Comparison

The Run Experience vs RunSmart

Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.

Head to head
About

The Run Experience

This app offers daily audio runs, training videos, and structured programs for various running goals. It includes injury prevention routines, strength training, and a community forum to connect with coaches and other runners. Track your progress and stay motivated on your running journey.

Highlights
  • Daily audio runs
  • Training challenges
  • Weekly training videos
  • Injured runner program
  • Interactive running programs
  • GPS run tracker
  • Community forum
Read full description

Build a new healthy running habit, improve your body, conquer your next challenge, and even train for your next race with The Daily Run by The Run Experience! As featured in Runner’s World, Competitor Magazine, Triathlete Magazine, Strava, Men’s Health, 60 Minute Sports, Outside Magazine, Ragnar Relay Series, and Active. APP FEATURES & BENEFITS: - NEW Daily Run workouts featuring a 10 min audio run and a video warmup and cool down to build strength and range of motion. - MONTHLY training challenges on strength, form, nutrition, and speed. Earn prizes & badges! - WEEKLY Training Videos with full workouts, racing tips, and training advice. - Stay healthy & get back to running faster with the Injured Runner Program. - Easily search workouts based on time, fitness goal, and equipment needed. - Interactive programs for Beginner, 5k, Half Marathon, and Marathon. - Indoor workouts and exercises to build your fitness at home. - GPS tracker for all your runs. - Talk directly to coaches and connect with runners in our community. - Integrates with Apple Health to keep track of your progress. NEW DAILY AUDIO RUNS New daily audio runs alternate between form, breathing, speed, mystery, and motivation. Each day is new and different, keeping it fun while making you a better, fitter runner. Or choose the alternate strength and yoga workouts for the days you don’t want to or cannot run. TRAIN FOR ANY RACE OR GOAL If you have a goal or race in mind, we have structured progressive programs for you to follow. All programs include specific run workouts and directions, strength exercises and warmups, and access to coaching to keep you on track! Or join one of our live training challenges in The Daily Run, earn prizes, and become part of our community! STAY HEALTHY WITH STRENGTH & INJURY PREVENTION TRAINING 90% of overuse injuries that runners experience are preventable and self-treatable by building a stronger body with improved range of motion and mechanics. The Injured Runner Program walks you through the exact self-care routine you should follow for your injury or pain point. At The Run Experience, we’re dedicated to bringing you the best training available, and we have helped hundreds of thousands of runners all over the world. Now you can finally get all that training in your pocket. A premium subscription or a free trial is required in order to access the content of this app. —————— Learn more about our terms of service at https://api.ongo.app/tos or privacy policy at https://api.ongo.app/privacy

About

RunSmart

This app provides personalized running plans adapted by AI and physical therapists to meet your unique goals and schedule. It offers expert-designed strength training, yoga, and stretching routines to enhance performance and prevent injuries. Track your progress with detailed analytics and integrate with popular fitness devices.

Highlights
  • Personalized training plans
  • Expert-designed workouts
  • Flexible scheduling
  • Progress tracking
  • Strength training
  • Yoga and stretching routines
  • Device integrations
Features
Read full description

Four training days aren't a limitation. It's a choice — and a legitimate one. RunSmart is built by Steve Gonser, PT DPT, a Doctor of Physical Therapy, who started the platform after watching runners consistently get hurt doing what other apps told them to do. The goal here isn't to turn you into an elite athlete. It's to keep you running next year, and the year after that. HOW YOUR PLAN IS BUILT → Your current mileage, not a generic starting point → Your race date and goal, not a one-size schedule → PT-informed load progression that builds fitness without stacking risk WHAT'S IN YOUR PLAN → Running workouts with paces tied to your current fitness → Strength training built for runners, not the gym floor → Mobility work that addresses what runners actually tighten up → Run Club — share runs, see what your training community is doing 4.8 stars. Used by runners who've been hurt before and can't afford to be again. "What a great day! Thanks for keeping me running strong and injury-free!" - Tammy "I can’t say THANK YOU enough. The training plans and strength training has kept me injury free and running strong!" - Sheila "I followed it exactly as Steve has it written out and I’m happy to report I’ve been running a whole month now with no pain." - Charlotte Distances: 5K · 8K · 10K · Half Marathon · Full Marathon · Maintenance Integrations: Apple Watch · Garmin · COROS Free to start. No credit card. No expiry. Still running in year five. That's the point. Terms of Use: https://runsmartonline.com/terms-of-use/ Privacy Policy: https://runsmartonline.com/privacy-policy

