# Cardio Quest vs Pathbound

The clearest difference is rating: Pathbound at 4.8 against Cardio Quest's 4.2. Pathbound also leads on update cadence (every 3 days vs every 2 weeks) and review sentiment (74% vs 59%). Cardio Quest's advantage is iOS requirement (12.0 vs 15.1). On price, ratings volume, ads and in-app purchases there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. Cardio Quest sells 2 one-off in-app purchases and Pathbound sells 2 in-app purchases, starting at $9.99 per month. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

Pathbound holds the better App Store score, 4.8 against 4.2. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 59 and 81 respectively. Written reviews point the same way: 59% of Cardio Quest's written reviews are positive against 74% of Pathbound's.

Cardio Quest ships an update every 2 weeks, Pathbound every 3 days. The most recent releases landed on September 28, 2026 and October 16, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Cardio Quest | Pathbound |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [4.2 (59 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/cardio-quest/id6443969471/reviews) | **[4.8 (81 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/pathbound-running-rpg/id6748843474/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | 59 | **81** |
| Positive reviews | 59.5% of reviews | **73.5% of reviews** |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | Every 2 weeks | **Every 3 days** |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | Free with in-app purchases |
| Size | 1.2 GB | 97 MB |
| Requires iOS | **12.0** | 15.1 |
| Devices | **iPhone, iPad, iPod** | iPhone, iPod |
| Age rating | 9+ | 9+ |
| Developer | [Press Forward Games LLC](https://appshunter.io/developer/1447922096) | [Pyreal Software Inc](https://appshunter.io/developer/950199631) |

## What reviewers say

### Cardio Quest

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/cardio-quest/id6443969471)

This fantasy role-playing game transforms your real-life workouts into epic battles. Track your heart rate to fight monsters, earn loot, and level up your hero. Compete with friends on leaderboards and track your fitness progress.

**Highlights:** Heart rate tracking for combat, Fantasy role-playing gameplay, Monster battles during workouts, Earn loot and level up hero, Friend tracking and leaderboards, Workout tracking

**Features:** macOS Compatibility, Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases (2)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Monthly Premium Features | $4.99 | one-time |
| Monthly Battle Pass | $9.99 | one-time |

**What reviewers like**

- 💡 Great motivation for workouts
- 👍 Fun and engaging gamified experience
- 🚀 Encourages healthy lifestyle
- 🌟 Unique RPG workout combination
- ❤️ Adds years and health to life

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🤯 Overwhelming for new users
- 🤔 Confusing UI and setup
- 🪲 Bugs and glitches present
- 🔄 Repetitive gameplay and grind
- ⚖️ Item and skill set imbalance

**Reported bugs**

- Cannot connect to Hyperate application
- Bug interface
- Needs separate app for Apple Watch data
- Sync feature has limitations (free version)
- App loses track of heart rate

**Requested features**

- Simpler UX for new users
- More things to manage
- Less time managing/learning
- Add an idle element (e.g., mining)
- Upgrade system for duplicate gear


### Pathbound

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/pathbound-running-rpg/id6748843474)

This RPG uses your real-world runs to power your in-game hero. Explore a fantasy world, battle monsters, and collect loot by covering distance. It offers roguelite expeditions and a customizable camp.

**Highlights:** Real runs power in-game stamina, Explore a fantasy world, Battle monsters and collect loot, Roguelite expeditions, Customizable camp, Syncs with Apple Health

**In-app purchases (2)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Monthly | $9.99 | per month |
| Annual | $69.99 | per year |


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Cardio Quest free?

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

### Is Pathbound free?

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

### Which has better reviews, Cardio Quest or Pathbound?

Pathbound is rated higher. Cardio Quest averages 4.2 out of 5 from 59 ratings, while Pathbound averages 4.8 from 81 ratings.

### Do Cardio Quest or Pathbound have ads?

Neither Cardio Quest nor Pathbound shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, Cardio Quest or Pathbound?

Cardio Quest ships an update every 2 weeks, and Pathbound every 3 days. Most recently, Cardio Quest was updated on September 28, 2026 and Pathbound on October 16, 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.*