The quick answer
- Want the same kind of app? ASICS Runkeeper.
- Want free coaching? Nike Run Club.
- Want friends, clubs and segments? Strava.
- Own a Garmin? Garmin Connect with free Garmin Coach plans.
- Own an Apple Watch? The built-in Workout app.
- Struggle to stay consistent? Run&Grow — every run grows a plant.
What changed at MapMyRun?
MapMyRun has been around since the early days of running apps. Under Armour owned it for years. Then, on 30 August 2024, Outside (the company behind Outside magazine and the Outside+ membership) completed its purchase of MapMyFitness, MapMyRun, MapMyRide and MapMyWalk.
The app still works, and it is still free to download. On the App Store it is now listed as Map My Run by Outside. MapMyFitness says users get an activity feed, a single Outside sign-in and more Outside content such as videos, articles and event sign-ups. Some runners like that. Others just want a plain run tracker, and that is usually why they start looking around.
The other common reasons:
- Paid features. Live tracking, plans that adapt to your fitness and heart rate zone analysis are part of the paid MVP plan.
- Your friends are elsewhere. Most running clubs now post on Strava.
- You want more motivation, not more data. A tracker tells you what you did. It does not always make you want to go again.
MapMyRun alternatives compared
| App | Best for | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Strava | Friends, clubs and segments | Free tier + subscription |
| Nike Run Club | Free coaching and guided runs | Free |
| ASICS Runkeeper | A simple, MapMyRun-style tracker | Free + Runkeeper GO |
| Garmin Connect + Garmin Coach | Garmin watch owners | Free with a Garmin watch |
| Apple Watch Workout app | iPhone + Apple Watch, no extra app | Free (built in) |
| Run&Grow | Motivation to keep going | Free on iPhone |
Prices and features checked October 2026 on official sites and App Store listings. Prices change by country, so check before you subscribe.
Every run grows a plant
Run&Grow reads your runs from Apple Health, so Apple Watch runs count too. Free on iPhone.
Get the free appFree on iPhone · Also on Android
The 6 alternatives, one by one
Friends, clubs and segments · Free tier + subscription
Strava
The biggest social running app. The free tier records runs and gives you a feed, clubs and monthly challenges. The paid plan adds routes, segment leaderboards and deeper stats. As of October 2026 it costs $11.99 a month or $79.99 a year in the US, £8.99 or £54.99 in the UK, and A$14.99 or A$99.99 in Australia.
Pick it if: Your running friends are already on Strava.
Official site or listing →Free coaching and guided runs · Free
Nike Run Club
Completely free. Nike Run Club has audio guided runs for easy days, long runs and speed work, plus free training plans. If the paid MVP plans were the reason you looked at MapMyRun, this is the easiest free swap.
Pick it if: You want a coach in your ears and no bill.
Official site or listing →A simple, MapMyRun-style tracker · Free + Runkeeper GO
ASICS Runkeeper
The closest app to MapMyRun in feel. The free version tracks runs, walks and rides with GPS, sets goals and reads out your stats. Runkeeper GO adds race plans, insights and live tracking. In October 2026 the US App Store listed GO at $39.99 a year. It can share workouts with Apple Health and has an Apple Watch app.
Pick it if: You liked MapMyRun as it was and just want a clean swap.
Official site or listing →Garmin watch owners · Free with a Garmin watch
Garmin Connect + Garmin Coach
If you already wear a Garmin, you may not need a separate phone tracker at all. Garmin Connect stores your runs, and Garmin Coach gives free adaptive plans for 5K, 10K and half marathon that sync to your watch.
Pick it if: You run with a Garmin and want plans for free.
Official site or listing →iPhone + Apple Watch, no extra app · Free (built in)
Apple Watch Workout app
The Workout app tracks outdoor runs and lets you build custom sessions with warm-ups, intervals and cool-downs. Your runs go into Apple Health, so other apps can read them later.
Pick it if: You want the least fuss and already own an Apple Watch.
