Comparison

Run 5k vs 10K Trainer by C25K®

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

Head to head
About

Run 5k

This app guides beginners from zero running experience to completing a 5k race over an 8-week program. It features interval training, animated stretching, and voice cues for pace and distance, even with a locked screen. It integrates with health tracking and offers an Apple Watch companion app.

Highlights
  • 8-week beginner training plan
  • Animated warmup and cooldown stretches
  • Voice cues for running and walking intervals
  • GPS tracking for pace and distance
  • Apple Watch app integration
  • Bluetooth heart rate monitor support
  • Health app integration
Features
Read full description

Join the hundreds of thousands of runners who have used Run 5k to go from a couch potato to a 5k (3.1 miles) runner. This app is great for beginner runners who have never run before or former runners who want to start up again. The Run 5k app has been featured on CNN.com, Boston.com’s lifestyle-health section, and in Health Magazine. Get into shape using our 8-week beginner training plan, complete with an animated warmup and cooldown stretching program. This app has voice cues that guide you even when your screen is locked. The app tells you when to run and walk and gives audio cues for distance and pace when you use GPS. You can use this app outside, on a track, or in the gym. FEATURES • Apple Watch app—you can leave your phone at home while you work out with our Watch app, or continue to use our Watch app together with the iPhone app. • Speaks pace, distance, intervals, and halfway point. • Optionally uses GPS for pace and distance. (You can also use this app on a treadmill or indoor track without GPS.) • Animated warmup and cooldown stretching programs with timer and voice cues. • Tap out your heart rate on the heart icon. • Supports Bluetooth heart rate monitors. • Integrates with the Health app. Set your weight in the Health app to calculate Calories burned, and to save your Active Calories for each workout. ABOUT the WORKOUTS • 8-week training program perfect for beginners or former runners. • Each workout is about 30 minutes long. • Interval training alternates between jogging and walking. • Workout intervals gradually become more challenging. • 5-minute warmup and 5-minute cooldown, which are skippable. • Speaks each jog and walk interval, halfway mark, and 1-minute-left mark. • Optionally speaks pace and distance information every 1/2 mile or 1/2 km. • Automatically checks off each completed workout and records your date, pace and distance. AUDIO CUES and NOTIFICATIONS If you’re not getting Notifications in the background, open the Settings app, select Notifications, then scroll down to find Run 5k in the list. Tap on Run 5k and turn on Notification Center, choose an alert style, and turn everything else on (Sound, Badge App Icon, Lock Screen). Check your volume and make sure your ringer switch is not set to silent/vibrate. HEALTH This app can be integrated with the Health app. Your weight set in the Health app can be used to calculate Calories burned during a workout, and the total Active Calories burned can be saved to Health app after each workout. Sharing this information with the Health app is optional. GPS and LOCATION To show distance and pace information, Run 10k can use GPS location tracking during a workout. For best results, use this app outside where you can see open sky. Continued use of GPS running in the background can dramatically decrease battery life. Legal Disclaimer: This app and any information given by it or by Felt Tip Inc are for educational purposes only. They are not intended nor implied to be a substitute for professional medical advice. You should always consult your healthcare provider before beginning any fitness program. Run 5k was created by Lucius Kwok, Agnes Chan, and Kasten Searles. Made in NYC.

About

10K Trainer by C25K®

This app guides beginners from sedentary to running a 10K in 14 weeks with a structured walk/run program. It features an audio coach, progress tracking, and community support. Ideal for those new to running or graduating from a 5K program.

Highlights
  • 14-week walk/run training plan
  • Audio coach guidance
  • Progress tracking
  • Community forums
  • Integration with Health app
  • Music integration
Features
Read full description

