Best Running Apple Watch Apps

249+ iOS apps & games curated and reviewed

4.5 avg rating
20 free apps & games
Updated September 2026

Looking for free running apple watch apps? 20 of our 249+ tracked titles are free to download — no subscription, no trial. The rest are premium picks worth paying for.

Compare top Running Apple Watch Apps (September 2026)

#AppPriceRatingAdsIn-App PurchasesUpdated
1Strava: Run, Bike, WalkStrava: Run, Bike, WalkFree4.8★ (371K)YesYesSep 2026
2Running - running trackerRunning - running trackerFree4.4★ (170)NoNoSep 2026
3WatchWatchFree3.3★ (8.5K)YesNoSep 2026
4Nike Run Club: Running CoachNike Run Club: Running CoachFree4.8★ (418K)YesNoSep 2026
5Activity Tracker・FitnessViewActivity Tracker・FitnessViewFree4.6★ (7.7K)NoYesSep 2026
6Garmin Connect™Garmin Connect™Free4.4★ (58K)NoNoSep 2026
7ASICS Runkeeper—Run TrackerASICS Runkeeper—Run TrackerFree4.8★ (378K)YesYesSep 2026
8Watch Player: Player for WatchWatch Player: Player for WatchFree4.8★ (34)YesNoAug 2026

Top Picks for Running Apple Watch Apps

Strava: Run, Bike, Walk#1

Strava: Run, Bike, Walk by Strava, Inc.

Track & share with friends
Editor's Choice
💪 Health & Fitness
4.8😐(371K ratings)
FreeAdsIn-App Purchases
#2in Health & Fitness
Strava: Run, Bike, Walk screenshot 1
Strava: Run, Bike, Walk screenshot 2
Strava: Run, Bike, Walk screenshot 3
Strava: Run, Bike, Walk screenshot 4
Strava: Run, Bike, Walk screenshot 5
Strava: Run, Bike, Walk screenshot 6

Track all your activities, from runs to yoga, and share your progress with friends. Discover new routes, get AI-powered insights, and join challenges. Stay motivated and safe with real-time location sharing.

What We Love

  • 🚀 Great platform
  • 👍 Excellent for tracking fitness activities
  • 👍 Motivating and engaging community
  • 👍 Comprehensive data and analytics

Room to Improve

  • 🐛 Inaccurate GPS tracking and distance recording
  • 🔒 Poor customer support and unresponsive to user issues
  • 💰 Aggressive monetization with features locked behind paywall
Watch#3

Watch by Apple

Worth Considering
🔧 Utilities
3.3😐(8.5K ratings)
FreeAds
Watch screenshot 1
Watch screenshot 2

Manage your Apple Watch by pairing it with your iPhone. Customize watch faces, app notifications, and the Dock. Sync photos, music, and podcasts for offline use. Discover and download new apps and watch faces from the App Store.

What We Love

  • 🚀 Saves lives
  • ⌚ Useful for tracking fitness and health
  • 👍 Customizable watch faces

Room to Improve

  • 🐛 Pairing and connectivity issues
  • 🔋 Poor battery life
  • 🤔 Complicated user experience

More Running Apple Watch Apps apps to explore

4
Nike Run Club: Running Coach
Nike Run Club: Running Coach
Nike Run Club: Running Coach
Workout App & Distance Tracker
Free

This app offers guided runs, training plans, and community challenges to help users start, continue, and enjoy running. It tracks speed, distance, and GPS routes, providing motivation and expert guidance for various fitness levels and goals.

Guided Runs with audio coachingPersonalized Training PlansGPS tracking for speed, distance, and route
💪 Health & Fitness
(418K)
free with in-app purchases
5
Activity Tracker・FitnessView
Activity Tracker・FitnessView
Activity Tracker・FitnessView
Fitness・Workout・Step・Pedometer
Free

Visualize your health and fitness data with a comprehensive dashboard and detailed statistics. Track daily goals, review past workouts, and export your progress. Offers customizable widgets and PDF reports for easy sharing.

Health & Fitness DashboardDetailed Health StatisticsWorkout Data Visualization
💪 Health & Fitness
(7.7K)
freemium
6
Garmin Connect™
Garmin Connect™
Garmin Connect™
beat yesterday.
Free

Track your health and fitness activities with detailed statistics and personalized insights. Create custom workouts, build courses, and challenge friends. Syncs with compatible devices and other popular fitness apps.

Activity tracking and health metricsDetailed statistics analysisCustom workout and course creation
💪 Health & Fitness
(58K)
free
7
ASICS Runkeeper—Run Tracker
ASICS Runkeeper—Run Tracker
ASICS Runkeeper—Run Tracker
Running App and Training Plans
Free

Track your runs, set personalized goals, and follow guided workouts to improve your fitness. This app offers GPS tracking for various activities, progress monitoring, and motivational features to help you achieve your running ambitions.

GPS activity trackingPersonalized training plansAudio-guided workouts
💪 Health & Fitness
(378K)
free with in-app purchases
8
Watch Player: Player for Watch
Watch Player: Player for Watch
Watch Player: Player for Watch
Watch Videos on your wrist
Free

Effortlessly transfer, organize, and watch your videos on your Apple Watch. Manage your video library directly from your wrist with smooth syncing and real-time progress indicators.

Transfer videos from iPhone to Apple WatchOrganize videos into foldersReal-time syncing and progress indicators
🔧 Utilities
(34)
ad-supported
9
Games for Watch
Games for Watch
Games for Watch
Over 30 games for Apple Watch
Free

Transform your Apple Watch into a portable arcade with a diverse selection of over 30 engaging mini-games. Perfect for short breaks or relaxation, these games offer quick bursts of fun and challenges on the go.

