Comparison

Half Marathon 13.1 Trainer vs RunBetter

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

Head to head
About

Half Marathon 13.1 Trainer

This app guides beginners through a 14-week program to train for a half marathon using a run-walk method. It offers audio coaching, progress tracking, and community support to help users complete their first 13.1-mile race.

Highlights
  • 14-week run-walk training program
  • Audio coach and alerts
  • Run mapping
  • Health app integration
  • Community forums
  • Music integration
Features
Read full description

■ The Official Half Marathon Trainer App ■ Official partners and the ONLY C25K (Couch to 5K) app featured on FITBIT and SAMSUNG smart watches! ■ Featured on The New York Times, Los Angeles Times, The Washington Post, The Guardian, The Huffington Post, Men's Fitness, Forbes, Mashable, Glamour Magazine, Popsugar Fitness, CBS News, NBC News, Macworld, Cosmopolitan, Lifehacker, WebMD, and many more! From the same makers of the #1 C25K® Trainer app, Half Marathon Trainer follows the same successful recipe to create an easy simple 13.1 (21k) program. Ideal for first-time beginners and those who are new to running a half marathon. The program uses a blend of running and power walking in training and racing. You’ll soon be able to run-walk the entire half marathon. ≈ Free Trial ≈ ◉ Train the first week for free! ◉ Train to complete a full 13.1 (21k) half marathon using a RUN/WALK ratio ≈ Real-Life Inspirational Transformations ≈ ◎ Over 175,000 Likes and 1500 Success Photos at facebook.com/c25kfree ◎ Our community inspires one another (and inspires us!) everyday. Hear some of their amazing stories. This proven 14 week plan is designed for beginners. The run/walk breaks help make the full marathon less grueling and reduces the overall impact and risk of injury. Don’t think that just because walking is involved that your time will be slower or that you'll be accomplishing less. Many veteran runners have posted personal best times after switching to this run walk method! Using a ratio of running and walking will better manage your fatigue and give you the muscle resource and mental confidence to handle the later parts of the race. Turn on our award winning music and just press start! Our audio coach will guide you through your run! It's that easy! ≈ Less is More ≈ ◎ Easy to learn. Just press start! ◎ Ideal for beginners. ◎ 14 weeks total. ≈ Features ≈ ◉ Proven 14 week half marathon training run-walk program (1st week free) ◉ Convenient audio coach and alerts ◉ Map your run at the end of your workout! ◉ Light and dark modes ◉ Health app integration ◉ Free iPad integration for indoor treadmills ◉ Integrated with Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram ◉ Access to our forums with thousands of veterans and newcomers starting the app. Join the community and meet other runners! ≈ NEW Zen Unlimited Pass - Try it for free! ≈ ◉ Award winning music curated from top DJ's! ◉ Scientifically proven to increase motivation by 35% ◉ Unlimited access to all pro features across ALL Zen Labs Fitness running apps ◉ Unlock calories, distance, Apple watch integration, and more ◉ Full access to C25K, 10K, 13.1, and 26.2 programs ◉ 4 apps for the price of 1! One subscription, multiple apps! Questions/comments? Email us at contactus@zenlabsfitness.com or visit us at www.zenlabsfitness.com. ≈ Connect ≈ Facebook: @C25Kfree Twitter: @C25Kfree Instagram: @officialc25k Hashtag: #C25K Zen Labs is a proud supporter of the National Breast Cancer Coalition. breastcancerdeadline2020.org Subscription pricing and terms: The subscription will automatically renew unless turned off in your iTunes Account Settings at least 24 hours before current period ends. You can go to your iTunes Account settings to manage your subscription and turn off auto-renew. Your iTunes Account will be charged when the purchase is confirmed. If you subscribe before your free trial ends, the rest of your free trial period will be forfeited as soon as your purchase is confirmed. Privacy Policy & Terms of Use: https://www.zenlabsfitness.com/privacy-policy/ Apple Standard Terms of Use (EULA): https://www.apple.com/legal/internet-services/itunes/dev/stdeula/ Legal Disclaimer This app and any information given by it or by Zen Labs LLC are for educational purposes only. You should always consult your healthcare provider before beginning any fitness program. C25K® is a registered trademark of Zen Labs LLC

About

RunBetter

This app helps runners prepare for race day by simulating course inclines on any treadmill. It offers a library of over 50 race courses and allows users to track progress and customize training. Expert coaching plans are also available for purchase.

