Comparison

Simple Pace vs VDOT Running Calculator

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

Head to head
About

Simple Pace

Effortlessly convert between distance, time, pace, and speed. This tool simplifies race planning with split calculators and quick access to common race distances. Enjoy a private, ad-free experience with customizable settings.

Highlights
  • Pace Calculations
  • Split/Lap Calculator
  • Common Distances Lookup
  • Live Pace Tracking
  • Customizable Settings
  • Privacy Focused
Features
Read full description

Distance, time, pace and speed, always in sync. Change any one and the others follow. A lock holds the value you care about while you work out the rest. On a relay team, or waiting for a runner at a race? ETA tells you the clock time they reach you, with a live countdown that carries on to the Lock Screen, up to three alerts, and on iOS 26 and later an alarm that rings even on silent. Tap when they arrive and the leg is saved with the pace they really ran. FREE • Four linked calculators: tap any value to edit it, tap a unit to switch between miles and kilometers. Every row keeps its own units. • Race distances built in: 400 m, 5k, 10k, half-marathon, marathon, and ultras from 50k to 100 miles. • Share card: send your distance, time and pace as an image. • Make it yours: light or dark, eight accent colors with matching app icons or the Multicolor theme that gives distance, time, pace, and speed each their own color, reorderable sections, and the Classic interface if you prefer it. • Accessibility: VoiceOver, Voice Control, Dynamic Type, Sufficient Contrast and Reduced Motion. • All calculations work offline. Seven languages. PRO (one-time purchase, no subscription) • Splits: plan even, negative or positive splits at any interval from 100 m to 10 miles, by halves, thirds, quarters or fifths, or an interval of your own, then export the table. • ETA: made for relay exchanges and race spectators. Each runner gets a card with the arrival clock time, a live countdown, estimated progress, up to three alerts and a note. On iOS 26 and later, an alarm rings like an alarm clock before they arrive, even on silent and in a Focus, with Snooze. The countdown also runs on the Lock Screen, in the Dynamic Island and as a badge on the main screen. Tap Arrived to save the leg with the pace actually run; finished legs stay in a list you can edit and share. Bought the app during the paid period (October 2024 to February 2025)? Pro is already yours. No ads. No tracking. No account. Anonymous usage analytics can be switched off in Settings. It's just me, a runner, building the pace calculator I want to use. Send feedback from inside the app and I'll answer.

About

VDOT Running Calculator

This app helps runners and coaches calculate training paces, equate race performances, and adjust for environmental factors. Based on decades of scientific research, it provides a VDOT score to measure running ability and compare performances across different distances.

Highlights
  • Calculate time, distance, and race paces
  • Determine current training paces
  • Equate race performances across distances
  • Adjust paces for heat and altitude
  • Measure running ability with VDOT score
Features
Read full description

The official VDOT Running Calculator, designed by Dr. Jack Daniels - named World's Best Running Coach by Runner's World Magazine - and the team at VDOT O2. Thanks to over 50 years of scientific research conducted by legendary coach Dr. Jack Daniels, runners and coaches can quickly determine appropriate training paces, equate race performances and adjust for heat and altitude. Features: • Calculate time, distance and race paces • Calculate your current training paces • Calculate and compare the equivalent performances of a race result at other distances • Calculate the effect of temperature or altitude on training and race paces What's Your VDOT? VDOT is a measure of your current running ability. It assigns a score to all running performances, let's you determine your current training paces, and equates a race time in one distance to another. For instance, you can compare your VDOT score from a recent 5k result to a friend's score who just ran a half marathon. Who won? What VDOT Level Have You Reached? Input a race result or estimated performance and learn what score it reaches on the VDOT scale. Enter all your past performances to see which race result scores the highest. There are 10 levels starting at Beginner - White (Female: 34.3, Male: 36.8) all the way up to Professional - Gold (Female: 71, Male: 80).

Screenshots

Simple Pace4 screens
VDOT Running Calculator4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is update cadence: Simple Pace at every 2 weeks against VDOT Running Calculator's every 4 months. VDOT Running Calculator's advantage is rating (4.9 vs 4.6) and ratings volume (1.6K vs 40). On price, review sentiment, 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. Simple Pace sells 4 one-off in-app purchases and VDOT Running Calculator 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

VDOT Running Calculator holds the better App Store score, 4.9 against 4.6. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: VDOT Running Calculator has 1.6K ratings behind it against 40, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews complicate that: 75% of Simple Pace's written reviews are positive against 74% of VDOT Running Calculator's, so the app with the better star average is not the one people write more warmly about.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Simple Pace ships an update every 2 weeks, VDOT Running Calculator every 4 months. Both last shipped on October 29, 2026.

Scorecard4 real differences · 6 level
Simple Pace versus VDOT Running Calculator: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterSimple PaceVDOT Running Calculator
PriceFreeFree
Rating4.6 (40 ratings)4.9 (1.6K ratings) — better
Positive reviews75.0% of reviews — better73.8% of reviews
Number of ratings401.6K — better
Update frequencyEvery 2 weeks — betterEvery 4 months
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesYesYes
MonetizationFree with in-app purchasesFree with in-app purchases
DevicesiPhone, iPadiPhone, iPad, iPod — better
Requires iOS18.015.0 — better
Further details — not scored
Size55 MB38 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperCamp Four Software LLCThe Run SMART Project, LLC

Customer experience

Simple Pace

All ratings37 ratings
Positive86.5%
Neutral2.7%
Negative10.8%
Written reviews28 reviews
Positive75.0%
Neutral3.6%
Negative21.4%

VDOT Running Calculator

All ratings1,581 ratings
Positive97.6%
Neutral0.9%
Negative1.5%
Written reviews65 reviews
Positive73.8%
Neutral7.7%
Negative18.5%

Bugs and requests

Simple Pace

Not enough reviews yet to summarise bugs or requests.

VDOT Running Calculator

Reported bugs

3 issues
  • Crashes when upgrading to premium
  • Can't scroll beyond 200/400m results
  • Custom distance doesn't support metric

Requested features

4 requests
  • Expand time field to support ultras
  • Add 6k and 8k distances
  • Allow inputting VDOT score directly
  • Allow typing in times instead of scrolling

In-app purchases

4 purchases

Simple Pace

One-time4
  • Small Tip$0.99
  • Go Pro$2.99
  • Medium Tip$4.99
Show 1 more
  • Large Tip$9.99
1 purchases

VDOT Running Calculator

One-time1
  • VDOT Calculator Premium2 variants$8.99

Questions

Is Simple Pace free?
Simple Pace is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Is VDOT Running Calculator free?
VDOT Running Calculator is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Which has better reviews, Simple Pace or VDOT Running Calculator?
VDOT Running Calculator is rated higher. Simple Pace averages 4.6 out of 5 from 40 ratings, while VDOT Running Calculator averages 4.9 from 1.6K ratings.
Do Simple Pace or VDOT Running Calculator have ads?
Neither Simple Pace nor VDOT Running Calculator shows ads.
Which is updated more often, Simple Pace or VDOT Running Calculator?
Simple Pace ships an update every 2 weeks, and VDOT Running Calculator every 4 months. Most recently, Simple Pace was updated on October 29, 2026 and VDOT Running Calculator on October 29, 2026.

Other comparisons