Comparison

Willow vs Runbuds

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

Head to head
About

Willow

Features
Read full description

WILLOW: a Cuddler — softer mornings, steadier emotions, gentle growth Wake up softer. Feel lighter. Grow happier, one gentle morning at a time. Willow is your daily companion for emotional support, softer mornings, and steady personal growth. Every day, you’ll receive a warm, personalized message designed to lift your mood before you even open your eyes. No pressure, no perfectionism — just gentle encouragement that actually feels human. Whether you need motivation, comfort, clarity, or simply a little kindness, Willow is here to support you in small but meaningful ways. WITH WILLOW, YOU CAN: • Receive personalized morning messages tailored to your mood and habits (Premium) • Build a calming, positive morning routine that actually sticks • Lower stress with soft “hug messages” whenever you need grounding (Premium) • Track your mood without judgment — simple, intuitive, and pressure-free (Premium) • Practice gratitude and save small good moments (Premium) Some features are available with Willow Premium. Subscription options include weekly, monthly, and yearly plans. HOW WILLOW HELPS If you struggle with low energy, stressful mornings, emotional ups and downs, overthinking, or feeling overwhelmed, tiny moments of support can make a huge difference. Willow helps you exactly in those moments: • when getting out of bed feels hard • when you doubt yourself or feel stuck • when your mind is full, and you need softness, not noise • when life feels chaotic, and you want clarity • when you want steady progress, not pressure Willow doesn’t demand anything from you. It doesn’t judge, push, or compare you to anyone. It simply shows up — with warmth, softness, and words that feel like a hug. WHAT YOU’LL FIND INSIDE WILLOW Daily Soft Messages (Premium) Thoughtfully crafted morning messages tailored to your mood, personality, and rhythm. Not generic quotes — real words that land. Hug Button (Premium) Tap for an instant “hug message.” Short, calming support for stressful or emotional moments. Mood Tracking Without Pressure (Premium) A gentle mood tracker that helps you see patterns without overwhelming charts or guilt. Positive Streaks (Premium) Build streaks based on emotional wellness, not perfection. No punishment, no pressure — just small progress. Gratitude Notes (Premium) Save small positive moments — a thought, a feeling, a memory. Light, simple, grounding. Daily Micro-Insights (Premium) Tiny psychological insights that help you understand your emotional world — friendly, simple, human. MADE FOR YOUR EMOTIONAL WELL-BEING — EVERY SINGLE DAY Willow was created to give you a space that feels safe, warm, and encouraging. You don’t need to be motivated. You don’t need to be perfect. You don’t even need to feel “ready.” Just take one soft step each morning — Willow will handle the rest. Join thousands of people who start their day with Willow. A softer morning leads to a better day. A better day leads to gentle, lasting change. Start today. TERMS OF USE - https://willowcuddler.com/terms/

About

Runbuds

This app allows you to run with friends in real-time, seeing each other's avatars on a virtual track. It includes a run tracker with lock screen support, group relay challenges, and detailed performance statistics with shareable visualizations.

Highlights
  • Real-time avatar tracking
  • Live lock screen activities
  • Group relay challenges
  • Detailed run statistics
  • Shareable run visualizations
Read full description

Runbuds is the social running app that is truly built for your friends first. /// THE TRACK /// ・ Your avatar moves around a physical track ・ Your friends move around the track with you ・ Pass (or get passed oh no !!!) by your friends /// LOG RUNS /// Our run tracker lets you choose between: ・ An in-app full screen view ・ Live activities on your lock screen /// GROUP RELAYS /// Run towards a shared goal: ・ Set a total distance target ・ Set a timeframe ・ Add your friends to the Relay ・ Run run run run run !!! /// BEAUTIFUL STATS & VISUALS /// ・ See beautiful visualizations of your past runs ・ Sort by date, pace, distance, or difficulty ・ Share images of your runs with your friends /// GET IN TOUCH /// ・ Hit us up with ANY feedback or requests !!! ・ Contact support@runbuds.app

Screenshots

Willow4 screens
Runbuds3 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is in-app purchases: Runbuds at none against Willow's 2. Runbuds also leads on ads (none vs shown). On price, 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

Both are free to download. Willow sells 2 in-app purchases, starting at $9.99 per 7 days. Runbuds asks for nothing beyond the download.

Scorecard2 real differences · 8 level
Willow versus Runbuds: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterWillowRunbuds
PriceFreeFree
Rating—4.9 (64 ratings) — better
Positive reviews—96.3% of reviews
Number of ratings—64 — better
Update frequency—Every 2 days
AdsYesNo — better
In-app purchasesYesNo — better
Monetization—Free
DevicesiPhone, iPadiPhone, Apple Watch
Requires iOS18.218.0 — better
Further details — not scored
Size57 MB56 MB
Age rating17+4+
DeveloperHealthy Steps LLCLight Nudge

In-app purchases

2 purchases

Willow

Subscriptions2
  • Willow Weekly$9.997 Days
  • Willow Yearly$99.991 Year
None

Runbuds

No in-app purchases

Questions

Is Willow free?
Willow is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Is Runbuds free?
Runbuds is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Do Willow or Runbuds have ads?
Willow shows ads; Runbuds does not.

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