a running app, MapMyRun is great for running, walking, and fitness. This Under Armour-backed app also has pre-loaded routes in cities across the globe to find the best-crowdsourced routes near you.
MapMyWalk
MapMyWalk is the equivalent of MapMyRun, but for walking. This app tracks your activities, whether you’re out for a hike or out walking the dog. You can also upload your activities to your followers through the platform’s news feed feature.
Runkeeper
The ASICS Runkeeper app has the tools you need to become a stronger runner. Insights, workouts, and trainer guidance will get you to your goals. To help you reach your goals, Runkeeper includes customized training plans and tracks your runs and progress along the way.
For a full selection of Asics shoes, visit us in-person at Feet First Clinic located at 2481 Bloor St W.
Nike Run Club
Like the rest of the apps listed here, the Nike Run Club App tracks pace, location, distance, elevation, heart rate, and kilometre splits. Even better is you can customize what you see on the app when you’re mid-run or mid-walk. This app also has guided runs giving you a voice inside your head, as well as guided meditations thanks to Headspace.
Runtastic
Runtastic is an Adidas-backed activity-tracking application. It tracks all kinds of fitness activities – not just running and walking. This makes it great for active rehabilitation if you’re trying to prevent or treat joint and muscle pain. Select muscle groups and create your own workout that fits your schedule. Record your workouts and review your statistics. Join challenges to get motivated, compare your activity to others and push yourself in new ways!
Zwift
Like Peloton, the use of Zwift has skyrocketed due to the shift in WFH, and remote work. Zwift is a running physical training program that enables users to interact, train and compete virtually. Run or walk rain or shine indoors and connect with Zwift users from around the world to motivate yourself.
C25K 5K Trainer
C25K 5K is an app/program that helps beginners from couch potatoes to 5K distance runners in 8 weeks. With more than 5 million users, this app is awesome for those who want to start running or walking and don’t know where to start.
RunGo
RunGo is a running app whose standout feature is turn-by-turn voice navigation. Build your own route, or select one of the 500,000 routes worldwide, and follow a voice-guided tour, including every time there’s a turn or a cool landmark, or an encouraging reminder that you’re halfway there.
free walking apps for android
11 free walking apps
If you’ve got an iPhone or an Android-based smartphone and enjoy walking, downloading a relevant app could help you get the most from your outings. Each of our selection has a different feature to enhance your walks, from social functions that involve your friends to maps that encourage exploration.
We’ve listed eleven free walking apps to get you started.
1. MapMyWalk GPS for iPhone, Android or Windows
MapMyWalk allows you to see the time spent walking, distance, pace, speed, elevation, and calories burned. When you finish, MapMyWalk allows you to upload and save your workout data and view it both on the app and on the MapMyWalk website. If you can persuade friends to get involved, MapMyWalk’s social feature lets you share routes and encouraging words. You can also load a saved route to use again, or select routes that other MapMyWalk users have done in your area. You can connect with other wearables and apps such as Fitbit, Garmin, Jawbone, and MyFitnessPal, if you use them.
- Download for iPhone
- Download for Android
2. Fitbit App Mobile Tracker (No Fitbit Required)
You don’t need to own a Fitbit to use the Fitbit app. The Fitbit app can be used to track your walking workouts with GPS as well as your daily steps using the motion sensor on your phone. After downloading the application, and being prompted to select which tracker you are setting up, choose “no Fitbit yet” and it will set up the Mobile Tracker. Following each workout, you can review your route, distance, time, pace, mile split times, calories burned, and steps. You can also challenge your friends with virtual adventure races, if you feel like a bit of friendly competition.
3. Walkmeter GPS, available for iPhone and Android
Walkmeter has plenty of fun features to try. You can view your walks on a calendar or by route. It links with Google Maps so you can see terrain maps, and it even automatically records the weather. Walkers can transfer maps into the app directly from an email or your web browser, while Race Compete mode lets you compare your own times and speeds along a frequently trodden route. The app includes maps, graphs, training plans, heart rate zones and interval splits, and can be paired with an Apple Watch for a more personalised workout.
- Download for iPhone
- Download for Android
4. Footpath Route Planner for iPhone
Footpath allows you to easily map out routes. Simply trace a route with your finger, and Footpath will show all trails and roads that will allow you to complete your walk. It can measure the distance you’ll need to travel and the height you’ll be climbing. It allows you to save and share routes for a later walk, and can work offline too.
- Download for iPhone
5. Go Jauntly for iPhone and Android
Go Jauntly is a walking app that helps people discover over 700 walking routes throughout the UK. They have teamed up Transport for London to encourage city-dwellers to get walking. Information such as walking times to the nearest Tube station, Overground stations and Santander Cycles docking stations is available as well as directions for local walks and station accessibility. But it’s not just London-based: there are walks around the UK. As well as discovering existing routes, users can create their own, add their own photos, and share their creations with others.
- Download for iPhone
- Download for Android
6. AlpineQuest Off-Road Explorer, for Android
Another navigation app that’s great for exploring off the beaten track, the free (lite) version comes with online maps. If you want to access online maps for offline use, there is also a premium paid-for version of the maps. A useful feature is that you can create multi-layered maps, for example with an aerial photo layered on top of the terrain map. It includes a compass and map orientation function.
- Download for Android
7. Nike Run Club for iPhone or Android
Don’t let the name deceive you: this app can be used for walking too. Alongside standard route, time and speed tracking, helpful feature Auto-Pause freezes data collection when you stop moving, so there’s no need to worry about having a sit-down if you need it.
- Download for iPhone
- Download for Android
8. OutDoors GPS for iPhone or iPad
Access the full range of Ordnance Survey maps (although be aware that most are priced individually), or use Open Street Map or Google Maps for free. All maps can be stored in your phone – perfect for internet-free rural rambles. You can use the Route Builder function to plan a suitable walk, or import routes for online.
- Download for iPhone or iPad
9. ViewRanger, for Android
Turn your phone or tablet into a GPS unit with this app. You can access free Open Street Maps, or you pay to download Ordnance Survey maps – either as individual maps, or for the whole of the UK. Maps for other countries are available, too.
Use it to record routes as you go, and save waypoints. It will display location, altitude, and grid reference. You can plan routes on its website beforehand using a computer (easier with a larger screen) and then access them on your phone. There’s also a BuddyBeacon function which allows you to share your position with others using the app, or see where they are. You can import and export routes too, if you want to share them with others. can
- Download for Android
10. World Walking, available for iPhone and Android
Devised by cardiac rehabilitation instructor Duncan Galbraith the World Walking app is a constant pedometer, recording the number of steps you take each day. Users pick legendary global routes, such as Route 66 in the United States or Peru’s Machu Picchu Inca Trail, and try to take enough steps to complete it. The app encourages social interaction too and lets walkers form virtual clubs, working together to meet distance targets.
- Download World Walking for iPhone
- Download World Walking for Android
11. Strava, for iPhone and Android
Strava can be used to track more activities than you can shake a stick at, from cycling through to windsurfing, and of course, walking. With the help of GPS it can measure distance, time, elevation gain, calories and route. It’s even possible to track your heart rate if you sync the app up with your heart rate monitor.
Not only can you create and share your own walking routes with friends, you can look at heatmaps to see popular routes in your local area. The app also acts as a social network, allowing you to connect with friends and family to share details and photos of your activities.
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