Whether you’re a beginner runner or an experienced marathoner, tracking your runs can provide valuable insights into your progress, help you stay motivated, and keep you on track toward your fitness goals. Fortunately, there are numerous free running tracking apps available that allow you to monitor your distance, pace, calories burned, and more. These apps also come with additional features such as route mapping, social sharing, and personalized coaching to enhance your running experience.
In this article, we’ve curated the Top 10 Best Free Running Tracking Apps, based on user-friendliness, features, and performance. All of these apps are highly rated by runners worldwide and offer excellent features to improve your workouts without costing a dime.
1. Strava: The Most Popular Running & Cycling Tracker
Best for: Social runners who enjoy sharing their progress
Strava is one of the most popular running tracking apps, known for its ease of use and robust social features. It allows you to track your runs, map your routes, and compare your performance against past runs and other users. Strava’s “Segments” feature lets you compete with other runners on specific parts of your route, adding a competitive edge to your training.
Why it’s great: Strava integrates seamlessly with wearable devices like GPS watches and fitness trackers. The app also offers a wide variety of challenges and goals to keep you motivated, and you can connect with friends or other runners to share progress and insights.
Best for: Runners who want a community-based app with social sharing, challenges, and competition.
2. Runkeeper: User-Friendly Interface and Powerful Features
Best for: Beginners and experienced runners alike
Runkeeper, by ASICS, is one of the oldest and most trusted running tracking apps. It offers features like real-time tracking, goal setting, route planning, and personalized training plans. The app also tracks your pace, distance, calories burned, and time spent running, providing in-depth statistics to help you improve your performance.
Why it’s great: Runkeeper’s easy-to-use interface makes it ideal for beginners, while its advanced features appeal to experienced runners. The app also provides a large library of guided running plans that cater to various goals, such as running a 5K, 10K, or even completing a marathon.
Best for: Runners of all levels who are looking for an easy-to-use, feature-rich running tracker with goal-oriented training plans.
3. Nike Run Club: The Ultimate Running App for Motivation
Best for: Motivation and guided runs
Nike Run Club is a top-rated running app that offers free personalized coaching, running challenges, and social features to keep you motivated. Whether you’re training for a race or just enjoying a jog, the app provides guided runs, weekly goals, and virtual trophies for milestones.
Why it’s great: The app’s integration with Apple Health and the Apple Watch allows you to track your progress easily. Nike Run Club also offers a social aspect, letting you connect with friends and participate in global challenges to stay motivated.
Best for: Runners who want personalized coaching, motivational content, and a strong sense of community.
4. Map My Run by Under Armour: Comprehensive Tracking and Route Mapping
Best for: Detailed tracking and route planning
Map My Run is a comprehensive app that tracks your runs and provides detailed information such as pace, distance, calories burned, and elevation. You can plan your routes ahead of time and map your runs, which is perfect for runners exploring new areas.
Why it’s great: The app offers audio feedback, so you don’t need to constantly check your phone while running. Map My Run also syncs with a variety of fitness trackers and smartwatches, including Fitbit and Garmin, to give you accurate data on your runs.
Best for: Runners who like to map their routes ahead of time and want a detailed, accurate overview of their performance.
5. Adidas Running by Runtastic: Your Personal Running Coach
Best for: Comprehensive tracking and goal setting
Adidas Running (formerly Runtastic) is an excellent app for both beginner and advanced runners, offering features like distance tracking, pace analysis, and personalized training plans. The app also provides audio feedback during your run and integrates with other fitness trackers to give you a complete picture of your workout.
Why it’s great: Adidas Running offers a variety of training plans tailored to your specific goals, whether you’re running a 5K or preparing for a marathon. It also includes social features that let you connect with friends and share your progress.
Best for: Runners looking for a personal coach and detailed performance insights to improve their fitness.
6. Pacer: Easy and Comprehensive Fitness Tracker
Best for: All-around fitness tracking
Pacer is an easy-to-use app that focuses not just on running but also on steps, walking, and overall fitness tracking. It offers a variety of workout plans and tracks metrics such as calories burned, distance, and pace, helping you stay motivated. The app also features social challenges, so you can compete with others and stay accountable.
Why it’s great: Pacer offers an all-around fitness solution, making it ideal for runners who want to track more than just running, such as walking or overall activity levels.
Best for: Runners looking for a simple, all-in-one fitness tracker with additional workout tracking features.
7. Endomondo: Track Your Runs and Fitness Goals
Best for: Multi-sport athletes
Endomondo, owned by Under Armour, is another fantastic free running app that offers a range of features for runners and multi-sport athletes. You can track your runs, set goals, and analyze your progress with detailed stats. The app also offers audio coaching, which helps you stay focused during your runs.
Why it’s great: Endomondo supports a variety of sports, not just running. Whether you’re cycling, walking, or participating in other activities, Endomondo offers the flexibility to track them all in one place.
Best for: Athletes who engage in multiple sports and want an app that tracks different activities beyond just running.
8. Sports Tracker: Track Runs and Share Achievements
Best for: Runners who enjoy sharing their results
Sports Tracker is an easy-to-use running app that offers various tracking features, including pace, distance, and heart rate. The app also includes social features, such as the ability to share your achievements with friends and family. With a large user community, you can join challenges and motivate others to achieve their fitness goals.
Why it’s great: Sports Tracker allows you to customize your workout plan and provides real-time feedback, helping you stay on track. The app’s social features make it easy to share your progress and stay connected with fellow runners.
Best for: Runners who enjoy community engagement and want a social aspect to their running experience.
9. Runna: Tailored Running Plans and Progress Tracking
Best for: Personalized training plans
Runna is a great app for those who want personalized training plans to help them reach their running goals. The app offers customized programs for different distances and levels, providing you with a clear path to improve your fitness. Runna also tracks your progress with detailed metrics like pace and distance.
Why it’s great: Runna’s personalized approach to training sets it apart from other running apps. Whether you’re preparing for a 5K or a marathon, the app adapts to your level and provides a tailored plan to help you succeed.
Best for: Runners who want a structured and personalized training plan for their goals.
10. Couch to 5K: Perfect for Beginners
Best for: New runners starting their fitness journey
Couch to 5K is designed for people who want to go from a sedentary lifestyle to running a 5K. The app provides a structured plan that starts with walking and gradually incorporates running, making it ideal for beginners. It features audio guidance, motivational tips, and progress tracking to help you stay on track.
Why it’s great: Couch to 5K offers an easy, progressive plan to help beginners build stamina and confidence. It’s especially helpful for those who need encouragement and guidance as they begin their running journey.
Best for: Beginners looking to go from couch to 5K with a structured training plan.
Conclusion
The Top 10 Best Free Running Tracking Apps listed here provide a variety of features to meet the needs of runners at all levels. Whether you’re looking for a simple tracker to monitor your runs or a personalized coaching experience to help you reach your fitness goals, these apps offer excellent tools without any cost. From social engagement in Strava to the personalized coaching in Nike Run Club, there’s a free running app for everyone. Try a few of them out to see which one works best for you and start tracking your running progress today!