Comparison

Thoughtful vs RUNA

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

Head to head
About

Thoughtful

A private digital journal designed for reflection and thought organization. It offers a clean interface and simple tools to capture and revisit your experiences, with all data securely backed up via iCloud.

Highlights
  • Private journaling space
  • Thought capture and organization
  • Effortless reflection tools
  • Clean iOS aesthetic
  • Daily page structure
  • iCloud data backup
Features
Read full description

Thoughtful is a private space to ponder, write, and reflect. It’s designed to help you capture your thoughts, organize them effortlessly, and revisit them with clarity over time. Every feature is built with care and informed by research on how people process their experiences and memories. The goal is simple: make it easy to record what matters and return to it later. The design follows a clean, native iOS aesthetic paired with simple writing and organization tools, so you can capture thoughts quickly and without friction. Each day lives on its own page, creating a lightweight, structured space that reflects the patterns of daily life. All data is backed up by iCloud, and no one at Thoughtful can read what you write. No account, email, or credit card is required either.

About

RUNA

Features
Read full description

No watch. No chest strap. Just your iPhone camera. RUNA turns your iPhone into a smart treadmill companion. Simply prop your phone up, point the camera at yourself, and let our AI do the rest — measuring your heart rate in real time without any wearable device. How It Works Place your iPhone on the treadmill or nearby. RUNA's camera-based AI detects your heart rate while you run — completely hands-free, completely device-free. Set Goals, Crush Them Set your target distance, time, or pace. RUNA tracks your progress and keeps you on course every session. Know Your Zone See exactly which pace and heart rate zone you're in during your run. Push harder or pull back — train smarter with real-time zone insights. Look Back, Level Up Every run is saved automatically. Review your history, spot trends, and watch yourself improve over time. Your Data Stays Yours All data is processed and stored entirely on your device. Nothing leaves your phone — ever. No cloud uploads, no third-party sharing, no exceptions. Stop strapping on extra gear. Start running with just your iPhone.

Screenshots

Thoughtful4 screens
RUNA3 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is iOS requirement: Thoughtful at 18.0 against RUNA's 26.1. On price, ads, in-app purchases 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. Neither carries in-app purchases, so what you see is what you pay.

Scorecard1 real difference · 9 level
Thoughtful versus RUNA: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterThoughtfulRUNA
PriceFreeFree
Rating5.0 (5 ratings) — better—
Positive reviews100.0% of reviews—
Number of ratings5 — better—
Update frequencyEvery 2 weeks—
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesNoNo
MonetizationFree—
DevicesiPhoneiPhone, iPad — better
Requires iOS18.0 — better26.1
Further details — not scored
Size10 MB1 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperBrian Lu ChangUrgent Inc.

In-app purchases

None

Thoughtful

No in-app purchases

None

RUNA

No in-app purchases

Questions

Is Thoughtful free?
Thoughtful is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Is RUNA free?
RUNA is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Do Thoughtful or RUNA have ads?
Neither Thoughtful nor RUNA shows ads.

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