Comparison

Swimming Lap Tracker vs RunTempo

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

Head to head
About

Swimming Lap Tracker

Manually track swim laps and intervals with precise control on Apple Watch. Build custom training sets, use downloadable audio guides for pace training, and analyze detailed workout metrics on your iPhone. Supports various equipment and pool lengths.

Highlights
  • Manual lap marking with Digital Crown
  • Custom swim set builder
  • Downloadable audio guides for pace training
  • Live swim metrics on Apple Watch
  • Detailed workout analysis on iPhone
  • Equipment selection for workouts
  • Open Water Mode with GPS
Features
Read full description

Swimming Lap Tracker gives you precise manual control over laps, intervals and structured swim training on Apple Watch, with detailed workout analysis on iPhone. Mark laps with the Digital Crown or the Action Button on Apple Watch Ultra. You decide exactly when each lap or interval is recorded instead of relying on automatic lap detection. Live swim metrics stay visible on your wrist, and completed workouts are saved to Apple Health. BUILD CUSTOM SWIM SETS Create structured training sessions in the Set Builder and sync them to Apple Watch. • Build workouts with multiple named stages • Set distance or repeats with a separate interval distance • Choose stroke, drills, equipment, rest and notes • Add breathing targets and bilateral breathing • Set target pace and cadence in seconds per stroke or strokes per minute • Reorder stages and save multiple training sets • Follow stage-by-stage prompts and progress on Apple Watch • Sync new, edited and deleted sets between iPhone and Watch DOWNLOADABLE AUDIO GUIDES Create a downloadable audio guide for a custom workout before you swim. Voice prompts and timing cues support pace and tempo training. • Choose Standard timing or a flowing Waltz 1–2–3 pattern • Use clear timing cues, including the Piano tone • Preview the timing pattern and tone before generating the file • Keep your preferred audio settings between sessions • Generate audio in the background with smoother progress estimates Download or transfer the finished audio file to compatible swimming headphones with onboard storage. Audio guides do not play through swimming headphones over Bluetooth while you are in the water. EQUIPMENT FOR EVERY SESSION Select equipment in supported Apple Watch workout modes, including fins, paddles, pull buoy, kickboard and snorkel. Your choices persist between workouts, the live screen shows a bag icon with the selected item count, and completed workouts show equipment as capsules in iPhone history. PRECISE LAP AND INTERVAL TRACKING • Fast manual lap marking with the Digital Crown • Action Button support on Apple Watch Ultra • Manual Lap Mode for separate swim and rest timing • Interval modes with distance, fixed rest or manual rest • Repeat intervals with optional send-off times • Mixed-distance interval sessions • Metres and yards • Pool presets or custom lengths from 1m to 250m or 1y to 250y • Open Water Mode with GPS distance LIVE METRICS ON APPLE WATCH See lap time, total time, distance, completed lengths, strokes and heart rate while you swim. Custom workouts also show the current stage, interval progress, stroke, drill, equipment, breathing target and rest. DETAILED SWIM ANALYSIS ON IPHONE Review total distance, duration, average pace, individual lap and interval times, custom workout stages, heart rate, strokes, active calories, motion charts, equipment used and recorded swim locations. Export motion data as CSV. HOW IT WORKS Choose your pool length or Open Water Mode, select a workout mode and tap Start Swim. Mark each lap or interval from your wrist while Swimming Lap Tracker records your workout for later review. PERMISSIONS Health access is required to record workouts and heart rate. Motion access enables stroke and movement analysis. Location access enables swim locations and open-water GPS distance. APPLE WATCH ULTRA ACTION BUTTON After installation, open Settings on Apple Watch and choose Action Button. Select Swimming Lap Tracker as the app, set First Press to Start a Workout, and choose Swim Laps as the workout. Open Swimming Lap Tracker with the Action Button before using it to mark laps. Requires iOS 18.2 or later and watchOS 11.2 or later.

About

RunTempo

Features
Read full description

RunTempo is a running metronome. Pick a tempo, press START, and match your footsteps to a steady beat — the simplest way to hold an even cadence from the first kilometre to the last. WHY A BEAT? Most runners slow down without noticing. A metronome makes your rhythm audible, so your body locks onto it and stays there. Runners use cadence training to run smoother, reduce overstriding, and finish stronger. HOW IT WORKS - Choose your tempo on a precise ruler (with haptic ticks) - Pick where you run: Outdoor, Trail, or Indoor - Set a goal in kilometres or minutes - Press START and follow the beat ON YOUR RUN - GPS distance and pace for outdoor and trail runs - Keeps ticking with the screen locked or music playing - Pause anytime — distance never counts while you are stopped - Reaching your goal doesn't stop your run: a banner celebrates, you keep going as long as you like RECOVER, THEN GO AGAIN Mid-run, switch to a guided recovery breath: three sharp exhales, then slow nasal breathing — then get back on the beat. AFTER THE RUN Name your run, log how it felt, and see your time and distance. PRIVATE BY DESIGN Your location, routes, and pace never leave your iPhone. No account, no sign-up. Anonymous usage statistics help improve the app, and you can switch them off in Settings. Made by a runner-designer, for runners who love a steady rhythm.

Screenshots

Swimming Lap Tracker4 screens
RunTempo4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is price: RunTempo at Free against Swimming Lap Tracker's $1.99. On ads, in-app purchases, 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

RunTempo is free to download; Swimming Lap Tracker costs $1.99 up front. Neither carries in-app purchases, so what you see is what you pay.

Scorecard1 real difference · 9 level
Swimming Lap Tracker versus RunTempo: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterSwimming Lap TrackerRunTempo
Price$1.99Free — better
Rating4.0 (1 ratings) — better—
Positive reviews100.0% of reviews—
Number of ratings1 — better—
Update frequencyEvery 2 weeks—
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesNoNo
MonetizationPaid—
DevicesiPhone, Apple Watch — betteriPhone
Requires iOS18.217.0 — better
Further details — not scored
Size12 MB3 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperChristopher RichesBokyeong Kim

In-app purchases

None

Swimming Lap Tracker

No in-app purchases

None

RunTempo

No in-app purchases

Questions

Is Swimming Lap Tracker free?
Swimming Lap Tracker costs $1.99, with no in-app purchases.
Is RunTempo free?
RunTempo is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Do Swimming Lap Tracker or RunTempo have ads?
Neither Swimming Lap Tracker nor RunTempo shows ads.

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