Comparison

Joyrun vs BuddyBall

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

Head to head
About

Joyrun

This app is a dedicated running community that provides tools for tracking runs, sharing experiences, and discovering races. It offers equipment reviews, training plans, and a social platform for runners of all levels.

Highlights
  • Accurate run tracking
  • Equipment experience and reviews
  • Online running activities and marathons
  • Running social circle and community
  • Pre-race preparation and recovery plans
  • RFT meta-universe integration
Features
Read full description

Join us now: spread your legs and become one of the billion runners! Evaluation runner: Write your feelings after running, you can have top shoes for free~ ~ Not only record: know more about every moment when you run. We are yours coach, yours buyer, yours recommender, a race seeding officer, a dating platform, a ...... "Why we choose Joyrun? Joyrun always insists on accompanying every runner to run more farther, not only the distance but also the time. 7 years Joyrun has been cultivating the running vertical field and how to run without injury. We know more about every moment of users. - Beginner: Here are a variety of activities. You can really open your legs and enjoy the happiness brought by dopamine after running. - Hobbyists: Here are rich equipment evaluation, pre-race preparation and post-race recovery plan, so that you can find one-stop solutions. - Sudiophile: top races at home and abroad, real feelings told by users, strong runner community culture precipitation, so you can always get something here. Product advantages of "Joyrun". - Equipment experience: All experience runner can experience all kinds of top equipment for free. - Online activities: the first online marathon, real marathon experience, no medals if you don't finish the race! - Sharing records: Build a classless running social circle, - RFT meta-universe: RFT beasts accompany you to run to the future "Accurate data" anti-cheating Every step is accurately recorded, associated with the watch, and easy to start running. The running circle will accompany you to upgrade and fight together, and go to the peak of the gods. Joyrun! Build a runner's own culture Joyrun Membership Instructions for consecutive months - Order cycle:One Month - Price:RMB 18/mouth - Payment:User confirmed to buy, then will paid by iTunes account - Cancel renewal:If you need Cancel renewal,Please manually turn off the automatic renewal function in the iTunes/Apple ID settings management 24 hours before the current subscription expires - Renewal:Apple’s iTunes account will be debited within 24 hours before expiration. After the deduction is successful, the subscription period will be extended by one quarter - Privacy Policy:http://www.thejoyrun.com/protocol.html - User Agreement:https://www.thejoyrun.com/vipProtocol.html Joyrun Membership Instructions for consecutive seasons - Order cycle:One Season - Price:RMB 58/mouth - Payment:User confirmed to buy, then will paid by iTunes account - Cancel renewal:If you need Cancel renewal,Please manually turn off the automatic renewal function in the iTunes/Apple ID settings management 24 hours before the current subscription expires - Renewal:Apple’s iTunes account will be debited within 24 hours before expiration. After the deduction is successful, the subscription period will be extended by one quarter - Privacy Policy:http://www.thejoyrun.com/protocol.html - User Agreement:https://www.thejoyrun.com/vipProtocol.html Joyrun Membership Instructions for consecutive years - Order cycle:one year - Price:RMB 218/ year - Payment:User confirmed to buy, then will paid by iTunes account - Cancel renewal:If you need Cancel renewal,Please manually turn off the automatic renewal function in the iTunes/Apple ID settings management 24 hours before the current subscription expires - Renewal:Apple’s iTunes account will be debited within 24 hours before expiration. After the deduction is successful, the subscription period will be extended by one quarter - Privacy Policy:http://www.thejoyrun.com/protocol.html - User Agreement:https://www.thejoyrun.com/vipProtocol.html Tips: This app supports iPod Touch and Apple Watch. For the best experience, please use an iPhone device with iOS 9 or later. This app supports the Apple Health app. After authorization, you can sync your exercise data to the Health app. Contact us: - Customer Service:400-960-6662 - Sina Weibo: @Joy run - WeChat account: joyrunapp - Email:hi@thejoyrun.com

