Comparison

Interval Timer vs RunMate

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

Head to head
About

Interval Timer

Organize your running and high-intensity interval training sessions with ease. Quickly set up custom time intervals for running, walking, warm-ups, and cool-downs. Receive voice and vibration notifications for interval changes, and enjoy background music playback.

Highlights
  • Intuitive design
  • Customizable time intervals
  • Warm-up and cool-down timers
  • Voice and vibration notifications
  • Background music support
  • Foreground/background operation
Features
Read full description

Interval Run is a running interval timer for iPhone and Apple Watch. Create run/walk intervals, sprint sessions, and HIIT workouts in seconds. Train with voice announcements and haptic cues, control workouts from Apple Watch, save sessions to Apple Health, and track your workout history. Choose from 25+ ready-made running workouts or build your own. Follow intervals from the Lock Screen and Dynamic Island, and focus on your run. 25+ READY-MADE RUNNING WORKOUTS • Explore run/walk workouts, running intervals, sprints, hill repeats, tempo runs, fartlek sessions, ladders, pyramids, and more • Find workouts for speed, endurance, recovery, and different training goals • Start any workout immediately or customize it to match your training • Save your favorites to My Workouts for quick access BUILD YOUR OWN INTERVAL WORKOUT • Create simple run/walk intervals or advanced multi-step workouts • Add warm-up, running, walking, recovery, rest, and cool-down sections • Set a custom duration for every step • Repeat intervals and complete workout blocks • Add custom cues to guide you through each workout step • Build sprint, HIIT, cardio, and structured running sessions • Save multiple workouts and reuse them anytime • Preview the complete workout before you start VOICE & HAPTIC INTERVAL CUES • Hear clear voice announcements at every interval transition • Feel haptic cues when it’s time to run, walk, recover, or rest • Keep your workout active while your iPhone is locked or the app is in the background • Follow your current interval from the Lock Screen and Dynamic Island with Live Activities • Listen to music, podcasts, or audiobooks while you train RUN WITH APPLE WATCH • Sync workouts to Apple Watch • Start, pause, and control workouts directly from your wrist • Run phone-free with your workouts ready on Apple Watch • Follow interval progress without repeatedly checking your phone • Track heart rate, distance, and active energy during your workout • Get haptic interval cues directly on your Watch • Save completed workouts to Apple Health TRACK YOUR TRAINING • Browse completed workouts in calendar and history views • Review workout duration, intervals, distance, and active energy • Look back at your running and interval training over time • Share your workout results • Export and restore backups of your workout data MADE FOR RUNNERS WHO TRAIN WITH INTERVALS Whether you’re starting with beginner run/walk intervals, adding speed work to your weekly training, preparing for a 5K or another race, or creating a challenging HIIT session, Interval Run keeps every interval clear from start to finish. Use it as a simple run/walk timer, a running interval timer for speed training, an Apple Watch interval timer for phone-free workouts, or a flexible workout builder for more advanced structured sessions. From beginner run/walk workouts to sprints, tempo runs, hill repeats, fartlek training, and custom multi-step sessions, Interval Run adapts to the way you train. Start with one of 25+ ready-made workouts or create your own. Interval Run handles the timing so you can focus on your training. Some features shown, including the full workout library, advanced workout creation, multiple saved workouts, and full workout history, require Interval Run Pro. Terms of Use: https://www.apple.com/legal/internet-services/itunes/dev/stdeula/

About

RunMate

This app combines running training plans with guided meditation to improve physical and mental health. It offers GPS tracking for routes, distance, and calories, along with programs for 5K, 10K, half marathon, and marathon races. Users can unlock rewards and access curated music to stay motivated.

