Our editors have rated the top running apps for 2022.

Strava connects to a variety of heart rate monitors and offers robust tools for creating personalized running routes. Although the app is best for professional runners or experts, it is easy enough for novice runners.

Strava is our first choice because it isn’t just an app for runners. It’s also an app that’s used by professional athletes. It has a leaderboard that is populated by marathon winners andOlympians. It offers a variety of route-creation tools and simple personalization of your heart beat zone. It also provides a lot of metrics like practical limit power (FTP), work, and watts. Strava recorded every step we took during screening.

Strava’s active social networks network allows you to race against other runners, or even pit yourself against their “segments,” which are smaller parts of a run. If you aren’t competitive like us, the “Matched Activities” function will track your current run against your previous runs in exactly the same area. This method allows you to run against yourself.

We were also impressed by how Strava links directly to a variety of heartrate displays. Not just the most popular ones. The app can be matched with a website that offers many useful tools. You can earn digital badges by completing Strava’s “challenges” and real-world rewards like Marriott Points. Hobby runners can also enjoy Strava’s personalized training strategies. This app is a must-have for runners. However, Strava’s many mystical functions might not be of any use to professional athletes.

One of the biggest problems with many apps running is the lack of privacy that you can enjoy while using them. Most of these apps will require you to share your health information with a third party, but not to discuss your personal area. Running apps may not be the right fit for you if you find this idea a bit jerky.

Even the most trustworthy runner should secure their personal information when creating an account. This is especially important considering the privacy breaches in many of these apps. Let’s take a look at each app’s security holes.

• Couch to allows you to ask Active Network, its moms-and-dad business, to not give your information. You have the option to complete this online, but not via the mobile app.
• MapMyRun requires the greatest enhancement in personal privacy. If you do not opt out, Under Armour’s moms and dads business will send you targeted ads and e-mail marketing. However, we did not find pulling out to be easy or clear.
• Pacer makes supporting your information easy in the “Account Privacy Setups” option. Pacer did not provide any information about how Pacer uses your data. In the 21st century, bad privacy news could quickly be equated with no personal privacy information.
• Runkeeper has more personal privacy than other apps. You can turn off the “Display Promotions” button by default. Despite having very high privacy functions, both Maps and Activities can be seen by fans automatically, until you change presence to “Only Me”. Runkeeper also allows you to download your information and then erase it completely.
• Strava automatically shares personal privacy information. We discovered that it all depends on how you choose to remove it. At first, we checked in with our Apple and Gmail accounts. Strava pulled professional athletes from our e mail. We believed this was an intrusion into our personal privacy.

The security-conscious may have to stick with the “shoes and stopwatch” approach to tracking our runs until all running apps are fully integrated.

We discovered that there are many running apps available during our pre-testing research. Our five prospects were chosen to be evaluated based on their preferred functions, security options and user reviews. Each prospect was evaluated with the following criteria in mind: setup and tracking ease, setup ease, setup ease, setup ease, setup ease, setup ease, maps, and social networking. We also looked at the privacy policies of each app during screening.

All of the apps were downloaded to an iPhone. Each app was then paired to our Apple Watch to monitor our heart rate. We spent hours evaluating and tracking each app’s performance.

Our runs were tracked both outdoors and on the treadmill. We also tracked our walks on healing days. Each app was used multiple times. The exception to Couch to 5K, which is quite simple but we still managed to use it fully.

It was quite easy to see that running apps for 3 purposes are a good use of the phrase “you get what your put in”.

• Before you can start running, you need to create a username and set your weight. After that, you will be able to combine your app with a heart-rate screen and publish a user picture. Although we were initially interested, the procedure stifled our curiosity for a while.
• The running apps require you to tape record your workouts and to keep track of when to stop. You will look less impressive if you stop recording your exercise mid-run or after you’ve actually finished your post-run healthy smoothie.
• Third, except for the Couch to 5K minimalist, all the running apps we tested have many areas that merit your attention. These include diet plans and exercise ideas. These areas are important and will help you to maximize the app’s many benefits. You can also represent yoga and weightlifting in certain apps, for example, runners often combine running with their exercise routines.

