Comparison

WorkOutDoors vs PacePal

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

Head to head
About

WorkOutDoors

This advanced workout app for Apple Watch offers extensive customization for outdoor activities like running, cycling, and hiking. It features detailed maps, navigation, and over 800 data fields for comprehensive workout tracking and analysis.

Highlights
  • Advanced vector maps with navigation
  • Configurable workout screens with 800+ data fields
  • Route import and turn-by-turn directions
  • Customizable alerts and interval schedules
  • Waypoint creation and navigation
  • Workout export (FIT/TCX/GPX) and Strava integration
  • Offline map support
Features
Read full description

WorkOutDoors is the most advanced and most configurable workout app for the Apple Watch. It's perfect for running, cycling, hiking and any other indoor or outdoor activity. Note: WorkOutDoors requires an Apple Watch Series 4 or later. It is not necessary to have your iPhone with you during a workout. The app uses Apple’s workout system, so all workouts are saved to the Health system. However it also provides many extra features over Apple's app, such as: - a super-smooth vector map that can be shown during a workout; - multiple configurable screens with metrics and graphs from a pool of 800+ data fields; - route files can be imported and used for navigation (including turn by turn directions); - dozens of configurable alerts (e.g. every mile; high heart rate; low pace; off-route etc); - interval schedules can be created using the larger screen of the phone app; - climbs and descents are supported with notifications and on-screen data and graphs; - waypoints can be created, navigated to, and exported; - use shortcuts to associate operations with gestures (e.g. double tap to hear configurable metrics); - compare pace against a target or a previous workout (using metrics and a dot on the map); - show zones for pace and power as well as heart rate (with optional coloured backgrounds); - auto-pause is available for all outdoor activities; - shows GPS and heart rate before starting a workout, so that you can wait for good signals; - configure distance and pace for running / walking to come from Apple’s pedometer or from GPS; - workouts can be exported in FIT / TCX / GPX files, or automatically sent to Strava; - workouts created by the app can be analysed in great depth in the iPhone app. The app also has many more features. The map is a particular highlight. It uses OpenStreetMap, which provides worldwide coverage and includes the trails necessary for outdoor workouts. It also has several features that help you navigate during a workout: - maps can be smoothly panned and zoomed, and can rotate according to the compass; - a breadcrumb trail of your whole route is displayed on the map during the workout; - topographic data can be shown, with configurable contour colours and hill shading; - map-only mode is provided for when you don't want to start a workout and just need a map; - a circular scale is shown when you zoom, making it easy to see the distance to features; - maps can be stored on the watch for use when offline (they are downloaded as required if online); - a red compass points north and a green compass points to the start; - choose a waypoint to see a compass and distance to it in the corner of the map; - you can also navigate to waypoints on the map, such as hospitals, sights, cafes etc. If you load a route from a GPX / TCX / FIT file then navigation is even easier: - your position is shown on an elevation profile of the route; - the remaining distance, time and ascent can also be displayed; - you can get alerted when you go off-route; - when off-route then a compass is shown which points to the nearest part of the route; - if the route contains turn by turn directions then these can be used like a sat nav; - if there are no directions then the app can use “bend detection” to generate them; - the next direction is shown as an icon and distance in the corner of the map; - the map can automatically zoom in when you are approaching a turn; - you can use shake gestures to hear the distance to the next turn or the end of the route; - routes are coloured by gradient: from red for steep uphill to blue for steep downhill; - you can configure what information is displayed during a climb or descent. All this is included for a single one-off payment. No extra in-app purchases or subscriptions are required (although there is a completely optional in-app tip jar which was requested by long-term users). If you own an Apple Watch and do any form of exercise, then WorkOutDoors is the app for you. Give it a go!

About

PacePal

This app helps runners calculate and understand their speed, pace, and finishing times for various race distances. It offers a simple interface to adjust one metric and instantly see the impact on others, with customizable themes for personalization.

