Comparison

VDOT Running Calculator vs Paces

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

Head to head
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).

About

Paces

Easily calculate your running pace and predict finish times for various race distances. Save your preferred paces and distances for quick access during training.

Highlights
  • Calculate running pace
  • Predict finish times
  • Customizable race distances
  • Save preferred paces
  • Skip paces by the minute
Features
Read full description

What's your marathon time at a 7:30 pace? Your 5K? Paces answers instantly — no more Googling pace charts. Built by a runner, for runners. Pick a pace, and see your finish time for every race distance at a glance. Tap +1 or -1 minute to jump between paces, or fine-tune to the second. RACE DISTANCES • Track: 200m, 400m, 800m, 1K, 1500m, Mile, 2K, 3K • Road: 2 Mile, 5K, 6K, 8K, 10K, Half Marathon, Marathon • Custom distances in miles or kilometers — perfect for ultras or your favorite loop MILES OR KILOMETERS Switch between min/mile and min/km. See that a 4:15/km pace is a sub-3 hour marathon. SIMPLE AND PRIVATE • Remembers your last pace and distance • Dark mode • No account, no ads, no data collected Whether you're chasing a PR, planning race-day splits, or checking a goal time for your next half marathon, Paces makes the math effortless.

Screenshots

VDOT Running Calculator4 screens
Paces4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is in-app purchases: Paces at none against VDOT Running Calculator's 2. VDOT Running Calculator's advantage is ratings volume (1.6K vs 5) and device support (3 vs 1). On price, rating, update cadence and ads 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. VDOT Running Calculator sells 1 one-off in-app purchase. Paces asks for nothing beyond the download.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

On the App Store both sit at effectively the same score — 4.9 for VDOT Running Calculator against 5.0 for Paces. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: VDOT Running Calculator has 1.6K ratings behind it against 5, so its average is the more settled of the two.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

VDOT Running Calculator ships an update every 4 months, Paces every 3 months. The most recent releases landed on October 19, 2026 and October 14, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard5 real differences · 5 level
VDOT Running Calculator versus Paces: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterVDOT Running CalculatorPaces
PriceFreeFree
Rating4.9 (1.6K ratings)5.0 (5 ratings) — better
Positive reviews73.8% of reviews—
Number of ratings1.6K — better5
Update frequencyEvery 4 monthsEvery 3 months — better
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesYesNo — better
MonetizationFree with in-app purchasesFree — better
DevicesiPhone, iPad, iPod — betteriPhone
Requires iOS15.0 — better18.6
Further details — not scored
Size38 MB6 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperThe Run SMART Project, LLCAustin Louden

Customer experience

VDOT Running Calculator

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

Paces

All ratings5 ratings
Positive100.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative0.0%

Bugs and 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

Paces

Not enough reviews yet to summarise bugs or requests.

In-app purchases

1 purchases

VDOT Running Calculator

One-time1
  • VDOT Calculator Premium2 variants$8.99
None

Paces

No in-app purchases

Questions

Is VDOT Running Calculator free?
VDOT Running Calculator is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Is Paces free?
Paces is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Which has better reviews, VDOT Running Calculator or Paces?
Paces is rated higher. VDOT Running Calculator averages 4.9 out of 5 from 1.6K ratings, while Paces averages 5.0 from 5 ratings.
Do VDOT Running Calculator or Paces have ads?
Neither VDOT Running Calculator nor Paces shows ads.
Which is updated more often, VDOT Running Calculator or Paces?
VDOT Running Calculator ships an update every 4 months, and Paces every 3 months. Most recently, VDOT Running Calculator was updated on October 19, 2026 and Paces on October 14, 2026.

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