RunSmart vs PACE Buffalo
Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.
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.
- Personalized training plans
- Expert-designed workouts
- Flexible scheduling
- Progress tracking
- Strength training
- Yoga and stretching routines
- Device integrations
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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
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.
- Running-centric gym
- Functional fitness training
- Strength classes
- Beginner to experienced levels
- Personalized fitness journey
- Celebrates achievements
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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
Verdict
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
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.
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.
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.
| Parameter | RunSmart | PACE Buffalo |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | 4.8 (117 ratings) | 4.9 (58 ratings) — better |
| Positive reviews | 97.5% of reviews | 100.0% of reviews — better |
| Number of ratings | 117 — better | 58 |
| Update frequency | Every 2 days — better | Every 3 weeks |
| Ads | Yes | No — better |
| In-app purchases | Yes | No — better |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | Ad-supported — better |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod, Apple Watch — better | iPhone |
| Requires iOS | 15.1 — better | 16.0 |
| Further details — not scored | ||
| Size | 45 MB | 38 MB |
| Age rating | 12+ | 4+ |
| Developer | RUNSMART ONLINE, LLC | Buffalo Run Club LLC |
Customer experience
RunSmart
PACE Buffalo
In-app purchases
RunSmart
- Monthly Renew - $15$15.001 Month
- Free Trial + Monthly7 Days trial$15.001 Month
- RunSmart Pro - Monthly$15.001 Month
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- 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
PACE Buffalo
No in-app purchases
Questions
Is RunSmart free?
Is PACE Buffalo free?
Which has better reviews, RunSmart or PACE Buffalo?
Do RunSmart or PACE Buffalo have ads?
Which is updated more often, RunSmart or PACE Buffalo?
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