Comparison

Runner's World vs V.O2

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

V.O2

This app provides adaptive training plans and personalized coaching for runners of all levels. It assesses your fitness, offers custom paces, and syncs with popular devices. Train intelligently to achieve measurable improvements and become your best runner.

Highlights
  • Adaptive training plans
  • VDOT fitness assessment
  • Personalized training paces
  • Sync with Apple Health, Coros, Garmin, Strava
  • Real-time guidance on Apple Watch, Coros, Garmin
  • Training adaptation based on improvement
  • Coach communication and training adjustments
Features
Read full description

Coaching app for athletes looking to take their running to the next level. How it works Athletes: Get an invite from a coach or choose one coaching option. • Adaptive Trainer (14-Day Free Trial) • Goal Race Plan • Match with a Private Coach Coaches: Start your 30-day free trial and learn how to manage your athletes at https://vdoto2.com/vdotcoach Popular Features • Assess your current running fitness (VDOT) • Built-in personalized training paces • Sync training calendar with GPS data from Apple Health, Coros, Garmin or Strava • Sync workouts/pace targets to Apple Watch, Coros or Garmin for real-time guidance • Adapt your training based on your improvement • Work with your coach, communicate and adjust training Truly Personalized Unlike most running apps, VDOT knows you. It understands the type of runner you are, what you're training for, and how to maximize your efforts. It also gives you more control over your training, leveraging your feedback to deliver real-time data which fine tunes your training and leads to continuous progression. With fully automated, truly personalized and highly-adaptive training, VDOT helps you achieve measurable improvement — all in an effort to make you the best runner you can be. Intelligent Training With a focus on training over tracking and coaching over running, VDOT offers access to the highest quality, Olympic-style training for runners of all levels-right from any mobile device. Designed to help runners train correctly and more intelligently, VDOT elicits maximum benefit while reducing the required effort. These high-quality workouts promote healthy, responsible, and beneficial sessions while simultaneously preventing overtraining. Olympic Pedigree V.O2 was built from the foundation of a scientifically-validated training methodology. Based on former Olympian, author, and legendary running coach Jack Daniels’ exercise science principles, the methodology not only benefits runners of all ages and abilities when it comes to improving their running fitness but it also serves as the best measure of running economy across a variety of runners and events, making it an ideal way to compare performances. High-school, college, Olympic and non-elite runners have all trained, ran, and succeeded with the VDOT methodology. -”Dr. Jack Daniels has had a bigger influence on training-for-running than anyone. He might be considered the Albert Einstein of the sport." - Runner’s World Magazine

Screenshots

Runner's World4 screens
V.O24 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is review sentiment: V.O2 at 71% against Runner's World's 20%. V.O2 also leads on rating (4.9 vs 4.4) and update cadence (weekly vs every 2 months). Runner's World's advantage is chart position (#200 vs unranked). On price, ratings volume, 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. Runner's World sells 10 in-app purchases, starting at $1.99 per month and V.O2 sells 16 in-app purchases, starting at $12.99 per month. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

V.O2 holds the better App Store score, 4.9 against 4.4. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 2.4K and 6.3K respectively. Written reviews point the same way: 20% of Runner's World's written reviews are positive against 71% of V.O2's.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Runner's World ships an update every 2 months, V.O2 weekly. Both last shipped on October 26, 2026.

Scorecard4 real differences · 7 level
Runner's World versus V.O2: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterRunner's WorldV.O2
PriceFreeFree
Rating4.4 (2.4K ratings)4.9 (6.3K ratings) — better
Positive reviews20.3% of reviews71.0% of reviews — better
Number of ratings2.4K6.3K — better
Update frequencyEvery 2 monthsWeekly — better
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesYesYes
MonetizationFree with in-app purchasesFree with in-app purchases
Best chart rank#200 — better—
DevicesiPhone, iPad, iPod — betteriPhone, iPad
Requires iOS15.6 — better16.6
Further details — not scored
Size60 MB142 MB
Age rating17+4+
DeveloperHearst Communications, Inc.The Run SMART Project, LLC

Customer experience

Runner's World

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

V.O2

All ratings6,278 ratings
Positive97.6%
Neutral0.9%
Negative1.4%
Written reviews176 reviews
Positive71.0%
Neutral8.0%
Negative21.0%

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

V.O2

From 6.3K App Store ratings

What we love

  • 👍 Easy to use
  • 🚀 Great integration with Garmin watches
  • 💡 Excellent for coaching and athlete communication
  • 👍 Fantastic adaptive programming and training plans
  • 👍 Seamless sync with Garmin and other platforms

Room to improve

  • 🐛 Issues with syncing to Garmin and other platforms
  • 🐛 Inconsistent performance and bugs
  • 🐛 Difficulty editing or moving workouts
  • 🐛 Inaccurate elevation and GPS tracking
  • 🔍 Limited customization and preset workout options

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

V.O2

Reported bugs

4 issues
  • Apple Watch app issues and lack of functionality
  • Problems with syncing Garmin runs to the correct workouts
  • Inconsistent elevation and GPS data
  • Bugs and crashes when using the app

Requested features

6 requests
  • Ability to duplicate and edit workouts
  • Improved Apple Watch and Health app integration
  • More advanced adaptive training and automation
  • Expanded cross-training and workout modalities
  • Better user interface and workflow for coaches
Show 1 more
  • Keyword-based search for notes and workouts

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
16 purchases

V.O2

Subscriptions2
  • Adaptive Training Subscription14 Days trial2 variants$12.991 Month
  • Adaptive Training - Annual14 Days trial$99.991 Year
One-time14
  • Base/Fitness - 8 weeks$44.99
  • Half Marathon - 12 weeks$54.99
  • 10 Km - 12 weeks$54.99
Show 11 more
  • 5 Km - 12 weeks$54.99
  • 1500m - 12 weeks$54.99
  • 3 Km - 12 weeks$54.99
  • Marathon - 15 weeks$69.99
  • Half Marathon - 15 weeks$69.99
  • Marathon - 18 weeks$79.99
  • Half Marathon - 18 weeks$79.99
  • Jack's Elite Marathon - 18wks$79.99
  • Jack's First Marathon - 18wks$79.99
  • Jack's Boston Marathon - 18wks$94.99
  • Marathon - 24 weeks$99.99

Questions

Is Runner's World free?
Runner's World is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Is V.O2 free?
V.O2 is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Which has better reviews, Runner's World or V.O2?
V.O2 is rated higher. Runner's World averages 4.4 out of 5 from 2.4K ratings, while V.O2 averages 4.9 from 6.3K ratings.
Do Runner's World or V.O2 have ads?
Neither Runner's World nor V.O2 shows ads.
Which is updated more often, Runner's World or V.O2?
Runner's World ships an update every 2 months, and V.O2 weekly. Most recently, Runner's World was updated on October 26, 2026 and V.O2 on October 26, 2026.

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