Comparison

Runner's World vs The Program by Bandit Running

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

The Program by Bandit Running

This app offers a free guided training experience for marathon and half marathon runners. It generates personalized training plans based on your race, goal time, and weekly mileage. Get instant answers to training questions with the integrated coach feature.

Highlights
  • Free guided training plans
  • Marathon and half marathon focus
  • Personalized plan generation
  • Interactive training schedule
  • Instant coach answers
Features
Read full description

The Program is a 100% free guided training experience for marathons and half marathons powered by Bandit Running. Select your race, goal finish time, and weekly mileage, and an interactive training plan will be automatically generated for you. Plus, access Coach for instant answers to all your fundamental training questions.

Screenshots

Runner's World4 screens
The Program by Bandit Running4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is review sentiment: The Program by Bandit Running at 73% against Runner's World's 20%. The Program by Bandit Running also leads on in-app purchases (none vs 10) and update cadence (every 2 weeks vs every 2 months). Runner's World's advantage is rating (4.4 vs 3.9) and ratings volume (2.4K vs 115). On price, ads and iOS requirement 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. The Program by Bandit Running asks for nothing beyond the download.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

Runner's World holds the better App Store score, 4.4 against 3.9. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Runner's World has 2.4K ratings behind it against 115, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews complicate that: 20% of Runner's World's written reviews are positive against 73% of The Program by Bandit Running's, so the app with the better star average is not the one people write more warmly about.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Runner's World ships an update every 2 months, The Program by Bandit Running every 2 weeks. The most recent releases landed on October 24, 2026 and October 22, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard7 real differences · 3 level
Runner's World versus The Program by Bandit Running: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterRunner's WorldThe Program by Bandit Running
PriceFreeFree
Rating4.4 (2.4K ratings) — better3.9 (115 ratings)
Positive reviews20.3% of reviews72.7% of reviews — better
Number of ratings2.4K — better115
Update frequencyEvery 2 monthsEvery 2 weeks — better
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesYesNo — better
MonetizationFree with in-app purchasesFree — better
DevicesiPhone, iPad, iPod — betteriPhone
Requires iOS15.6 — better16.4
Further details — not scored
Size60 MB31 MB
Age rating17+4+
DeveloperHearst Communications, Inc.Bandit Running

Customer experience

Runner's World

All ratings2,342 ratings
Positive85.9%
Neutral2.5%
Negative11.6%
Written reviews123 reviews
Positive20.3%
Neutral4.9%
Negative74.8%

The Program by Bandit Running

All ratings112 ratings
Positive72.3%
Neutral0.9%
Negative26.8%
Written reviews55 reviews
Positive72.7%
Neutral0.0%
Negative27.3%

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

The Program by Bandit Running

From 115 App Store ratings

What we love

  • 🚀 Excellent training program
  • 👍 Intuitive and easy to use
  • 🎉 Customizable to user goals
  • 🎉 Helpful insights and advice
  • 👍 Clean and simple interface

Room to improve

  • 🐛 Account creation issues
  • 🐛 Blank screen on launch

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

The Program by Bandit Running

Reported bugs

3 issues
  • Login screen freezes
  • Incompatible with older devices
  • Account creation problems

Requested features

2 requests
  • Dark mode option
  • Advanced analytics dashboard

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
None

The Program by Bandit Running

No in-app purchases

Questions

Is Runner's World free?
Runner's World is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Is The Program by Bandit Running free?
The Program by Bandit Running is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Which has better reviews, Runner's World or The Program by Bandit Running?
Runner's World is rated higher. Runner's World averages 4.4 out of 5 from 2.4K ratings, while The Program by Bandit Running averages 3.9 from 115 ratings.
Do Runner's World or The Program by Bandit Running have ads?
Neither Runner's World nor The Program by Bandit Running shows ads.
Which is updated more often, Runner's World or The Program by Bandit Running?
Runner's World ships an update every 2 months, and The Program by Bandit Running every 2 weeks. Most recently, Runner's World was updated on October 24, 2026 and The Program by Bandit Running on October 22, 2026.

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