# 5K Runner vs Friendly Competitions

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.

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.

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.

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

## The numbers

| Metric | 5K Runner | Friendly Competitions |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | **[4.9 (119K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/5k-runner-couch-to-5k-running/id448357306/reviews)** | [3.4 (7 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/friendly-competitions/id1586333967/reviews) |
| Number of ratings | **119K** | 7 |
| Positive reviews | **74.4% of reviews** | 60.0% of reviews |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | Every 6 weeks | **Every 9 days** |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | Free with in-app purchases |
| Best chart rank | **#136** | — |
| Size | 167 MB | 52 MB |
| Requires iOS | 16.0 | 16.0 |
| Devices | **iPhone, iPad, Apple Watch** | iPhone |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [FITNESS22 LTD](https://appshunter.io/developer/383171664) | [Evan Cooper](https://appshunter.io/developer/1512600688) |

## What reviewers say

### 5K Runner

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/5k-runner-couch-to-5k-running/id448357306)

**Currently charting:** #136 Top Grossing · Health & Fitness (US App Store)

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:** Apple Watch app, Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases (9)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Premium Subscription | $7.99 | per 3 months |
| Premium Subscription | $7.99 | per 3 months |
| Premium Subscription | $9.99 | per 3 months |
| Premium Subscription | $14.99 | per 3 months |
| Premium Subscription | $15.99 | per 3 months |
| Premium Subscription | $19.99 | per 3 months |
| Premium Subscription | $29.99 | per 3 months |
| Lifetime Premium | $9.99 | one-time |
| Lifetime Premium | $19.99 | one-time |

**What reviewers like**

- 👍 Easy to use
- 🚀 Gradual progression
- 💪 Effective for beginners
- 🎉 Motivating and inspiring
- 🎧 Integrates with music playback

**What reviewers complain about**

- 💰 Requires paid subscription
- 🔍 Lack of pace and distance tracking
- 🕰️ Rapid increase in run duration
- 🤖 Robotic voice prompts
- 🔀 Difficulty tracking progress

**Reported bugs**

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

**Requested features**

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


### Friendly Competitions

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/friendly-competitions/id1586333967)

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

**In-app purchases (3)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Monthly | $0.99 | per month |
| Semi-Annually | $6.99 | per 6 months |
| Annually | $12.99 | per year |


## Frequently asked 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 9, 2026 and Friendly Competitions on November 3, 2026.

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