# Garmin Connect™ vs RaceJoy

The clearest difference is rating: Garmin Connect™ at 4.4 against RaceJoy's 3.9. Garmin Connect™ also leads on in-app purchases (none vs 10) and update cadence (every 2 weeks vs every 2 months). RaceJoy's advantage is review sentiment (52% vs 39%) and iOS requirement (16.6 vs 18.2). On price, ads, chart position and device support there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. RaceJoy sells 10 one-off in-app purchases. Garmin Connect™ asks for nothing beyond the download.

Garmin Connect™ holds the better App Store score, 4.4 against 3.9. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Garmin Connect™ has 59K ratings behind it against 1.6K, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews complicate that: 39% of Garmin Connect™'s written reviews are positive against 52% of RaceJoy's, so the app with the better star average is not the one people write more warmly about.

Garmin Connect™ ships an update every 2 weeks, RaceJoy every 2 months. Both last shipped on October 18, 2026.

## The numbers

| Metric | Garmin Connect™ | RaceJoy |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | **[4.4 (59K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/garmin-connect/id583446403/reviews)** | [3.9 (1.6K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/racejoy/id596132953/reviews) |
| Number of ratings | **59K** | 1.6K |
| Positive reviews | 39.1% of reviews | **52.3% of reviews** |
| In-app purchases | **No** | Yes |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | **Every 2 weeks** | Every 2 months |
| Monetization | **Free** | Free with in-app purchases |
| Best chart rank | #21 | **#10** |
| Size | 693 MB | 67 MB |
| Requires iOS | 18.2 | **16.6** |
| Devices | iPhone | **iPhone, iPad** |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Garmin](https://appshunter.io/developer/411046952) | [TriPerta LLC](https://appshunter.io/developer/596132956) |

## What reviewers say

### Garmin Connect™

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/garmin-connect/id583446403)

**Currently charting:** #21 Top Free · Health & Fitness (US App Store)

Track your health and fitness activities with detailed statistics and personalized insights. Create custom workouts, build courses, and challenge friends. Syncs with compatible devices and other popular fitness apps.

**Highlights:** Activity tracking and health metrics, Detailed statistics analysis, Custom workout and course creation, Personalized home screen, Earn achievement badges, Sync with other apps

**In-app purchases:** none

**What reviewers like**

- 🚀 Excellent tracking and data analysis
- 👍 Great motivational features
- 🚀 Seamless syncing with devices
- 👍 Comprehensive fitness metrics
- 🚀 Intuitive and user-friendly app

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 Connectivity issues and sync problems
- 🐛 Buggy app updates and loss of functionality
- 🐛 Inaccurate sleep and activity tracking
- 🔋 Drains device battery quickly
- 🐛 Confusing and cluttered user interface

**Reported bugs**

- App constantly requiring device setup
- Weather data not syncing correctly
- Workout data not recording properly
- Inconsistent performance across iOS versions
- Inability to edit or customize activities

**Requested features**

- Customizable sleep tracking and goal settings
- Better integration with third-party apps
- Improved offline functionality
- More detailed workout analysis and planning
- Enhanced social features and challenges


### RaceJoy

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/racejoy/id596132953)

**Currently charting:** #10 Top Free · Health & Fitness (US App Store)

Enhance your race day experience with real-time GPS tracking, progress alerts, and motivational cheers for participants and spectators. Offers live tracking for events and training, with features like progress updates and photo sharing.

**Highlights:** Live GPS phone tracking, Send-a-Cheer motivational audio, NearMe participant alerts, MeetUp tool for location sharing, Automatic progress postings, Scored race results, Official race photos

**Features:** Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases (10)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| RaceJoy Phone Fun-Tracking | $0.99 | one-time |
| RaceJoy Phone Fun-26.2 with DONNA | $0.99 | one-time |
| RaceJoy Phone Fun-Cherry Blossom | $0.99 | one-time |
| RaceJoy Phone Fun-Pittsburgh Marathon | $0.99 | one-time |
| RaceJoy Phone Fun-Glass City Marathon | $0.99 | one-time |
| RaceJoy PhoneTrak-Vermont City Marathon | $0.99 | one-time |
| PhoneTrak-Glass City Marathon | $0.99 | one-time |
| PhoneTrak-Zions Bank Ogden Marathon | $0.99 | one-time |
| PhoneTrak-Kentucky Derby Marathon Festival | $0.99 | one-time |
| PhoneTrak-Burning River | $0.99 | one-time |

**What reviewers like**

- 👍 Great for tracking runners and spectators
- 🚀 Accurate mile updates and estimated finish times
- 💡 Ability to send audible cheers to runners
- 🤝 Helpful for virtual and in-person races

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 Buggy and unreliable tracking
- 🔋 Battery draining
- 🤔 Unintuitive and confusing interface
- 🙅‍♀️ Requires runners to have the app and phone

**Reported bugs**

- Tracking stops working mid-race
- App crashes frequently
- Inaccurate distance and pace tracking
- Notifications and updates delayed or not received

**Requested features**

- Automatic start/stop tracking
- Ability to view cheers after the race
- Integration with other fitness apps and devices
- More customization options for spectators


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Garmin Connect™ free?

Garmin Connect™ is free to download, with no in-app purchases.

### Is RaceJoy free?

RaceJoy is free to download, with in-app purchases available.

### Which has better reviews, Garmin Connect™ or RaceJoy?

Garmin Connect™ is rated higher. Garmin Connect™ averages 4.4 out of 5 from 59K ratings, while RaceJoy averages 3.9 from 1.6K ratings.

### Do Garmin Connect™ or RaceJoy have ads?

Neither Garmin Connect™ nor RaceJoy shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, Garmin Connect™ or RaceJoy?

Garmin Connect™ ships an update every 2 weeks, and RaceJoy every 2 months. Most recently, Garmin Connect™ was updated on October 18, 2026 and RaceJoy on October 18, 2026.

### Which is more popular, Garmin Connect™ or RaceJoy?

Garmin Connect™ currently peaks at #21 in the App Store charts, and RaceJoy at #10. Chart position reflects recent download velocity rather than total install base.

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*Compared by [AppsHunter](https://appshunter.io/) from daily US App Store data. Review summaries are generated from verbatim App Store reviews.*