Zombies, Run! is one of the best-known running games: an audio drama plays in your headphones while you run, and now and then zombies “chase” you, so you speed up. It has more than 500 story missions. So, is it free? The short version is that you can start for free, but the full story sits behind a membership. Here is exactly what is free, what it costs in the US, UK and Australia, and what to use if you want a free game-like running app, as of November 2026.
Zombies, Run!: free vs membership
| Feature | Free | Membership |
|---|---|---|
| Download the app and try it | ||
| Unlock one story mission each weekFrom Zombies, Run!’s own Community Run page | ||
| Every mission (500+ story missions) | ||
| Virtual Races, certificates and the Rofflenet forumVIP membership only |
From the App Store listing (“Try Zombies, Run! for free, or subscribe to unlock every mission”), the Community Run page and Zombies, Run! support, checked November 2026.
In plain words: the free version is a taster. You can hear the story and play a mission each week, which is enough to see if you like it. If you run three or four times a week, you will run out of free missions fast, and that is when most people decide whether to pay. Zombies, Run!’s own Community Run page says free users can unlock one mission per week and “strongly” suggests subscribing to keep up with the group run.
This is not new. Zombies, Run! moved to a free-to-play model in 2015. TouchArcade reported at the time that new players got the first four missions free, plus one more each week, and that people who had already paid kept the seasons they owned.
A free game for every run
Run&Grow is a free iPhone run tracker. Every GPS run grows a plant in your garden. Skip a week? Your garden waits.
Free on iPhone · Also on Android
How much is Zombies, Run!? (November 2026)
| Plan | US | UK | Australia |
|---|---|---|---|
| App download | Free | Free | Free |
| Membership (lower option) | $6.99 | £6.99 | A$7.99 |
| Membership (higher option) | $49.99 | £49.99 | A$59.99 |
| VIP Membership | $89.99 | £87.99 | A$149.99 |
In-app purchase prices from the US, UK and Australian App Store listings, checked November 6, 2026. The store does not say which membership price is monthly and which is yearly, so check inside the app. Older “Pro Membership” items are also listed (US $2.99 to $19.99). Prices can change.
The listing also shows a “Zombies, Run! (Legacy)” item ($24.99 in the US) and an “Abel Club (Special Offer)” ($14.99). On the US App Store the app is rated 4.8 from about 24,000 ratings as of November 2026. On Android the Google Play version is also free to download with in-app purchases, and it is listed as containing ads.
For comparison, a year of Strava’s subscription is $79.99 in the US, and Nike Run Club costs nothing. If you are weighing up running app costs, see is Strava free? and is Nike Run Club free?.
What is Zombies, Run! VIP?
VIP is the top tier. Zombies, Run! support says VIP includes everything in the regular membership, plus:
- All 18 existing Virtual Races, with trailers, certificates and briefing cards
- Guaranteed entry to every Virtual Race
- 20% off the official shop
- Access to Rofflenet, the members’ forum
If you just want the story, the regular membership is enough. VIP is for fans who love the virtual race events.
Is Zombies, Run! worth paying for?
If the story is what gets you out of the door, probably yes. Hundreds of missions is a lot of running, and a story is a strong reason to go back for “one more episode.” It is less useful if you mostly run with music, if you find chase sounds stressful, or if you only run once a week, because the free mission each week may be all you need.
One more thing to know: the App Store title still says “ZRX: Zombies Run + Marvel Move” in some countries, but the version history shows the Marvel Move content was removed from the app in version 12.5.1. Do not pay expecting Marvel episodes.
Zombies, Run! vs other game-like running apps
| App | Style | Price (US) |
|---|---|---|
| Zombies, Run! | Audio story (zombie chase) | Free to try; membership from $6.99 |
| Pikmin Bloom | Walking game, collect Pikmin | Free; in-app purchases |
| Nike Run Club | Audio-guided runs | Free |
| Strava | Social feed and segments | Free; subscription $79.99/yr |
| Run&Grow | Garden: every run grows a plant | Free to download on iPhone |
Prices from official App Store listings and sites, checked October–November 2026.
Free apps with a game feel
Free voices in your ear · Free
Nike Run Club
No story and no zombies, but free audio-guided runs with coaches. If what you liked was having someone talk you through a run, this is the closest free option.
Pick it if: you want guidance, not a plot.
A light game while you walk or run · Free; in-app purchases
Pikmin Bloom
Collect Pikmin and plant trails on the map as you move. It counts steps rather than runs, so it suits easy days and walks.
Pick it if: you want a cute game, not a chase.
Friends and kudos · Free; subscription $79.99/yr
Strava (free account)
Log GPS runs and share them with friends. The free plan covers tracking, the feed and clubs.
Pick it if: you are motivated by other people.
A calm game for every run · Free to download on iPhone
Run&Grow
Every GPS run grows a plant in your garden. Skip a week? Your garden waits. It reads runs from Apple Health. No public feed, no pace shaming.
Pick it if: you want a reward for showing up, without a scary story.
Many runners use both: Zombies, Run! for long weekend runs when they want a story, and a free tracker for everything else. Run&Grow reads runs from Apple Health, so a run counts in your garden if it reaches Apple Health, whichever app or watch recorded it. For a longer list, see Zombies, Run! alternatives and our guide to gamified running apps.
Notes for the UK and Australia
In the UK the memberships cost almost the same numbers in pounds as in US dollars (£6.99 and £49.99). In Australia the same memberships are A$7.99 and A$59.99. If you do parkrun on Saturdays, a story app is a fun way to make the midweek runs feel less like homework. Want to know how your 5K compares? See is an 8-minute mile good? and average 5K time by age.
Frequently Asked Questions
- Is Zombies, Run! free?
- Partly. As of November 2026 the app is free to download and you can try it for free. Free users can unlock one story mission a week. To unlock every mission you need a membership; the US App Store lists membership options at $6.99 and $49.99.
- How much is Zombies, Run! a month?
- The App Store does not label which option is monthly. As of November 2026 the US store lists “Zombies, Run! Membership” at $6.99 and $49.99, VIP Membership at $89.99, and older “Pro Membership” items from $2.99. In the UK the memberships are £6.99 and £49.99; in Australia A$7.99 and A$59.99. Check the price inside the app before you subscribe.
- What do you get free on Zombies, Run!?
- You can download the app, try the story and unlock one mission per week, according to Zombies, Run!’s Community Run page. Back in 2015, when the app first went free-to-play, new players got the first four missions free and one more each week. A membership unlocks all 500+ missions.
- What is Zombies, Run! VIP?
- VIP is the top membership. Zombies, Run! support says it includes everything in the regular membership plus all Virtual Races with digital extras, 20% off the official shop, entry to every Virtual Race and access to the Rofflenet forum. The US App Store lists it at $89.99.
- Is there a free app like Zombies, Run!?
- There is no free app with the same full audio drama. Nike Run Club is free and has audio-guided runs. Pikmin Bloom is a free walking game. Run&Grow is free to download on iPhone and grows a plant in your garden for every run, which gives you a calm reward instead of a chase.
Compare more running apps
- Is Zwift Run free?
- Is Garmin Connect free?
- Is Strava free?
- Apps like Pikmin Bloom
- Best free running apps
No zombies. Just plants.
Run&Grow turns every run into a plant in your garden. Free on iPhone, and it reads your runs from Apple Health.
Free on iPhone · Also on Android