■ The Official 10K Trainer app with millions of success stories! ■ Official partners and the ONLY C25K (Couch to 5K) app featured on FITBIT and SAMSUNG smart watches! ■ Featured on The New York Times, Los Angeles Times, The Washington Post, The Guardian, The Huffington Post, Men's Fitness, Forbes, Mashable, Glamour Magazine, Popsugar Fitness, CBS News, NBC News, Macworld, Cosmopolitan, Lifehacker, WebMD and many more! "Daily programs that alternate between short bursts of walking and running until you're ready to go the distance." - Forbes "One of the highest-rated health and fitness apps... A modest, realistic workout schedule." - Men's Fitness ≈ Real-Life Inspirational Transformations ≈ ◎ Over 175,000 Likes and 1500 Success Photos at facebook.com/c25kfree ◎ Our community inspires one another (and inspires us!) everyday. Hear some of their amazing stories. "In this last year I have lost 97 lbs, gotten off insulin and 9 other medications, completed the C25K running app and started the 10k app. Life is a blessing." - Diana “I went from a size 16 to a size 7. I tell anyone I can about the app. because it was nothing short of a life changer.” - Amber 10K Trainer is the easiest program to get beginners from couch potatoes to 10K distance runners in just 14 weeks. By the same experts who created the #1 C25K® (Couch to 5K) training app! Don’t worry, if you are already a 5K graduate, you can skip ahead and pick up where C25K® app leaves off! This proven 14 week plan will allow users to slowly build strength and stamina by alternating between walking and running. The blend of walking and running together reduces the overall impact and risk of injury, keeps your body guessing, and prepares you to go the distance. By the end of the program, you will be stronger and healthier than you have ever been. You'll be a 10K runner! Turn on our award winning music and just press start! Our audio coach will guide you through your run! It's that easy! ≈ Less is More ≈ ◎ First week free! Easy to learn. Just press start! ◎ Ideal for beginners. ◎ 14 weeks total. ≈ Features ≈ ◉ Easiest 10k program at only 3 times/week ◉ Convenient audio coach and alerts ◉ Map your run at the end of your workout! ◉ Light and dark modes ◉ Integrates with the Health app ◉ Free iPad integration for indoor treadmills ◉ Integrated with Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram ◉ Access to our forums with thousands of veterans and newcomers starting the app. Join the community and meet other runners! ≈ NEW Zen Unlimited Pass - Try it for free! ≈ ◉ Award winning music curated from top DJ's! ◉ Scientifically proven to increase motivation by 35% ◉ Unlimited access to all pro features across ALL Zen Labs Fitness apps ◉ Unlock calories, distance, Apple watch integration, and more ◉ One subscription unlocks all our apps! Questions/comments? Please email us at contactus@zenlabsfitness.com, or visit us at www.zenlabsfitness.com. ≈ Connect ≈ Facebook: @C25Kfree Twitter: @C25Kfree Instagram: @officialc25k Hashtag: #C25K Zen Labs is a proud supporter of the National Breast Cancer Coalition. breastcancerdeadline2020.org Subscription pricing and terms: The subscription will automatically renew unless turned off in your iTunes Account Settings at least 24 hours before current period ends. You can go to your iTunes Account settings to manage your subscription and turn off auto-renew. Your iTunes Account will be charged when the purchase is confirmed. If you subscribe before your free trial ends, the rest of your free trial period will be forfeited as soon as your purchase is confirmed. Privacy Policy & Terms of Use: https://www.zenlabsfitness.com/privacy-policy/ Legal Disclaimer This app and any information given by it or by Zen Labs LLC are for educational purposes only. You should always consult your healthcare provider before beginning any fitness program. C25K® is a registered trademark of Zen Labs LLC

Screenshots

Run 5k4 screens
10K Trainer by C25K®4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is price: 10K Trainer by C25K® at Free against Run 5k's $2.99. 10K Trainer by C25K® also leads on rating (4.8 vs 3.9) and ratings volume (22K vs 67). Run 5k's advantage is in-app purchases (none vs 6) and ads (none vs shown). On review sentiment, update cadence 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

10K Trainer by C25K® is free to download; Run 5k costs $2.99 up front. 10K Trainer by C25K® sells 6 in-app purchases, starting at $4.99 per month. Run 5k asks for nothing beyond the download.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

10K Trainer by C25K® holds the better App Store score, 4.8 against 3.9. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: 10K Trainer by C25K® has 22K ratings behind it against 67, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews complicate that: 79% of Run 5k's written reviews are positive against 76% of 10K Trainer by C25K®'s, so the app with the better star average is not the one people write more warmly about.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Run 5k ships an update every 2 months, 10K Trainer by C25K® every 6 weeks. Both last shipped on October 27, 2026.

