Zwift is best known as a paid app for indoor cycling. But it also lets you run on a treadmill through the same virtual worlds, and that part costs nothing. With winter coming in the US and UK, more runners are moving indoors and asking the same question: do I have to pay? Here is what is free, what costs money, what you need, and why some runners have seen a paywall, as of November 2026.
Zwift running: free vs membership
| Feature | Free account | Membership |
|---|---|---|
| Running on Zwift with a treadmill and a sensor | ||
| Zwift Companion app on your phone | ||
| Automatic incline control on a Wahoo KICKR RUNWithout a membership you change incline and speed by hand | ||
| Cycling on ZwiftNew members get a 14-day free trial on the monthly plan |
From Zwift’s Running FAQ (last updated February 2026) and How much does Zwift cost (December 2025), checked November 2026.
In plain words: if you only run, you never need to pay. Zwift’s Running FAQ says running on Zwift “is currently free.” The word “currently” matters, so check the FAQ before you buy a footpod just for Zwift. When Zwift ended its free 25 km monthly ride allowance for lapsed members in August 2025, Zwift Insider reported that running was not affected.
Treadmill in winter. Garden all year.
Run&Grow is a free iPhone run tracker. Every outdoor GPS run grows a plant in your garden. Skip a week? Your garden waits.
Free on iPhone · Also on Android
How much is Zwift? (November 2026)
| Plan | US | UK | Europe |
|---|---|---|---|
| Running on Zwift | Free | Free | Free |
| Membership, monthly | $19.99 | £17.99 | €19.99 |
| Membership, yearly | $199.99 | £179.99 | €199.99 |
| Free trial (new members) | 14 days, monthly plan | 14 days, monthly plan | 14 days, monthly plan |
Prices from Zwift’s cost page (published December 2025), checked November 2026. The annual plan has no trial, but first-time annual members can cancel within 30 days for a refund. Prices can change and tax may be added.
In Australia, Zwift’s cost page does not list an Australian dollar price, so check the app before you sign up. The free running side works the same in every country. On the US App Store the Zwift app is free to download, rated 4.7 from about 21,000 ratings as of November 2026.
What you need to run on Zwift
| You need | Why |
|---|---|
| A treadmill | Any treadmill works. Some treadmills also send your speed to Zwift. |
| A sensor | A footpod, a connected shoe or a treadmill sensor moves your runner in the game. You can skip it if your treadmill already sends the data. |
| A device | A supported phone, tablet or computer to run the Zwift app. Check Zwift’s device list first. |
| A Zwift account | Free to create. A heart rate monitor is optional. |
From Zwift’s What You Need to Run help page, checked November 2026.
The sensor is the only thing most runners have to buy. If your speed in the game does not match your treadmill, Zwift suggests calibrating the footpod. Planning treadmill sessions for a goal race? Our 2-hour half marathon page shows the treadmill speed you need (10.5 km/h, or 6.6 mph), and the pace calculator works it out for any goal.
Why is Zwift asking me to pay to run?
Some runners have seen a sign-up screen and assumed running is now paid. Here is what the official Zwift forums show:
- May 2026: runners got a “membership confirmed” email. A Zwift team member replied that running on Zwift remains free and the email was sent in error after a system change.
- September 2026: after an app update, runners without a membership saw a sign-up screen. Other users said running is still meant to be free and it looked like a bug. Reloading or reinstalling the app, or pairing from the cycling screen first, fixed it for some.
If it happens to you, do not pay just to run. Contact Zwift support first.
Zwift vs other running apps
| App | Where you run | Price (US) |
|---|---|---|
| Zwift | Treadmill (indoor) | Running free; cycling $199.99/yr |
| Strava | Outdoor GPS, any watch | Free; subscription $79.99/yr |
| Nike Run Club | Phone or Apple Watch | Free |
| Garmin Connect | Garmin watch | Free; Connect+ $69.99/yr |
| Run&Grow | Outdoor GPS on iPhone; reads Apple Health | Free to download |
Strava, Nike Run Club and Garmin prices from their App Store listings and official pages, checked October–November 2026.
Zwift is the odd one out: it only works indoors. Every other app here is for runs outside. That is why most runners use two apps, Zwift on the treadmill and a GPS app for everything else.
Free apps to pair with Zwift
A social log for outdoor runs · Free; subscription $79.99/yr
Strava (free account)
Track your outdoor runs with GPS. The free account gives you a feed, kudos and clubs; routes and full leaderboards are paid.
Pick it if: you want friends to see your runs.
Free audio-guided runs · Free
Nike Run Club
No subscription. Guided Runs and training plans in many countries, recorded on your phone or Apple Watch.
Pick it if: you want a coach in your ear, not a game on a screen.
Garmin watch owners · Free; Connect+ optional
Garmin Connect
If you already wear a Garmin, its free app tracks your outdoor runs and training load.
Pick it if: you own a Garmin watch.
Getting back outside · 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 gentle, game-like reason to run outdoors too.
A note on Apple Health: Run&Grow reads runs from Apple Health, but whether a Zwift treadmill session reaches Apple Health depends on your setup, and Zwift forum users report mixed results. So think of Run&Grow as the home for your outdoor runs. Like Zwift, it makes running feel a bit like a game, just a calm one: one plant per run, no leaderboards. For more apps like this, see gamified running apps and the best free running apps.
Running indoors in the UK and Australia
In the UK, dark winter evenings are the main reason runners move to the treadmill, and parkrun still runs outdoors every Saturday morning. In Australia it is the other way round: summer is coming, so a treadmill can be a way to avoid the midday heat. Either way the free running side of Zwift is the same, and only the membership price changes by country.
Frequently Asked Questions
- Is Zwift Run free?
- Yes. As of November 2026 Zwift’s own Running FAQ says running on Zwift is free. You need a treadmill, a footpod or a treadmill that sends data, a device to run the app and a free Zwift account. Only cycling and automatic incline control on a Wahoo KICKR RUN need a paid membership.
- How much is a Zwift membership?
- Zwift lists $19.99 a month or $199.99 a year in the US, £17.99 or £179.99 in the UK, and €19.99 or €199.99 in Europe. New members get a 14-day free trial on the monthly plan. Runners do not need a membership.
- Do I need a smart treadmill for Zwift running?
- No. Any treadmill works if you add a sensor, such as a footpod or a connected shoe. A treadmill that sends its speed to Zwift can replace the sensor. A heart rate monitor is optional.
- Why is Zwift asking me to subscribe to run?
- Runners have reported this on the Zwift forums. In May 2026 a Zwift team member said a membership email sent to runners was a mistake and that running stays free. In September 2026 more runners saw a sign-up screen after an app update; other users called it a likely bug, and reloading or reinstalling the app fixed it for some. If it happens to you, contact Zwift support.
- Is Zwift worth it for runners?
- If you already run on a treadmill, it costs nothing to try, so yes. It turns indoor miles into a game with virtual routes. Outdoors it does nothing, so most people pair it with a free GPS app for runs outside.
Compare more running apps
A free reason to run outside too
Run&Grow turns every outdoor run into a plant in your garden. Free on iPhone, and it reads your runs from Apple Health.
Free on iPhone · Also on Android