Comparison

Run Trainer vs RunKit

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

Head to head
About

Run Trainer

This app serves as a personal running coach and GPS tracker, offering guided training plans for various distances from Couch to 5K to half marathons. It provides audio coaching, detailed performance statistics, and seamless integration with Apple devices.

Highlights
  • Personalized training plans (Couch to 5K, 10K, Half Marathon)
  • Customizable training schedules (MyPlan)
  • Audio coaching with voice cues
  • Integrated music control
  • Free Run mode for untracked runs
  • Accurate GPS tracking with Apple Maps
  • Detailed performance statistics (SpeedMap, pace overview)
  • Apple Watch app for hands-free training
Features
Read full description

Get ready to hit your running goals, maybe even smash them, with Run Trainer, your personal running coach and GPS run tracker. Whether you’re a beginner dreaming of your first 5K with Start to Run (Couch to 5K) or an experienced runner training for a faster 10K or half marathon, our iOS app with Apple Watch support is built to guide you every step of the way. Improve your health, lose weight or simply stay in top shape with our built-in training plans, or build your own in minutes. Why runners choose Run Trainer Personalized training plans for every level - From Couch to 5K for absolute beginners to advanced plans for 10K, 15K and even a half marathon. - With MyPlan, you can easily create custom training schedules, perfect for recovery blocks or specific goals. - Our plans use a clear, effective 3-step approach: Walk, Jog, Run. Smart training with audio coaching - Get clear voice cues during every workout to guide your pace and structure so you stay on rhythm and motivated. - Enjoy your own music from Apple Music, Spotify, Podcasts or other apps. Run Trainer automatically lowers the volume for instructions so you stay focused. - Prefer running freely with tracking? Free Run lets you head out without a plan while still tracking your performance. Accurate GPS tracking & detailed stats - Record your route with live GPS using Apple Maps. - See distance, time, pace and calories at a glance. During and after your run. - Dig into performance details with the unique SpeedMap, showing exactly where you sped up or slowed down and where you can optimize your pace for better results. - Review a clear pace overview (min/km) across all your workouts to monitor progress and set targets. Seamless with your Apple devices - Leave your iPhone in your pocket or in the holder. The Apple Watch app shows live running data on your wrist so you can train hands-free. - Sync your training data effortlessly with our free cloud service and Apple Health for a complete view of your fitness and health metrics. Your progress, always within reach - Your stats sync automatically with your free account. - Never worry about losing progress. Log in and pick up where you left off, even on a new phone or after reinstalling the app. Run Trainer: by runners, for runners We believe in simplicity and effectiveness. Run Trainer is built by runners for runners, delivering an intuitive, motivating coaching experience. See why so many runners have appreciated its clarity and functionality for over 10 years. Try Run Trainer risk-free today. Enjoy a generous free period with access to all features, without automatic subscription renewal. Explore everything first, then decide if you want to become a member. Start your running journey now, improve your fitness and discover your full potential! Note: Continued use of GPS running in the background can dramatically decrease battery life.

About

RunKit

Create, schedule, and execute custom workouts for a variety of sports. Plan multi-week training programs and sync them directly to your Apple Watch for seamless execution and real-time metrics. Track progress and get race-time predictions.

Highlights
  • Multi-step workout creation
  • Workout scheduling and calendar view
  • Apple Watch syncing
  • Support for multiple sports
  • Training plan building
  • Workout library management
Read full description

Build your running workout on iPhone. Run it on Apple Watch. RunKit is the fastest way to create custom running workouts for the Workout app: intervals, tempo, fartlek, hills, long runs. Set each step once, and your Watch guides you through every rep with pace and heart rate alerts. BUILD ANY WORKOUT • Warm-up, cooldown and as many interval blocks as you need • Reps and recoveries by time or distance • Targets per step: pace, heart rate, heart rate zone or cadence • Alerts with a tolerance (exact, ±5", ±10", ±15") • Presets, duplicate steps or whole workouts, notes on each session • Folders to keep your library tidy RUN IT ON YOUR WATCH • Your workout waits in the Workout app: just press start • Apple's native workout engine, with all its metrics and alerts • Running, walking, cycling, swimming, strength and more activity types SCHEDULE YOUR WEEK • Pick a day for each workout and see your week at a glance • Scheduled workouts sync to your Apple Watch automatically • Optional sync with your iPhone calendar NO PLAN YET? FOLLOW ONE OF OURS • Couch to 30 min in 4 weeks • 30 to 60 min in 6 weeks • 60 min to 10K in 8 weeks • 10K to half marathon in 8 weeks • 10K to marathon in 12 weeks Each plan is scheduled day by day, on the days you choose. NEED IDEAS? A gallery of ready-made workouts (easy runs, long runs, intervals, fartlek, tempo, hills, walk/run), added in a tap. KNOW YOUR RACE TIME Race-time predictions for 5K, 10K, half marathon and marathon, based on your Apple Health history. Apple and Apple Watch are registered trademarks of Apple Inc. ----------- RUNKIT PREMIUM Scheduling workouts to Apple Watch, training plans and the workout gallery are part of RunKit Premium. Payment will be charged to your Apple Account at confirmation of purchase. The subscription renews automatically unless auto-renew is turned off at least 24 hours before the end of the current period. Your account will be charged for renewal within 24 hours prior to the end of the current period. You can manage subscriptions and turn off auto-renewal in your Account Settings after purchase. Privacy Policy: https://qeezon.com/runkit/privacy-policy Terms of Use (EULA): https://qeezon.com/runkit/terms-of-use

