Comparison

Run Story vs MSK BEACON

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

Head to head
About

Run Story

Create visually appealing photo and video content from your running data. Customize stats, routes, and add creative elements like stickers and blend modes. Share your running achievements with stunning, personalized visuals.

Highlights
  • Custom stat templates
  • Customizable fonts and colors
  • Runner artist stickers
  • Detailed run route maps
  • Image background removal
  • Professional blend modes
  • 3D rotation and animation
Features
Read full description

Run Story is the most powerful running stats editor with pro-grade design tools built for athletes, in one free app. Bring the depth of a desktop design suite to your data: layers, blend modes, background removal, 3D rotation, custom typography, animations, and more. Access your run data via Garmin, Strava or Apple Health. If using Apple Health & Coros, be sure to allow permissions to Apple Health to see your data. Create stunning visuals from your activities with complete customization control: Stats & Design - Custom stat templates with professional layouts - Splits, heart rate zones, laps, and elevation, each with their own charts - Custom fonts, colors, and styling options - Four app themes: Classic, Light, Neutral, and Midnight - Stickers featuring Runner artists and Run Clubs from all around the world - High-quality photo and video export, with HDR preserved end to end - Search your activities by name, location, or type - Available in 19 languages Maps & Routes - Full detailed run route maps - Custom polyline colors - Animated route draw-in, so your run traces itself Advanced Editing - Add any image with automatic background removal - Professional blend modes (Screen, Overlay, Multiply, Lighten, Darken) - Layer management and positioning tools - 3D rotation on any element - Drop shadow controls with blur, offset, opacity, and color - Background blur slider for targeted focus - Gradient and custom text elements - Entry animations, plus charts that build themselves as they appear - Random layout button to shuffle fonts and templates in one tap Daily, Weekly & Monthly Summaries - Switch your activity list between Month and Week - A calendar of the whole month, collapsible to just this week - Monthly and weekly templates: day grids, timelines, route grids, and totals - One map combining every route from the period - Animated recap video for a month or a week, with per-activity stats - Daily stories for a single day's activities - Light/dark themes and rounded/serif font options - Optional reminder when a week or month wraps up Augmented Reality (AR) - Place your stats in the world or overlay them on your face - Photo and video capture Premium Upgrades - Optional in-app purchases to remove the banner ad or watermark Transform your activities into shareable stories that showcase your achievements! Questions? Contact @madewithrunstory or mikeruns26.2 on Instagram for any questions!

About

MSK BEACON

Features
Read full description

MSK BEACON is a research data collection app operated by Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center (MSK). It helps individuals enrolled in authorized MSK research studies securely share certain health and activity data available through Apple HealthKit with MSK for research purposes. BEACON is available only to eligible research participants who have received a unique access token from the MSK research team. To get started, you may be asked to confirm your Apple ID, enter your study-provided token, accept the Terms of Use, and choose which HealthKit data you want to share. BEACON will access and transmit only the HealthKit data you authorize. What BEACON does • Enables you to connect Apple HealthKit to MSK for an applicable MSK research study • May transmit historical HealthKit data and support ongoing data transmission, depending on the study and permissions you approve • Helps MSK receive and store authorized research data in systems used or authorized by MSK for research purposes Important information • Not for emergencies: BEACON does not provide medical advice, medical monitoring, emergency services, or alerts. For emergencies, call 911 or go to the nearest emergency room. • No medical guidance: BEACON is designed to collect and transmit research data and does not provide interpretations, recommendations, warnings, alerts, or feedback about your health. • Apple services: BEACON relies on Apple HealthKit and other Apple services; your use of Apple products and services is subject to Apple’s terms and privacy practices. Privacy & security • You will provide your date of birth and the token ID provided by the research study team to confirm you are a study participant. • The app also collects certain information automatically (such as app usage, device information, IP address/log data, and analytics information) to operate, secure, and improve the app. • Do not share your access token. If you believe your token or device has been compromised, contact the study team. Support For technical assistance or questions about using the app, contact: beacon@mskcc.org

Screenshots

Run Story4 screens
MSK BEACON4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is in-app purchases: MSK BEACON at none against Run Story's 2. MSK BEACON also leads on ads (none vs shown) and iOS requirement (15.6 vs 18.0). On price, update cadence and device support 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. Run Story sells 2 one-off in-app purchases. MSK BEACON asks for nothing beyond the download.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Run Story ships an update fortnightly, MSK BEACON every 9 days. The most recent releases landed on October 30, 2026 and November 2, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard3 real differences · 7 level
Run Story versus MSK BEACON: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterRun StoryMSK BEACON
PriceFreeFree
Rating4.6 (25 ratings) — better—
Positive reviews65.0% of reviews—
Number of ratings25 — better—
Update frequencyFortnightlyEvery 9 days — better
AdsYesNo — better
In-app purchasesYesNo — better
MonetizationFree—
DevicesiPhone, iPadiPhone, iPad, iPod — better
Requires iOS18.015.6 — better
Further details — not scored
Size89 MB48 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperFinish Line Labs, LLCMemorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center

In-app purchases

2 purchases

Run Story

One-time2
  • Remove Ads$0.99
  • Remove Watermark$0.99
None

MSK BEACON

No in-app purchases

Questions

Is Run Story free?
Run Story is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Is MSK BEACON free?
MSK BEACON is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Do Run Story or MSK BEACON have ads?
Run Story shows ads; MSK BEACON does not.
Which is updated more often, Run Story or MSK BEACON?
Run Story ships an update fortnightly, and MSK BEACON every 9 days. Most recently, Run Story was updated on October 30, 2026 and MSK BEACON on November 2, 2026.

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