Comparison

Map My Run GPS Running Tracker vs Return to Running

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

Head to head
About

Map My Run GPS Running Tracker

Track your runs with GPS, get personalized training plans, and real-time stats. This app offers coaching tips, community motivation, and supports over 600 activities. Improve your performance indoors or outdoors.

Highlights
  • GPS tracking for distance, pace, and elevation
  • Customizable training plans for various distances
  • Real-time audio feedback during runs
  • Track over 600 activities
  • Community features and virtual challenges
  • Wearable device synchronization
  • Live Tracking for safety
Features
Read full description

Map My Run: Your Ultimate Running Tracker App, Built for All Runners Take your running to the next level with the most complete Running Tracker app. Whether you're a beginner starting your first jog or an experienced athlete preparing for a marathon, this Running Tracker gives you the tools to hit your goals. Log every run, get customizable Training Plans, and real-time stats across outdoor runs, treadmill workouts, and everything in between. With personalized coaching tips and community motivation, this isn’t just another running app, it’s your all-in-one Running Tracker. Now with Form Coaching tips for Garmin users to improve your form and performance. TRUSTED BY 100M+ RUNNERS WORLDWIDE - Named Top 10 Apps for Runners – The Guardian - Featured in NY Times, TIME, Wired & TechCrunch - Voted Best Running App Readers' Choice on About.com TRACK, MAP & IMPROVE EVERY RUN - Use GPS to track running distance, pace, elevation, and calories - Works as a mile tracker, jogging tracker, and treadmill tracker - Track 600+ activities including walking, cycling, yoga, gym, and more - Accurate indoor stats with step-counting and treadmill tracking with cadence updates - Get audio feedback in real-time: distance, duration, pace, and heart rate - Save routes and discover new places to run nearby or while traveling Whether you're indoors or out, the Running Tracker app gives you full control of your stats. PERSONALIZED TRAINING PLANS FOR EVERY RUNNER Train with purpose using expert-backed plans: - Adaptive coaching for 5K runners, 10K runners, half marathon training, and full marathon training - Set custom goals with your personal run trainer - Real-time feedback to help improve endurance and performance - Ideal for structured interval running and pace control - Whether it's weight loss, speed, or distance, this Run Tracker adapts to your goal Let your iPhone become your personal running coach and training partner. SEAMLESS DEVICE SYNC & WEARABLE SUPPORT - Sync your Running Tracker with Garmin, Apple Watch, and other wearables - Connect Bluetooth devices and HR monitors - Monitor your progress across apps like Apple Health - Perfect for both outdoor training and indoor treadmill workouts This Running Tracker works wherever and however you train. MOTIVATION THROUGH COMMUNITY & CHALLENGES - Find friends & join a global community of runners and share your progress - Compete in virtual challenges, earn achievements, and share workouts on your favorite social networks. - Use Live Tracking so friends can follow your run in real time and keep you safe. - Follow other runners, get inspired, and celebrate milestones Whether you’re a solo runner or part of a team, the Running Tracker community keeps you moving. RUN LIKE A PRO WITH MVP PREMIUM FEATURES Upgrade your Map My Run: Running Tracker to MVP and Unlock the best tools to turn your goals into achievable plans: - Use Live Tracking to give loved ones peace of mind -- Our safety feature can share your real-time run location with a secure list of family and friends. - Execute Run Training Plans and reach weight loss or distance goals with personalized plans that adapt dynamically to your fitness level as you improve. - Real-time Run Tracker that monitors and analyzes heart rate zones to adjust your training based on goals. - Set a goal for your run and stay on track with audio coach updates, including pace, cadence, distance, duration, calories, and more. Note: Continued GPS use in background may reduce battery life. Download the most complete Running Tracker today — your personal runner app, jog partner, distance tracker, and running coach all in one. From treadmill tracking to outdoor run training, this is the only app you'll ever need. EULA: https://www.apple.com/legal/internet-services/itunes/dev/stdeula/

About

Return to Running

This program guides individuals returning to running after an injury or a break. Developed by experienced runners and medical experts, it offers a structured approach to safely resume your sport.

