Comparison

ChiRunning vs The Run Experience

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

Head to head
About

ChiRunning

Learn to run faster, easier, and injury-free with this comprehensive running coach. It offers video lessons, audio guidance, and guided runs to improve your technique and achieve your running goals.

Highlights
  • Video lessons on key running focuses
  • Audio coaching and guided runs
  • Built-in metronome
  • GPS route mapping
  • Workout logging and history
  • Pre-run looseners and post-run stretches
Read full description

The best-selling runner’s book, Chi Running®, is now an iPhone app that has helped thousands of everyday runners to run faster, easier, and injury-free. Created by ChiRunning founder, Danny Dreyer, this app is feature-laden with Chi Running video lessons, audio coaching, guided runs, and a built in metronome - tools for you to always run your best. You’ll learn the technique that has taught hundreds of thousands to run relaxed, efficiently, and with less injury. For beginning runners, weekend warriors, marathoners and speed demons alike, everyone benefits from improved running technique. You’ll practice “intelligent movement”; using good technique to save your body from undue effort and injury. Danny’s voice will talk you through Guided Runs with audio focuses played at self-selected, repeating intervals. These audio and video lessons will help you achieve your running goals; whether to start running, run a PR, complete a half or full marathon, or run for the rest of your life without injury. Practice your technique while tracking your distance, pace, caloric burn, and mapping your routes. The workout log function allows you to track your run history and share it with friends via Twitter and Facebook. Unique among running apps, the Chi Running® app is a complete coaching tool for improving your running technique and boosting your training. Exceptional running for ordinary people! COMPATIBILITY Please note: This app can only be used on the iPhone, NOT on iPads or the iPod Touch. FEATURES The Chi Running app features: • 18 video lessons of the key Chi Running focuses. • A unique Guided Run feature - Chi Run audio focuses prompt you as you run. • Pick which of the 23 Chi Run Focuses you want to practice and choose from 5 selectable time intervals. • 4 different Guided Runs to choose from: Tempo, Intervals, Long Slow Distance (LSD), and Custom. • Built-in metronome with two beat sounds. • Workout timer with pause and resume. • GPS mapping of running routes. • Running history with daily run data: distance, pace, elevation gain, calories burned. • Weekly mileage totals displayed and stored. • Video and audio reminders of 8 pre-run Body Looseners and 6 Post-run stretches. • Music fades when audio reminders play during your Guided Runs. • Separate volume settings for metronome and Chi Focuses. • Share your runs on Facebook, Twitter and more. • Track your distance in US/English or Metric units. The Chi Running App is also your portal into our world of on-line training plans, books and DVDs, and 200 Certified Chi Running instructors around the world. For questions or help with the application, send us an email to feedback@chirunning.com. Check out our forum at www.ChiRunning.com/forum.

About

The Run Experience

This app offers daily audio runs, training videos, and structured programs for various running goals. It includes injury prevention routines, strength training, and a community forum to connect with coaches and other runners. Track your progress and stay motivated on your running journey.

Highlights
  • Daily audio runs
  • Training challenges
  • Weekly training videos
  • Injured runner program
  • Interactive running programs
  • GPS run tracker
  • Community forum
Read full description

Build a new healthy running habit, improve your body, conquer your next challenge, and even train for your next race with The Daily Run by The Run Experience! As featured in Runner’s World, Competitor Magazine, Triathlete Magazine, Strava, Men’s Health, 60 Minute Sports, Outside Magazine, Ragnar Relay Series, and Active. APP FEATURES & BENEFITS: - NEW Daily Run workouts featuring a 10 min audio run and a video warmup and cool down to build strength and range of motion. - MONTHLY training challenges on strength, form, nutrition, and speed. Earn prizes & badges! - WEEKLY Training Videos with full workouts, racing tips, and training advice. - Stay healthy & get back to running faster with the Injured Runner Program. - Easily search workouts based on time, fitness goal, and equipment needed. - Interactive programs for Beginner, 5k, Half Marathon, and Marathon. - Indoor workouts and exercises to build your fitness at home. - GPS tracker for all your runs. - Talk directly to coaches and connect with runners in our community. - Integrates with Apple Health to keep track of your progress. NEW DAILY AUDIO RUNS New daily audio runs alternate between form, breathing, speed, mystery, and motivation. Each day is new and different, keeping it fun while making you a better, fitter runner. Or choose the alternate strength and yoga workouts for the days you don’t want to or cannot run. TRAIN FOR ANY RACE OR GOAL If you have a goal or race in mind, we have structured progressive programs for you to follow. All programs include specific run workouts and directions, strength exercises and warmups, and access to coaching to keep you on track! Or join one of our live training challenges in The Daily Run, earn prizes, and become part of our community! STAY HEALTHY WITH STRENGTH & INJURY PREVENTION TRAINING 90% of overuse injuries that runners experience are preventable and self-treatable by building a stronger body with improved range of motion and mechanics. The Injured Runner Program walks you through the exact self-care routine you should follow for your injury or pain point. At The Run Experience, we’re dedicated to bringing you the best training available, and we have helped hundreds of thousands of runners all over the world. Now you can finally get all that training in your pocket. A premium subscription or a free trial is required in order to access the content of this app. —————— Learn more about our terms of service at https://api.ongo.app/tos or privacy policy at https://api.ongo.app/privacy

Screenshots

ChiRunning4 screens
The Run Experience4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is price: The Run Experience at Free against ChiRunning's $9.99. The Run Experience also leads on rating (4.8 vs 4.2) and update cadence (every 6 weeks vs every 13 months). ChiRunning's advantage is in-app purchases (none vs 2) and chart position (#118 vs unranked). On ads, device support and iOS requirement 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

