Nike Run Club and ASICS Runkeeper are two of the oldest running apps on the iPhone, and both are owned by shoe brands. They are free to download and free to track a run. The big difference is how they make the paid part work: Nike gives almost everything away, while Runkeeper keeps its plans and live tracking in a cheap subscription. Here is a plain comparison with prices checked on the App Store in November 2026.
The quick answer
- You want someone talking you through your runs, for free: Nike Run Club and its Guided Runs.
- You want a free training plan and live in the US or UK: Nike Run Club.
- You live where NRC plans are not offered (like Australia): Runkeeper GO is a cheap way to get one.
- You want family to see where you are on a run: Runkeeper GO has live tracking.
- You just want plain GPS and your pace in your ear: either one works. Pick the look you like.
Nike Run Club vs Runkeeper side by side
| Nike Run Club | Runkeeper | |
|---|---|---|
| Best for | Runners who want free coaching | Runners who want a cheap paid plan |
| Price | Free, no in-app purchases listed | Free; GO $39.99 / yr (US) |
| Audio coaching | Guided Runs with Nike coaches (some countries) | Audio cues and audio-guided workouts |
| Training plans | Free, in 9 listed countries | In GO, 5K to marathon |
| Live tracking | Not listed | Yes (GO) |
| Challenges | Yes, with badges and trophies | Yes, plus virtual running groups |
| Apple Watch app | Yes (watchOS 10+) | Yes (watchOS 9+) |
| Apple Health | Yes, workouts and heart rate | Yes, route, calories and heart rate |
| Account | Free Nike Member account | Runkeeper / ASICS account |
| Made by | Nike, Inc. | ASICS |
From the App Store listings for Nike Run Club and Runkeeper, both checked November 10, 2026, and the ASICS Runkeeper page (October 2026). NRC’s list of plan countries is from its App Store listing in October 2026.
Coaching: Guided Runs vs audio cues
Nike Run Club’s Guided Runs are the reason most people download it. A Nike coach or athlete talks you through the run: easy runs, speed sessions, treadmill runs and short first runs. They are free, but the App Store says they are only in “select countries,” so what you see depends on where you live.
Runkeeper is quieter. You pick which stats you hear (pace, distance, time) and how often, and there are audio-guided workouts. It feels less like a coach and more like a calm running buddy reading out your numbers. If you love a voice in your ear, NRC wins. If you find chatty coaching annoying, Runkeeper is nicer.
Training plans: free vs paid
This is where the two apps differ most. NRC’s training plans are free, but in October 2026 its App Store listing said they were available in the US, UK, Japan, China, Brazil, France, Germany, Spain and Italy only. Runkeeper’s plans are part of GO, the paid tier, and cover goals from 5K up to the marathon.
So if you are in the US or UK, NRC gets you a plan for nothing. If you are in Australia or another country not on NRC’s list, Runkeeper GO is one of the cheapest ways to get a plan in an app. Planning a first long race? Our page on whether a 5-hour marathon is good has the pace and splits for a common first-marathon goal.
Run&Grow · free iPhone app
Want a reason to keep going?
- Free on iPhone
- Reads your runs from Apple Health
- No public feed, no pace shaming
4.6 on the App Store
Nike Run Club vs Runkeeper price (US, UK, Australia)
Nike Run Club has no price to compare: the App Store lists no in-app purchases. Runkeeper is free to track, and these are the prices for GO:
| Plan | US | UK | Australia |
|---|---|---|---|
| Nike Run Club | Free | Free | Free |
| Runkeeper free | Free | Free | Free |
| Runkeeper GO, monthly | $9.99–$11.99 | £7.99–£11.99 | A$13.99–A$19.99 |
| Runkeeper GO, yearly | $39.99 | £29.99–£39.99 | A$55.99–A$62.99 |
iPhone App Store prices. US checked November 10, 2026; UK and Australia from the local App Store listings, October 2026. The listing shows several GO prices under the same name, so the price in the app is the one you pay.
- Pay yearly if you pay at all. Twelve months of GO at $9.99 is $119.88; the yearly plan is $39.99. More detail in is Runkeeper free.
- Try before you pay. ASICS gives you 7 days of GO free.
- NRC is free everywhere it is sold. Only the content changes by country. See is Nike Run Club free.
Which one should you pick?
Good: Some of the best free audio coaching in any running app. Free training plans where they are offered, challenges with badges and trophies, and its own Apple Watch app.
Not so good: Guided Runs and plans depend on your country. No live tracking listed. You need a Nike Member account, and the app sits inside the Nike shopping world.
Good: Plain, calm tracking with audio cues, challenges and virtual groups for free. GO is a cheap upgrade with race plans, progress insights and live tracking.
Not so good: The best parts (plans, live tracking) are paid. Less coaching personality than NRC’s Guided Runs. The App Store lists several GO prices, so check the price in the app.
Pick Nike Run Club if…
- You want free audio coaching on most runs.
- You live in a country where NRC’s plans are offered and want a free plan.
- You like badges, trophies and Nike’s style.
Pick Runkeeper if…
- You want live tracking so someone can follow your run.
- NRC’s plans are not offered where you live, and you want a cheap plan.
- You prefer simple numbers in your ear to a talking coach.
Can you use both?
Yes. On iPhone both apps work with Apple Health, so you could do a Guided Run in NRC one day and a GO plan session in Runkeeper the next. Just record each run in one app only, or you will see doubles. Many runners also keep one app for coaching and a second one just for motivation.
That is where Run&Grow fits. It reads your runs from Apple Health, so a run you record in Nike Run Club, Runkeeper or on your Apple Watch still grows a plant in your Run&Grow garden. There is no public feed and no pace shaming. Skip a week? Your garden waits.
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Frequently Asked Questions
- Is Nike Run Club better than Runkeeper?
- For most new runners who do not want to pay, yes: Nike Run Club gives you GPS tracking, audio Guided Runs, training plans (in some countries) and challenges for free. Runkeeper is better if you want a cheap paid plan with live tracking and progress insights, or if NRC’s plans are not offered in your country.
- Is Nike Run Club really free?
- Yes. As of November 2026 the App Store lists Nike Run Club as free with no in-app purchases. You need a free Nike Member account. Guided Runs and training plans are only offered in some countries.
- How much is Runkeeper GO?
- As of November 2026 the US App Store lists Runkeeper GO at $39.99 a year, $19.99 a quarter, or $9.99 to $11.99 a month. In the UK it is about £29.99 to £39.99 a year and in Australia about A$55.99 to A$62.99 a year (October 2026). The free version still tracks runs.
- Which is better for beginners, Nike Run Club or Runkeeper?
- Nike Run Club is the easier free start because its Guided Runs talk you through each run. Runkeeper is simpler and calmer, and its paid GO plans start at 5K. If you are in Australia, check NRC’s Plans tab first, because the App Store list of plan countries did not include Australia in October 2026.
- Can I use Nike Run Club and Runkeeper together?
- Yes. Both work with Apple Health on iPhone, so a run recorded in one can reach other apps through Health. Record each run in only one app to avoid doubles. Run&Grow also reads runs from Apple Health, so a run from either app can grow a plant in your garden.
Run&Grow · free iPhone app
Run for the garden, not the graph
- Free on iPhone
- Reads your runs from Apple Health
- No public feed, no pace shaming
4.6 on the App Store