Comparison

Zombies, Run! vs Trail Challenger

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

Head to head
About

Zombies, Run!

Transform your workouts into epic audio adventures. This fitness app uses immersive storytelling to motivate you to run, walk, or jog anywhere, at any pace. Integrate your music and track your progress with GPS, unlocking new story elements as you go.

Highlights
  • Immersive audio storytelling adventures
  • Real-world running and walking
  • GPS tracking and statistics
  • Integrates with personal music playlists
  • Unlockable story extras and lore
  • Works anywhere and at any speed
Features
Read full description

Run in the real world. Become a hero in another. Zombies, Run! is the world’s most popular smartphone fitness game — over 10 million runners, a 4.8-star rating, and 500+ missions across 11 seasons and counting, co-created by award-winning novelist Naomi Alderman. Every run becomes a mission. You’re Runner 5, and through your headphones the story unfolds: rescue survivors, gather supplies, outrun the horde, and uncover the truth about the zombie apocalypse. It’s so much fun you’ll forget you’re working out. • Made for every body and every pace. Total beginner or marathon veteran, it works anywhere and at any speed — jog in a park, walk a trail, use a treadmill, or work out in a wheelchair. • Includes a Couch to 5K training program like no other. Learn to run with thrilling, immersive storytelling. • Your music, your soundtrack. The story weaves between tracks from your own playlists. • A fully-featured fitness app. GPS tracking, detailed stats, and unlockable story extras as you progress. Rebuild Abel Township from a few shivering survivors into a fortified beacon of civilisation. Try Zombies, Run! for free, or subscribe to unlock every mission. Subscriptions renew automatically unless cancelled at least 24 hours before the end of the current period, and can be managed in your App Store account settings. Terms: https://support.zombiesrungame.com/hc/en-us/articles/10967895586461-Zombies-Run-Subscription-Terms Privacy: https://support.zombiesrungame.com/hc/en-us/articles/360005935458-Privacy-Policy Note: Continued GPS use in the background can decrease battery life.

About

Trail Challenger

Embark on virtual hiking challenges and track your real-world progress to completion. Earn a physical medal upon finishing any trail. Compete in time trials on famous routes and climb the leaderboards.

Highlights
  • Virtual hiking challenges
  • Real progress tracking
  • Physical medal rewards
  • Time trials
  • Leaderboards
  • Community page
Features
Read full description

Trail Challenger is a virtual hiking challenge that tracks your actual progress along the route to verify completion. This is not like other virtual challenges that only count your steps, so make sure you are able to access and hike the trail challenge of your choice. Set Your Fitness Goal Trail Challenger is designed for any fitness or experience level, this is the hiking challenge for everyone. Completing any of Hong Kong’s long trails are epic achievements, regardless if it takes 1 day or 100 days. Simply pick the trail you want to conquer and enter the challenge. Our app will track your progress as you hike the trail and target 100% completion. Do the trail in bite sized day hikes, or in one epic day out….the choice is yours. Redeem Your Medal When you finally complete 100% of the hiking trail, we will send you a REAL medal in the post. Time Trials Ready to claim bragging rights among your hiker friends? Pick one of Hong Kong’s famous day hikes, enter the start zone and start the clock. Race to the end zone as quick as you can to stop the clock. You will then see where you come on the leaderboard along with all the other hikers. App Features * Long Trail Hiking Challenges
 * FREE Day Hike Time Trials
 * Hiking Community Page
 * Merch Store
 Fitness goals and resolutions There is no better way to lose weight, than by setting goals. Therefore, pick a hiking adventure to ensure you smash your resolutions!

Screenshots

Zombies, Run!4 screens
Trail Challenger4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is in-app purchases: Trail Challenger at none against Zombies, Run!'s 10. Trail Challenger also leads on review sentiment (100% vs 71%) and rating (5.0 vs 4.8). Zombies, Run!'s advantage is ratings volume (24K vs 2) and update cadence (every 3 weeks vs every 2 months). On price, ads and device support 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. Zombies, Run! sells 8 in-app purchases, starting at $6.99 per month. Trail Challenger asks for nothing beyond the download.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

Trail Challenger holds the better App Store score, 5.0 against 4.8. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Zombies, Run! has 24K ratings behind it against 2, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews point the same way: 71% of Zombies, Run!'s written reviews are positive against 100% of Trail Challenger's.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Zombies, Run! ships an update every 3 weeks, Trail Challenger every 2 months. The most recent releases landed on November 7, 2026 and November 3, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard7 real differences · 3 level
Zombies, Run! versus Trail Challenger: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterZombies, Run!Trail Challenger
PriceFreeFree
Rating4.8 (24K ratings)5.0 (2 ratings) — better
Positive reviews70.9% of reviews100.0% of reviews — better
Number of ratings24K — better2
Update frequencyEvery 3 weeks — betterEvery 2 months
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesYesNo — better
MonetizationFreemiumAd-supported — better
DevicesiPhone, Apple WatchiPhone, iPod
Requires iOS18.613.0 — better
Further details — not scored
Size203 MB138 MB
Age rating12+4+
DeveloperZombies Run! LtdTrail Maps

Customer experience

Zombies, Run!

All ratings24,112 ratings
Positive95.8%
Neutral1.8%
Negative2.4%
Written reviews643 reviews
Positive70.9%
Neutral8.2%
Negative20.8%

Trail Challenger

All ratings2 ratings
Positive100.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative0.0%
Written reviews2 reviews
Positive100.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative0.0%

Bugs and requests

Zombies, Run!

Reported bugs

4 issues
  • App crashes during runs
  • Music playback issues
  • Inaccurate distance and time tracking
  • Syncing problems between devices

Requested features

5 requests
  • Standalone Apple Watch app
  • Better integration with fitness tracking apps
  • More customization options for zombie chases
  • Improved base-building mechanics
  • Offline mission downloads

Trail Challenger

Not enough reviews yet to summarise bugs or requests.

In-app purchases

8 purchases

Zombies, Run!

Subscriptions5
  • Zombies, Run! Membership$6.991 Month
  • Abel Club (Special Offer)$14.991 Year
  • Zombies, Run! (Legacy)$24.991 Year
Show 2 more
  • Zombies, Run! Membership$49.991 Year
  • VIP Membership3 variants$89.991 Year
One-time3
  • 1 Month Pro Membership$2.99
  • 1 Year Pro Membership$7.99
  • 1 Year Pro Membership$19.99
None

Trail Challenger

No in-app purchases

Questions

Is Zombies, Run! free?
Zombies, Run! is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Is Trail Challenger free?
Trail Challenger is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Which has better reviews, Zombies, Run! or Trail Challenger?
Trail Challenger is rated higher. Zombies, Run! averages 4.8 out of 5 from 24K ratings, while Trail Challenger averages 5.0 from 2 ratings.
Do Zombies, Run! or Trail Challenger have ads?
Neither Zombies, Run! nor Trail Challenger shows ads.
Which is updated more often, Zombies, Run! or Trail Challenger?
Zombies, Run! ships an update every 3 weeks, and Trail Challenger every 2 months. Most recently, Zombies, Run! was updated on November 7, 2026 and Trail Challenger on November 3, 2026.

Other comparisons