Comparison

Pace It vs Smart Runner

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

Head to head
About

Pace It

This app helps runners analyze their training progress by tracking pace improvements across heart rate zones. It provides personalized training paces that adapt to your current fitness level, ensuring your workouts remain relevant. Monitor key metrics like VO2 max and training load for a comprehensive view of your development.

Highlights
  • Track pace progression across heart rate zones
  • Personalized adaptive training paces
  • Monitor VO2 max and training load
  • Build and run structured workouts on Apple Watch
  • Integrates with Strava and Apple Health
  • Shoe tracking and rotation
  • Personal best and yearly performance summaries
Features
Read full description

Pace It is built for runners who want to know if their training is working and if they are getting faster at the same effort. Track pace trends across heart rate zones and get personalized training paces that adjust as your fitness changes. Instead of guessing your current 5K, 10K or threshold pace, Pace It uses your recent runs to recalibrate training targets so workouts stay aligned with your fitness. KEY FEATURES If you train by heart rate zones and care about pacing accuracy and aerobic development, you're in the right place. Whether you’re training for a 5K, 10K, Half Marathon, Marathon, Ultra, or a structured interval block, Pace It helps you: - See if you're getting faster at the same effort - Keep workouts aligned with current fitness using personalised pace targets - Track training distribution and pace trends across heart rate zones - Monitor training load, VO2 max and race estimates - Build structured workouts and run them on Apple Watch Compatible with Strava. Syncs with Apple Health. Built by runners who care about clear, accurate performance insights. ADAPTIVE PACE TARGETS & INSIGHTS - Track monthly pace-at-effort trends - Running efficiency analysis - See training paces, HR ranges, RPE recommendations and race estimates based on your recent running data. - Build structured running workouts using your pace targets APPLE WATCH WORKOUTS Execute runs and see weekly training progress on your watch. - 5 running screens - 30+ configurable metrics - Structured intervals and workouts with real-time pacing guidance - Daily steps & activity time FITNESS TRENDS & RUN ANALYSIS - VO₂ max tracking & VDOT - Training load ratio and training distribution - Pace, heart rate, power, cadence, splits and segments INTEGRATIONS Compatible with Strava. Import and export runs automatically, with historical sync for deeper training analysis. WEEKLY & MONTHLY TRAINING PROGRESS: - Track mileage, duration, streaks and HR zone distribution - Set weekly run goals ADDITIONAL TOOLS: - Home & lock-screen widgets - Shoe tracking & rotation - Race calculator - Personal best tracking - Yearly performance summaries PRIVACY Pace It reads data only from Apple Health. All data is processed locally on your device. No accounts are required. ACCESS, SUBSCRIPTION & PURCHASE INFORMATION Pace It offers both free and paid features. The free version of Pace It includes selected app features only. Freemium does not include access to the Pace It Apple Watch app and Pro features. To access Pace It Pro features, including the Watch app, you can choose between: - Lifetime Access — one-time purchase - Subscriptions — Monthly or Yearly plans Subscription plans include a 1-week free trial. Pro access includes the full Pace It experience, including training trends, adaptive pace targets and Apple Watch features. PAYMENT & RENEWALS - If you start a free trial, you will not be charged until the trial period ends. Unless canceled at least 24 hours before the trial ends, your subscription will automatically renew at the selected price. - Payment is charged to your Apple ID at confirmation of purchase. - Subscriptions renew automatically unless canceled at least 24 hours before the end of the current period. - Your account will be charged for renewal within 24 hours before the period ends. - Manage or cancel your subscription at any time in your App Store account settings. Pace It is not a medical device, it provides training insights for informational and educational purposes only. TERMS & PRIVACY Terms of Use (Apple Standard EULA): https://www.apple.com/legal/internet-services/itunes/dev/stdeula/ Additional Terms (Pace It Terms of Use): https://paceit.app/terms-of-service Privacy Policy: https://paceit.app/privacy-policy

About

Smart Runner

This app offers science-backed marathon and half-marathon training plans based on VDOT calculations. It provides adaptive, personalized workouts and detailed performance metrics, with a focus on user privacy and a one-time purchase model.

