# RunningBuds — Talk while you listen to music

> Synchronized music listening and conversation over AirPods for friends. (iPhone/iPad app by Codelous, LLC.)

- Source: https://appshunter.io/ios/app/runningbuds/id6782477006 (this page in markdown: same URL + `.md`)
- Developer: [Codelous, LLC](https://appshunter.io/developer/6781313442)
- Category: Health & Fitness, Lifestyle
- Price: Free with in-app purchases
- Rating: 5.00/5 from 5 App Store ratings · 2 written reviews indexed
- Age rating: 12+
- Requires: iOS 26.0 · 20 MB
- Languages: American English
- Released: 2026-07-08
- Data updated: 2026-09-21
- Monetization: freemium
- User reviews in markdown: https://appshunter.io/ios/app/runningbuds/id6782477006/reviews.md

## What is RunningBuds?

Please note that RunningBuds requires an iPhone running iOS 26 or later and Apple AirPods with the H2 chip (for example, AirPods 4 or 5, or AirPods Pro 2 or 3). It will also work with most wired headphones that have a mic. Your friend needs the same setup - an iPhone on iOS 26 and H2-chip AirPods or wired headphones with a mic.

WHAT DOES IT DO?

Have you ever been out for a run, a ski day, or a ride with a friend and had to make a choice between talking to each other or listening to music? Maybe you just find it hard to hear what your friend is saying because you're not right next to each other. RunningBuds is the answer!

With RunningBuds you simply put in your AirPods, pair your phones, fire up your music, and start chatting!

RunningBuds is private. There are no accounts to sign up for, and your conversation is encrypted between you and your buddy's phones.

RunningBuds uses the latest audio technology to provide a high-quality conversation experience. It provides an on-phone voice activity detection system to only send your voice when you're talking, so your buddy doesn't hear background noises or heavy breathing as you run up that hill. If you've ever tried doing something like this over a phone call or with other apps, you've probably noticed that your music goes from high quality to sounding like hold music. RunningBuds fixes this with its custom audio engine, so your music and conversation remain at full quality!

RunningBuds works online and offline. Whether you’re within cell coverage or out in the wilds, you can keep the conversation going.

WHAT IT DOESN'T DO

Please note that RunningBuds is NOT a music-sharing service. You listen to your music on your phone, and your buddy listens to their music on their phone. The only thing that gets shared between phones is your conversation.

SUBSCRIPTION

RunningBuds offers a one-week free trial, a monthly subscription, and an annual subscription. Only the host (the person that creates the call) requires a subscription. Anyone joining a call can use it for free.

Payment is charged to your Apple Account at confirmation of purchase. Subscriptions automatically renew unless auto-renew is turned off at least 24 hours before the end of the current period. Any unused portion of a free trial is forfeited when you purchase a subscription. You can manage or cancel your subscription through the app or your App Store account.

Privacy Policy: https://www.runningbuds.app/privacy.html
Terms of Service: https://www.runningbuds.app/terms.html

## Key features

- Listen to music and talk simultaneously
- High-quality conversation audio
- End-to-end encrypted calls
- Voice activity detection
- No account sign-up required
- Host subscription model

## Pricing and in-app purchases

Base price: Free.

**Subscriptions**

| Subscription | Price | Period |
| --- | --- | --- |
| RunningBuds Monthly | $4.99 | per month |
| RunningBuds Annual | $39.99 | per year |


## Recent user reviews (2 of 2)

All indexed reviews: https://appshunter.io/ios/app/runningbuds/id6782477006/reviews.md

### 5/5 — Finally!!!

*2026-07-10*

I’ve been looking for something like this for a while. I NEED my music when I’m out for a run, but I usually leave my headphones at home when I’m running with someone. This app lets me have both and works surprisingly well. It’s simple to use, and the way it mixes voice with music is pretty cool. I emailed the developer and it sounds like an offline mode is coming soon, which I’m looking forward to because sometimes I’m out on the trails and don’t have cell coverage. Stoked this exists!

### 5/5 — Made Our Runs Even Better

*2026-07-10*

My boyfriend and I are usually either out for a run or on ride with our headphones in, so this has honestly been such a fun addition. We always had to choose between listening to music or talking, but now we get to do both. It’s actually easier to hear each other than when we’re running side by side without headphones.

It took me a minute to figure out all the settings, but once we got everything connected, it just worked. As someone who loves long runs with my favorite human, it’s made something we already love doing together even more fun.