Highlights
  • Simulates race course inclines
  • Library of 50+ race courses
  • Progress tracking for runs
  • Customizable training programs
  • Works with any incline treadmill
  • No Bluetooth required
Features
Read full description

WHY USE RUNBETTER Hassle Free, Easy to Use All you need is an Apple device and a treadmill with an incline function. As you run, the RunBetter app lets you know when to adjust your incline to mimic actual race course terrain. No special treadmill or Bluetooth connection required. Course-Specific Training Train for the elevation changes of popular race courses. Run the entire race course or a specific segment depending on your needs. Eliminate surprise hills and ascend strong and confident no matter how steep the terrain. Arrive on race day knowing you’ve already run the course virtually. Track Your Progress Run History allows you to record completed runs by date, segments run, average pace, distance, and time. Identify segments most challenging for you and adjust your training as needed to prepare for race day. Achieve Race Goals Don’t let unexpected hills along the course impact your goal race pace or finish time. Train to hit your goal time despite challenging inclines along the race course. Let RunBetter supplement your training so you know what’s coming on race day and train smart to achieve your goal. You can conquer those hills! Expert Customized Training Programs Available Further elevate your training with customized, course-specific training programs designed by two-time marathon Olympic Trials qualifier, Chris Wehrman. Each program incorporates treadmill and outdoor running that is race-specific and designed to prepare you for the actual terrain of your event. Arrive excited and ready to run your best race yet! HOW to RUNBETTER at YOUR RACE Download the RunBetter app to your Apple device. Select your race from our 50+ course library and incorporate segments into your training regimen. Record your runs within the app to track your progress and identify challenging segments. Revisit as needed to prepare for race day. Toe the line confident on race day knowing that you prepared virtually to conquer race course challenges. RACE COURSE LIBRARY Find your race among more than 50 road races and triathlons of all distances. Train for all the World Marathon Majors. Conquer the run portions of popular 140.6 and 70.3 tris, including Kona, Wisconsin, and Oceanside. New race courses added regularly. Don’t see your race? Contact us! RUN ON ANY TREADMILL, ANYWHERE Use the RunBetter app on any treadmill with an incline function. No other special equipment or Bluetooth connection needed. Just lace up your running shoes, choose your course, pick your speed and go! Never let inclement weather or living in flat terrain prevent you from maximizing your training to achieve your running and triathlon goals. You can run smarter, stronger, faster and better. EXPERT COACHING PLANS Expert course specific training programs developed by two-time marathon Olympic Trials qualifier Chris Wehrman are available for purchase within the app. Each program is unique and course-specific to prepare you for the elevation changes of the race you plan to run. JOIN the RUNBETTER COMMUNITY Follow the RunBetter community for running tips, product recommendations, race updates, give-aways, inspiration, motivation and encouragement! PAYMENTS and RENEWAL Payment will be charged to your iTunes account at confirmation of purchase. Subscriptions automatically renew unless auto-renew is turned off at least 24 hours before the end of the current subscription period. Your iTunes account will be charged for renewal within 24 hours prior to the end of the current subscription period and will identify the renewal fee. You can manage auto-renew preferences in your Account settings at any time after purchase. Any unused portion of a free trial period, if offered, will be forfeited when a subscription is purchased, where applicable. Terms of use: https://runbetterapp.com/terms-conditions/ Privacy policy: https://runbetterapp.com/privacy-policy/

Screenshots

Half Marathon 13.1 Trainer4 screens
RunBetter4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is ads: RunBetter at none against Half Marathon 13.1 Trainer's shown. RunBetter also leads on review sentiment (88% vs 56%). Half Marathon 13.1 Trainer's advantage is ratings volume (5.6K vs 23) and device support (4 vs 2). On price, rating, update cadence 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. Half Marathon 13.1 Trainer sells 5 in-app purchases, starting at $4.99 per month and RunBetter sells 10 in-app purchases, starting at $9.99 per month. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

