# The Program by Bandit Running vs Run Joy

The clearest difference is rating: The Program by Bandit Running at 3.9 against Run Joy's 1.0. The Program by Bandit Running also leads on in-app purchases (none vs 3) and ratings volume (115 vs 2). Run Joy's advantage is review sentiment (85% vs 73%). On price, update cadence, ads and device support there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. Run Joy sells 3 in-app purchases, starting at $4.99 per month. The Program by Bandit Running asks for nothing beyond the download.

The Program by Bandit Running holds the better App Store score, 3.9 against 1.0. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: The Program by Bandit Running has 115 ratings behind it against 2, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews complicate that: 73% of The Program by Bandit Running's written reviews are positive against 85% of Run Joy's, so the app with the better star average is not the one people write more warmly about.

The Program by Bandit Running ships an update every 2 weeks, Run Joy every 3 weeks. The most recent releases landed on October 22, 2026 and October 20, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | The Program by Bandit Running | Run Joy |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | **[3.9 (115 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/the-program-by-bandit-running/id6505125026/reviews)** | [1.0 (2 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/run-joy-running-tracker/id6738649450/reviews) |
| Number of ratings | **115** | 2 |
| Positive reviews | 72.7% of reviews | **85.2% of reviews** |
| In-app purchases | **No** | Yes |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | **Every 2 weeks** | Every 3 weeks |
| Monetization | **Free** | Free with in-app purchases |
| Size | 31 MB | 37 MB |
| Requires iOS | **16.4** | 17.0 |
| Devices | iPhone | **iPhone, Apple Watch** |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Bandit Running](https://appshunter.io/developer/1755262308) | [Alexander Senin](https://appshunter.io/developer/697788524) |

## What reviewers say

### The Program by Bandit Running

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/the-program-by-bandit-running/id6505125026)

This app offers a free guided training experience for marathon and half marathon runners. It generates personalized training plans based on your race, goal time, and weekly mileage. Get instant answers to training questions with the integrated coach feature.

**Highlights:** Free guided training plans, Marathon and half marathon focus, Personalized plan generation, Interactive training schedule, Instant coach answers

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

**In-app purchases:** none

**What reviewers like**

- 🚀 Excellent training program
- 👍 Intuitive and easy to use
- 🎉 Customizable to user goals
- 🎉 Helpful insights and advice
- 👍 Clean and simple interface

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 Account creation issues
- 🐛 Blank screen on launch

**Reported bugs**

- Login screen freezes
- Incompatible with older devices
- Account creation problems

**Requested features**

- Dark mode option
- Advanced analytics dashboard


### Run Joy

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/run-joy-running-tracker/id6738649450)

This app helps you plan and track your running workouts to achieve your fitness goals. It offers personalized training plans, interval training support, and detailed analysis of your pace, distance, and calories burned. Ideal for both beginners and experienced runners preparing for races or maintaining fitness.

**Highlights:** GPS running tracker, Interval training support, Personalized training plans, Pace, distance, and calorie analysis, Half-Marathon preparation tools, Intuitive analytics

**Features:** macOS Compatibility, Apple Watch app, Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases (3)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Run PRO for a Month | $4.99 | per month |
| Run PRO for a Year | $29.99 | per year |
| Tip developer | $0.99 | one-time |


## Frequently asked questions

### Is The Program by Bandit Running free?

The Program by Bandit Running is free to download, with no in-app purchases.

### Is Run Joy free?

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

### Which has better reviews, The Program by Bandit Running or Run Joy?

The Program by Bandit Running is rated higher. The Program by Bandit Running averages 3.9 out of 5 from 115 ratings, while Run Joy averages 1.0 from 2 ratings.

### Do The Program by Bandit Running or Run Joy have ads?

Neither The Program by Bandit Running nor Run Joy shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, The Program by Bandit Running or Run Joy?

The Program by Bandit Running ships an update every 2 weeks, and Run Joy every 3 weeks. Most recently, The Program by Bandit Running was updated on October 22, 2026 and Run Joy on October 20, 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.*