Comparison

RunSmart vs PACE Buffalo

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

PACE Buffalo

This app offers running and strength training classes designed to enhance functional fitness. It caters to all levels, from beginners to experienced athletes, focusing on a personal fitness journey and celebrating individual achievements.

Highlights
  • Running-centric gym
  • Functional fitness training
  • Strength classes
  • Beginner to experienced levels
  • Personalized fitness journey
  • Celebrates achievements
Features
Read full description

Pace is a running-centric gym that will teach you functional fitness beyond the average run. Get ready for a range of running & strength classes from beginner to experienced levels. Running is a personal journey and everyone's pace is unique to them. Run to the beat of your own drum. Celebrate your achievements. Find the strength in the joy of moving your body. Lastly, remember to keep pace within yourself and no one else.

Screenshots

RunSmart4 screens
PACE Buffalo4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is in-app purchases: PACE Buffalo at none against RunSmart's 7. PACE Buffalo also leads on ads (none vs shown). RunSmart's advantage is update cadence (every 2 days vs every 3 weeks) and device support (4 vs 1). On price, rating, review sentiment and ratings volume 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. PACE Buffalo asks for nothing beyond the download.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

On the App Store both sit at effectively the same score — 4.8 for RunSmart against 4.9 for PACE Buffalo. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 117 and 58 respectively. Written reviews are what separate them: 98% of RunSmart's written reviews are positive against 100% of PACE Buffalo's.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

RunSmart ships an update every 2 days, PACE Buffalo every 3 weeks. The most recent releases landed on October 11, 2026 and October 7, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard5 real differences · 5 level
RunSmart versus PACE Buffalo: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterRunSmartPACE Buffalo
PriceFreeFree
Rating4.8 (117 ratings)4.9 (58 ratings) — better
Positive reviews97.5% of reviews100.0% of reviews — better
Number of ratings117 — better58
Update frequencyEvery 2 days — betterEvery 3 weeks
AdsYesNo — better
In-app purchasesYesNo — better
MonetizationFree with in-app purchasesAd-supported — better
DevicesiPhone, iPad, iPod, Apple Watch — betteriPhone
Requires iOS15.1 — better16.0
Further details — not scored
Size45 MB38 MB
Age rating12+4+
DeveloperRUNSMART ONLINE, LLCBuffalo Run Club LLC

Customer experience

RunSmart

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

PACE Buffalo

All ratings58 ratings
Positive98.3%
Neutral1.7%
Negative0.0%
Written reviews1 reviews
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

PACE Buffalo

No in-app purchases

Questions

Is RunSmart free?
RunSmart is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Is PACE Buffalo free?
PACE Buffalo is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Which has better reviews, RunSmart or PACE Buffalo?
PACE Buffalo is rated higher. RunSmart averages 4.8 out of 5 from 117 ratings, while PACE Buffalo averages 4.9 from 58 ratings.
Do RunSmart or PACE Buffalo have ads?
RunSmart shows ads; PACE Buffalo does not.
Which is updated more often, RunSmart or PACE Buffalo?
RunSmart ships an update every 2 days, and PACE Buffalo every 3 weeks. Most recently, RunSmart was updated on October 11, 2026 and PACE Buffalo on October 7, 2026.

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