Comparison

McRun 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

McRun

Calculate your running potential across various distances using your best race time. Get personalized training paces for different workout types and discover motivational tips to optimize your performance. This tool helps you target and train for peak running achievements.

Highlights
  • Calculate equivalent race times
  • Suggest optimal training paces
  • Target peak performance
  • Motivational quotes and tips
  • Supports distances from 100 yards to 100 miles
Features
Read full description

** Runner's World selected McRun "Must Have Running Apps - Top Tool" McRun is the official app version of the well-known McMillan Running Calculator. Created by internationally recognized coach Greg McMillan, this calculator allows you to compute your running potential across different distances. You only need to input your best time from one distance and McRun does the rest. The app will tell you how fast you are capable of running from 100 yards to 100 miles. It also suggests optimal training paces based on both your fitness level and the type of runner you are. McRun is a great way to target and train for peak performance. Feedback? Suggestions? Sore legs? Send us an email: peter@freestylestudios.com Quick start guide: - From Calculator screen enter your best time in any distance and press “calculate” - View your equivalent race times - Press “Workout Paces” to see recommended paces for tempo runs, long runs, easy runs, and speed workouts - Select “Recalculate” to return to the Calculator screen - Turn your iPhone sideways to see motivational quotes and training tips

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

McRun4 screens
V.O24 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is price: V.O2 at Free against McRun's $4.99. V.O2 also leads on rating (4.9 vs 4.2) and update cadence (every 6 days vs every 3 months). McRun's advantage is in-app purchases (none vs 17) and iOS requirement (7.1 vs 16.6). On 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

V.O2 is free to download; McRun costs $4.99 up front. V.O2 sells 16 in-app purchases, starting at $12.99 per month. McRun asks for nothing beyond the download.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

V.O2 holds the better App Store score, 4.9 against 4.2. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: V.O2 has 6.3K ratings behind it against 144, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews point the same way: 60% of McRun's written reviews are positive against 71% of V.O2's.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

McRun ships an update every 3 months, V.O2 every 6 days. The most recent releases landed on October 15, 2026 and October 14, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard8 real differences · 2 level
McRun versus V.O2: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterMcRunV.O2
Price$4.99Free — better
Rating4.2 (144 ratings)4.9 (6.3K ratings) — better
Positive reviews59.6% of reviews71.0% of reviews — better
Number of ratings1446.3K — better
Update frequencyEvery 3 monthsEvery 6 days — better
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesNo — betterYes
MonetizationFree — betterFree with in-app purchases
DevicesiPhone, iPodiPhone, iPad
Requires iOS7.1 — better16.6
Further details — not scored
Size12 MB142 MB
Age rating4+4+
Developerjohn abrahamThe Run SMART Project, LLC

Customer experience

McRun

All ratings144 ratings
Positive81.9%
Neutral2.1%
Negative16.0%
Written reviews114 reviews
Positive59.6%
Neutral5.3%
Negative35.1%

V.O2

All ratings6,255 ratings
Positive97.6%
Neutral0.9%
Negative1.5%
Written reviews176 reviews
Positive71.0%
Neutral8.0%
Negative21.0%

User reviews

McRun

From 144 App Store ratings

What we love

  • 👍 Easy to use interface
  • 🎯 Accurate pace calculations
  • ⚡ Quick workout pace suggestions
  • 📊 Helpful race predictor tool
  • 🏃 Great training aid for runners

Room to improve

  • 🐛 Frequent app crashes on startup
  • 💰 Expensive for limited functionality
  • ❌ Less capable than free website version
  • ⚠️ Lacks detailed workout descriptions
  • 🚫 Missing key features from website

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

McRun

Reported bugs

7 issues
  • App crashes immediately upon opening
  • Crashes on iPhone 6, iPhone XS Max, iPhone 5s, iPad Pro
  • Incompatible with iOS 8.3, iOS 9.1, iOS 10
  • App closes itself within 3-6 seconds of launch
  • Crashes after recent iOS updates
Show 2 more
  • Inconsistent pace calculations vs website version
  • App won't stay open for extended use

Requested features

9 requests
  • Display vLT and vVO2 data like website
  • Add 600m distance to speed paces
  • Include VO2 max calculation function
  • Show pace for different race distances
  • Add workout descriptions and explanations
Show 4 more
  • Customize distance options
  • Provide km/mile pace conversions for treadmill
  • Support goal-based training (not just race-based)
  • Include training plan integration

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

None

McRun

No in-app purchases

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 McRun free?
McRun costs $4.99, with no in-app purchases.
Is V.O2 free?
V.O2 is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Which has better reviews, McRun or V.O2?
V.O2 is rated higher. McRun averages 4.2 out of 5 from 144 ratings, while V.O2 averages 4.9 from 6.3K ratings.
Do McRun or V.O2 have ads?
Neither McRun nor V.O2 shows ads.
Which is updated more often, McRun or V.O2?
McRun ships an update every 3 months, and V.O2 every 6 days. Most recently, McRun was updated on October 15, 2026 and V.O2 on October 14, 2026.

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