Comparison

RunSmart vs Willow Running

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

Willow Running

Features
Read full description

Willow Running Club brings together runners of all ages to track their miles, climb the leaderboard, and earn recognition. Quickly log each run with a date and distance. Your activities build up your total miles and your leaderboard score. Six separate leaderboards by age and gender keep the competition fair: • Female under 45, 46–59, 60+ • Male under 45, 46–59, 60+ You'll see your own leaderboard by default, with a tap-to-browse option to view the others. Sign in with Apple or Google, complete a quick profile (name, date of birth, gender, email), and you're in. Phone is optional and only used to contact prize winners. You can edit or delete your account any time from inside the app.

Screenshots

RunSmart4 screens
Willow Running3 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is in-app purchases: Willow Running at none against RunSmart's 7. Willow Running also leads on ads (none vs shown). RunSmart's advantage is update cadence (every 2 days vs every 5 days) and device support (4 vs 2). On price 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. Willow Running asks for nothing beyond the download.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

RunSmart ships an update every 2 days, Willow Running every 5 days. The most recent releases landed on October 11, 2026 and September 30, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard4 real differences · 6 level
RunSmart versus Willow Running: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterRunSmartWillow Running
PriceFreeFree
Rating4.8 (117 ratings) — better—
Positive reviews97.5% of reviews—
Number of ratings117 — better—
Update frequencyEvery 2 days — betterEvery 5 days
AdsYesNo — better
In-app purchasesYesNo — better
MonetizationFree with in-app purchases—
DevicesiPhone, iPad, iPod, Apple Watch — betteriPhone, iPod
Requires iOS15.115.1
Further details — not scored
Size45 MB31 MB
Age rating12+4+
DeveloperRUNSMART ONLINE, LLCAccessible Ethical Apps llc

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

Willow Running

No in-app purchases

Questions

Is RunSmart free?
RunSmart is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Is Willow Running free?
Willow Running is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Do RunSmart or Willow Running have ads?
RunSmart shows ads; Willow Running does not.
Which is updated more often, RunSmart or Willow Running?
RunSmart ships an update every 2 days, and Willow Running every 5 days. Most recently, RunSmart was updated on October 11, 2026 and Willow Running on September 30, 2026.

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