Comparison

5k Simple vs First 5K

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

Head to head
About

5k Simple

Features
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**5K Trainer β€” Run Your First 5K** Ready to run a 5K? This app gets you there. No clutter, no confusion β€” just a straightforward 9-week plan that takes you from walking to running 3.1 miles. **How it works** Tell the app your current fitness level and it places you in the right week. Three workouts a week, each one building on the last. Walk-run intervals that gradually shift until you're running the full distance. That's it. **Adapts to you, not a calendar** If a week goes great, the app moves you forward. If you need more time, it keeps you where you are. Your progress drives the plan β€” not a rigid schedule that ignores how you're actually doing. **Workout coaching included** Audio cues keep you on track mid-run: interval announcements, countdowns before transitions, and encouragement at key milestones. You'll always know what's coming and how far you've gone. **Race Day mode** When you're ready, switch to Race Day mode and run your 5K with kilometer markers and a projected finish time called out along the way. **Apple Music** Control your music without leaving the workout screen. Play, pause, and skip tracks right from the app so you can stay in the zone. **Apple Health** Every completed workout is saved to Apple Health automatically β€” distance, duration, and activity type all logged without any extra steps. **What this app is not** It's not a social network. It's not a GPS tracker. It doesn't have leaderboards, badges, or daily streaks. It's a simple, focused tool for one goal: getting you to the 5K finish line. **Get started free** Try the full app free for one week. After that, continue for $4.99/month. Terms of Use: https://www.apple.com/legal/internet-services/itunes/dev/stdeula/

About

First 5K

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First 5K is a couch to 5K running plan that takes you from zero to your first 5 kilometer run in eight weeks, three runs a week. Each workout mixes walking and running intervals that grow a little each session. By Week 8 you finish with a continuous 30 minute 5K run. The whole plan fits on one screen, the next workout is one tap away, and progress is real. WHAT YOU GET - A full eight week plan, 24 workouts, with intra-week variation so no two runs feel identical - A voice coach in your ear telling you when to walk, when to run, when to push, and when to ease off - Four voices to choose from: Hope, Marcus, Maya, and Jack - GPS distance, pace, and a route heatmap saved with every run - Run reminders on the days and time you choose - A clear plan view with stones for every workout you have done and every workout still ahead - A 5K finale A COACH WHO ADAPTS TO YOU After every run, rate how it felt. If it was too tough, you stay put and repeat. If it felt right, you move forward. If it was easy, you skip ahead. The plan bends to fit you instead of the other way around. EVERYTHING IS LOCAL Your profile, your runs, and your progress are stored on your device. No account, no sign in, no cloud, no ads. The only thing that ever leaves your phone is the purchase itself, which goes through Apple. ONE TIME PURCHASE First 5K is free to install. A one time purchase of 2.99 unlocks the full eight week plan. No subscription, no renewals, yours to keep. Whether you have never run before or you have stopped and started a dozen times, First 5K gives you a simple, honest path to your first 5K. Lace up. Press start.

Screenshots

5k Simple4 screens
First 5K4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is iOS requirement: First 5K at 15.1 against 5k Simple's 26.0. On price, ads, in-app purchases and device support there is nothing between them.

Scored on Price Β· Rating Β· Positive reviews Β· Number of ratings Β· Update frequency Β· Ads Β· In-app purchases Β· Monetization Β· Best chart rank Β· Devices Β· Requires iOS

CostPrice Β· In-app purchases Β· Ads Β· Monetization

Both are free to download. 5k Simple sells 1 in-app purchase, starting at $4.99 per month and First 5K sells 1 one-off in-app purchase. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

Scorecard1 real difference Β· 5 level
5k Simple versus First 5K: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
Parameter5k SimpleFirst 5K
PriceFreeFree
Update frequencyβ€”Every 6 days
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesYesYes
DevicesiPhone, iPadiPhone, iPod
Requires iOS26.015.1 β€” better
Further details β€” not scored
Size1 MB43 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperRoman Court TechnologiesMatthias EΓ°vald

In-app purchases

1 purchases

5k Simple

Subscriptions1
  • 5k Simple Premium7 Days trial$4.991 Month
1 purchases

First 5K

One-time1
  • Full Plan Access$2.99

Questions

Is 5k Simple free?
5k Simple is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Is First 5K free?
First 5K is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Do 5k Simple or First 5K have ads?
Neither 5k Simple nor First 5K shows ads.

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