# Watch to 5K－Couch to 5km coach — user reviews > 306 indexed App Store user reviews of Watch to 5K－Couch to 5km coach by Spaceman Digital Ltd, rated 4.90/5 from 1,170 ratings. - Source: https://appshunter.io/ios/app/watch-to-5kcouch-to-5km-coach/id1517914828/reviews - App overview in markdown: https://appshunter.io/ios/app/watch-to-5kcouch-to-5km-coach/id1517914828.md - Rating breakdown: 5★ 1,072 · 4★ 65 · 3★ 12 · 2★ 8 · 1★ 13 ## What do users think of Watch to 5K－Couch to 5km coach? Overall sentiment: positive **Pros** - 👍 Simple and easy to use - 🚀 Affordable compared to others - 🚀 Works great with Apple Watch - 👍 Intuitive interface - 👍 Seamless integration with Apple Fitness - 👍 Motivating and helpful for beginners - 👍 Tracks progress well - 👍 Doesn't require a phone **Cons** - 🐛 Unreliable notifications and timers - 🐛 Occasional app crashes - 🔇 Quiet audio prompts - 🔇 Lack of motivational feedback - 🔀 Abrupt difficulty increases in program **Commonly reported bugs** - Notifications not working consistently - Timer freezing during runs - Inability to pair with Bluetooth headphones **Most requested features** - Option to switch between miles and kilometers - Countdown timers for runs - More customization options - Ability to combine warm-up, run, and cool-down into one workout - Support for 10K and half marathon training ## Newest reviews (17 of 306) ### 2/5 — Functionality is frustrating *2026-07-20, version 8.0.1* Design looks nice but it's very annoying if you want audio prompts and music at the same time. I have to disconnect my headphones from my phone and connect them to the watch and then change the music output to the watch as well. Wouldn't have purchased if I knew I had to stumble through that process every time I use it. ### 2/5 — It’s ok but not smart enough *2026-06-27, version 8.0.1* The app itself is ok but when you need to redo the weeks, which absolutely every true bigger will need to do because couch to 5k is poor as a programme, the app does not track this at all and you aren’t sure where you are at. Not the apps fault but couch to 5k is designed by a marketer. Not a fitness expert. The jump from 8 minute intervals to 20 full minutes is just insane. It’s a poor programme for beginners. ### 4/5 — Works well but wish it included warm up/cool down in map *2026-05-20, version 8.0.1* Overall, I really like this app. The program is easy to follow and works well with my Apple Watch. My one complaint is I wish it included the warm-up and cool down in the map and total distance at the end. It feels weird sharing the map with stats when it doesn’t include the extra 10 minutes of exercise. ### 2/5 — Works well on the watch, but doesn’t show information needed during a run. *2026-05-11, version 8.0.1* Whilst running, the information on the watch face includes “avg. pace” which is nice to have, but isn’t helpful when trying to pace yourself. You cannot change this. The avg pace is, of course, an average - so it calculates using running and walking pace. It would be nice to see current pace to help maintain a desired speed. The other info it shows, during the run, is “calories”, this isn’t helpful information especially during the run! ### 5/5 — Great guided plan *2026-04-24, version 8.0.0* I have used this great app for couch to 5k and the extended 5k to 10k. It’s easy to use, easy to follow and apart from one or two glitches with not recording my run ( which support team are sitting out) I would recommend this app. Means I can run without my phone and hear both my music and the cues. ### 5/5 — Great watch app *2026-04-24, version 8.0.0* Excellent app on the Apple Watch and iPhone. Really helping me get moving again. ### 3/5 — New American Voice *2026-04-15, version 8.0.0* I love this app and how well it works with just an Apple Watch, meaning I can leave my iPhone at home on a run. It has been one of the best purchases I have made on the App Store. So imagine my horror when I went to use the app today and the nice inoffensive British sounding voice coach seems to have been replaced with a way less pleasing “way to go” American voice with no apparent way to change it back. Due to this unnecessary change, I am only giving it 3 stars sadly. Give me a way to get the nicer old voice back and I will happily give 5 stars. ### 5/5 — Great App *2026-04-15, version 8.0.0* Great easy to use app, really enjoy the runs and the progression of runs has been great for me. ### 5/5 — LOVE THIS APP *2026-04-13, version 8.0.0* I’m a 64 yr old who’s never liked running. 