Runner's Tools vs Marathon Coach
Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.
Runner's Tools
This app helps runners plan and analyze their training and races. It offers features like race predictors, training pace calculators, and split planners. It also accounts for environmental factors and converts between metric and imperial units.
- Race Predictor
- Training Pace Calculator
- Track Split Conversion
- Race Split Planning
- Environmental Factor Analysis
- Pace Conversion
- Age Graded Performance Calculation
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Features: - Race Predictor: Will predict your potential on the most common race distances based on a given one. The automatic calculation uses a dynamic scale but we also made it possible to use your own (single Riegel factor) value. The default gives a realistic prediction, not assuming everyone is a trained high mileage athlete! - Training paces: Based on a (planned or recent) race performance, will calculate both the appropriate splits and paces for interval and tempo training - Track splits: Using GPS for track training is not great. This tool will convert a given pace to the target split of a full lap for each lane of a standard (IAAF) 400m track - Race Splits: Plan any race by breaking the distance and target race time down by kilometer or mile markers - Evaluate or plan a race by factoring in elevation, elevation gain/loss, temperature and humidity (dew point) - Convert any pace from minutes per mile to minutes per km and vice versa - Calculate the right speeds to set treadmills to, based on pace - Calculate age graded performance Works in both metric and imperial system.
Marathon Coach
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Marathon Coach™ — Train Smarter™ Set your goal once. Get an adaptive race training plan that appears in the native Apple Watch Workout app — no chat coach, no spreadsheets. THREE PILLARS • Glanceable — Open the app and see today’s workout instantly: distance, pace guidance, and your week at a glance. • Autonomous — Plans build and adapt from your real runs, sleep, heart rate, and training load. No typing to an AI chat coach. • Watch-native — Send your plan to Apple Watch. Workouts appear under Scheduled in the Workout app via WorkoutKit. HOW IT WORKS 1. Set your race goal, target time, and training level (~2 minutes). 2. Connect Apple Health (optional but recommended) for personalized adaptation. 3. Train where you are — Start outdoor runs on iPhone GPS from the app, or open plan sessions on Apple Watch under Workout → Scheduled. Lock the phone for Live Activity metrics while you run. 4. Weekly reviews and recovery signals adjust your plan as you train. FREE CORE The full core experience stays free: goal setup, adaptive plan, Apple Health, Apple Watch → Scheduled, outdoor iPhone GPS runs with Live Activity (time, distance, pace), weekly plan review when you open the app, and share cards. No account required for free use. MARATHON COACH PRO (OPTIONAL) Upgrade to Marathon Coach Pro for deeper coaching — daily plan tune-ups, recovery-aware adjustments after rough days, post key-workout reviews, background plan refresh when entitled, and post-run pace zone estimates on planned sessions (plan-anchored — not HR or medical zones). Subscribe in the app via Apple (auto-renewable). Manage or cancel anytime in Settings → Apple ID → Subscriptions. AI COACHING (OPTIONAL) Enable AI coaching in Settings for plan adjustments from summarized Health metrics — never raw GPS tracks. Or keep a local plan with zero server traffic. You can turn AI off anytime. SHARE YOUR PROGRESS Export branded share cards — race countdown, week in review, latest workout — as square or 9:16 Story images. REQUIREMENTS • iPhone (iOS 17+) • Paired Apple Watch (watchOS 10+) for scheduled Watch workouts • Not optimized for iPad in this version Training guidance only — not medical advice. Consult a physician before starting or changing any exercise program. Privacy: https://www.getmarathoncoach.com/privacy Support: https://www.getmarathoncoach.com/support
Screenshots
Verdict
The clearest difference is update cadence: Marathon Coach at every 4 days against Runner's Tools's every 38 months. On price, ads, in-app purchases and device support 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
Both are free to download. Runner's Tools sells 1 one-off in-app purchase and Marathon Coach sells 2 in-app purchases, starting at $12.99 per month. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.
Runner's Tools ships an update every 38 months, Marathon Coach every 4 days. The most recent releases landed on October 3, 2026 and October 11, 2026 respectively.
| Parameter | Runner's Tools | Marathon Coach |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | 5.0 (3 ratings) — better | — |
| Positive reviews | 100.0% of reviews | — |
| Number of ratings | 3 — better | — |
| Update frequency | Every 38 months | Every 4 days — better |
| Ads | No | No |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Monetization | Free | — |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad — better | iPhone |
| Requires iOS | 17.0 | 17.0 |
| Further details — not scored | ||
| Size | 2 MB | 22 MB |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | Frederic Bacro | Jon Sern Lim |
In-app purchases
Runner's Tools
- No Ads$0.99
Marathon Coach
- Marathon Coach Pro Monthly$12.991 Month
- Pro Annual$99.991 Year
Questions
Is Runner's Tools free?
Is Marathon Coach free?
Do Runner's Tools or Marathon Coach have ads?
Which is updated more often, Runner's Tools or Marathon Coach?
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