# Run With Hal vs The Program by Bandit Running

The clearest difference is rating: Run With Hal at 4.7 against The Program by Bandit Running's 3.9. Run With Hal also leads on ratings volume (2.8K vs 115) and iOS requirement (14.0 vs 16.4). The Program by Bandit Running's advantage is in-app purchases (none vs 3) and update cadence (every 2 weeks vs monthly). On price, review sentiment, ads and device support there is nothing between them.

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

Run With Hal holds the better App Store score, 4.7 against 3.9. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Run With Hal has 2.8K ratings behind it against 115, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews complicate that: 65% of Run With Hal's written reviews are positive against 73% of The Program by Bandit Running's, so the app with the better star average is not the one people write more warmly about.

Run With Hal ships an update monthly, The Program by Bandit Running every 2 weeks. The most recent releases landed on November 6, 2026 and November 4, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Run With Hal | The Program by Bandit Running |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | **[4.7 (2.8K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/run-with-hal/id1437166081/reviews)** | [3.9 (115 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/the-program-by-bandit-running/id6505125026/reviews) |
| Number of ratings | **2.8K** | 115 |
| Positive reviews | 65.3% of reviews | **72.7% of reviews** |
| In-app purchases | Yes | **No** |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | Monthly | **Every 2 weeks** |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | **Free** |
| Size | 47 MB | 31 MB |
| Requires iOS | **14.0** | 16.4 |
| Devices | **iPhone, iPod** | iPhone |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Peaksware, LLC](https://appshunter.io/developer/408047718) | [Bandit Running](https://appshunter.io/developer/1755262308) |

## 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


### The Program by Bandit Running

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/the-program-by-bandit-running/id6505125026)

This app offers a free guided training experience for marathon and half marathon runners. It generates personalized training plans based on your race, goal time, and weekly mileage. Get instant answers to training questions with the integrated coach feature.

**Highlights:** Free guided training plans, Marathon and half marathon focus, Personalized plan generation, Interactive training schedule, Instant coach answers

**Features:** macOS Compatibility, Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases:** none

**What reviewers like**

- 🚀 Excellent training program
- 👍 Intuitive and easy to use
- 🎉 Customizable to user goals
- 🎉 Helpful insights and advice
- 👍 Clean and simple interface

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 Account creation issues
- 🐛 Blank screen on launch

**Reported bugs**

- Login screen freezes
- Incompatible with older devices
- Account creation problems

**Requested features**

- Dark mode option
- Advanced analytics dashboard


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Run With Hal free?

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

### Is The Program by Bandit Running free?

The Program by Bandit Running is free to download, with no in-app purchases.

### Which has better reviews, Run With Hal or The Program by Bandit Running?

Run With Hal is rated higher. Run With Hal averages 4.7 out of 5 from 2.8K ratings, while The Program by Bandit Running averages 3.9 from 115 ratings.

### Do Run With Hal or The Program by Bandit Running have ads?

Neither Run With Hal nor The Program by Bandit Running shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, Run With Hal or The Program by Bandit Running?

Run With Hal ships an update monthly, and The Program by Bandit Running every 2 weeks. Most recently, Run With Hal was updated on November 6, 2026 and The Program by Bandit Running on November 4, 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.*