Comparison

V.O2 vs Big River Connect

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

Head to head
About

V.O2

This app provides personalized adaptive training plans for runners of all levels. It assesses your fitness, syncs with popular GPS devices and wearables, and allows communication with coaches for real-time adjustments. Achieve measurable improvement with intelligent, scientifically-validated training.

Highlights
  • Adaptive training plans
  • VDOT fitness assessment
  • Personalized training paces
  • Sync with Apple Health, Garmin, Strava
  • Real-time guidance on wearables
  • Coach communication and adjustments
Features
Read full description

Coaching app for athletes looking to take their running to the next level. How it works Athletes: Get an invite from a coach or choose one coaching option. • Adaptive Trainer (14-Day Free Trial) • Goal Race Plan • Match with a Private Coach Coaches: Start your 30-day free trial and learn how to manage your athletes at https://vdoto2.com/vdotcoach Popular Features • Assess your current running fitness (VDOT) • Built-in personalized training paces • Sync training calendar with GPS data from Apple Health, Coros, Garmin or Strava • Sync workouts/pace targets to Apple Watch, Coros or Garmin for real-time guidance • Adapt your training based on your improvement • Work with your coach, communicate and adjust training Truly Personalized Unlike most running apps, VDOT knows you. It understands the type of runner you are, what you're training for, and how to maximize your efforts. It also gives you more control over your training, leveraging your feedback to deliver real-time data which fine tunes your training and leads to continuous progression. With fully automated, truly personalized and highly-adaptive training, VDOT helps you achieve measurable improvement — all in an effort to make you the best runner you can be. Intelligent Training With a focus on training over tracking and coaching over running, VDOT offers access to the highest quality, Olympic-style training for runners of all levels-right from any mobile device. Designed to help runners train correctly and more intelligently, VDOT elicits maximum benefit while reducing the required effort. These high-quality workouts promote healthy, responsible, and beneficial sessions while simultaneously preventing overtraining. Olympic Pedigree V.O2 was built from the foundation of a scientifically-validated training methodology. Based on former Olympian, author, and legendary running coach Jack Daniels’ exercise science principles, the methodology not only benefits runners of all ages and abilities when it comes to improving their running fitness but it also serves as the best measure of running economy across a variety of runners and events, making it an ideal way to compare performances. High-school, college, Olympic and non-elite runners have all trained, ran, and succeeded with the VDOT methodology. -”Dr. Jack Daniels has had a bigger influence on training-for-running than anyone. He might be considered the Albert Einstein of the sport." - Runner’s World Magazine

About

Big River Connect

Features
Read full description

You're loyal. You shop local, stay active, and should get rewarded for it. We want you to be part of the Big River Running Company Rewards Program. It's simple and free, just download the app and login. Shop in the app or in our stores and you'll earn reward points for every dollar you spend. You'll also get reward points for checking in at Big River Running Company Events. Then redeem those points for Big River Running Company digital gift cards. Plus, track your lifetime point total to level up with reward achievements, bragging rights, and other perks. Feel like going the extra mile? Take your loyalty a step further by syncing your runs or walks with Strava. Track your mileage to achieve new levels, receive acclaim, or maybe even prizes. The Big River Running Company Rewards app makes it easy to stay up to date on store news, events, sales, and more. It's easy and free! Simply download the Big River Running Company app, log in, and start earning. Big River Running Company - Rewards Program • Earn points for every dollar spent pre-tax both in-store and online • Check-in at participating events to earn extra points • Points will appear on your account the day after a purchase is made • Redeem Points for Big River Running Company digital gift cards redeemable both in- store and online • Easily keep track of your points and redemptions right in your app Big River Running Company – Miles Program • Sync your Strava Runs and walks to track your mileage in the app • Sync your Apple Fitness Workouts to track your mileage in the app. Works with Apple Health. • Stay motivated by unlocking achievements when distance milestones are reached *Rewards Program Subject to change

Screenshots

V.O24 screens
Big River Connect4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is in-app purchases: Big River Connect at none against V.O2's 10. Big River Connect also leads on iOS requirement (13.0 vs 16.6). V.O2's advantage is update cadence (weekly vs every 6 weeks). 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. V.O2 sells 10 in-app purchases, starting at $12.99 per month. Big River Connect asks for nothing beyond the download.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

V.O2 ships an update weekly, Big River Connect every 6 weeks. The most recent releases landed on November 1, 2026 and October 31, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard3 real differences · 7 level
V.O2 versus Big River Connect: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterV.O2Big River Connect
PriceFreeFree
Rating4.9 (6.3K ratings) — better—
Positive reviews71.0% of reviews—
Number of ratings6.3K — better—
Update frequencyWeekly — betterEvery 6 weeks
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesYesNo — better
MonetizationFreemium—
DevicesiPhone, iPadiPhone, iPod
Requires iOS16.613.0 — better
Further details — not scored
Size142 MB13 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperThe Run SMART Project, LLCBig River Running Company LLC

Bugs and requests

V.O2

Reported bugs

4 issues
  • Apple Watch app issues and lack of functionality
  • Problems with syncing Garmin runs to the correct workouts
  • Inconsistent elevation and GPS data
  • Bugs and crashes when using the app

Requested features

6 requests
  • Ability to duplicate and edit workouts
  • Improved Apple Watch and Health app integration
  • More advanced adaptive training and automation
  • Expanded cross-training and workout modalities
  • Better user interface and workflow for coaches
Show 1 more
  • Keyword-based search for notes and workouts

Big River Connect

Not enough reviews yet to summarise bugs or requests.

In-app purchases

10 purchases

V.O2

Subscriptions2
  • Adaptive Training Subscription14 Days trial$12.991 Month
  • Adaptive Training - Annual14 Days trial$99.991 Year
One-time8
  • Base/Fitness - 8 weeks$44.99
  • Half Marathon - 12 weeks$54.99
  • 10 Km - 12 weeks$54.99
Show 5 more
  • 5 Km - 12 weeks$54.99
  • Marathon - 15 weeks$69.99
  • Half Marathon - 15 weeks$69.99
  • Marathon - 18 weeks$79.99
  • Marathon - 24 weeks$99.99
None

Big River Connect

No in-app purchases

Questions

Is V.O2 free?
V.O2 is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Is Big River Connect free?
Big River Connect is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Do V.O2 or Big River Connect have ads?
Neither V.O2 nor Big River Connect shows ads.
Which is updated more often, V.O2 or Big River Connect?
V.O2 ships an update weekly, and Big River Connect every 6 weeks. Most recently, V.O2 was updated on November 1, 2026 and Big River Connect on October 31, 2026.

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