Comparison

Runner 1 vs Soft Step

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

Head to head
About

Runner 1

Features
Read full description

Know what to run before you head out. Runner 1 reviews up to 28 days of training alongside today’s conditions—including weather and time of day—to build a clear workout and a split-by-split pace plan. Start today’s strategy run with Runner 1 Plus and Apple Watch to get live AI voice coaching based on your pace, heart rate, cadence, and current segment target. When the run is over, your results help shape what comes next. Your runs shouldn’t just fill a log. Put them to work on the next one. • A daily workout based on recent training and today’s conditions • Segment-by-segment targets for pace, heart rate, and cadence • Live AI voice coaching with Apple Watch • AI insights for recent training and individual runs Workouts recorded in other apps can appear in Runner 1 when they are saved to Apple Health and you grant HealthKit read access. Available analysis depends on the data each app writes to Apple Health. Runner 1 Plus is available as a monthly or annual auto-renewing subscription. Trial eligibility and pricing are shown on the App Store purchase screen. You can manage or cancel your subscription in your App Store account settings. Runner 1 is not a medical device and does not provide medical diagnosis or treatment. Terms of Use: https://runner1.ongrit.space/en/terms Apple Standard End User License Agreement (EULA): https://www.apple.com/legal/internet-services/itunes/dev/stdeula/ Privacy Policy: https://runner1.ongrit.space/en/privacy

About

Soft Step

Features
Read full description

Soft Step — Slow Jogging Timer & Metronome Designed specifically for slow jogging, Soft Step combines a timer and metronome to help you maintain steady cadence and complete every workout with ease. Whether you're new to exercise or an experienced runner pursuing a healthier lifestyle, Soft Step keeps you focused on every step's rhythm. 【Why Slow Jogging?】 Slow jogging originated in Japan as a low-intensity, high-benefit aerobic exercise: • Burns 2-3x more calories than brisk walking • Low joint impact, suitable for all ages • 180 SPM cadence improves exercise efficiency • Perfect for beginners, seniors, and recovery 【Core Features】 Flexible Timer • Duration: 1-120 minutes, fully customizable • Quick presets: 10/20/30 minutes one-tap access • Pause/resume anytime Professional Metronome • Cadence range: 60-180 BPM, fully customizable • 3 sound options: Classic tick/Soft beep/Drum • Background playback for steady rhythm Apple Watch Integration • View on your wrist: Progress, time remaining, current cadence • Heart rate monitoring: Real-time heart rate display Health Data Tracking • Auto-sync with Apple Health • Records steps, calories, heart rate, distance • Complete workout history • Consecutive day streak tracking for motivation Daily Workout Reminder • Customizable reminder time • One-tap on/off control 【Perfect For】 • Beginners worried about exercise injuries • Seniors needing low-intensity aerobic exercise • Those wanting weight loss without intense workouts • Health-conscious individuals building exercise habits • Apple Watch users seeking complete health data integration 【Why Choose Soft Step?】 • Focused on slow jogging, no unnecessary features • Clean interface, intuitive operation • Deep Apple Watch integration • Supports iPhone & iPad • 5 languages: Traditional Chinese, Simplified Chinese, English, Japanese, Korean Download Soft Step now and start your healthy jogging journey with the right rhythm. Change starts today with just 10 minutes a day!

Screenshots

Runner 14 screens
Soft Step4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is in-app purchases: Soft Step at none against Runner 1's 2. Runner 1's advantage is ads (none vs shown). On price, update cadence, 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. Runner 1 sells 2 in-app purchases, starting at $2.99 per month. Soft Step asks for nothing beyond the download.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Runner 1 ships an update every 9 days, Soft Step every 5 days. The most recent releases landed on October 30, 2026 and November 9, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard2 real differences · 4 level
Runner 1 versus Soft Step: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterRunner 1Soft Step
PriceFreeFree
Update frequencyEvery 9 daysEvery 5 days — better
AdsNo — betterYes
In-app purchasesYesNo — better
DevicesiPhone, Apple WatchiPhone, iPad, Apple Watch — better
Requires iOS17.0 — better17.6
Further details — not scored
Size93 MB16 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperChanyoung LeeHong Yan Weng

In-app purchases

2 purchases

Runner 1

Subscriptions2
  • Runner 1 Plus Monthly7 Days trial$2.991 Month
  • Runner 1 Plus Annual7 Days trial$29.991 Year
None

Soft Step

No in-app purchases

Questions

Is Runner 1 free?
Runner 1 is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Is Soft Step free?
Soft Step is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Do Runner 1 or Soft Step have ads?
Soft Step shows ads; Runner 1 does not.
Which is updated more often, Runner 1 or Soft Step?
Runner 1 ships an update every 9 days, and Soft Step every 5 days. Most recently, Runner 1 was updated on October 30, 2026 and Soft Step on November 9, 2026.

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