Highlights
  • Adaptive 2-week training plans
  • VDOT-based pacing zones
  • ATL/CTL/TSB training load tracking
  • HealthKit integration
  • Apple Watch live workout guidance
  • Strava sync
  • Post-run analysis
Features
Read full description

Train like a coached athlete. Pay once, train forever. Smart Runner is a science-backed marathon training app built for runners who want real results - without paying every month for the privilege. Every other serious training app charges you monthly. Runna is $120/year. Strava Coach. Garmin Coach. Subscription after subscription - and your data lives on their servers, not yours. Runner costs $29.99. Once. That's it. Pay once, use it forever. YOUR DATA NEVER LEAVES YOUR PHONE No account. No email. No password. No analytics. No cloud sync. Your workouts live in Apple Health and on your device - full stop. Delete the app and your data is gone, because it was never anywhere else. Privacy isn't a setting you toggle. It's the architecture. ADAPTIVE TRAINING THAT ACTUALLY WORKS Runner uses VDOT - the same science behind Jack Daniels' Running Formula, to measure your current fitness from a recent race result and build a personalised rolling plan around it. - Adaptive 2-week plan - regenerates as your fitness improves - VDOT-based pacing - scientifically calibrated easy, tempo, interval, and race-pace zones - ATL / CTL / TSB tracking - the training load metrics used by elite coaches, now on your phone - HealthKit integration - every run auto-imported from Apple Health - Apple Watch - live workout guidance on your wrist - Strava sync - pull in runs you've already logged - Post-run analysis - understand what each session actually built BUILT FOR - Marathon and half-marathon runners chasing a time goal - Athletes returning from a break who need a structured rebuild - Runners who want coaching-grade metrics without paying coaching prices - Anyone tired of apps that charge monthly and hold their data hostage Try it free for 7 days. Unlock once. Train forever. Terms of Use (EULA): https://www.apple.com/legal/internet-services/itunes/dev/stdeula/

Screenshots

Pace It4 screens
Smart Runner4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is rating: Smart Runner at 5.0 against Pace It's 4.0. Smart Runner also leads on review sentiment (100% vs 67%) and update cadence (every 3 days vs every 11 days). On price, ratings volume, ads and in-app purchases 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. Pace It sells 3 in-app purchases, starting at $4.99 per month and Smart Runner sells 3 in-app purchases, starting at $14.99 per year. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

Smart Runner holds the better App Store score, 5.0 against 4.0. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 4 and 7 respectively. Written reviews point the same way: 67% of Pace It's written reviews are positive against 100% of Smart Runner's.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Pace It ships an update every 11 days, Smart Runner every 3 days. The most recent releases landed on October 13, 2026 and September 23, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard3 real differences · 7 level
Pace It versus Smart Runner: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterPace ItSmart Runner
PriceFreeFree
Rating4.0 (4 ratings)5.0 (7 ratings) — better
Positive reviews66.7% of reviews100.0% of reviews — better
Number of ratings47 — better
Update frequencyEvery 11 daysEvery 3 days — better
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesYesYes
MonetizationFreemiumFree with in-app purchases
DevicesiPhone, iPad, Apple WatchiPhone, iPad, Apple Watch
Requires iOS18.017.0 — better
Further details — not scored
Size23 MB24 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperDionysis KastellanisDor Tal

Customer experience

Pace It

All ratings4 ratings
Positive75.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative25.0%
Written reviews3 reviews
Positive66.7%
Neutral0.0%
Negative33.3%

Smart Runner

All ratings7 ratings
Positive100.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative0.0%
Written reviews3 reviews
Positive100.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative0.0%

In-app purchases

3 purchases

Pace It

Subscriptions2
  • Pace It Access (Monthly)7 Days trial$4.991 Month
  • Pace It Access (Yearly)7 Days trial$39.991 Year
One-time1
  • Lifetime$89.99
3 purchases

Smart Runner

Subscriptions1
  • Runner Annual Plan7 Days trial$14.991 Year
One-time2
  • Runner Unlock$14.99
  • Runner Lifetime Plan$19.99

Questions

Is Pace It free?
Pace It is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Is Smart Runner free?
Smart Runner is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Which has better reviews, Pace It or Smart Runner?
Smart Runner is rated higher. Pace It averages 4.0 out of 5 from 4 ratings, while Smart Runner averages 5.0 from 7 ratings.
Do Pace It or Smart Runner have ads?
Neither Pace It nor Smart Runner shows ads.
Which is updated more often, Pace It or Smart Runner?
Pace It ships an update every 11 days, and Smart Runner every 3 days. Most recently, Pace It was updated on October 13, 2026 and Smart Runner on September 23, 2026.

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