Comparison

Runner's World vs Run With Hal

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

Head to head
About

Runner's World

This app serves as a comprehensive guide for runners of all levels, offering inspiration and advice to improve performance and enjoyment. It allows users to access magazine content, share articles, and manage subscriptions.

Highlights
  • Running inspiration and advice
  • Content for all runner levels
  • Magazine issue access
  • Social sharing of content
  • Subscription management
  • Timed issue previews
Features
Read full description

The essential guide for everyone who runs – men and women, from beginners to hard-core marathoners. The authority in the running community, Runner's World inspires you to run faster and farther and have more fun doing it! SUBSCRIBE NOW AND GET YOUR FIRST ISSUE FREE! Don't forget, you can also get free access to issues with a timed preview (on your iPhone, too!). Plus, share app content with your favorite social networks. Using a simple two-finger tap, actual images of the content itself are “clipped” and can be sent directly to Facebook, Twitter, Tumblr, or Pinterest, or via email or saved to your photo roll. Download our free app today! Select the issue you'd like to purchase, or sign up with a subscription and save! Please note that you must have iOS 10.0 or higher installed on your device to use this app. Runner's World Pricing: • Subscription 1 Month - USD 1.99* • Subscription 1 Year - USD 19.99* * For non-US app stores, the equivalent currency charges will apply. Please note: App subscriptions do not include access to subscription-only content on our website. Additional Subscription Information: • 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. • No cancellation of the current subscription is allowed during active subscription period. Privacy Policy - https://bit.ly/2J5Ujfh Terms of Use - https://bit.ly/2J1YZqL • Any unused portion of a free trial period, if offered, will be forfeited when the user purchases a subscription to that publication, where applicable.

About

Run With Hal

This app provides personalized, adaptive training plans for various running distances, from 5K to 50K. It's guided by legendary coach Hal Higdon and adjusts to your progress, schedule, and goals. Features include GPS tracking, daily tips, and progress summaries to help you achieve your running ambitions.

Highlights
  • Adaptive training plans
  • Plans for 5K to 50K races
  • Daily motivation from Hal Higdon
  • GPS tracking
  • Flexible scheduling
  • Progress tracking and summaries
Features
Read full description

Train smarter, not harder, with Run With Hal. Powered by legendary coach Hal Higdon, the app delivers personalized, adaptive training plans that evolve with your goals, schedule, and performance. Whether you’re running your first 5K, training for a marathon, or tackling a 50K, Hal guides every step. **Features** - Adaptive plans that adjust automatically as you train - Plans for 5K, 8K, 10K, 15K, Half Marathon, Marathon, and 50K - Daily tips from Hal to keep you motivated - GPS tracking for pace, distance, and effort - Flexible scheduling with long-run customization and blackout dates - Progress tracking with charts, stats, and weekly summaries - Train for multiple races with blended adaptive plans Start your plan today and reach your marathon, half marathon, or race goals with Hal Higdon’s proven methods.

Screenshots

Runner's World4 screens
Run With Hal4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is review sentiment: Run With Hal at 65% against Runner's World's 20%. Run With Hal also leads on rating (4.7 vs 4.4). On price, ratings volume, update cadence and ads 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. Runner's World sells 10 in-app purchases, starting at $1.99 per month and Run With Hal sells 3 in-app purchases, starting at $6.99 per month. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

Run With Hal holds the better App Store score, 4.7 against 4.4. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 2.4K and 2.9K respectively. Written reviews point the same way: 20% of Runner's World's written reviews are positive against 65% of Run With Hal's.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Runner's World ships an update every 2 months, Run With Hal monthly. The most recent releases landed on October 29, 2026 and October 27, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard2 real differences · 8 level
Runner's World versus Run With Hal: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterRunner's WorldRun With Hal
PriceFreeFree
Rating4.4 (2.4K ratings)4.7 (2.9K ratings) — better
Positive reviews20.2% of reviews65.3% of reviews — better
Number of ratings2.4K2.9K — better
Update frequencyEvery 2 monthsMonthly — better
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesYesYes
MonetizationFree with in-app purchasesFree with in-app purchases
DevicesiPhone, iPad, iPod — betteriPhone, iPod
Requires iOS15.614.0 — better
Further details — not scored
Size60 MB47 MB
Age rating17+4+
DeveloperHearst Communications, Inc.Peaksware, LLC

