Comparison

ChiMarathon vs MCM Events

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

Head to head
About

ChiMarathon

Prepare for the Bank of America Chicago Marathon with this comprehensive resource. Track runners live, view athlete profiles, and access real-time weather and course maps. Spectators can send digital cheers to be displayed on the course.

Highlights
  • Live runner tracking
  • Athlete profiles
  • Live broadcast streaming
  • Real-time weather
  • Interactive course map
  • Digital cheer submission
Features
Read full description

The Bank of America Chicago Marathon App, Powered by Tata Consultancy Services is the perfect resource to prepare for the 2026 Bank of America Chicago Marathon. Whether you’re running or spectating, the free mobile app includes everything you’ll need to be prepared for a great race week experience. The app features unlimited live race day runner tracking, professional athlete profiles, live broadcast streaming, real-time weather, an interactive course map, participant bib share and more!

About

MCM Events

Follow runners in real-time during multiple running events throughout the year. Access official results, event details, and interactive course maps for participants and spectators.

Highlights
  • Live runner tracking
  • Live leaderboards
  • Official results
  • Event information
  • Interactive course maps
  • Push notifications
  • Social sharing
Read full description

The Marine Corps Marathon Organization (MCMO) welcomes runners from across the country and world to #runwiththemarines during five different event weekends throughout the year: - Marine Corps 17.75K in March - Semper Fred 5K in May - Marine Corps Historic Half in May - Quantico 12K in August - Marine Corps Marathon Weekend in October - Turkey Trot in November The Marine Corps Marathon Organization App provides real-time runner tracking & official results as well as information for all event weekends. Highlights: - Live runner tracking, - Live leaderboards, - Official results, - All event information for runners and spectators, - Interactive course maps, - Push notifications, - Social sharing, - and more.

Screenshots

ChiMarathon4 screens
MCM Events4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is review sentiment: MCM Events at 98% against ChiMarathon's 33%. MCM Events also leads on rating (4.9 vs 2.5) and ratings volume (667 vs 45). ChiMarathon's advantage is update cadence (every 2 weeks vs every 9 months). On price, ads, in-app purchases and monetization model 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.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

MCM Events holds the better App Store score, 4.9 against 2.5. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: MCM Events has 667 ratings behind it against 45, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews point the same way: 33% of ChiMarathon's written reviews are positive against 98% of MCM Events's.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

ChiMarathon ships an update every 2 weeks, MCM Events every 9 months. The most recent releases landed on October 20, 2026 and October 25, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard7 real differences · 4 level
ChiMarathon versus MCM Events: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterChiMarathonMCM Events
PriceFreeFree
Rating2.5 (45 ratings)4.9 (667 ratings) — better
Positive reviews32.9% of reviews97.9% of reviews — better
Number of ratings45667 — better
Update frequencyEvery 2 weeks — betterEvery 9 months
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesNoNo
MonetizationFreeFree
Best chart rank—#1 — better
DevicesiPhoneiPhone, iPad, iPod — better
Requires iOS18.613.0 — better
Further details — not scored
Size112 MB20 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperTata Consultancy ServicesDilltree Inc

Customer experience

ChiMarathon

All ratings4 ratings
Positive75.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative25.0%
Written reviews79 reviews
Positive32.9%
Neutral8.9%
Negative58.2%

MCM Events

All ratings667 ratings
Positive99.0%
Neutral0.3%
Negative0.7%
Written reviews141 reviews
Positive97.9%
Neutral0.7%
Negative1.4%

User reviews

ChiMarathon

From 45 App Store ratings

What we love

  • 👍 Great for tracking runners
  • 👍 Works well in the UK
  • 👍 Able to track runner entire time
  • 👍 Loved tracking friends
  • 👍 Very useful for watching friend run

Room to improve

  • 🐛 Map tracker not spectator-geared
  • 🐛 Mile markers inconsistent
  • 🐛 Map shows water stations for runners
  • 🐛 Units displayed incorrectly (miles vs km)
  • 🐛 App doesn't update times

MCM Events

From 667 App Store ratings

What we love

  • 👍 Great organization
  • 👍 Helpful for spectators
  • 👍 Easy to use and navigate
  • 👍 Accurate real-time tracking
  • 👍 Useful information and features

Room to improve

  • 🐛 Occasional tracking issues or lags
  • 🔍 Desire for more directional assistance and mile markers
  • 💡 Ability to send messages to runners
  • 💡 Option to view finish line camera

