# Forerunner vs Marathon Buddy

The clearest difference is iOS requirement: Marathon Buddy at 13.0 against Forerunner's 26.0. On price, update cadence, ads and in-app purchases there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. Forerunner sells 5 in-app purchases, starting at $4.99 per 7 days and Marathon Buddy sells 2 in-app purchases, starting at $9.99 per month. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

Both ship on a similar rhythm, roughly every 3 days. The most recent releases landed on September 30, 2026 and October 4, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Forerunner | Marathon Buddy |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | **[5.0 (3 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/forerunner-running-tracker/id6745802851/reviews)** | — |
| Number of ratings | **3** | — |
| Positive reviews | 100.0% of reviews | — |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | Every 3 days | Every 3 days |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | — |
| Size | 55 MB | 97 MB |
| Requires iOS | 26.0 | **13.0** |
| Devices | **iPhone, iPad, Apple Watch** | iPhone, iPod |
| Age rating | 12+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Forerunner](https://appshunter.io/developer/1813997430) | [群 谢](https://appshunter.io/developer/1473924121) |

## What reviewers say

### Forerunner

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/forerunner-running-tracker/id6745802851)

This app helps runners improve performance with VDOT analysis and condition management. Track progress, adjust training, and monitor fatigue to prevent injuries and run smarter. It offers customizable data analysis and home screen widgets for easy access to your running records.

**Highlights:** VDOT-based precision analysis, Customizable periodic analysis, Fatigue & condition monitoring, Home screen widgets, Full VoiceOver support

**Features:** Apple Watch app

**In-app purchases (5)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Weekly | $4.99 | per 7 days |
| Monthly | $9.99 | per month |
| Yearly | $29.99 | per year |
| Lifetime | $49.99 | one-time |
| Lifetime | $99.99 | one-time |


### Marathon Buddy

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/marathon-buddy-run-and-train/id6757374248)

**Features:** macOS Compatibility

**In-app purchases (2)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Monthly Plan | $9.99 | per month |
| Annual Plan | $99.99 | per year |


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Forerunner free?

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

### Is Marathon Buddy free?

Marathon Buddy is free to download, with in-app purchases available.

### Do Forerunner or Marathon Buddy have ads?

Neither Forerunner nor Marathon Buddy shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, Forerunner or Marathon Buddy?

Forerunner ships an update every 3 days, and Marathon Buddy every 3 days. Most recently, Forerunner was updated on September 30, 2026 and Marathon Buddy on October 4, 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.*