10 weeks ago I signed up for a MINI triathlon. I could run no more than 100 metres. The plan trains you in such a way that you don’t even know you’re improving. I felt intimidated at times but then I would complete that next run and shock myself. My challenge was to run 1.5km for the triathlon but I ended up running 3km. I completed the triathlon, but best of all I now enjoy running and run 3.5 km every second day. I’m up to week 9 and my challenge today is 5km. The app is so easy to use. I love it!!! ### 2/5 — Doesn’t output to Strava *2026-04-10, version 8.0.0* We all know if it’s not on Strava, it didn’t happen. This app will not output to Strava, which is frustrating and makes the app very redundant for those who like to look at their stats and see if there are improvements. ### 5/5 — An app that lets me disconnect *2026-04-05, version 7.3.0* This app has been a great tool to help me get into running, and I’m especially happy with the ability to track my run while leaving my phone behind. The lack of subscription is a huge plus too; I’m happy to have paid the one-time fee, and I’m happy enough with the app that I hope to be adding on the 10K program before too long. ### 2/5 — App *2026-04-05, version 7.3.0* I would like a verbal prompt ### 4/5 — Running announcement *2026-03-17* The App should voice the time after every 1km running,jogging or walking like apple App does. **Developer response:** Thanks for the suggestion. For the early runs in the 5K plan the focus is on guiding your run and walk intervals, so the coach calls those out instead of distance. For distance based runs, like in the 10K plan and Open Runs, the app does include distance announcements. Good luck with your running 👍 ### 3/5 — Not worth the money *2026-03-11, version 7.3.0* This app doesn't take advantage of the detailed tracking apple watch provides. Although it saves your workouts in the fitness app, it only has really basic stats. No cadence, no heartrate zones. The UI is slightly clunky too. ### 5/5 — Confused *2026-03-10, version 7.3.0* Enjoying the app however just finished run 2 of week 5 which is run 8 mins with 5 min walk in between but run 3 is run 20 mins straight!?!? Then week 6 is back to interval runs. Is this an error? Running 20 mins seems like a big jump ### 5/5 — Easy to get back to running *2026-02-21, version 7.2.0* I love this plan. ### 4/5 — No cadence tracking? *2026-02-10, version 7.2.0* Been using this app and it works alright. Since it's paid I wish it had more data such as cadence tracking, which apple watch does support but it's not included in the data when it exports the exercise segments for each day. ## Most critical reviews (10 lowest-rated) ### 1/5 — No voice via airpods *2026-07-04, version 8.0.1* I wrote to the company that makes this and received no response. I followed the faq troubleshooting and wrote a detailed message. Nothing. ### 1/5 — Poor *2026-06-18, version 8.0.1* Woman barely says anything, no encouragement and can’t get volume high enough. Sometimes can’t hear her speak and especially if listening to music. ### 1/5 — Very unstable App *2026-04-17, version 8.0.0* I have used this app a couple of times now, it used to be great but more recently it is so unstable. For instance my last run (week 7 day three) all went well, I was notified I was halfway by the American voice trying to sound Scottish, and then nothing, no notification of the end of run or warm down. When I got home I took a look at the data on the app and nothing was recorded, it appears to have just shut down mid run. I think I will have to swap apps as I cannot rely on this one anymore. ### 1/5 — Fundamentally broken *2026-02-02, version 7.1.2* Installed this on my (reasonably new) Apple watch and went for a run but it a number of issues that make it totally useless. 1. The app wouldn't keep the watch awake so the watch would repeatedly go back to the main time display (unlike the Apple Health workouts which stays on-screen). This means I had to to stop running, press the crown to get the app list, navigate to the app and re-open it (with my nose, it's cold and I have gloves on). 2. When doing this the first few times I got a music control page, this was confusing as I don't play music while running. It took me a while to work out that this was in the watch to 5k app as I've not selected that view myself. 3. The app claimed it would warn at the half-way mark so I could turn round, it didn't, leaving me with a 13 minute walk home (I figured out it hadn't warned me at half-way after a while) in the cold. 4. The app kept stalling at the end of the walking section. There were sometimes pauses of ~one to two minutes where the walking timer stayed at 0 and there didn't seem to be anything I could do to shift it. It eventually recovered each time, but it was significantly disruptive. 5. The developer begging for "tips" after charging for the app is distasteful. This app is fundamentally broken as it stands, I'm going to see if I can get a refund from Apple because it's so bad I won't be using it again. ### 1/5 — Terrible *2025-11-02, version 7.1.1* This is by far the worst running app I have tried. Don’t waste your money. ### 1/5 — Very Disappointing *2025-09-29, version 7.1.0* After a long break from running, I was excited to try this out given the positive reviews. Unfortunately there were egregious bugs during my first run. 1. The walk and run timers consistently freeze at zero for minutes at a time. 2. A voice announcing when it’s time to transition between running/walking was advertised. I listened but heard nothing, though there was a faint, easy to miss vibration. I had to stare at my watch the entire time (even more frustrating given the timer was usually stuck!) I’m a software