Screenshots

Run Trainer4 screens
RunKit4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is review sentiment: RunKit at 87% against Run Trainer's 53%. RunKit also leads on rating (4.8 vs 4.4). Run Trainer's advantage is ratings volume (199 vs 53). On price, update cadence, ads and in-app purchases 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. Run Trainer sells 3 in-app purchases, starting at $5.99 per month and RunKit sells 2 in-app purchases, starting at $3.99 per month. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

RunKit holds the better App Store score, 4.8 against 4.4. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 199 and 53 respectively. Written reviews point the same way: 53% of Run Trainer's written reviews are positive against 87% of RunKit's.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Run Trainer ships an update monthly, RunKit fortnightly. The most recent releases landed on October 21, 2026 and October 27, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard3 real differences · 7 level
Run Trainer versus RunKit: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterRun TrainerRunKit
PriceFreeFree
Rating4.4 (199 ratings)4.8 (53 ratings) — better
Positive reviews52.9% of reviews86.7% of reviews — better
Number of ratings199 — better53
Update frequencyMonthlyFortnightly — better
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesYesYes
MonetizationFree with in-app purchasesFreemium
DevicesiPhone, Apple WatchiPhone, iPad
Requires iOS17.617.0 — better
Further details — not scored
Size125 MB56 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperRun Trainer B.V.Arnaud Dupuy

Customer experience

Run Trainer

All ratings198 ratings
Positive86.9%
Neutral3.0%
Negative10.1%
Written reviews121 reviews
Positive52.9%
Neutral9.1%
Negative38.0%

RunKit

All ratings53 ratings
Positive96.2%
Neutral0.0%
Negative3.8%
Written reviews45 reviews
Positive86.7%
Neutral2.2%
Negative11.1%

User reviews

Run Trainer

From 199 App Store ratings

What we love

  • 👍 Excellent for beginner runners
  • 🎯 Effective interval training structure
  • 🎵 Works with music in background
  • 📊 Good progress tracking and statistics
  • ⚡ Simple and easy to use interface

Room to improve

  • 🐛 Frequent app crashes and glitches
  • 🔐 Difficult to cancel subscriptions
  • 💰 Misleading free trial/freemium model
  • 📱 Login issues and authentication problems
  • 🌐 WiFi-only connectivity requirement

RunKit

From 53 App Store ratings

What we love

  • 👍 Easy to use interface
  • 👍 Great for custom workouts
  • 👍 Seamless Apple Watch integration
  • 👍 Helps with interval training
  • 👍 Good for planning runs

Room to improve

  • 🐛 Cannot share workouts through WhatsApp
  • 🐛 Subscription error message
  • 🐛 Not working after recent updates
  • 🐛 Lost all data after reinstalling
  • 🐛 No support response

Bugs and requests

Run Trainer

Reported bugs

14 issues
  • App crashes mid-run and loses recording
  • Pausing workout causes progress restart
  • Login freezes and authentication failures
  • Sign-up form stuck on DOB slider
  • App won't open or keeps crashing
Show 9 more
  • Cellular connectivity not working
  • GPS not recording distance accurately
  • Voice command timing off by seconds
  • Text overlapping and display corruption
  • Music playlist won't save between runs
  • App logs out unexpectedly
  • Marathon pack programs inaccessible
  • Interface buttons showing incorrect text
  • Non-English content in settings

Requested features

10 requests
  • Apple Watch standalone functionality without phone
  • Integration with Fitbit and MyFitnessPal
  • Integration with native Fitness app
  • Weight loss tracking integration
  • Treadmill mode improvements
Show 5 more
  • More detailed feature documentation
  • Voice-only coaching option
  • Continued distance tracking after workout completion
  • Better music playlist management
  • Indoor running options

RunKit

Reported bugs

7 issues
  • App not working after recent updates
  • Lost all data after reinstalling
  • Cannot share workouts through WhatsApp
  • Subscription error message
  • Sharing feature not working
Show 2 more
  • Cannot install on Apple Watch Series 3
  • No support response for bugs

Requested features

11 requests
  • Smaller pace integers
  • Ability to create workouts for strength training
  • Folders or tags for organizing workouts
  • Ability to connect headphones via Apple Watch for audio feedback
  • Desktop or web version for easier workout creation
Show 6 more
  • More sports options
  • Monthly calendar view for better organization
  • Ability to set up desired heart rate zone/cadence at once within runs
  • Add cycling activity
  • Retrieve default settings from the Exercise app for cycling power zones
  • Default to miles instead of KM

In-app purchases

3 purchases

Run Trainer

Subscriptions3
  • All features per month1 Month trial$5.991 Month
  • All features per 3 months3 Months trial$15.493 Months
  • All features per month year1 Year trial$43.991 Year
2 purchases

RunKit

Subscriptions2
  • Premium7 Days trial$3.991 Month
  • Premium7 Days trial$19.991 Year

Questions

Is Run Trainer free?
Run Trainer is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Is RunKit free?
RunKit is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Which has better reviews, Run Trainer or RunKit?
RunKit is rated higher. Run Trainer averages 4.4 out of 5 from 199 ratings, while RunKit averages 4.8 from 53 ratings.
Do Run Trainer or RunKit have ads?
Neither Run Trainer nor RunKit shows ads.
Which is updated more often, Run Trainer or RunKit?
Run Trainer ships an update monthly, and RunKit fortnightly. Most recently, Run Trainer was updated on October 21, 2026 and RunKit on October 27, 2026.

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