Customer experience

Runner's World

All ratings2,342 ratings
Positive85.9%
Neutral2.5%
Negative11.6%
Written reviews124 reviews
Positive20.2%
Neutral5.6%
Negative74.2%

Run With Hal

All ratings2,847 ratings
Positive91.7%
Neutral3.0%
Negative5.3%
Written reviews303 reviews
Positive65.3%
Neutral10.9%
Negative23.8%

User reviews

Runner's World

From 2.4K App Store ratings

What we love

  • 🚀 Fast and smooth app experience
  • 📰 Excellent magazine content
  • 🌟 Helpful running-related information

Room to improve

  • 🐛 Frequent app crashes and freezes
  • 🔒 Subscription and login issues
  • 📥 Difficulty downloading and accessing content
  • 💰 Expensive subscription cost

Run With Hal

From 2.9K App Store ratings

What we love

  • 👍 Easy to follow plan
  • 🚀 Adaptive training
  • 💪 Helps achieve goals
  • 🎉 Great for beginners
  • 🤖 Structured and detailed

Room to improve

  • 🔀 Lacks flexibility to adjust schedule
  • 🤔 Questionable pacing recommendations
  • 🔌 No Apple Watch integration
  • 📊 Limited data tracking and feedback
  • 🐛 Technical issues and bugs

Bugs and requests

Runner's World

Reported bugs

3 issues
  • App not recognizing valid subscriptions
  • Inability to download or read magazine issues
  • Frequent crashes and freezes

Requested features

3 requests
  • Ability to save reading progress
  • Offline content access
  • Improved navigation and user interface

Run With Hal

Reported bugs

4 issues
  • App crashes during runs
  • Syncing issues with fitness trackers
  • Inconsistent pacing calculations
  • Inability to delete or modify existing training plans

Requested features

5 requests
  • Add ability to adjust schedule and swap workout days
  • Integrate with more fitness tracking platforms (Apple Health, Strava, etc.)
  • Provide more detailed performance feedback and analytics
  • Add audio/voice cues during runs
  • Improve cross-training logging and support

In-app purchases

10 purchases

Runner's World

Subscriptions2
  • RW 1 Month Subscription$1.991 Month
  • Runner's World 1 Year Renewable Subscription1 Month trial$19.991 Year
One-time8
  • The Trail 2012$0.99
  • January 2012$5.99
  • February 2012$5.99
Show 5 more
  • April 2012$5.99
  • January 2013$5.99
  • February 2013$5.99
  • April 2013$5.99
  • August 2014$5.99
3 purchases

Run With Hal

Subscriptions3
  • Run With Hal+ 1 Month$6.991 Month
  • Run With Hal+ 6 Month14 Days trial$35.996 Months
  • Run With Hal+ 1 Year14 Days trial$59.991 Year

Questions

Is Runner's World free?
Runner's World is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Is Run With Hal free?
Run With Hal is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Which has better reviews, Runner's World or Run With Hal?
Run With Hal is rated higher. Runner's World averages 4.4 out of 5 from 2.4K ratings, while Run With Hal averages 4.7 from 2.9K ratings.
Do Runner's World or Run With Hal have ads?
Neither Runner's World nor Run With Hal shows ads.
Which is updated more often, Runner's World or Run With Hal?
Runner's World ships an update every 2 months, and Run With Hal monthly. Most recently, Runner's World was updated on October 29, 2026 and Run With Hal on October 27, 2026.

Other comparisons