Over 30 mini-gamesDesigned for Apple WatchQuick play sessions
🎮 Games
(6.8K)
subscription
10
Connect IQ™ Store
Connect IQ™ Store
Connect IQ™ Store
by Garmin International
Free

Discover and download free apps, music streaming services, widgets, data fields, and custom watch faces to enhance your compatible smart devices. Manage all your downloaded content directly within the store.

Download free appsMusic streaming integrationPersonalize with widgets
🔧 Utilities
(8.4K)
free
11
adidas Running: Run tracker
adidas Running: Run tracker
adidas Running: Run tracker
From Walk to Marathon training
Free

Track your runs and fitness activities with personalized training plans for all levels. Connect with a global community, join challenges, and monitor your progress with detailed stats and expert guidance.

Activity tracking for running, walking, cycling, and morePersonalized training plans for various distancesSyncs with Health Connect and popular devices
💪 Health & Fitness
(107K)
ad-supported
12
RetroBoard - T9 Watch Keyboard
RetroBoard - T9 Watch Keyboard
RetroBoard - T9 Watch Keyboard
Classic Feature Phone Typing
Free
$1.99 | 100% OFF

Type messages on your Apple Watch using a classic T9-style keyboard. This app offers autocorrect, smart text predictions, and emoji support for quick and private replies. Customize themes and receive haptic feedback for an enhanced typing experience.

T9 keyboard inputAutocorrect and text predictionsEmoji support
📊 Productivity
(39)
free with in-app purchases
13
iCardio Workout Tracker
iCardio Workout Tracker
iCardio Workout Tracker
Do heart rate training right!
Free

This app helps you train smarter by using your heart rate data. It tracks workouts, provides real-time feedback, and integrates with wearables and Apple Health to offer insights into your performance and progress.

Heart rate zone trackingGPS route mappingVoice coaching
💪 Health & Fitness
(3.4K)
freemium
14
Music to Watch
Music to Watch
Music to Watch
Sync your sound to your Watch
Free

Import your audio files and create custom playlists to sync with your Apple Watch for offline listening. Enjoy seamless, gapless playback for mixes and albums, with clear feedback on sync status.

Import audio filesCreate and sync playlistsOffline Apple Watch playback
🎵 Music
(0)
free
15
WSearch
WSearch
WSearch
Watch Browser
Free

Search the internet directly from your Apple Watch. This app provides a convenient way to access web content with URL address searches and description-based searches. Requires a cellular or Wi-Fi connection to function.

Internet search on Apple WatchURL address searchesSearch by description
🔧 Utilities
(1)
free
16
Battery Watch for Apple Watch
Battery Watch for Apple Watch
Battery Watch for Apple Watch
by Keisuke Karijuku
Free

Receive low battery notifications directly on your Apple Watch. This app allows you to monitor your device's battery level from your wrist, ensuring you're always aware of its status.

Apple Watch supportLow battery notificationsTrack device battery level
🔧 Utilities
(89)
free
17
MyHorology
MyHorology
MyHorology
Track Your Watch Collection
Free

Effortlessly catalog your watch collection using AI to identify models from photos or URLs. Get personalized daily wear recommendations based on weather and occasion. Track your wear history and connect with a community of fellow enthusiasts.

AI watch identification from photos/URLsAI wear recommendations based on contextLog and track watch wear history
🔧 Utilities
(6)
free
18
Ratewell: Watch Timegrapher
Ratewell: Watch Timegrapher
Ratewell: Watch Timegrapher
Mechanical Accuracy & Rate Log
Free
🔧 Utilities
(0)
19
Nike Training Club
Nike Training Club
Nike Training Club
Training and Workouts
Free

Access expert-led workout programs and coaching for strength, conditioning, yoga, and mindfulness. Train at the gym or at home with guidance for all fitness levels. Track your progress and achieve your fitness goals.

Expert-led workout programmingGym and home workoutsStrength, conditioning, yoga, pilates
💪 Health & Fitness
(281K)
free
20
WristGPT: AI for Watch
WristGPT: AI for Watch
WristGPT: AI for Watch
Voice notes & quick answers
Free

This AI assistant provides hands-free access to information and note-taking directly from your smartwatch. Get instant answers, capture ideas, and search the web without needing your phone.

Hands-free AI chat via voice, swipe, or typeInstant idea, task, and journal captureWeb search for up-to-date answers
📊 Productivity
(9)
freemium

FAQ about Running Apple Watch Apps

What are the best running apple watch apps for iPhone?
Strava: Run, Bike, Walk tops our running apple watch apps ranking as of September 2026, with a 4.8-star average from 371K App Store ratings, and it's free to download.
Yes — 20 of the top running apple watch apps we rank are free to download, including Strava: Run, Bike, Walk and Running - running tracker.
Strava: Run, Bike, Walk shows ads and offers in-app purchases, according to its App Store listing as of September 2026.
We track 249+ running apple watch apps on the iOS App Store as of September 2026, ranked by rating, recency, and analysis of real user reviews.
Strava is a fitness tracking application that allows users to record and share their workouts across over 50 different sport types. It provides tools for discovering routes, connecting with a community, and analyzing performance data.
Key features include recording various activities, AI-powered athlete intelligence for workout insights, a route discovery tool, social sharing with friends, real-time location sharing for safety, and compatibility with numerous devices and apps. Users can also join or create challenges.