On the App Store both sit at effectively the same score — 4.7 for Half Marathon 13.1 Trainer against 4.7 for RunBetter. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Half Marathon 13.1 Trainer has 5.6K ratings behind it against 23, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews are what separate them: 56% of Half Marathon 13.1 Trainer's written reviews are positive against 88% of RunBetter's.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Half Marathon 13.1 Trainer ships an update every 6 weeks, RunBetter every 5 weeks. The most recent releases landed on November 3, 2026 and November 4, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard4 real differences · 6 level
Half Marathon 13.1 Trainer versus RunBetter: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterHalf Marathon 13.1 TrainerRunBetter
PriceFreeFree
Rating4.7 (5.6K ratings)4.7 (23 ratings) — better
Positive reviews55.7% of reviews88.2% of reviews — better
Number of ratings5.6K — better23
Update frequencyEvery 6 weeksEvery 5 weeks — better
AdsYesNo — better
In-app purchasesYesYes
MonetizationFree with in-app purchasesFree with in-app purchases
DevicesiPhone, iPad, iPod, Apple Watch — betteriPhone, iPod
Requires iOS14.0 — better15.6
Further details — not scored
Size319 MB52 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperZen LabsRunBetter LLC

Customer experience

Half Marathon 13.1 Trainer

All ratings5,572 ratings
Positive93.5%
Neutral2.4%
Negative4.1%
Written reviews185 reviews
Positive55.7%
Neutral7.6%
Negative36.8%

RunBetter

All ratings22 ratings
Positive90.9%
Neutral4.5%
Negative4.5%
Written reviews17 reviews
Positive88.2%
Neutral5.9%
Negative5.9%

Bugs and requests

Half Marathon 13.1 Trainer

Reported bugs

3 issues
  • App crashes or freezes during workouts
  • Inconsistent distance and time tracking
  • Syncing issues with Apple Watch

Requested features

4 requests
  • Option to view GPS route history
  • Ability to customize training days and schedule
  • Integration with more fitness tracking devices
  • Detailed performance metrics and analytics

RunBetter

Not enough reviews yet to summarise bugs or requests.

In-app purchases

5 purchases

Half Marathon 13.1 Trainer

Subscriptions4
  • Zen Unlimited Pass Monthly1 Month trial$4.991 Month
  • Unlock Your Potential7 Days trial$29.993 Months
  • Unlock Your Potential1 Month trial$29.993 Months
Show 1 more
  • Zen Unlimited Pass Annual7 Days trial$74.991 Year
One-time1
  • Unlock Workout List$0.99
10 purchases

RunBetter

Subscriptions2
  • Course Builder - Monthly1 Month trial$9.991 Month
  • Course Builder - Yearly1 Month trial$49.991 Year
One-time8
  • Big Sur Course$19.99
  • Tokyo Course$19.99
  • Mad Marathon Course$19.99
Show 5 more
  • Cincinnati Course$19.99
  • Big Sur - Coaching$119.99
  • Boston - Coaching$119.99
  • Chicago - Coaching$119.99
  • New York - Coaching$119.99

Questions

Is Half Marathon 13.1 Trainer free?
Half Marathon 13.1 Trainer is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Is RunBetter free?
RunBetter is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Which has better reviews, Half Marathon 13.1 Trainer or RunBetter?
RunBetter is rated higher. Half Marathon 13.1 Trainer averages 4.7 out of 5 from 5.6K ratings, while RunBetter averages 4.7 from 23 ratings.
Do Half Marathon 13.1 Trainer or RunBetter have ads?
Half Marathon 13.1 Trainer shows ads; RunBetter does not.
Which is updated more often, Half Marathon 13.1 Trainer or RunBetter?
Half Marathon 13.1 Trainer ships an update every 6 weeks, and RunBetter every 5 weeks. Most recently, Half Marathon 13.1 Trainer was updated on November 3, 2026 and RunBetter on November 4, 2026.

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