Comparison

RunSmart vs Train Smart Run Strong

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

Head to head
About

RunSmart

This app provides personalized running plans adapted by AI and physical therapists to meet your unique goals and schedule. It offers expert-designed strength training, yoga, and stretching routines to enhance performance and prevent injuries. Track your progress with detailed analytics and integrate with popular fitness devices.

Highlights
  • Personalized training plans
  • Expert-designed workouts
  • Flexible scheduling
  • Progress tracking
  • Strength training
  • Yoga and stretching routines
  • Device integrations
Features
Read full description

Four training days aren't a limitation. It's a choice — and a legitimate one. RunSmart is built by Steve Gonser, PT DPT, a Doctor of Physical Therapy, who started the platform after watching runners consistently get hurt doing what other apps told them to do. The goal here isn't to turn you into an elite athlete. It's to keep you running next year, and the year after that. HOW YOUR PLAN IS BUILT → Your current mileage, not a generic starting point → Your race date and goal, not a one-size schedule → PT-informed load progression that builds fitness without stacking risk WHAT'S IN YOUR PLAN → Running workouts with paces tied to your current fitness → Strength training built for runners, not the gym floor → Mobility work that addresses what runners actually tighten up → Run Club — share runs, see what your training community is doing 4.8 stars. Used by runners who've been hurt before and can't afford to be again. "What a great day! Thanks for keeping me running strong and injury-free!" - Tammy "I can’t say THANK YOU enough. The training plans and strength training has kept me injury free and running strong!" - Sheila "I followed it exactly as Steve has it written out and I’m happy to report I’ve been running a whole month now with no pain." - Charlotte Distances: 5K · 8K · 10K · Half Marathon · Full Marathon · Maintenance Integrations: Apple Watch · Garmin · COROS Free to start. No credit card. No expiry. Still running in year five. That's the point. Terms of Use: https://runsmartonline.com/terms-of-use/ Privacy Policy: https://runsmartonline.com/privacy-policy

About

Train Smart Run Strong

This app offers strength training classes specifically designed for runners. Led by experts, the sessions provide educational insights into exercise benefits for runners and can be done at home with minimal equipment. Classes range from short mobility routines to advanced strength workouts.

Highlights
  • Strength training for runners
  • Expert-led classes
  • Home workouts with minimal equipment
  • Educational exercise benefits
  • Variety of class lengths
  • Mobility, warm-up, and cool-down options
Features
Read full description

If you're a runner looking to add strength training into their schedule - this is for you. All classes are designed specifically for runners. The classes are lead by a Physical Therapist, run coach and strength coach, so each one is jam-packed with education and information into WHY each exercise is beneficial for YOU as a runner. Every single class can be done from home with minimal equipment and vary from 10 min mobility, warm-up and cool-down classes to 60 min advanced-level strength.

Screenshots

RunSmart4 screens
Train Smart Run Strong4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is in-app purchases: Train Smart Run Strong at none against RunSmart's 7. Train Smart Run Strong also leads on ads (none vs shown). RunSmart's advantage is update cadence (every 2 days vs every 3 months) and ratings volume (117 vs 4). On price, rating, 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

Both are free to download. RunSmart sells 7 in-app purchases, starting at $15.00 per month. Train Smart Run Strong asks for nothing beyond the download.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

Train Smart Run Strong holds the better App Store score, 5.0 against 4.8. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: RunSmart has 117 ratings behind it against 4, so its average is the more settled of the two.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

RunSmart ships an update every 2 days, Train Smart Run Strong every 3 months. The most recent releases landed on September 24, 2026 and September 9, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard5 real differences · 5 level
RunSmart versus Train Smart Run Strong: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterRunSmartTrain Smart Run Strong
PriceFreeFree
Rating4.8 (117 ratings)5.0 (4 ratings) — better
Positive reviews97.5% of reviews—
Number of ratings117 — better4
Update frequencyEvery 2 days — betterEvery 3 months
AdsYesNo — better
In-app purchasesYesNo — better
MonetizationFree with in-app purchasesFree — better
DevicesiPhone, iPad, iPod, Apple Watch — betteriPhone, iPad, iPod
Requires iOS15.1 — better16.4
Further details — not scored
Size44 MB121 MB
Age rating12+12+
DeveloperRUNSMART ONLINE, LLCSutra Fitness, Inc.

Customer experience

RunSmart

All ratings117 ratings
Positive96.6%
Neutral0.9%
Negative2.6%
Written reviews80 reviews
Positive97.5%
Neutral2.5%
Negative0.0%

Train Smart Run Strong

All ratings4 ratings
Positive100.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative0.0%

In-app purchases

7 purchases

RunSmart

Subscriptions7
  • Monthly Renew - $15$15.001 Month
  • Free Trial + Monthly7 Days trial$15.001 Month
  • RunSmart Pro - Monthly$15.001 Month
Show 4 more
  • Annual Membership - $99/year7 Days trial$99.001 Year
  • Annual Renew - $119$119.001 Year
  • Free Trial + Annual Membership7 Days trial$119.001 Year
  • RunSmart Pro - Yearly$119.001 Year
None

Train Smart Run Strong

No in-app purchases

Questions

Is RunSmart free?
RunSmart is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Is Train Smart Run Strong free?
Train Smart Run Strong is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Which has better reviews, RunSmart or Train Smart Run Strong?
Train Smart Run Strong is rated higher. RunSmart averages 4.8 out of 5 from 117 ratings, while Train Smart Run Strong averages 5.0 from 4 ratings.
Do RunSmart or Train Smart Run Strong have ads?
RunSmart shows ads; Train Smart Run Strong does not.
Which is updated more often, RunSmart or Train Smart Run Strong?
RunSmart ships an update every 2 days, and Train Smart Run Strong every 3 months. Most recently, RunSmart was updated on September 24, 2026 and Train Smart Run Strong on September 9, 2026.

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