Bugs and requests

ChiMarathon

Reported bugs

59 issues
  • Mile markers inconsistent
  • Map shows water stations for runners
  • Units displayed incorrectly (miles vs km)
  • App doesn't update times
  • Links in map don't work
Show 54 more
  • Won't connect to server
  • X-axis incorrect units (miles vs km)
  • Y-axis decreasing (unhelpful visualization)
  • Race day timer shows race is a day away
  • Cannot track racer, times out
  • Tracking feature not trustworthy
  • No way to switch to miles
  • Incredibly glitchy
  • No mile markers this year
  • Pace graph based on 100 seconds
  • Needs to track distance by miles
  • Default to kilometers with no option to change
  • Map not updated on race day
  • Worthless app
  • No buttons work
  • Cannot enter bib number
  • Live data shows server error
  • No way for runners to claim profile
  • Mixes up miles and kilometers
  • Pace graph based on minutes/100 seconds
  • App defaults in metrics
  • No ability to change pace to min/mile
  • Leaderboard defaults to male runners
  • App stalled, tracking didn't work
  • Tracking search bar doesn't work
  • App missed me at starting line and 15k mark
  • App reported time over an hour slower
  • Time still wrong on app after 2 days
  • Tracking isn't real-time, only check-in points
  • App insists on zooming back to user location
  • Tracking experience disappointing
  • Cannot connect to server
  • Rubbish app
  • Worst site for tracking a runner
  • App could never connect to server
  • Difficult to track multiple friends due to lack of splits
  • App splits calculated in kilometers
  • Doing calculations for miles/kilometers is not a good experience
  • Can't track runners on map
  • Useless app
  • Only gives times at 10k, 20k, 30k and finish
  • Impossible to track individual runner
  • Missed our runner
  • Doesn't work
  • App freezing
  • Cannot track anyone
  • Cannot connect to server
  • Map doesn't work
  • Program stalled
  • Tracking didn't work
  • Search bar doesn't work
  • App missed runner at start and 15k
  • App reported time over an hour slower
  • Time still wrong on app after 2 days

Requested features

31 requests
  • Geared towards spectators for map tracking
  • Display mile markers clearly
  • Option to switch between miles and kilometers
  • Update app design to be more modern
  • Real-time updates and alerts for runners
Show 26 more
  • Add mile markers
  • Option to convert kilometers to miles
  • Add spectator viewing route feature
  • Preload anticipated pace for recommended viewing points
  • Allow users to switch between miles and kilometers
  • Add option to change pace to minutes per mile
  • Allow users to change pace to minutes per mile
  • Add cheer cards feature
  • Improve customer support
  • Add automatic updates like Boston's app
  • Update map for current year's event
  • Fix tracking for runners
  • Add a toggle or default to miles
  • Provide a single click tracking link
  • Add splits every 5 miles
  • Streamline measurements (miles and kilometers)
  • Allow viewing splits in miles or kilometers
  • Add spectator 'viewing route' feature
  • Add ability to send real-time messages to runners
  • Add ability for runners to access messages easily
  • Fix search bar for runner information
  • Add end of race picture at finish line
  • Add feature to track self for PR
  • Add option to default to female runners on leaderboards
  • Improve GPS tracking data
  • Make tracking real-time

MCM Events

Reported bugs

2 issues
  • Stuck on open screen with broken 'OK' button
  • Occasional tracking lags or inaccuracies

Requested features

3 requests
  • Ability to view spectator location on map
  • Option to send messages to runners
  • Finish line camera feed

In-app purchases

None

ChiMarathon

No in-app purchases

None

MCM Events

No in-app purchases

Questions

Is ChiMarathon free?
ChiMarathon is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Is MCM Events free?
MCM Events is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Which has better reviews, ChiMarathon or MCM Events?
MCM Events is rated higher. ChiMarathon averages 2.5 out of 5 from 45 ratings, while MCM Events averages 4.9 from 667 ratings.
Do ChiMarathon or MCM Events have ads?
Neither ChiMarathon nor MCM Events shows ads.
Which is updated more often, ChiMarathon or MCM Events?
ChiMarathon ships an update every 2 weeks, and MCM Events every 9 months. Most recently, ChiMarathon was updated on October 20, 2026 and MCM Events on October 25, 2026.

Other comparisons