Comparison

VDOT Running Calculator vs Rivea Run

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

Rivea Run

Features
Read full description

Marathon Guide is your companion for Hamburg's 2026 running season — and every training run in between. — How it works 1. Create a session in the app — race or training. 2. Share a link with your family and friends. 3. They watch live in any browser. No app required. No signup. While you run, voice messages from home play on your phone. Reactions arrive in real time. Your Apple Watch shows who's there with you. — Hamburg Season 2026 — HELLA HALF MARATHON · June 28 21.1 km through Hamburg city center starting on the Reeperbahn. Past Speicherstadt, Landungsbrücken, the Außenalster. Course map, pacing guidance, prep tips in the app. ALSTERLAUF · September 6 10K around the Außenalster. Opens the Hamburger Laufcup series. Course details and pacing strategy for your first 10K of the season or a personal best chase. INT. AIRPORT RACE · September 13 10 miles (16.1 km) with views of the runways. Course highlights include the Krohnstieg tunnel and the parking-deck climb. Hamburg's most unusual race. PSD BANK HALF MARATHON · September 20 Fast and flat through Wandsbek. Pacers for 1:30, 1:45, 2:00, and 2:15. Built for personal bests. BERLIN MARATHON · September 27 One of the six World Marathon Majors. Course map, fueling stations every 5 km, pacing strategies for the iconic Brandenburg Gate finish. Preparation tips for the final 12 weeks. — Training year-round — Marathon Guide isn't just for race days. Every long Sunday run can be shared live. Tempo sessions, warm-weather training camps, your first 30K before the marathon — your family can be there, wherever they are. Voice messages and reactions work for every training run. What proves itself on race day proves itself in everyday training. — What stays after the run — Every session gets a permanent Memory Page with all voice messages, reactions, photos, and statistics. A digital keepsake you can share — with parents, friends, yourself in five years. — What's coming next — Marathon Guide is built in the open. What we're building, what comes next, and what you can request: rivea.run/roadmap — Requirements — iPhone with iOS 16 or later. Apple Watch supports real-time reactions on your wrist. Free for the entire 2026 season. Successfully used at Hamburg Marathon 2026. Made in Hamburg.

Screenshots

VDOT Running Calculator4 screens
Rivea Run4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is in-app purchases: Rivea Run at none against VDOT Running Calculator's 2. Rivea Run also leads on update cadence (every 4 days vs every 4 months). VDOT Running Calculator's advantage is iOS requirement (15.0 vs 26.0). On price, ads and device support 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. Rivea Run asks for nothing beyond the download.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

VDOT Running Calculator ships an update every 4 months, Rivea Run every 4 days. The most recent releases landed on September 26, 2026 and September 10, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard3 real differences · 7 level
VDOT Running Calculator versus Rivea Run: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterVDOT Running CalculatorRivea Run
PriceFreeFree
Rating4.9 (1.6K ratings) — better—
Positive reviews73.1% of reviews—
Number of ratings1.6K — better—
Update frequencyEvery 4 monthsEvery 4 days — better
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesYesNo — better
MonetizationFree with in-app purchases—
DevicesiPhone, iPad, iPod — betteriPhone, Apple Watch
Requires iOS15.0 — better26.0
Further details — not scored
Size38 MB109 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperThe Run SMART Project, LLCZERODOTFIVE UG (haftungsbeschrankt)

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

Rivea Run

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

Rivea Run

No in-app purchases

Questions

Is VDOT Running Calculator free?
VDOT Running Calculator is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Is Rivea Run free?
Rivea Run is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Do VDOT Running Calculator or Rivea Run have ads?
Neither VDOT Running Calculator nor Rivea Run shows ads.
Which is updated more often, VDOT Running Calculator or Rivea Run?
VDOT Running Calculator ships an update every 4 months, and Rivea Run every 4 days. Most recently, VDOT Running Calculator was updated on September 26, 2026 and Rivea Run on September 10, 2026.

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