Highlights
  • Speed, pace, and finishing time conversion
  • Supports various race distances
  • Instant updates with simple adjustments
  • Customizable themes
  • Minimalist Apple Watch interface
Features
Read full description

PacePal is a minimal Apple Watch app designed to help runners convert speed, pace and finishing time. Want to know how fast to set your treadmill when training for your half marathon? Want to understand the pace you need to run to beat your personal best? Want to know your expected finishing times based on the pace you can run? PacePal is for you! The app is very simple to use, and ensures you can understand the speed and pace you need to run whilst out and about. You can choose between a variety of race distances to show your finishing time based on inputted speed/pace. Just a tap to increase or decrease any of speed, pace or time will instantly update the other values. It has a set of beautiful themes, so you can ensure PacePal matches your style!

Screenshots

WorkOutDoors4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is price: PacePal at Free against WorkOutDoors's $8.99. PacePal also leads on in-app purchases (none vs 5) and update cadence (daily vs every 3 months). WorkOutDoors's advantage is ratings volume (1.7K vs 1) and chart position (#8 vs unranked). On ads, device support and iOS requirement 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

PacePal is free to download; WorkOutDoors costs $8.99 up front. WorkOutDoors sells 5 one-off in-app purchases. PacePal asks for nothing beyond the download.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

PacePal holds the better App Store score, 5.0 against 4.7. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: WorkOutDoors has 1.7K ratings behind it against 1, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews point the same way: 88% of WorkOutDoors's written reviews are positive against 100% of PacePal's.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

WorkOutDoors ships an update every 3 months, PacePal daily. The most recent releases landed on November 5, 2026 and November 4, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard8 real differences · 3 level
WorkOutDoors versus PacePal: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterWorkOutDoorsPacePal
Price$8.99Free — better
Rating4.7 (1.7K ratings)5.0 (1 ratings) — better
Positive reviews87.6% of reviews100.0% of reviews — better
Number of ratings1.7K — better1
Update frequencyEvery 3 monthsDaily — better
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesYesNo — better
MonetizationFree with in-app purchasesFree — better
Best chart rank#8 — better—
DevicesiPhone, iPod, Apple WatchiPhone, iPod, Apple Watch
Requires iOS12.0 — better13.0
Further details — not scored
Size39 MB1 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperCCS LtdCoding Corner LLP

Customer experience

WorkOutDoors

All ratings1,674 ratings
Positive92.1%
Neutral2.0%
Negative5.9%
Written reviews1,386 reviews
Positive87.6%
Neutral4.6%
Negative7.8%

PacePal

All ratings1 ratings
Positive100.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative0.0%
Written reviews1 reviews
Positive100.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative0.0%

Bugs and requests

WorkOutDoors

Reported bugs

3 issues
  • Heart rate tracking issues
  • Inconsistent distance/pace tracking
  • Trouble connecting to Apple Watch

Requested features

5 requests
  • Turn-by-turn navigation
  • Shoe tracking
  • Cumulative workout stats (weekly/monthly)
  • Ability to edit/trim recorded workouts
  • Automatic pause/resume during workouts

PacePal

Not enough reviews yet to summarise bugs or requests.

In-app purchases

5 purchases

WorkOutDoors

One-time5
  • Tip$0.99
  • Generous Tip$1.99
  • Very Generous Tip$4.99
Show 2 more
  • Massive Tip$9.99
  • Fanatical Tip$19.99
None

PacePal

No in-app purchases

Questions

Is WorkOutDoors free?
WorkOutDoors costs $8.99, and also offers in-app purchases.
Is PacePal free?
PacePal is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Which has better reviews, WorkOutDoors or PacePal?
PacePal is rated higher. WorkOutDoors averages 4.7 out of 5 from 1.7K ratings, while PacePal averages 5.0 from 1 ratings.
Do WorkOutDoors or PacePal have ads?
Neither WorkOutDoors nor PacePal shows ads.
Which is updated more often, WorkOutDoors or PacePal?
WorkOutDoors ships an update every 3 months, and PacePal daily. Most recently, WorkOutDoors was updated on November 5, 2026 and PacePal on November 4, 2026.

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