The Run Experience is free to download; ChiRunning costs $9.99 up front. The Run Experience sells 2 in-app purchases, starting at $19.99 per month. ChiRunning asks for nothing beyond the download.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

The Run Experience holds the better App Store score, 4.8 against 4.2. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: The Run Experience has 542 ratings behind it against 13, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews point the same way: 69% of ChiRunning's written reviews are positive against 83% of The Run Experience's.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

ChiRunning ships an update every 13 months, The Run Experience every 6 weeks. The most recent releases landed on October 29, 2026 and October 24, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard8 real differences · 3 level
ChiRunning versus The Run Experience: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterChiRunningThe Run Experience
Price$9.99Free — better
Rating4.2 (13 ratings)4.8 (542 ratings) — better
Positive reviews68.5% of reviews82.9% of reviews — better
Number of ratings13542 — better
Update frequencyEvery 13 monthsEvery 6 weeks — better
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesNo — betterYes
MonetizationPaidFree with in-app purchases — better
Best chart rank#118 — better—
DevicesiPhone, iPodiPhone, iPad, iPod — better
Requires iOS12.0 — better13.0
Further details — not scored
Size149 MB119 MB
Age rating4+12+
DeveloperChiLiving, Inc.The Run Experience

Customer experience

ChiRunning

All ratings13 ratings
Positive76.9%
Neutral7.7%
Negative15.4%
Written reviews54 reviews
Positive68.5%
Neutral7.4%
Negative24.1%

The Run Experience

All ratings538 ratings
Positive94.2%
Neutral1.5%
Negative4.3%
Written reviews152 reviews
Positive82.9%
Neutral3.3%
Negative13.8%

User reviews

ChiRunning

From 13 App Store ratings

What we love

  • 👍 Excellent lessons and coaching
  • 🎶 Effective metronome feature
  • 🎥 Helpful short videos
  • 🏃 Improves running pace and reduces pain
  • 🧘‍♀️ Promotes mindful running

Room to improve

  • 💰 Overpriced for content
  • 🤔 Repetitive and monotonous content
  • 📱 Lacks Apple Watch support
  • 📉 Limited tracking features
  • 🔌 Poor integration with other apps/devices

The Run Experience

From 542 App Store ratings

What we love

  • 👍 Helpful training programs
  • 🚀 Comprehensive resources
  • 💡 Knowledgeable coaches
  • 👍 Supportive community
  • 👍 Effective for improving running

Room to improve

  • 🐛 Buggy app performance
  • 💰 Expensive subscription
  • 🔒 Privacy concerns
  • 👎 Poor customer service
  • 👎 Difficult to navigate

Bugs and requests

ChiRunning

Reported bugs

8 issues
  • Miles not changing during run
  • Occasionally locks up/crashes
  • Freezes when sharing with Map my Run
  • Pandora audio volume reduced
  • Won't install on iPad
Show 3 more
  • Metronome & Chi Focuses interfere with each other
  • Music volume too loud after focus ends
  • Won't install on original iPad with 5.1.1

Requested features

35 requests
  • Indoor run metrics
  • Interval walk/run programs
  • Apple Watch support
  • Set intervals
  • Export run data
Show 30 more
  • Weekly/cumulative stats view
  • Integration with iWatch and Apple Health
  • Ability to enter own run info
  • Treadmill mode
  • Link to heart monitor
  • Link to local weather
  • Upload data to calendar
  • Compare against previous runs on same route
  • Record regularity/data and improvement
  • Detailed in-app journal entries
  • Community features
  • Diagrams and slow-motion walkthroughs in videos
  • Animations for technique demonstration
  • Clean up interface
  • Allow users to save their own information
  • Focus on fostering interactive understanding
  • Cadence monitoring
  • Training plans for different distances
  • Audible stats (time, distance, pace)
  • Autopause setting
  • Custom run/walk intervals with metronome settings
  • Different focuses for run and walk
  • Post-run stretches to automatically start
  • Metronome fades in background during chi focuses
  • Walk/run interval option
  • Integration with popular running sites (Runkeeper, Garmin Connect)
  • Better integration with iPhone music player
  • Warm-up and cool-down period
  • Integration with Runkeeper
  • Map my run integration

The Run Experience

Reported bugs

3 issues
  • App crashes during workouts
  • Inability to pause/resume workouts
  • Inconsistent tracking of runs

Requested features

4 requests
  • Integrate with fitness trackers
  • Offer more free content
  • Improve app stability and usability
  • Provide senior/military discounts

In-app purchases

None

ChiRunning

No in-app purchases

2 purchases

The Run Experience

Subscriptions2
  • TRE Training Club (Monthly)7 Days trial$19.991 Month
  • Running Training Club (Annual)7 Days trial$119.991 Year

Questions

Is ChiRunning free?
ChiRunning costs $9.99, with no in-app purchases.
Is The Run Experience free?
The Run Experience is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Which has better reviews, ChiRunning or The Run Experience?
The Run Experience is rated higher. ChiRunning averages 4.2 out of 5 from 13 ratings, while The Run Experience averages 4.8 from 542 ratings.
Do ChiRunning or The Run Experience have ads?
Neither ChiRunning nor The Run Experience shows ads.
Which is updated more often, ChiRunning or The Run Experience?
ChiRunning ships an update every 13 months, and The Run Experience every 6 weeks. Most recently, ChiRunning was updated on October 29, 2026 and The Run Experience on October 24, 2026.

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