# Run With Hal vs Polysthenics

The clearest difference is in-app purchases: Polysthenics at none against Run With Hal's 3. Polysthenics also leads on review sentiment (100% vs 65%) and rating (5.0 vs 4.7). Run With Hal's advantage is ads (none vs shown) and ratings volume (2.8K vs 1). On price, update cadence, device support and iOS requirement there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. Run With Hal sells 3 in-app purchases, starting at $6.99 per month. Polysthenics asks for nothing beyond the download.

Polysthenics holds the better App Store score, 5.0 against 4.7. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Run With Hal has 2.8K ratings behind it against 1, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews point the same way: 65% of Run With Hal's written reviews are positive against 100% of Polysthenics's.

Both ship on a similar rhythm, roughly monthly. The most recent releases landed on October 17, 2026 and October 8, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Run With Hal | Polysthenics |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [4.7 (2.8K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/run-with-hal/id1437166081/reviews) | **[5.0 (1 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/polysthenics/id6476512037/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | **2.8K** | 1 |
| Positive reviews | 65.2% of reviews | **100.0% of reviews** |
| In-app purchases | Yes | **No** |
| Ads | **No** | Yes |
| Update frequency | Monthly | Monthly |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | **Ad-supported** |
| Size | 47 MB | 155 MB |
| Requires iOS | 14.0 | 14.0 |
| Devices | iPhone, iPod | **iPhone, iPad, iPod** |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Peaksware, LLC](https://appshunter.io/developer/408047718) | [Polysthenics LLC](https://appshunter.io/developer/1726948651) |

## What reviewers say

### Run With Hal

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/run-with-hal/id1437166081)

This app provides personalized, adaptive training plans for various running distances, from 5K to 50K. It's guided by legendary coach Hal Higdon and adjusts to your progress, schedule, and goals. Features include GPS tracking, daily tips, and progress summaries to help you achieve your running ambitions.

**Highlights:** Adaptive training plans, Plans for 5K to 50K races, Daily motivation from Hal Higdon, GPS tracking, Flexible scheduling, Progress tracking and summaries

**Features:** Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases (3)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Run With Hal+ 1 Month | $6.99 | per month |
| Run With Hal+ 6 Month | $35.99 | per 6 months |
| Run With Hal+ 1 Year | $59.99 | per year |

**What reviewers like**

- 👍 Easy to follow plan
- 🚀 Adaptive training
- 💪 Helps achieve goals
- 🎉 Great for beginners
- 🤖 Structured and detailed

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🔀 Lacks flexibility to adjust schedule
- 🤔 Questionable pacing recommendations
- 🔌 No Apple Watch integration
- 📊 Limited data tracking and feedback
- 🐛 Technical issues and bugs

**Reported bugs**

- App crashes during runs
- Syncing issues with fitness trackers
- Inconsistent pacing calculations
- Inability to delete or modify existing training plans

**Requested features**

- Add ability to adjust schedule and swap workout days
- Integrate with more fitness tracking platforms (Apple Health, Strava, etc.)
- Provide more detailed performance feedback and analytics
- Add audio/voice cues during runs
- Improve cross-training logging and support


### Polysthenics

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/polysthenics/id6476512037)

Easily plan and schedule your fitness classes directly from your mobile device. View class schedules, sign up for sessions, and access studio location details. Optimize your time and enjoy the convenience of managing your fitness activities on the go.

**Highlights:** View class schedules, Sign up for classes, Access studio location, Optimize time management, Convenient mobile access

**Features:** macOS Compatibility, Apple Wallet

**In-app purchases:** none


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Run With Hal free?

Run With Hal is free to download, with in-app purchases available.

### Is Polysthenics free?

Polysthenics is free to download, with no in-app purchases.

### Which has better reviews, Run With Hal or Polysthenics?

Polysthenics is rated higher. Run With Hal averages 4.7 out of 5 from 2.8K ratings, while Polysthenics averages 5.0 from 1 ratings.

### Do Run With Hal or Polysthenics have ads?

Polysthenics shows ads; Run With Hal does not.

### Which is updated more often, Run With Hal or Polysthenics?

Run With Hal ships an update monthly, and Polysthenics monthly. Most recently, Run With Hal was updated on October 17, 2026 and Polysthenics on October 8, 2026.

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*Compared by [AppsHunter](https://appshunter.io/) from daily US App Store data. Review summaries are generated from verbatim App Store reviews.*