Comparison

5K Runner vs Friendly Competitions

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

Head to head
About

5K Runner

This app guides users from beginner to running a 5K in 8 weeks with a structured, gradual training plan. It features audio coaching, music integration, and progress tracking, making fitness accessible and achievable.

Highlights
  • 8-week progressive training plan
  • Audio coaching for walk/run intervals
  • Music integration and control
  • GPS and distance tracking
  • Apple Health integration
  • Achievements and badges
Features
Read full description

- The OFFICIAL 5K Runner® Couch potato to 5K app. - Get in shape and lose weight in 8 weeks - 4.2 Million People successfully did it - Featured on CNN, Fox, USA Today, Times, Fitness Channel, Apple's "New & Noteworthy", AppAdvice, AppCraver, Best10Apps, Appolicious, Daily Motion, AppOfTheDay, MakeUseOf, the iPhone App Review, Remix Your Health, AppShopper, Apple's Top Health & Fitness apps, and so many others… - 8 Weeks, 3 Times a week, 30 Minutes a day Get ready to start your new healthy life. ——————————————————— This app has won multiple awards (see below), is the most effective & popular 0-5K app and is highly recommended by health & fitness experts. Simply Gets Results ◉ The most effective 0 to 5K app ◉ Nothing to learn. Just press start ◉ Excellent for Weight Loss Features ● All Features fully enabled, and no ads ● Alternating walk / run intervals ● Run segments gradually increase over 8 weeks ● Human coach voice through your headphones that tells you when to walk / run. ● Listen to your music and the coach will blend in ● Control music through the app or headphones ● Compatible with Nike+ and all other GPS apps ● Compatible with all music apps ● Giant community of 0-5K runners on Facebook ● Earn achievements & badges as you advance ● Integrated with Facebook & Twitter ● Outdoors or Treadmill GPS & Apple Health ● Built in GPS & Distance Tracking, also when app is in background ● Integrated with Apple Health for Calorie calculation & saving workouts NOTE: Continued use of GPS running in the background can dramatically decrease battery life. We’re here for you ● We gladly answer all questions - just ask us at: support@fitness22.com Praise - 4.2 Million People successfully did it - Awards: Best 5K Training App, Best Running App, Editor's Choice, Top fitness app, Best Beginner App, Top Quality App, Best fitness and nutrition apps. - Featured on CNN, Fox, USA Today, Times, Fitness Channel, Apple's "New & Noteworthy", AppAdvice, AppCraver, Best10Apps, Appolicious, Daily Motion, AppOfTheDay, MakeUseOf, the iPhone App Review, Remix Your Health, AppShopper, Apple's Top Health & Fitness apps, and so many others. - Recommended by doctors on healthTap.com - See real life success stories on facebook.com/5K.Runner.Community Press Reviews "If you thought that you could never run - get ready for a BIG surprise. With this app - you will run" "It's a great App, I was hooked by the second run, and it kept me running" "If you want to start running and to keep running - this app will do it for you" "One of the best iPhone running apps I’ve tested."  "This application is a must-have fitness trainer for anyone trying to catch the running bug or getting ready for a major running event" "This app is amazingly effective and will help you achieve that coveted 5K distance. If you want to get running, this app is a must.“ This app includes an auto renewing subscription which enables content/workouts - Subscription options are monthly - Payment will be charged to iTunes Account at confirmation of purchase - Subscription automatically renews unless auto-renew is turned off at least 24-hours before the end of the current period - Account will be charged for renewal within 24-hours prior to the end of the current period, and identify the cost of the renewal - Subscriptions may be managed by the user and auto-renewal may be turned off by going to the user's Account Settings after purchase - Any unused portion of a free trial period, if offered, will be forfeited when the user purchases a subscription to that publication." ● Privacy Policy: https://www.fitness22.com/privacy-policy ● Terms of use: http://fitness22content.com/Components/WebPages/TermsOfUse/TermsOfUse.html --- CONTACT US --- Dear customers, we are here for you! support@fitness22.com

About

Friendly Competitions

Compete with friends in fitness challenges using your Health app data. Set custom rules for start/end dates and scoring to create unique competitions. Enjoy seamless integration without manual setup.