Highlights
  • Accurate GPS run tracking
  • Training plans for 5K, 10K, half marathon, marathon
  • Guided meditation for stress relief
  • Mindful running programs
  • Audio guides for motivation
  • Unlockable rewards
  • Calorie and distance tracking
Features
Read full description

■ Accurate Run Tracker - track your route and heart rate! ■ Improve your mind and body ■ Zen Labs Fitness has been featured on The New York Times, Los Angeles Times, The Washington Post, The Guardian, The Huffington Post, Men's Fitness, Forbes, Mashable, Glamour Magazine, Popsugar Fitness, CBS News, NBC News, Macworld, Cosmopolitan, The Verge, Lifehacker, WebMD and many more! Goodbye to the days of stress and anxiety! With the same elements that made C25K successful for millions of first time runners (now with thoughtfully created guided meditation!), RunMate will help with both your physical and mental health! Our devices have turned into dopamine slot machines causing the mental health epidemic. We’ll help you get back on track to healthier habits. Finding the perfect balance in your schedule. RunMate has all the Training Plans and Guided Runs that you need to reach all your running goals. Running has never been more enjoyable and enlightening! Train for your next 5k, 10k or even marathon race, all the while benefiting from the guided meditation included in the training programs. We’ll help track your route, and provide all the tools necessary to smash all your milestones. Get instant STRESS RELIEF by combining the benefits of running (yay endorphins!) with guided meditation (yay serotonin!) from our experts! ≈ Track Stats ≈ Accurate GPS tracking helps you see your run route, as well as important details such as distance and calories burned. Log your stats in to the Health app! What gets measured, gets done! ≈ Mindful Running Programs ≈ Train for your next 5K race with our award winning C25K program! Or push yourself further with either our 10K, half marathon and marathon trainers! We’ll help get you ready! We’ve combined our award winning training programs with a little mindful meditation! ≈ Guided Runs from Experts ≈ Follow along with our audio guides to get motivated and inspired! You will leave feeling calm, focused, grateful and happy! The guided meditation has been carefully created to work in-sync while running. Don’t worry, we won’t ask you to close your eyes while on the move. ≈ Rewards ≈ Unlock cool regards to stay motivated. Stack those wins and stats! ≈ Zen Unlimited Pass ≈ ◉ Award winning music curated from top DJ's! ◉ Scientifically proven to increase motivation by 35% ◉ BONUS unlimited access to all pro features across ALL Zen Labs Fitness running apps Questions/comments? Please email us at contactus@zenlabsfitness.com, or visit us at www.zenlabsfitness.com. ≈ Connect ≈ Facebook: @C25Kfree Twitter: @C25Kfree Instagram: @officialc25k Hashtag: #C25K Subscription pricing and terms: The subscription will automatically renew unless turned off in your iTunes Account Settings at least 24 hours before current period ends. You can go to your iTunes Account settings to manage your subscription and turn off auto-renew. Your iTunes Account will be charged when the purchase is confirmed. If you subscribe before your free trial ends, the rest of your free trial period will be forfeited as soon as your purchase is confirmed. Privacy Policy & Terms of Use: https://www.zenlabsfitness.com/privacy-policy/ Legal Disclaimer This app and any information given by it or by Zen Labs LLC are for educational purposes only. You should always consult your healthcare provider before beginning any fitness program. C25K® is a registered trademark of Zen Labs LLC

Screenshots

Interval Timer4 screens
RunMate4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is review sentiment: RunMate at 71% against Interval Timer's 21%. RunMate also leads on rating (4.7 vs 4.5) and iOS requirement (14.0 vs 26.0). Interval Timer's advantage is ads (none vs shown). On price, ratings volume, update cadence 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. Interval Timer sells 3 in-app purchases, starting at $2.99 per month and RunMate sells 3 in-app purchases, starting at $9.99 per month. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

