The 9 Best Running Apps for iPhone in 2024

From run trackers to running route planners, we have you covered

Track your run with the best running apps on iOS, including workout trackers, route builders, specialty biometric trackers, and unique music apps. You'll want these running apps on your iPhone if you're a serious runner.

01
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Plan Your Route: Footpath Route Planner

Footpath Route Planner app
What We Like
  • Drag-based path building is intuitive and capable

  • Accurate route-snapping requires only basic doodling skills

  • Turn-by-turn audio directions keep you on track without looking at your phone's screen

What We Don't Like
  • Route planning in detailed areas can be tedious

  • Topographic maps require monthly subscription fees

With Footpath Root Planner, you can create running and hiking routes by dragging on a map of an area. Snap to roads and trails for quick mileage calculations, or manually draw your route. With turn-by-turn directions, you'll get live navigation updates that keep you on track, which are crucial if you're off the beaten path.

02
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Train for Your Next Race: Nike Run Club

Nike Run Club app
What We Like
  • Audio encouragement makes a big difference in run motivation

  • Live workout publishing so your friends can cheer you on

  • Audio coaching from pro athletes and runners

  • Database of local clubs for major global cities

What We Don't Like
  • Personal information is archived by Nike indefinitely

  • Tracking can sometimes crash

Nike Run Club is a workout tracker that helps you get pumped up, with features like end-of-workout encouragement from athletes and voice coaching from famous entertainers. Guided runs provide audio feedback for specific run types, and coaching generates workouts to help you reach your goals.

03
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Basic Workout Tracking: Runkeeper

Runkeeper App
What We Like
  • Easy-to-use app interface for run tracking

  • Capture the essentials with minimal setup

  • Optional auto-tracking logs all your workouts

What We Don't Like
  • Serious runners will miss more detailed training options

  • Limited inclusion of detailed data like heart rate and breathing rate

  • No route building or tracking features

Runkeeper is a great run tracking application for most runners. Serious runners might miss more advanced features, but the app strikes the right balance between power and usability.

Track workouts with pace, distance, and GPS mapping; live voice feedback with multiple voices provides updates on distance and speed. Goals, social challenges, and race training options help you reach your running goals, and a well-designed interface keeps things from getting cluttered.

04
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Get Faster: Intervals

Intervals app
What We Like
  • Capable user interface for building and editing timers

  • Interval workout templates specifically for running

  • Customizable audio prompts for tracking workouts

What We Don't Like
  • Paid version of the app is required to set custom timers

  • Essentially a supercharged stopwatch

Interval training, or high-intensity interval training (HIIT), is a way of structuring intense and closely timed workouts, alternating brief and intense periods of activity with short periods of rest. With Intervals, you can build structured timers to track custom workouts. With the paid version of the app, you can use interval templates built specifically for runners.

05
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Route Creator and Tracker: Map My Run

Map My Run app
What We Like
  • Route discovery feature provides fresh courses

  • Route Genius generates new routes with AI

  • Voice tracking provides live updates on pace, distance, and route

What We Don't Like
  • Most useful features are locked behind a paywall

  • Free version is ad-supported, with banner and interstitial ads.

Map My Run's workout tracking includes all the basics like pace, time, distance, and mapping, as well as social sharing and live tracking of in progress workouts. However, the best feature is route discovery and creation. The paid tier can autogenerate routes with Route Genius, and any user can find and run nearby routes.

06
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A Commuinty of Athletes: Strava

Strava app
What We Like
  • Relative effort tracking helps compare workouts

  • Route building and tracking available with Strava.com

  • Substantial social network of serious athletes

What We Don't Like
  • Limited audio feedback options

  • No live coaching options

With Strava, you can track your duration, pace, and distance, as well as attach photos and share workouts with your friends and family. Create your own routes on Strava.com, then run them with audio guidance from the app. The best feature is the Strava community, a large and earnest group of professional competitors and serious amateurs training side-by-side.

07
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Run to the Beat of Your Heart: Zones

Zones app
What We Like
  • Provides high-caliber training methodology to all runners

  • Deep, precise insights into physical performance

  • Zone training helps stretch your limits by finding and exceeding them

What We Don't Like
  • Requires a heart rate monitor to be useful

  • Doesn't integrate with other training programs

  • Statistics and graphs are locked to the paid version

Most runners track their pace based on minutes per mile, but that's not the only way. If you track your pace based on heart rate and oxygen capacity, you can more precisely target specific fitness goals. Zones tracks your heart rate and provides audio feedback to meet your running goals based on pre-designed exertion curves.

08
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Real Coaches For Real Improvement: Runcoach

RunCoach app
What We Like
  • Real human coaches are far better than AI coaches

  • Incorporates past workout data and current goals to produce customized plans

  • Weekly workout plans are detailed and robust

What We Don't Like
  • Requires a disciplined commitment in order to get the most benefit

  • Human coach communication only available in paid version

Runcoach provides real coaching services with modern technology, producing meaningful coaching routines with human coaches. It incorporates past workouts to formulate a weekly plan that improves fitness, distance, or speed.

You're connected with a real human expert who creates your training plan for you with Runcoach's tools. The paid service includes a free two-week trial, during which you can test out the service to make sure the coaching is up to snuff.

09
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Stay Safe Out There: ROAD iD

Road ID app
What We Like
  • Friends and family can find an overdue runner or track location live with timed eCrumbs

  • Medical information can be saved within the app

What We Don't Like
  • First responders aren't likely to check your phone's apps for medical information if you need rescue

  • Tracking only works so long as your phone has a GPS and data connection

ROAD iD makes sure you don't go missing while running. It sends digital tracking information, called "eCrumbs" to friends or family. With this, they can see your current location and help find you if you get lost. If you run late at night or in dangerous or remote areas, ROAD iD is a good hedge against becoming a statistic.

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