Highlights
  • Group fitness competitions
  • Health app data integration
  • Customizable competition rules
  • Automatic data syncing
  • Set start and end dates
  • Flexible scoring models
Read full description

Friendly Competitions allows you to compete against groups of friends in fitness. It automatically uses your fitness goals and results from the Health app, without the need for pesky configuration. Create competitions like never before, like start & end date, scoring models and more. Terms of use: https://www.apple.com/legal/internet-services/itunes/dev/stdeula/

Screenshots

5K Runner4 screens
Friendly Competitions4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is rating: 5K Runner at 4.9 against Friendly Competitions's 3.4. 5K Runner also leads on ratings volume (119K vs 7) and review sentiment (74% vs 60%). Friendly Competitions's advantage is update cadence (every 9 days vs every 6 weeks). On price, ads, in-app purchases and monetization model 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. 5K Runner sells 9 in-app purchases, starting at $7.99 per 3 months and Friendly Competitions sells 3 in-app purchases, starting at $0.99 per month. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

5K Runner holds the better App Store score, 4.9 against 3.4. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: 5K Runner has 119K ratings behind it against 7, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews point the same way: 74% of 5K Runner's written reviews are positive against 60% of Friendly Competitions's.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

5K Runner ships an update every 6 weeks, Friendly Competitions every 9 days. The most recent releases landed on November 8, 2026 and November 3, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard6 real differences · 5 level
5K Runner versus Friendly Competitions: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
Parameter5K RunnerFriendly Competitions
PriceFreeFree
Rating4.9 (119K ratings) — better3.4 (7 ratings)
Positive reviews74.4% of reviews — better60.0% of reviews
Number of ratings119K — better7
Update frequencyEvery 6 weeksEvery 9 days — better
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesYesYes
MonetizationFree with in-app purchasesFree with in-app purchases
Best chart rank#145 — better—
DevicesiPhone, iPad, Apple Watch — betteriPhone
Requires iOS16.016.0
Further details — not scored
Size167 MB52 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperFITNESS22 LTDEvan Cooper

Customer experience

5K Runner

All ratings118,948 ratings
Positive98.1%
Neutral0.8%
Negative1.1%
Written reviews1,538 reviews
Positive74.4%
Neutral5.1%
Negative20.5%

Friendly Competitions

All ratings7 ratings
Positive57.1%
Neutral14.3%
Negative28.6%
Written reviews5 reviews
Positive60.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative40.0%

Bugs and requests

5K Runner

Reported bugs

3 issues
  • Syncing issues between iPhone and Apple Watch
  • Crashes and freezes during use
  • Inability to delete user account or workout history

Requested features

5 requests
  • More detailed performance tracking
  • Customizable voice prompts
  • Apple Watch integration
  • Ability to edit workout history
  • Smoother transition between run/walk intervals

Friendly Competitions

Not enough reviews yet to summarise bugs or requests.

In-app purchases

9 purchases

5K Runner

Subscriptions7
  • Premium Subscription$7.993 Months
  • Premium Subscription7 Days trial2 variants$7.993 Months
  • Premium Subscription7 Days trial$9.993 Months
Show 4 more
  • Premium Subscription7 Days trial$14.993 Months
  • Premium Subscription7 Days trial$15.993 Months
  • Premium Subscription7 Days trial$19.993 Months
  • Premium Subscription7 Days trial$29.993 Months
One-time2
  • Lifetime Premium$9.99
  • Lifetime Premium$19.99
3 purchases

Friendly Competitions

Subscriptions3
  • Monthly3 Days trial$0.991 Month
  • Semi-Annually3 Days trial$6.996 Months
  • Annually3 Days trial$12.991 Year

Questions

Is 5K Runner free?
5K Runner is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Is Friendly Competitions free?
Friendly Competitions is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Which has better reviews, 5K Runner or Friendly Competitions?
5K Runner is rated higher. 5K Runner averages 4.9 out of 5 from 119K ratings, while Friendly Competitions averages 3.4 from 7 ratings.
Do 5K Runner or Friendly Competitions have ads?
Neither 5K Runner nor Friendly Competitions shows ads.
Which is updated more often, 5K Runner or Friendly Competitions?
5K Runner ships an update every 6 weeks, and Friendly Competitions every 9 days. Most recently, 5K Runner was updated on November 8, 2026 and Friendly Competitions on November 3, 2026.

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