Comparison

Start Running For Beginners vs Run Joy

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

Head to head
About

Start Running For Beginners

This app guides beginners into running with a structured plan designed to increase jogging time gradually. It offers personalized coaching, detailed tracking, and voice feedback to help users achieve their fitness goals, including weight loss.

Highlights
  • Personal running coach
  • Couch to 5K training plan
  • Distance, speed, and pace tracker
  • GPS route tracking
  • Calorie counter
  • Voice feedback
Features
Read full description

Taking up running? What could be easier! Don’t worry about distance, pace, or speed. Let's think about all this later. Listen to the instructions and run as you like. Don't focus on your running technique. The most important thing now is to get out and start running. Your goal is to increase the jogging time. Nothing else matters right now. Features: + Personal running coach + Couch to 5K (c25k) alternative training plan + Detailed statistics of each training + Distance, speed and pace tracker + GPS-route of every session + Built-in pedometer + Calorie counter + Custom workouts + Voice feedback + Sync with Apple Health The workout plan is split into 4 levels. Each level has a specific goal for jogging duration: • Level 1 goal is 20 minutes. • Level 2 goal is 30 minutes. • Level 3 goal is 40 minutes. • Level 4 goal is 60 minutes of running. Each level has a 4-weeks duration, and 3 workouts per week. Join us running! Terms of Use: https://www.apple.com/legal/internet-services/itunes/dev/stdeula/

About

Run Joy

This app helps you plan and track your running workouts to achieve your fitness goals. It offers personalized training plans, interval training support, and detailed analysis of your pace, distance, and calories burned. Ideal for both beginners and experienced runners preparing for races or maintaining fitness.

Highlights
  • GPS running tracker
  • Interval training support
  • Personalized training plans
  • Pace, distance, and calorie analysis
  • Half-Marathon preparation tools
  • Intuitive analytics
Features
Read full description

RunJoy — Your Perfect Running Companion! Plan your workouts, track your runs, and achieve your best results with RunJoy. The app supports interval training, provides tailored plans for beginners and advanced runners, and helps you monitor pace, distance, calories, and progress. Perfect for marathon preparation or maintaining top physical shape. Key Features: • GPS running tracker • Interval training support • Personalized training plans • Pace, distance, and calorie analysis • Half-Marathon preparation tools • Simple and intuitive analytics Should you choose to upgrade to a Premium Membership, payment will be charged to your iTunes account at confirmation of purchase. Subscription prices are shown in the app before purchase and may vary by location. Your subscription renews automatically unless cancelled at least 24 hours prior to the end of the current period and cancellation of the current active subscription period is not allowed. Auto-renewal may be turned off in your Account Settings in iTunes after purchase. You can also manage your subscriptions in Account Settings after purchase. Terms of use: http://appbysnap.tilda.ws/terms The application supports Health app: At your request, the data on completed training will be automatically added to the Health app. Start running with RunJoy today!

Screenshots

Start Running For Beginners4 screens
Run Joy4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is rating: Start Running For Beginners at 4.7 against Run Joy's 1.0. Start Running For Beginners also leads on ratings volume (2.1K vs 2) and review sentiment (97% vs 85%). Run Joy's advantage is update cadence (every 3 weeks vs every 3 months). On price, ads, 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. Start Running For Beginners sells 5 in-app purchases, starting at $1.99 per month and Run Joy sells 3 in-app purchases, starting at $4.99 per month. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

Start Running For Beginners holds the better App Store score, 4.7 against 1.0. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Start Running For Beginners has 2.1K ratings behind it against 2, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews point the same way: 97% of Start Running For Beginners's written reviews are positive against 85% of Run Joy's.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Start Running For Beginners ships an update every 3 months, Run Joy every 3 weeks. The most recent releases landed on October 24, 2026 and October 20, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard4 real differences · 6 level
Start Running For Beginners versus Run Joy: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterStart Running For BeginnersRun Joy
PriceFreeFree
Rating4.7 (2.1K ratings) — better1.0 (2 ratings)
Positive reviews96.8% of reviews — better85.2% of reviews
Number of ratings2.1K — better2
Update frequencyEvery 3 monthsEvery 3 weeks — better
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesYesYes
MonetizationFree with in-app purchasesFree with in-app purchases
DevicesiPhone, Apple WatchiPhone, Apple Watch
Requires iOS16.6 — better17.0
Further details — not scored
Size12 MB37 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperAxiom Mobile LLCAlexander Senin

Customer experience

Start Running For Beginners

All ratings2,063 ratings
Positive95.7%
Neutral2.9%
Negative1.4%
Written reviews1,330 reviews
Positive96.8%
Neutral2.1%
Negative1.1%

Run Joy

All ratings2 ratings
Positive0.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative100.0%
Written reviews27 reviews
Positive85.2%
Neutral7.4%
Negative7.4%

Bugs and requests

Start Running For Beginners

Reported bugs

2 issues
  • Sync issues when changing devices
  • App crashes or freezes occasionally

Requested features

4 requests
  • Add more customization options
  • Provide more detailed workout statistics
  • Integrate with fitness trackers
  • Offer more advanced training plans

Run Joy

Not enough reviews yet to summarise bugs or requests.

In-app purchases

5 purchases

Start Running For Beginners

Subscriptions2
  • Full Version$1.991 Month
  • Full Version$9.996 Months
One-time3
  • Full Version$1.99
  • Full version$4.99
  • Full version$19.99
3 purchases

Run Joy

Subscriptions2
  • Run PRO for a Month7 Days trial$4.991 Month
  • Run PRO for a Year7 Days trial$29.991 Year
One-time1
  • Tip developer$0.99

Questions

Is Start Running For Beginners free?
Start Running For Beginners is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Is Run Joy free?
Run Joy is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Which has better reviews, Start Running For Beginners or Run Joy?
Start Running For Beginners is rated higher. Start Running For Beginners averages 4.7 out of 5 from 2.1K ratings, while Run Joy averages 1.0 from 2 ratings.
Do Start Running For Beginners or Run Joy have ads?
Neither Start Running For Beginners nor Run Joy shows ads.
Which is updated more often, Start Running For Beginners or Run Joy?
Start Running For Beginners ships an update every 3 months, and Run Joy every 3 weeks. Most recently, Start Running For Beginners was updated on October 24, 2026 and Run Joy on October 20, 2026.

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