Official site or listing →Motivation to keep going · Free on iPhone
Run&Grow
A GPS run tracker where every run grows a plant in your garden. It reads runs from Apple Health, so Apple Watch runs and runs from other apps count too. There is no public feed and no pace shaming. Skip a week? Your garden waits. It does not have training plans, so pair it with a free plan if you need one.
Pick it if: Tracking is not the problem. Showing up is.
Official site or listing →MapMyRun vs Strava vs Runkeeper: the short version
- MapMyRun is a solid all-round tracker with a big route library, now tied to Outside content and the Outside account.
- Strava is social first. The free tier is fine for logging runs. Pay if you want routes and segment leaderboards. Our is Strava premium worth it guide does the maths.
- Runkeeper is the quiet one: simple tracking, goals and a cheaper paid plan.
All three track the same things: distance, pace, time and route. The real difference is what happens after the run: a feed, a coach, a plan, or something else.
How to switch without losing momentum
- Pick one main app. Two trackers recording the same run is confusing. Choose one to press start.
- Turn on Apple Health (iPhone) sharing. MapMyRun’s App Store listing says it works with Apple Health, and so do Runkeeper, the Apple Watch and Run&Grow. When your runs live in Apple Health, you can try new apps without starting from zero.
- Check your old history. If you want a copy of your past MapMyRun workouts, look in the MapMyFitness help centre for the current export options before you delete the app.
- Set a small goal for the first two weeks. Two or three easy runs a week is plenty. Our running 3 days a week plan is a simple start, and the pace calculator helps you set an easy pace in km or miles.
Local notes: US, UK and Australia
- US: Thanksgiving is Thursday 26 November 2026, and most turkey trots are 5K (3.1 miles). A free app and a few weeks of easy runs is all you need.
- UK: Dark evenings are here. Pick an app with clear audio cues so you can keep your phone in your pocket. parkrun’s free Saturday 5K is a great weekly goal — see our parkrun beginner’s guide.
- Australia: It is spring heading into summer. Run early to beat the heat. Strava’s paid plan is A$14.99 a month, so the free options save the most here.
Want running to feel less like admin?
Many people leave a tracker not because it is bad, but because logging miles stops being exciting. If that is you, try an app that turns runs into something you can see. Our gamified running apps guide covers the options, and the Strava alternatives and best free running apps lists cover more trackers.
Frequently Asked Questions
- What is the best free alternative to MapMyRun?
- For most runners it is Nike Run Club or Strava’s free tier. Nike Run Club is free, with audio guided runs and training plans. Strava’s free tier tracks your runs and has clubs and challenges. If you own a Garmin watch, Garmin Connect and Garmin Coach plans are free too.
- Who owns MapMyRun now?
- Outside owns it. Outside Interactive bought MapMyFitness, MapMyRun, MapMyRide and MapMyWalk from Under Armour, and the deal closed on 30 August 2024. The app is now listed on the App Store as Map My Run by Outside.
- Is MapMyRun still free?
- Yes, the basic app is free. You can track GPS runs, save routes and sync with wearables. Some features, like live tracking, training plans that adapt to you and heart rate zone analysis, are part of the paid MVP plan. Check the App Store in your country for the current MVP price.
- Is ASICS Runkeeper better than MapMyRun?
- They are very similar: both are free GPS trackers with a paid tier for plans and insights. Runkeeper GO was listed at $39.99 a year on the US App Store in October 2026. Pick Runkeeper if you want a simple, focused running app. Stay with MapMyRun if you like its route library and Outside content.
- Can I keep my Apple Watch runs if I switch apps?
- If your runs are saved to Apple Health, many iPhone apps can read them. Run&Grow, for example, reads your runs from Apple Health, so runs you record on your Apple Watch or in another app still count and grow plants in your garden.
Track the run. Grow the garden.
Run&Grow turns every run into a plant, so you can see your consistency grow. Free on iPhone, and it works with Apple Health and Apple Watch.
Get the free appFree on iPhone · Also on Android