As we have discussed, when we began evaluating running apps, we matched them to our heart rate screens, an AppleWatch. The Apple Watch also has an important advantage: widgets, which are small variations of the apps that appear on our primary screen. You still need to tape-record your activity. However widgets make it easier.

We quickly tracked our activity using the Map My Run, Strava, and Runkeeper apps without having to reach for our phone. It only took a few taps to find the right widget. The Pacer app, which is connected to the Apple community, tracks without any interfacing. To begin tracking your phone with the Couch to5K app, you will need to have it installed.

We were able to see that all apps have both running-focused social media networks and maps during our testing. These functions are likely to have been added from a WordPress plugin and skinned for an entirely new look. Runkeeper doesn’t have its own social network, but it does link you to a Facebook group. As we were focusing on core functions, we didn’t spend much time on social media. However, we did keep in mind Strava as the most active community.

$ 4.99 per month at ActivNetwork

The strength of Couch to 5K is its simplicity. The app teaches you how to build endurance through 3 half-hour runs each week for 9 weeks. You can choose to walk or jog at different times. The app’s Log function then breaks down your activity, showing you how many miles you ran and the time spent running or walking.

The Couch to 5K app is a joyous experience. Its virtual instructors talk in our headphones as we run. You could choose from many characters to help you along your journey. A cheerful “runicorn.” An army drill trainer. We loved the wisecracking zombie who kept us on our toes. They keep you motivated and on-track, and make running fun.

When you’re prepared for the obstacle, the Couch to 5K app will likewise advise regional 5K occasions in your location. Overall, Couch to 5K did as promoted and really assisted us off that sofa. True newbies might need more walking time and less running time, so we recommend you take it at your own rate up until you’re prepared to stay up to date with the app.

$ 5.99 per month at UnterArmour

TheMap My Run is a powerful app that tracks all metrics required to meet your goals. It’s also able to guide you through the outdoors. During screening, we quickly found popular maps created by runners. We can re-run our preferred route by clicking a button.

Here’s the catch: While it is easy to create your own map online, it is not possible to do so offline. You cannot create your own map using the mobile app. A paid app cannot fail to create a map from scratch. This is a mistake.

We believe the Map My Run app is at its finest in its “Workout Routines” area, a collection of videos in classifications such as “core strength” and “yoga for everyone.” Sure, you can discover workout videos all over the web, however the ones in the Map My Run app are as practical and available as it gets. Add to that the capability to set up audio hints, such as your range and typical rate, and you have a capable running app on your hands.

$ 4.99 per month at PacerHealth

Pacer is not a running app. It is an app that uses running to improve overall physical fitness. It is a repository of useful information, including lessons on diet and exercise, as well as tests to help its mentors. You can track your blood pressure and weight, which we didn’t do. Pacer includes nutrition information for all dishes. Try the strawberry chia pudding! Its assisted exercises in the form of short videos prepared us for when rubber soles were satisfied on the road.

The app offers running challenges that we chose to tackle at our own pace. The pull-down menu allows you to track various physical activities. The “Adventure Challenges” function allows you to travel through places such as Bangkok and the planetary system. We love it. We made sure we walked through Wonderland with Alice during screening

The Pacer app is more about health than running so it may not be the best choice for those who want to dominate every leaderboard. Pacer can help you get into a running mindset. This is the first step to achieving your fitness goals.

$9.99 per month at Asics

Runkeeper is for runners who want more than the Couch To 5K app, but less than Strava Runkeeper is the Swiss Army Knife in running apps. It is small and yet very multifunctional.

The running app offers all the functions that runners who want to improve their speed and range may need. Based on your criteria, a 5K running strategy. The “Guided Workouts” section, which is provided by experts athletes, was a huge hit. It provides audio guidance throughout your runs. Runkeeper also had the best blog site (site only).

We found a few flaws in Runkeeper’s “Pocket Track” function. It didn’t always keep up with us during screening. Similar to Couch to 5K, we could choose different fitness instructor voices but couldn’t see them before starting an exercise. We believe that the Runkeeper app is worth your time, especially your mile time. It is more expensive than the other apps we tested.