Comparison

Start 2 Run vs 5K Run

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

Head to head
About

Start 2 Run

Achieve your running goals with personalized training plans and virtual coaching. Track your progress with heart rate monitoring and detailed analysis reports. Enjoy an intuitive interface and Apple Watch integration.

Highlights
  • Customized training plans
  • Personalized coaching
  • Heart rate monitoring
  • Analysis reports
  • Apple Watch support
  • Multiple voice options
Features
Read full description

READY FOR YOUR RUNNING ADVENTURE? Get ready to achieve your running goals with the Start 2 Run app. Whether you're just starting out or you're already experienced, our app is your ultimate partner on your road to success. All you need to do is lace up your shoes. Follow the instructions from your coach, and before you know it, you'll reach your running goal. Why Start 2 Run? • Customized training plans: Whether you're aiming for your first 5 km or challenging yourself to a marathon, our app offers over 25 training plans created by experienced coaches at Golazo Energy. Each plan is designed to help you reach your goals gradually and responsibly, minimizing the risk of injury. • Personal coaching: Your coach guides you through every step of your training. From personalized encouragements to tips on running posture and nutritional advice, she's always there to motivate and support you. • Heart rate monitoring: Train more efficiently with our heart rate functionality. Connect your heart rate monitor or sports watch, log your minimum and maximum heart rate, and let the app help you determine your heart rate zones. • Analysis report: Track your progress and improve your performance with our post-training report. • User-friendliness: Our app is intuitively designed with a beautiful layout and easy navigation, allowing you to focus on your training without distraction. • Apple Watch support: Sync your workouts with Apple's Health app and track your progress directly from your wrist with our Apple Watch version. Join the Start 2 Run family Start your free one-week trial today and discover why nearly 1 million runners worldwide rely on Start 2 Run to reach their running goals. Choice of different voices • Evy Gruyaert (NL) • Emma (EN) • Julie (FR) • Sofia (IT) Ready to join us? Start 2 Run website: www.start2run.app Start 2 Run terms and conditions: https://www.start2run.app/disclaimer

About

5K Run

This app guides beginners from inactivity to running a 5K with a flexible, adaptive training plan. It offers audio cues during runs and integrates with HealthKit to track progress and Apple Watch activity.

Highlights
  • Adaptive 5K training plan
  • Voice trainer for run/walk intervals
  • Flexible workout scheduling
  • HealthKit integration
  • Motivation and progress tracking
Features
Read full description

5K RUN is the easiest way to get you from couch potato to 5k. Our training plan will help you keep motivated and give your best in every workout. Don't give up, you can do it! 5K PLAN The training plan is design to help you keep motivated. It will let you know when you need to take a break and when it's time for another run. Run whenever you want, you don't need to set up a schedule of specific days for running, we all have busy days, or it's raining outside, or we're just tired. That's why our training plan adapts to you, giving you a time window to complete your workouts. Take your training to the next level! VOICE TRAINER During the runs, listen to your music and the voice trainier will tell you when it's time for you to run or walk. Set your goal and work to get there in a healthy way. HEALTHKIT INTEGRATION Run 5K integrates nicely with HealthKit, meaning that all your workout data will be available for you inside Run 5K and the Apple Health App. On top of that, all the races you save using Run 5K will contribute to filling the Activity rings on your Apple Watch. Isn't that cool?

Screenshots

Start 2 Run4 screens
5K Run4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is ads: 5K Run at none against Start 2 Run's shown. 5K Run also leads on ratings volume (2.2K vs 31) and update cadence (every 10 days vs every 6 weeks). Start 2 Run's advantage is review sentiment (55% vs 24%) and rating (5.0 vs 4.6). On price, in-app purchases, monetization model 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. Start 2 Run sells 10 in-app purchases, starting at $1.99 per month and 5K Run sells 1 one-off in-app purchase. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

Start 2 Run holds the better App Store score, 5.0 against 4.6. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: 5K Run has 2.2K ratings behind it against 31, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews point the same way: 55% of Start 2 Run's written reviews are positive against 24% of 5K Run's.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Start 2 Run ships an update every 6 weeks, 5K Run every 10 days. The most recent releases landed on October 16, 2026 and October 18, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard6 real differences · 4 level
Start 2 Run versus 5K Run: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterStart 2 Run5K Run
PriceFreeFree
Rating5.0 (31 ratings) — better4.6 (2.2K ratings)
Positive reviews54.5% of reviews — better24.3% of reviews
Number of ratings312.2K — better
Update frequencyEvery 6 weeksEvery 10 days — better
AdsYesNo — better
In-app purchasesYesYes
MonetizationFree with in-app purchasesFree with in-app purchases
DevicesiPhone, iPod, Apple Watch — betteriPhone, Apple Watch
Requires iOS13.0 — better17.0
Further details — not scored
Size60 MB25 MB
Age rating12+4+
DeveloperEnergy LabCarlos Fernandez Mayor

Customer experience

Start 2 Run

All ratings31 ratings
Positive100.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative0.0%
Written reviews22 reviews
Positive54.5%
Neutral18.2%
Negative27.3%

5K Run

All ratings2,168 ratings
Positive91.6%
Neutral3.6%
Negative4.8%
Written reviews115 reviews
Positive24.3%
Neutral16.5%
Negative59.1%

Bugs and requests

Start 2 Run

Not enough reviews yet to summarise bugs or requests.

5K Run

Reported bugs

3 issues
  • App crashes and loses user progress
  • Inconsistent tracking of distance and pace
  • Issues with treadmill workouts

Requested features

4 requests
  • Ability to manually adjust training program
  • More detailed workout information
  • Integration with other fitness apps
  • Audio cues for run/walk transitions

In-app purchases

10 purchases

Start 2 Run

Subscriptions10
  • Evy monthly (NL)7 Days trial$1.991 Month
  • Sylwina monthly (DE-CH)7 Days trial$1.991 Month
  • Premium monthly7 Days trial$1.991 Month
Show 7 more
  • Start 2 Run Smart - Month7 Days trial$2.991 Month
  • Start 2 Run monthly7 Days trial$2.991 Month
  • Evy yearly (NL)7 Days trial$8.991 Year
  • Premium yearly7 Days trial$9.491 Year
  • Sylwina yearly (DE-CH)7 Days trial$9.991 Year
  • Start 2 Run yearly7 Days trial$11.991 Year
  • Start 2 Run Smart - Year7 Days trial$25.491 Year
1 purchases

5K Run

One-time1
  • Plan de entrenamiento 5K$4.99

Questions

Is Start 2 Run free?
Start 2 Run is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Is 5K Run free?
5K Run is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Which has better reviews, Start 2 Run or 5K Run?
Start 2 Run is rated higher. Start 2 Run averages 5.0 out of 5 from 31 ratings, while 5K Run averages 4.6 from 2.2K ratings.
Do Start 2 Run or 5K Run have ads?
Start 2 Run shows ads; 5K Run does not.
Which is updated more often, Start 2 Run or 5K Run?
Start 2 Run ships an update every 6 weeks, and 5K Run every 10 days. Most recently, Start 2 Run was updated on October 16, 2026 and 5K Run on October 18, 2026.

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