Highlights
  • Injury recovery guidance
  • Return to sport program
  • Expert-developed protocols
  • Home-based training
  • Suitable for all runner levels
Features
Read full description

You recovered from an injury and are ready to start running again. Maybe you just took some time off and and want to run again. Maybe you want to start running for the first time. We have you covered. Our team of runners and medical experts has over 120 combined years of experience treating runners with injuries. We have treated all levels of runners, from Olympians and World Champions to weekend warriors. The Return to Running program is the result of our years of experience getting runners back into their sport. We combined our protocols into a single program that works for most runners and built an app to allow you to use it at home.

Screenshots

Map My Run GPS Running Tracker4 screens
Return to Running4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is in-app purchases: Return to Running at none against Map My Run GPS Running Tracker's 11. Return to Running also leads on ads (none vs shown) and rating (5.0 vs 4.8). Map My Run GPS Running Tracker's advantage is ratings volume (752K vs 3) and chart position (#86 vs unranked). On price and device support 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. Map My Run GPS Running Tracker sells 10 in-app purchases, starting at $7.99 per month. Return to Running asks for nothing beyond the download.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

Return to Running holds the better App Store score, 5.0 against 4.8. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Map My Run GPS Running Tracker has 752K ratings behind it against 3, so its average is the more settled of the two.

Scorecard7 real differences · 4 level
Map My Run GPS Running Tracker versus Return to Running: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterMap My Run GPS Running TrackerReturn to Running
PriceFreeFree
Rating4.8 (752K ratings)5.0 (3 ratings) — better
Positive reviews67.8% of reviews
Number of ratings752K — better3
Update frequencyEvery 2 weeks
AdsYesNo — better
In-app purchasesYesNo — better
MonetizationFree with in-app purchasesFree — better
Best chart rank#86 — better
DevicesiPhone, Apple WatchiPhone, iPod
Requires iOS16.012.1 — better
Further details — not scored
Size168 MB105 MB
Age rating12+12+
DeveloperOutside Television IncFitzpatrick

Customer experience

Map My Run GPS Running Tracker

All ratings752,250 ratings
Positive97.1%
Neutral1.8%
Negative1.1%
Written reviews1,604 reviews
Positive67.8%
Neutral9.2%
Negative22.9%

Return to Running

All ratings3 ratings
Positive100.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative0.0%

Bugs and requests

Map My Run GPS Running Tracker

Reported bugs

5 issues
  • Workouts not saving properly
  • Inaccurate pace and distance reporting
  • App freezing and crashing during use
  • Syncing issues between phone and watch
  • Phantom workouts being recorded

Requested features

5 requests
  • Add dark mode option
  • Improve interval training functionality
  • Allow more customization of audio prompts
  • Enhance route planning and mapping capabilities
  • Improve syncing between phone and watch

Return to Running

Not enough reviews yet to summarise bugs or requests.

In-app purchases

10 purchases

Map My Run GPS Running Tracker

Subscriptions10
  • Monthly MVP2 variants$7.991 Month
  • Monthly MVP$9.991 Month
  • Monthly MVP14 Days trial$9.991 Month
Show 7 more
  • One Year of MVP with 30% off14 Days trial$27.991 Year
  • Annual MVP$29.991 Year
  • Annual MVP14 Days trial$29.991 Year
  • Annual MVP14 Days trial$39.991 Year
  • Annual MVP$39.991 Year
  • Annual MVP$49.991 Year
  • Annual MVP$59.991 Year
None

Return to Running

No in-app purchases

Questions

Is Map My Run GPS Running Tracker free?
Map My Run GPS Running Tracker is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Is Return to Running free?
Return to Running is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Which has better reviews, Map My Run GPS Running Tracker or Return to Running?
Return to Running is rated higher. Map My Run GPS Running Tracker averages 4.8 out of 5 from 752K ratings, while Return to Running averages 5.0 from 3 ratings.
Do Map My Run GPS Running Tracker or Return to Running have ads?
Map My Run GPS Running Tracker shows ads; Return to Running does not.

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