Comparison

Spartan Race vs HYDROX

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

Head to head
About

Spartan Race

This app connects you to a global series of obstacle races designed to build physical and mental strength. Find and buy tickets for events, manage your race details, and access training programs to prepare for any challenge. Join a community and enjoy exclusive perks.

Highlights
  • Find and buy tickets for obstacle races
  • Manage race day details and tickets
  • Access dynamic training content
  • Prepare for specific race types
  • Connect with the Spartan community
  • Exclusive race day perks for subscribers
  • Discounts on gear and free shipping
Features
Read full description

Spartan is a series of globally held obstacle races with distances and difficulties varying from 3+ miles to marathon lengths. Spartan's mission is to empower individuals to lead lives without limits. Through the training and race events, participants can gain both physical and mental strength, enabling them to confront life's challenges with an unbreakable spirit. The Race series includes the Spartan Sprint (3+ miles of obstacle racing), the Super Spartan (6.2+ miles), the Spartan Beast (13+ miles), and the Ultra Beast (26+ miles), with challenging obstacles such as the spear throw, rope climb, barbed wire crawl and more. The Spartan App makes it easy to buy tickets, access your account, manage your race-day details and more. • Find races near and far and buy tickets for events • Manage your tickets and race day details including downloading your ticket • Don’t miss out on an event and specials - get alerts about new races, special events, sales and more. Spartan+ is the paid subscription which offers the best training, community and Spartan perks all at your fingertips. • Access to dynamic training content designed for individuals striving to become physically and mentally unbreakable including running, mobility, strength, and conditioning • Programs for specific race types that will prepare you for everything from training for you first race to setting a PR • Training and tips to help you learn to navigate and master the most challenging obstacles on the course. • Find others in your area, team up to train, discover events, and discuss with a community what challenges you need to prepare for to crush the course • Race day perks: Spartan+ member bag check, private bathrooms, changings tents, and more accommodations to bring comfort on your big day • Guaranteed start time for members in the open category • Save 20% on Gear, Free Shipping and Returns* – Enjoy new arrivals, bestsellers, and additional discounts throughout the year Terms of Use: https://www.apple.com/legal/internet-services/itunes/dev/stdeula/

About

HYDROX

This app calculates your personalized daily hydration target based on body weight and training intensity, using scientific protocols. It offers one-tap logging, smart reminders, and advanced features for athletes and fitness enthusiasts. Syncs with HealthKit and offers an Apple Watch app.

Highlights
  • Personalized hydration targets
  • Training intensity adjustment
  • One-tap logging
  • Smart reminders
  • HealthKit sync
  • Apple Watch app
  • Widgets for home and lock screen
Features
Read full description

Your hydration target, calculated. Not guessed. HYDROX uses your body weight and training intensity to set a daily target based on the same protocols used in elite athletic programs (combining guidance from the American College of Sports Medicine and published research from leading sports science researchers) Built for athletes who train: Barry's, HYROX, runners, cyclists, surfers, skiers, sports enthusiasts and everyday athletes. Not step-counter civilians SET YOUR BASELINE Your target comes from your body weight using the American College of Sports Medicine (ACSM) protocol, not a generic "8 glasses a day" number TRAINING MODE Select Easy, Moderate, or Hard and your daily goal adjusts using the Galpin equation based on body weight and workout intensity ONE-TAP LOGGING Tap the gauge to log, long-press for custom amounts, or log from your widget or lock screen without opening the app SMART REMINDERS Hourly pacing that adjusts to your progress, backs off when you're ahead, and nudges when you're behind HYDROX PRO • Apple Watch app with gauge and complications on any watch face • Log from your wrist in a single tap • Adaptive Hydration that reads workout data from HealthKit and adjusts your daily target automatically • Auto-intensity based on heart rate, so a hard session pushes your target up and a rest day keeps it at baseline THE SCIENCE Baseline from ACSM guidelines. Training intensity from the Galpin equation. Race Packs cite 16+ studies on sodium loading, HRV monitoring, and post-exercise rehydration. WHOOP research links hydration to higher HRV. And coffee counts as hydration (Killer et al 2014). EVERYTHING ELSE • HealthKit sync • Lock screen and home screen widgets • Quick actions from home screen • No account, no ads, data stays on your device Terms of Use (EULA): https://www.apple.com/legal/internet-services/itunes/dev/stdeula/ Privacy Policy: https://hydrox.app/privacy.html

Screenshots

Spartan Race4 screens
HYDROX4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is review sentiment: HYDROX at 100% against Spartan Race's 24%. HYDROX also leads on rating (5.0 vs 2.8) and update cadence (weekly vs every 3 weeks). Spartan Race's advantage is ratings volume (86 vs 4). On price, ads, in-app purchases and monetization model 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

Both are free to download. Spartan Race sells 5 in-app purchases, starting at $9.99 per month and HYDROX sells 4 in-app purchases, starting at $0.99 per 7 days. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

HYDROX holds the better App Store score, 5.0 against 2.8. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Spartan Race has 86 ratings behind it against 4, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews point the same way: 24% of Spartan Race's written reviews are positive against 100% of HYDROX's.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Spartan Race ships an update every 3 weeks, HYDROX weekly. The most recent releases landed on November 3, 2026 and October 31, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard5 real differences · 5 level
Spartan Race versus HYDROX: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterSpartan RaceHYDROX
PriceFreeFree
Rating2.8 (86 ratings)5.0 (4 ratings) — better
Positive reviews24.2% of reviews100.0% of reviews — better
Number of ratings86 — better4
Update frequencyEvery 3 weeksWeekly — better
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesYesYes
MonetizationFreemiumFreemium
DevicesiPhoneiPhone, iPad, Apple Watch — better
Requires iOS16.0 — better17.0
Further details — not scored
Size138 MB8 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperSpartan Race, Inc.BALL VENTURES LLC

Customer experience

Spartan Race

All ratings86 ratings
Positive39.5%
Neutral7.0%
Negative53.5%
Written reviews33 reviews
Positive24.2%
Neutral18.2%
Negative57.6%

HYDROX

All ratings4 ratings
Positive100.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative0.0%
Written reviews1 reviews
Positive100.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative0.0%

In-app purchases

5 purchases

Spartan Race

Subscriptions3
  • Spartan Plus Monthly7 Days trial$9.991 Month
  • Spartan Plus Annual7 Days trial$79.991 Year
  • Spartan Plus Annual7 Days trial$99.991 Year
One-time2
  • Spartan Edge 90 Day$19.99
  • Spartan Edge 90 Days$19.99
4 purchases

HYDROX

Subscriptions2
  • HYDROX Pro7 Days trial$0.997 Days
  • HYDROX Pro7 Days trial$24.991 Year
One-time2
  • HYROX Americas DC Race Pack$14.99
  • HYROX Miami Race Pack$14.99

Questions

Is Spartan Race free?
Spartan Race is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Is HYDROX free?
HYDROX is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Which has better reviews, Spartan Race or HYDROX?
HYDROX is rated higher. Spartan Race averages 2.8 out of 5 from 86 ratings, while HYDROX averages 5.0 from 4 ratings.
Do Spartan Race or HYDROX have ads?
Neither Spartan Race nor HYDROX shows ads.
Which is updated more often, Spartan Race or HYDROX?
Spartan Race ships an update every 3 weeks, and HYDROX weekly. Most recently, Spartan Race was updated on November 3, 2026 and HYDROX on October 31, 2026.

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