VDOT Running Calculator vs PacePro
Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.
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.
- 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
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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).
PacePro
This app helps runners manage their races and calculate various running paces. It offers tools for tracking upcoming and past races, calculating average pace, finish times, and track splits. It also assists in planning training blocks and determining optimal race start dates.
- Race tracking (upcoming and past)
- Countdown to races
- Average pace calculation
- Finish time calculation
- Track split calculator
- Training block length calculation
- Race date calculator
- Training start date calculator
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PacePro is a one-stop shop for all of your racing needs. From calculating various paces to keeping track of races you’ve signed up for, PacePro has got you covered. Packed with helpful functionality that's conveniently housed in one place, we can’t wait to aid in your running journey! PacePro provides three areas of functionality. Races, Paces, and Dates. The Races tab provides manual tracking of races on your calendar. The races are displayed in chronological order with a visual countdown, so no races sneak up on you! There’s also a separate section for past races to remind you just how far you’ve come! The Paces tab is your toolkit for the three most common pace calculations that runners need. 1. Average pace: Uses a distance and goal finish time to determine your average pace to accomplish your goal. 2. Finish Time: using a distance and average pace, you can calculate what your finish time will be 3. Track Splits: When running a track workout, it’s sometimes helpful to know when you should cross sections of the track. Track mode helps you do just that! Provide the distance you’re running, along with your pace, and you will be shown what time you should be finishing your split. The Dates tab offers a solution to a common problem runners face when beginning a training block, needing to know when to start. Well, that’s no longer a problem with the Pace Pro Date toolkit. 1. Training Block length: This calculator can visually show you the distance between two dates and is perfect for pinpointing a date range for your training block 2. Race Date: Given your start date and training block length, this calculator will show you when your ideal race date would be 3. Start Date: Given your race date and training block length, this calculator will show you when to start your training plan to have a full training cycle.
Screenshots
Verdict
The clearest difference is in-app purchases: PacePro at none against VDOT Running Calculator's 2. PacePro also leads on update cadence (every 4 days vs every 4 months) and review sentiment (100% vs 73%). VDOT Running Calculator's advantage is ratings volume (1.6K vs 1) and device support (3 vs 1). On price, rating, ads and iOS requirement 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
Both are free to download. VDOT Running Calculator sells 1 one-off in-app purchase. PacePro asks for nothing beyond the download.
On the App Store both sit at effectively the same score — 4.9 for VDOT Running Calculator against 5.0 for PacePro. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: VDOT Running Calculator has 1.6K ratings behind it against 1, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews are what separate them: 73% of VDOT Running Calculator's written reviews are positive against 100% of PacePro's.
VDOT Running Calculator ships an update every 4 months, PacePro every 4 days. The most recent releases landed on September 26, 2026 and September 16, 2026 respectively.
| Parameter | VDOT Running Calculator | PacePro |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | 4.9 (1.6K ratings) | 5.0 (1 ratings) — better |
| Positive reviews | 73.1% of reviews | 100.0% of reviews — better |
| Number of ratings | 1.6K — better | 1 |
| Update frequency | Every 4 months | Every 4 days — better |
| Ads | No | No |
| In-app purchases | Yes | No — better |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | Free — better |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod — better | iPhone |
| Requires iOS | 15.0 — better | 16.0 |
| Further details — not scored | ||
| Size | 38 MB | 1 MB |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | The Run SMART Project, LLC | Jacob Smith |
Customer experience
VDOT Running Calculator
PacePro
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
PacePro
Not enough reviews yet to summarise bugs or requests.
In-app purchases
VDOT Running Calculator
- VDOT Calculator Premium2 variants$8.99
PacePro
No in-app purchases
Questions
Is VDOT Running Calculator free?
Is PacePro free?
Which has better reviews, VDOT Running Calculator or PacePro?
Do VDOT Running Calculator or PacePro have ads?
Which is updated more often, VDOT Running Calculator or PacePro?
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