Scorecard7 real differences · 3 level
Run 5k versus 10K Trainer by C25K®: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterRun 5k10K Trainer by C25K®
Price$2.99Free — better
Rating3.9 (67 ratings)4.8 (22K ratings) — better
Positive reviews78.9% of reviews — better76.2% of reviews
Number of ratings6722K — better
Update frequencyEvery 2 monthsEvery 6 weeks — better
AdsNo — betterYes
In-app purchasesNo — betterYes
MonetizationFree — betterFree with in-app purchases
DevicesiPhone, iPod, Apple WatchiPhone, iPad, iPod, Apple Watch — better
Requires iOS12.0 — better14.0
Further details — not scored
Size74 MB321 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperFelt Tip Inc.Zen Labs

Customer experience

Run 5k

All ratings67 ratings
Positive70.1%
Neutral7.5%
Negative22.4%
Written reviews270 reviews
Positive78.9%
Neutral5.6%
Negative15.6%

10K Trainer by C25K®

All ratings21,551 ratings
Positive95.8%
Neutral2.0%
Negative2.2%
Written reviews421 reviews
Positive76.2%
Neutral6.2%
Negative17.6%

User reviews

Run 5k

From 67 App Store ratings

What we love

  • 👍 Simple and effective
  • 🚀 Gradually builds endurance
  • 💡 Helpful audio cues
  • 👍 Motivating and enjoyable
  • 👍 Versatile with music playback

Room to improve

  • 🐛 Inconsistent audio cues
  • 🐛 Tracking issues with Apple Watch
  • 🐛 Bugs with screen locking
  • 🔋 High battery consumption
  • 👎 Lacks advanced features

10K Trainer by C25K®

From 22K App Store ratings

What we love

  • 🚀 Gradual increase in running challenges
  • 👍 Motivating and easy to follow
  • 👍 Helpful for beginners and returning runners
  • 👍 Allows listening to own music
  • 👍 Provides voice prompts for guidance

Room to improve

  • 🐛 Inconsistent tracking of distance and calories
  • 🐛 Occasional app crashes or freezes
  • 🔋 Drains battery when running with phone
  • 👎 Requires subscription for advanced features

Bugs and requests

Run 5k

Reported bugs

3 issues
  • Duplicate workout recordings
  • Workout timer resets unexpectedly
  • Audio cues not working when screen is locked

Requested features

4 requests
  • GPS tracking and mapping
  • Customizable interval timers
  • Integration with other fitness apps
  • Post-workout data and progress tracking

10K Trainer by C25K®

Reported bugs

2 issues
  • Timers not syncing accurately with other devices
  • Workout data sometimes not recorded properly

Requested features

3 requests
  • Apple Watch integration for standalone use
  • More advanced training options beyond just 10K
  • Ability to customize audio prompts and volume

In-app purchases

None

Run 5k

No in-app purchases

6 purchases

10K Trainer by C25K®

Subscriptions4
  • Zen Unlimited Pass Monthly1 Month trial$4.991 Month
  • Unlock Your Potential7 Days trial$29.993 Months
  • Unlock Your Potential1 Month trial$29.993 Months
Show 1 more
  • Zen Unlimited Pass Annual7 Days trial$74.991 Year
One-time2
  • Remove Ads$1.99
  • Go To Pro$6.99

Questions

Is Run 5k free?
Run 5k costs $2.99, with no in-app purchases.
Is 10K Trainer by C25K® free?
10K Trainer by C25K® is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Which has better reviews, Run 5k or 10K Trainer by C25K®?
10K Trainer by C25K® is rated higher. Run 5k averages 3.9 out of 5 from 67 ratings, while 10K Trainer by C25K® averages 4.8 from 22K ratings.
Do Run 5k or 10K Trainer by C25K® have ads?
10K Trainer by C25K® shows ads; Run 5k does not.
Which is updated more often, Run 5k or 10K Trainer by C25K®?
Run 5k ships an update every 2 months, and 10K Trainer by C25K® every 6 weeks. Most recently, Run 5k was updated on October 27, 2026 and 10K Trainer by C25K® on October 27, 2026.

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