## Frequently asked questions about RunningBuds

### What devices are compatible with RunningBuds?

RunningBuds requires an iPhone running iOS 26 or later and Apple AirPods with the H2 chip (such as AirPods 4, AirPods Pro 2, or AirPods Pro 3). It will not work on any other hardware.

### Does RunningBuds allow music sharing?

No, RunningBuds is not a music-sharing service. Each user listens to their own music on their own device. The app only shares your conversation between phones.

### How does the subscription model work for RunningBuds?

Only the host who creates the call needs a subscription. Friends can join for free. RunningBuds offers a one-week free trial, a monthly subscription at $4.99, and an annual subscription at $39.99.

### How can I cancel my RunningBuds subscription?

You can manage or cancel your subscription through the app or your App Store account. Subscriptions automatically renew unless auto-renew is turned off at least 24 hours before the end of the current period.

### Is my conversation private with RunningBuds?

Yes, RunningBuds is private. There are no accounts to sign up for, and your conversation is end-to-end encrypted between you and your buddy's phones.

### How often is RunningBuds updated?

The latest version of RunningBuds is 1.0.3, which was last updated on July 15, 2026. The app was initially released on July 8, 2026.

### What is the age rating for RunningBuds?

RunningBuds has an age rating of 12+. This indicates it is suitable for users aged 12 and older.

### Does RunningBuds have ads?

No, RunningBuds does not contain advertisements. The app is free to download and use, with optional subscriptions for the host.

## Version history (last 5 releases)

### 2.1.1 — 2026-09-14

RunningBuds 2.1.1 is a minor bug fix release that reduces the choppiness of partner speech in some scenarios when using Echo Reduction during an Offline call.

### 2.1.0 — 2026-09-11

Version 2.1.0 brings more improvements to RunningBuds, including:

- Echo Reduction has been further improved and works on up to 95% of echo (when you hear your voice through your partner's mic). It also now has a sensitivity slider, so you can adjust it to be more or less sensitive based on your usage scenario. More sensitive will make it block even more echo, but may mute some partner speech. Less sensitive will potentially let more echo through, but may be helpful when using RunningBuds with softly spoken partners.
- Improved resiliency of "online" calls when you phone has poor cellular connectivity.
- Improved voice quality for "offline" calls.
- Minor fixes to improve the user experience.
- Other small compatibility updates for iOS 27.

Please note that while version 2.1.0 has been tested to be compatible with prior versions of RunningBuds, there may still be minor backwards compatibility issues. It's suggested that all users upgrade to the latest version.

### 2.0.3 — 2026-08-20

Version 2.0.3 brings a lot significant improvements to RunningBuds, including:
- Better call recovery: RunningBuds now does a better job of saving a call when you have connection trouble
- Improved performance when it's windy: Wind is rough on microphones - RunningBuds does its best to find your voice and keep the conversation going
- Better echo reduction: The echo reducer in RunningBuds is now more effective, and catches up to 50% more echo (when 1m or further from your buddy)
- Your music keeps playing through call start, so you no longer have to restart it after you get connected
- Fixed several bugs that may have caused the app to crash or hang

### 2.0.2 — 2026-08-03

Version 2.0.2 improves Offline calls and the Echo Suppressor to help them work even better!

Loads of new features just shipped in version 2.0!

- RunningBuds now works offline! If you're going to be out of cell coverage you can pair your phones directly to start a call.

- RunningBuds now has echo suppression! Echo suppression attempts to detect when your voice is being picked up by your buddy's microphone so it isn't played back through your headphones. Please note that some echo is unavoidable if you're close to your buddy's mic. Echo suppression will continue to be improved in coming releases, and must be enabled in the app settings if you want to try it out.

- RunningBuds has a brand new visual design! The utilitarian look and feel has been replaced by a modern, fresh UI.

### 2.0.1 — 2026-07-24

Loads of new features just shipped in version 2.0!

- RunningBuds now works offline! If you're going to be out of cell coverage you can pair your phones directly to start a call.

- RunningBuds now has echo suppression! Echo suppression attempts to detect when your voice is being picked up by your buddy's microphone so it isn't played back through your headphones. Please note that some echo is unavoidable if you're close to your buddy's mic. Echo suppression will continue to be improved in coming releases, and must be enabled in the app settings if you want to try it out.

- RunningBuds has a brand new visual design! The utilitarian look and feel has been replaced by a modern, fresh UI.

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*Data collected daily from the US App Store and indexed by [AppsHunter](https://appshunter.io/). User reviews are verbatim App Store reviews. Ratings, prices and chart positions refresh continuously; this snapshot is from 2026-09-21.*