engineer and I’m usually understanding of bugs, but how do you mess up a timer this badly, especially when it’s the core feature of your app? Is there just no QA happening whatsoever? Rival apps like “Just Run” are free and just *work*. I’m on the latest version on the latest iOS edition. At best this is a new bug that will be patched, given the other positive reviews that are presumably real, but I want a refund. ### 1/5 — Can’t install on kid’s Apple watch *2025-08-11, version 7.0.2* I would love to use this but have spent countless hours and can’t get it onto my child’s watch. This makes it pretty useless and a waste of money. Probably an Apple issue more than an app issue but I hope Apple can make it easier to set up devises for children without making them have their own phones. ### 1/5 — Crashed after 12 minutes *2025-06-16, version 7.0.1* Started out well (set was easy), then around 12 minutes in just stopped, and lost the data! 1 and out! ### 1/5 — No Audio, No Feedback *2025-03-04, version 6.2.0* Highly disappointed in this app. There’s no audio. It seems you need to connect directly to the watch. WARNING: Does not work with audio played from phone! This is very poor design choice. The haptics are also very very subtle. I can’t even feel them when running. The app is basically worthless. Waste of time and money. ### 1/5 — Very Disappointed *2024-11-19, version 6.1.0* I have had exactly the same experience as another reviewer so I have copied their review, and yes, I have paired my watch to my AirPods using Bluetooth as per the app instructions. Not had a good experience with this app. Thought it was worth a go considering it's a paid app so assumed it would be built better than all the free apps. Also main driver for getting it was the Apple Watch integration. Unfortunately the most important, most basic watch functions don't work. Like most people I listen to music when running, but the spoken 'coach' feedback (cues to start/stop running etc) only play out of the watch speaker. After I FINALLY managed to get them to play through my AirPods, they only play when the music is not! As a result I needed to rely on the haptic feedback, which only happens occasionally, and when it did the vibrations were very, very weak meaning I frequently missed the cause of when to start running. ## Most praised reviews (10 highest-rated) ### 5/5 — Love this app *2026-08-23, version 8.0.2* This app is great. The watch implementation is exactly what I’d want in a C25k running app. I successfully made it through the program thanks to using it! ### 5/5 — Great app *2026-08-16, version 8.0.2* This app does one thing and it does it very well- helping you through the couch to 5 k program. The low one off price is great value, with no need to purchase ongoing subscriptions. ### 5/5 — Love the app *2026-08-12, version 8.0.2* I’m on week 14 of the 10k expansion package. It has been perfect for me. I hope they will introduce longer programs. ### 5/5 — Great app, easy interface, lots of data *2026-08-08, version 8.0.2* I’ve tried several of these watch – based running apps and this one is by far the easiest to start up and actually follow. I start Pandora in the background, start Watch to 5k and away I go. I look forward to the different runs and reviewing the data once I get back in cool down. Seeing the different splits for the different intervals is very nice. It’s interesting to see how running segments of the same time produce shorter or longer distances and higher or lower heart rates based on going uphill or going downhill! ### 5/5 — Great! *2026-07-01, version 8.0.1* Takes all the guess work out prepping for 5k. ### 5/5 — TOP ! *2026-06-30, version 8.0.1* Macht genau das was es soll ! Komplett ohne Handy !! ### 5/5 — The motivation you need! *2026-06-22, version 8.0.1* Just enough to get you started running without all the off-putting complexity found in hard core runner apps - and no stupid subscription! The app gently increases the amount of running you will do each week so you're not overwhelmed and you can always repeat runs (or entire weeks) if you don't quite feel ready for the next step. Goals are celebrated regularly for encouragement. Even my spouse, who swore they'd never be a runner, has started using it and they're making great progress. Bottom line, the app is simple but it really works! ### 5/5 — This is a great app!! *2026-06-19, version 8.0.1* This is just after I finished my first run and it was very nice!! I like that it shows you your root and time per kilometer too!! I can’t wait to finish this and help improve my speed and reduce my asthma too!! Thank you so much!! Huge tip donated!!! ### 5/5 — Fantastic App for Beginners *2026-06-10, version 8.0.1* I’ve loved this app! I used this for my first 5k not using it for my first 10 k training!!! ### 5/5 — Nice app *2026-04-27, version 8.0.0* I hate walking but I want to improve my stamina as strength training is not enough The app is simple. It starts very slow so that even when you have almost no stamina at all you have the chance of getting in --- *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 2026-08-26.*