# Running Lab vs Runners Roost

The clearest difference is iOS requirement: Running Lab at 11.0 against Runners Roost's 15.0. On price, rating, ratings volume and update cadence there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. Neither carries in-app purchases, so what you see is what you pay.

On the App Store both sit at effectively the same score — 5.0 for Running Lab against 5.0 for Runners Roost. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 2 and 1 respectively.

Running Lab ships an update every 26 months, Runners Roost every 14 months. The most recent releases landed on October 2, 2026 and October 7, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Running Lab | Runners Roost |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [5.0 (2 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/running-lab/id1663562184/reviews) | [5.0 (1 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/runners-roost/id6746333940/reviews) |
| Number of ratings | **2** | 1 |
| In-app purchases | No | No |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | Every 26 months | **Every 14 months** |
| Monetization | Free | Free |
| Size | 21 MB | 13 MB |
| Requires iOS | **11.0** | 15.0 |
| Devices | iPhone, iPod | iPhone, iPod |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [MICHIGAN RUNNING COMPANY LLC](https://appshunter.io/developer/1663562186) | [The Runners Roost](https://appshunter.io/developer/1816209502) |

## What reviewers say

### Running Lab

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/running-lab/id1663562184)

This app rewards you for shopping locally and staying active. Earn points for purchases and event check-ins, redeemable for gift cards. Sync runs to track mileage and unlock achievements.

**Highlights:** Earn points for in-store and online purchases, Earn points for event check-ins, Redeem points for digital gift cards, Track lifetime points and level up, Sync runs and walks with Strava, Sync Apple Fitness workouts, Unlock distance-based achievements

**In-app purchases:** none


### Runners Roost

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/runners-roost/id6746333940)

Earn rewards and exclusive perks by shopping locally and staying active. Track your spending and sync your runs to redeem points for gift cards and unlock achievements. Stay informed about store news and events.

**Highlights:** Earn points for purchases, Redeem points for gift cards, Sync runs with Strava, Sync Apple Fitness workouts, Unlock achievements, Track lifetime points, Stay updated on store news

**Features:** macOS Compatibility, Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases:** none


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Running Lab free?

Running Lab is free to download, with no in-app purchases.

### Is Runners Roost free?

Runners Roost is free to download, with no in-app purchases.

### Which has better reviews, Running Lab or Runners Roost?

Running Lab and Runners Roost are both rated 5.0 out of 5 on the App Store, from 2 and 1 ratings respectively.

### Do Running Lab or Runners Roost have ads?

Neither Running Lab nor Runners Roost shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, Running Lab or Runners Roost?

Running Lab ships an update every 26 months, and Runners Roost every 14 months. Most recently, Running Lab was updated on October 2, 2026 and Runners Roost on October 7, 2026.

---

*Compared by [AppsHunter](https://appshunter.io/) from daily US App Store data. Review summaries are generated from verbatim App Store reviews.*