Screenshots

The Run Experience4 screens
RunSmart4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is ads: The Run Experience at none against RunSmart's shown. The Run Experience also leads on ratings volume (538 vs 117) and iOS requirement (13.0 vs 15.1). RunSmart's advantage is update cadence (every 2 days vs every 6 weeks) and review sentiment (98% vs 83%). On price, rating, in-app purchases and monetization model there is nothing between them.

Scored on Price · Rating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings · Update frequency · Ads · In-app purchases · Monetization · Best chart rank · Devices · Requires iOS

CostPrice · In-app purchases · Ads · Monetization

Both are free to download. The Run Experience sells 2 in-app purchases, starting at $19.99 per month and RunSmart sells 7 in-app purchases, starting at $15.00 per month. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

On the App Store both sit at effectively the same score — 4.8 for The Run Experience against 4.8 for RunSmart. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 538 and 117 respectively. Written reviews are what separate them: 83% of The Run Experience's written reviews are positive against 98% of RunSmart's.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

The Run Experience ships an update every 6 weeks, RunSmart every 2 days. The most recent releases landed on June 9, 2026 and September 24, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard5 real differences · 5 level
The Run Experience versus RunSmart: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterThe Run ExperienceRunSmart
PriceFreeFree
Rating4.8 (538 ratings)4.8 (117 ratings) — better
Positive reviews82.9% of reviews97.5% of reviews — better
Number of ratings538 — better117
Update frequencyEvery 6 weeksEvery 2 days — better
AdsNo — betterYes
In-app purchasesYesYes
MonetizationFree with in-app purchasesFree with in-app purchases
DevicesiPhone, iPad, iPodiPhone, iPad, iPod, Apple Watch — better
Requires iOS13.0 — better15.1
Further details — not scored
Size119 MB44 MB
Age rating12+12+
DeveloperThe Run ExperienceRUNSMART ONLINE, LLC

Customer experience

The Run Experience

All ratings538 ratings
Positive94.2%
Neutral1.5%
Negative4.3%
Written reviews152 reviews
Positive82.9%
Neutral3.3%
Negative13.8%

RunSmart

All ratings117 ratings
Positive96.6%
Neutral0.9%
Negative2.6%
Written reviews80 reviews
Positive97.5%
Neutral2.5%
Negative0.0%

Bugs and requests

The Run Experience

Reported bugs

3 issues
  • App crashes during workouts
  • Inability to pause/resume workouts
  • Inconsistent tracking of runs

Requested features

4 requests
  • Integrate with fitness trackers
  • Offer more free content
  • Improve app stability and usability
  • Provide senior/military discounts

RunSmart

Not enough reviews yet to summarise bugs or requests.

In-app purchases

2 purchases

The Run Experience

Subscriptions2
  • TRE Training Club (Monthly)7 Days trial$19.991 Month
  • Running Training Club (Annual)7 Days trial$119.991 Year
7 purchases

RunSmart

Subscriptions7
  • Monthly Renew - $15$15.001 Month
  • Free Trial + Monthly7 Days trial$15.001 Month
  • RunSmart Pro - Monthly$15.001 Month
Show 4 more
  • Annual Membership - $99/year7 Days trial$99.001 Year
  • Annual Renew - $119$119.001 Year
  • Free Trial + Annual Membership7 Days trial$119.001 Year
  • RunSmart Pro - Yearly$119.001 Year

Questions

Is The Run Experience free?
The Run Experience is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Is RunSmart free?
RunSmart is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Which has better reviews, The Run Experience or RunSmart?
RunSmart is rated higher. The Run Experience averages 4.8 out of 5 from 538 ratings, while RunSmart averages 4.8 from 117 ratings.
Do The Run Experience or RunSmart have ads?
RunSmart shows ads; The Run Experience does not.
Which is updated more often, The Run Experience or RunSmart?
The Run Experience ships an update every 6 weeks, and RunSmart every 2 days. Most recently, The Run Experience was updated on June 9, 2026 and RunSmart on September 24, 2026.

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