About

BuddyBall

Features
Read full description

BuddyBall is a little emotional ball that lives in your phone. With 18 moods and 8 characters with distinct personalities, it chats with you, watches over your focus sessions and stays by your side while you fall asleep. 【A ball that feels alive】 · 18 emotions: happy, sleepy, surprised, angry, shy, thinking, down… each with unique eyes, colors and lines · It reaches out on its own: bubbles, little hops and mumbles when you're idle · Rich interactions: tap for confetti, double-tap for stars, rapid taps for surprises, long-press to talk, pet it, swipe to spin, shake for easter eggs · Day/night backgrounds switch automatically; blinking, breathing and gaze-following included 【Focus companion】 · Pomodoro-style focus timer — put your phone down and focus together · 41 soundscapes: rain, waves, campfire, cafe, library, morning birds, temple bowls and more (14 free forever; Pro mixes multiple tracks) · Complete sessions to earn time records, achievements and grow affection 【Sleep companion】 · Bedtime company with breathing rhythm guidance, gentle overnight presence · Sleep records and history review 【Always around you】 · Live Activities & Lock Screen: focus countdown and sleep companionship at a glance · Home-screen widgets: the ball's expression, today's stats, companion streak, and one-tap Quick Focus · Clock screen saver: full-screen clock with the breathing ball 【Characters & growth】 · 8 characters, each with a personality, voice lines and favorite sounds · Build affection through interactions to unlock stories and hidden easter eggs · Evolution: your ball's look grows with the time you spend together (Pro) · Achievements and companion reports record every moment 【Share the company】 · Share cards: 6 layout templates turn your moments into one image (basic templates free) · Annual review: monthly heatmap, highlights, rhythm, buddy share and more (Pro insights) 【Privacy by design】 · No account, no ads, no subscription — core features free forever, optional one-time Pro purchase (yours forever, Family Sharing supported) · Zero data collection; all records stay on your device · Simplified Chinese & English supported Put it on your home screen and let it keep you company.

Screenshots

Joyrun4 screens
BuddyBall4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is device support: Joyrun at 3 against BuddyBall's 1. Joyrun also leads on iOS requirement (13.0 vs 17.0). On price, update cadence, 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. Joyrun sells 10 in-app purchases, starting at $2.99 per month and BuddyBall sells 1 one-off in-app purchase. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Joyrun ships an update every 3 weeks, BuddyBall every 2 weeks. The most recent releases landed on November 11, 2026 and November 6, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard2 real differences · 8 level
Joyrun versus BuddyBall: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterJoyrunBuddyBall
PriceFreeFree
Rating4.8 (1.5K ratings) — better—
Positive reviews65.2% of reviews—
Number of ratings1.5K — better—
Update frequencyEvery 3 weeksEvery 2 weeks — better
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesYesYes
MonetizationFree with in-app purchases—
DevicesiPhone, iPod, Apple Watch — betteriPhone
Requires iOS13.0 — better17.0
Further details — not scored
Size484 MB59 MB
Age rating17+4+
DeveloperJoyrun Tech co., Ltd.印 刘

Bugs and requests

Joyrun

Reported bugs

3 issues
  • Frequent app crashes
  • Incorrect data recording
  • Sync issues with Apple Watch

Requested features

4 requests
  • Paid ad-free version
  • Customizable audio cues
  • Sync with more fitness devices
  • Improved user interface

BuddyBall

Not enough reviews yet to summarise bugs or requests.

In-app purchases

10 purchases

Joyrun

Subscriptions2
  • 连续包月$2.991 Month
  • 连续包年1 Month trial$29.991 Year
One-time8
  • 悦钻石5元$0.99
  • 悦钻石1元$0.99
  • 悦钻石18元$2.99
Show 5 more
  • 月度会员$3.99
  • 悦钻石58元$7.99
  • 季度会员$9.99
  • 悦钻石98元$14.99
  • 年度会员$34.99
1 purchases

BuddyBall

One-time1
  • BuddyBall Pro$4.99

Questions

Is Joyrun free?
Joyrun is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Is BuddyBall free?
BuddyBall is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Do Joyrun or BuddyBall have ads?
Neither Joyrun nor BuddyBall shows ads.
Which is updated more often, Joyrun or BuddyBall?
Joyrun ships an update every 3 weeks, and BuddyBall every 2 weeks. Most recently, Joyrun was updated on November 11, 2026 and BuddyBall on November 6, 2026.

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