RunMate holds the better App Store score, 4.7 against 4.5. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 534 and 241 respectively. Written reviews point the same way: 21% of Interval Timer's written reviews are positive against 71% of RunMate's.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Interval Timer ships an update every 3 months, RunMate every 2 months. The most recent releases landed on October 14, 2026 and October 15, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard4 real differences · 6 level
Interval Timer versus RunMate: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterInterval TimerRunMate
PriceFreeFree
Rating4.5 (534 ratings)4.7 (241 ratings) — better
Positive reviews21.1% of reviews70.6% of reviews — better
Number of ratings534 — better241
Update frequencyEvery 3 monthsEvery 2 months — better
AdsNo — betterYes
In-app purchasesYesYes
MonetizationFree with in-app purchasesFree with in-app purchases
DevicesiPhone, iPad, Apple Watch — betteriPhone, iPod
Requires iOS26.014.0 — better
Further details — not scored
Size16 MB384 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperRoma SosnovskyZen Labs

Customer experience

Interval Timer

All ratings534 ratings
Positive86.7%
Neutral3.4%
Negative9.9%
Written reviews95 reviews
Positive21.1%
Neutral8.4%
Negative70.5%

RunMate

All ratings241 ratings
Positive93.8%
Neutral2.1%
Negative4.1%
Written reviews17 reviews
Positive70.6%
Neutral11.8%
Negative17.6%

User reviews

Interval Timer

From 534 App Store ratings

What we love

  • 🚀 Simple and easy to use
  • 👍 Customizable intervals
  • 🚀 Straightforward app
  • 👍 Works as advertised
  • 👍 Great for getting back into running

Room to improve

  • 🔇 No audio prompts when screen is locked
  • 🔋 High battery consumption
  • 🔒 Limited free version
  • 🐛 Inconsistent performance
  • 🔇 Voice prompts not loud enough

RunMate

From 241 App Store ratings

What we love

  • ❤️ Great concept and motivation
  • 🏃‍♀️ Helps beginners start running
  • 🧘‍♀️ Mindfulness and meditation integration
  • 👍 Encouraging for all fitness levels
  • 💯 Makes running enjoyable

Room to improve

  • 🔊 Music volume issue
  • 🎶 RunMate volume too loud
  • 📏 Inaccurate distance tracking
  • 🚫 Cannot change Miles to Kilometres
  • ⚠️ Crashes frequently

Bugs and requests

Interval Timer

Reported bugs

4 issues
  • Timer resets or freezes during workout
  • Prompts not working when phone is locked or in pocket
  • Unexpected interval changes or duration changes
  • Compatibility issues with music playback

Requested features

6 requests
  • Option to pause/resume timer
  • Larger time remaining display
  • Apple Watch app
  • Ability to play audio prompts even with screen off
  • More interval options (run/walk/jog)
Show 1 more
  • Congratulatory audio cue at the end

RunMate

Reported bugs

3 issues
  • Music volume lowers significantly when RunMate speaks
  • App crashes when trying to play in-app music
  • Progress lost upon signing out

Requested features

3 requests
  • Control music/audiobook volume independently
  • Option to change units from Kilometres to Miles
  • Apple Health integration

In-app purchases

3 purchases

Interval Timer

Subscriptions2
  • Interval Run Pro Monthly$2.991 Month
  • Interval Run Pro Annual7 Days trial$19.991 Year
One-time1
  • Full Version$2.99
3 purchases

RunMate

Subscriptions3
  • Zen Unlimited Pass Monthly7 Days trial$9.991 Month
  • Zen Power Playlist 3 Months7 Days trial$29.993 Months
  • Zen Unlimited Pass Annual7 Days trial$74.991 Year

Questions

Is Interval Timer free?
Interval Timer is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Is RunMate free?
RunMate is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Which has better reviews, Interval Timer or RunMate?
RunMate is rated higher. Interval Timer averages 4.5 out of 5 from 534 ratings, while RunMate averages 4.7 from 241 ratings.
Do Interval Timer or RunMate have ads?
RunMate shows ads; Interval Timer does not.
Which is updated more often, Interval Timer or RunMate?
Interval Timer ships an update every 3 months, and RunMate every 2 months. Most recently, Interval Timer was updated on October 14, 2026 and RunMate on October 15, 2026.

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