# RaceJoy vs Run With Hal

The clearest difference is rating: Run With Hal at 4.7 against RaceJoy's 3.9. Run With Hal also leads on review sentiment (65% vs 53%) and iOS requirement (14.0 vs 16.6). RaceJoy's advantage is chart position (#93 vs unranked). On price, ratings volume, update cadence and ads there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. RaceJoy sells 10 one-off in-app purchases and Run With Hal sells 3 in-app purchases, starting at $6.99 per month. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

Run With Hal holds the better App Store score, 4.7 against 3.9. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 1.6K and 2.8K respectively. Written reviews point the same way: 53% of RaceJoy's written reviews are positive against 65% of Run With Hal's.

RaceJoy ships an update every 2 months, Run With Hal monthly. The most recent releases landed on September 24, 2026 and September 18, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | RaceJoy | Run With Hal |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [3.9 (1.6K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/racejoy/id596132953/reviews) | **[4.7 (2.8K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/run-with-hal/id1437166081/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | 1.6K | **2.8K** |
| Positive reviews | 53.2% of reviews | **65.2% of reviews** |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | Every 2 months | **Monthly** |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | Free with in-app purchases |
| Best chart rank | **#93** | — |
| Size | 67 MB | 47 MB |
| Requires iOS | 16.6 | **14.0** |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad | iPhone, iPod |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [TriPerta LLC](https://appshunter.io/developer/596132956) | [Peaksware, LLC](https://appshunter.io/developer/408047718) |

## What reviewers say

### RaceJoy

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

**Currently charting:** #93 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


### Run With Hal

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/run-with-hal/id1437166081)

This app provides personalized, adaptive training plans for various running distances, from 5K to 50K. It's guided by legendary coach Hal Higdon and adjusts to your progress, schedule, and goals. Features include GPS tracking, daily tips, and progress summaries to help you achieve your running ambitions.

**Highlights:** Adaptive training plans, Plans for 5K to 50K races, Daily motivation from Hal Higdon, GPS tracking, Flexible scheduling, Progress tracking and summaries

**Features:** Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases (3)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Run With Hal+ 1 Month | $6.99 | per month |
| Run With Hal+ 6 Month | $35.99 | per 6 months |
| Run With Hal+ 1 Year | $59.99 | per year |

**What reviewers like**

- 👍 Easy to follow plan
- 🚀 Adaptive training
- 💪 Helps achieve goals
- 🎉 Great for beginners
- 🤖 Structured and detailed

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🔀 Lacks flexibility to adjust schedule
- 🤔 Questionable pacing recommendations
- 🔌 No Apple Watch integration
- 📊 Limited data tracking and feedback
- 🐛 Technical issues and bugs

**Reported bugs**

- App crashes during runs
- Syncing issues with fitness trackers
- Inconsistent pacing calculations
- Inability to delete or modify existing training plans

**Requested features**

- Add ability to adjust schedule and swap workout days
- Integrate with more fitness tracking platforms (Apple Health, Strava, etc.)
- Provide more detailed performance feedback and analytics
- Add audio/voice cues during runs
- Improve cross-training logging and support


## Frequently asked questions

### Is RaceJoy free?

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

### Is Run With Hal free?

Run With Hal is free to download, with in-app purchases available.

### Which has better reviews, RaceJoy or Run With Hal?

Run With Hal is rated higher. RaceJoy averages 3.9 out of 5 from 1.6K ratings, while Run With Hal averages 4.7 from 2.8K ratings.

### Do RaceJoy or Run With Hal have ads?

Neither RaceJoy nor Run With Hal shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, RaceJoy or Run With Hal?

RaceJoy ships an update every 2 months, and Run With Hal monthly. Most recently, RaceJoy was updated on September 24, 2026 and Run With Hal on September 18, 2026.

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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.*