The quick answer
- Want free plans and coaching? Nike Run Club.
- Want friends, clubs and segments? Strava.
- Want more challenges and virtual races? adidas Running.
- Want the same kind of app? Map My Run.
- Own an Apple Watch or a Garmin? Their free built-in apps.
- Training for a race? Runna (paid).
- Struggle to stay consistent? Run&Grow — every run grows a plant.
Why people look for a Runkeeper alternative
Runkeeper is one of the oldest running apps. It started in 2008, and ASICS bought the company behind it in February 2016. Today it is called ASICS Runkeeper, and it is still well liked: 4.8 stars on the US App Store as of October 2026.
So why switch? In Google Trends this month, “asics runkeeper go” is a breakout search and “is runkeeper free” is climbing. People want to know what they get for free and whether the paid plan is worth it. The common reasons we see:
- The good stuff is in GO. Training plans, race plans, detailed progress insights and live tracking are part of Runkeeper GO. ASICS lists it at $39.99 a year in the US after a 7-day trial. We break down every price in is Runkeeper free?
- Your friends are elsewhere. Most running clubs now post on Strava.
- You already own a watch. An Apple Watch or Garmin can record runs without a phone app at all.
- You want a reason to run, not more stats. A tracker tells you what you did. It does not always make you want to go again.
Runkeeper alternatives compared
| App | Best for | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Strava | Friends, clubs and segments | Free tier + subscription |
| Nike Run Club | Free coaching and guided runs | Free |
| adidas Running | Challenges and virtual races | Free to download |
| Map My Run | Routes and a big library of courses | Free + MVP subscription |
| Apple Watch Workout app | Apple Watch owners, no extra app | Free (built in) |
| Garmin Connect + Garmin Coach | Garmin watch owners | Free with a Garmin watch |
| Runna | A serious race plan | Subscription |
| 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 runs from your watch or another app count too. Free on iPhone.
Get the free appFree on iPhone · Also on Android
The 8 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 or club already post on Strava.
Official site or listing →Free coaching and guided runs · Free
Nike Run Club
Free, with no paid tier listed on the App Store. You get audio guided runs (in select countries) and training plans in the US, UK and several other countries, including a 4-week get-started plan and a 12-week marathon plan. It syncs with Apple Health and has an Apple Watch app.
Pick it if: You want what Runkeeper GO gives you, plans and a voice in your ear, without paying.
Official site or listing →Challenges and virtual races · Free to download
adidas Running
The app that used to be called Runtastic. It tracks runs, walks and 90+ other sports with GPS, and has training plans, voice coaching, global challenges, virtual races and an adidas rewards programme. It has an Apple Watch app.
Pick it if: You liked Runkeeper’s challenges and want more of them.
Official site or listing →Routes and a big library of courses · Free + MVP subscription
Map My Run
The closest app to Runkeeper in feel: GPS tracking, saved routes, goals and a paid MVP plan for extras like live tracking. Outside has owned it since 30 August 2024. We compare it in detail in our MapMyRun alternatives guide.
Pick it if: You want a like-for-like swap and care about routes.
Official site or listing →Apple Watch owners, no extra app · Free (built in)
Apple Watch Workout app
The built-in Workout app tracks outdoor runs and lets you build custom sessions with warm-ups, intervals and cool-downs. Every run goes into Apple Health, so other apps can read it later.
Pick it if: You already run with an Apple Watch and want the least fuss.
Official site or listing →Garmin watch owners · Free with a Garmin watch
Garmin Connect + Garmin Coach
If you wear a Garmin, Garmin Connect already 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 own a Garmin and want free plans.
Official site or listing →A serious race plan · Subscription
Runna
A coaching app with plans that change as you get fitter and pace targets for each session. It costs more than Runkeeper GO: $19.99 a month or $119.99 a year in the US as of October 2026. Strava owns it, and a Strava + Runna bundle is $149.99 a year.
Pick it if: You have a race date and Runkeeper’s plans feel too basic.
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 runs from your Apple Watch or another app count too. There is no public feed and no pace shaming. Skip a week? Your garden waits. It has no training plans, so pair it with a free plan if you need one.
Pick it if: Tracking is not your problem. Showing up is.
Official site or listing →Strava vs Runkeeper: the short version
“Strava vs Runkeeper” is one of the fastest-rising Runkeeper searches, so here it is in one table.
| Runkeeper | Strava | |
|---|---|---|
| Free version | GPS tracking, stats, audio cues, challenges, groups | GPS tracking, feed, clubs, monthly challenges |
| Paid plan (US, yearly) | $39.99 (Runkeeper GO) | $79.99 |
| Paid plan gets you | Training and race plans, insights, live tracking | Routes, segment leaderboards, deeper stats |
| Feels like | A quiet personal log | A social network for runners |
| Apple Watch and Apple Health | Yes, both | Yes, both |
If you run alone and want plans, Runkeeper GO is the cheaper paid plan. If you want to follow friends, Strava wins. Thinking of paying for Strava? Our is Strava premium worth it guide does the maths, and Nike Run Club vs Strava compares the two free favourites.
How to switch without losing your runs
- Turn on Apple Health sharing in Runkeeper first. Its App Store listing says it shares workouts, including route and heart rate, with Apple Health. Once your runs are in Apple Health, many other apps can read them.
- Pick one main app to press start. Two trackers recording the same run gets confusing fast.
- Check your old history. If you want a full copy of your Runkeeper runs, look in Runkeeper’s help pages for the current export options before you delete the app.
- Cancel GO the right way. If you paid through the App Store, cancel in Settings → your name → Subscriptions. Deleting the app does not cancel it.
- 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 pick 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). Any free app here is enough. See our turkey trot training plan.
- UK: Runkeeper GO is listed from £29.99 to £39.99 a year on the UK App Store, and Strava is £54.99. With dark evenings, an app with clear audio cues lets you keep your phone in your pocket. parkrun’s free Saturday 5K is a great weekly goal — see our parkrun beginner’s guide.
- Australia: Runkeeper GO is listed from A$55.99 to A$62.99 a year and Strava at A$99.99, so free options save the most here. It is late spring, so run early to beat the heat.
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. For more trackers, see Strava alternatives, MapMyRun alternatives and the best free running apps.
Frequently Asked Questions
- What is the best free alternative to Runkeeper?
- For most runners it is Nike Run Club, which is free and has audio guided runs and training plans. Strava’s free tier is the best pick if your friends or running club are already there. If you own an Apple Watch or a Garmin, their built-in apps track runs for free too.
- Is Runkeeper still free in 2026?
- Yes. As of October 2026, ASICS Runkeeper is free to download and the free version still tracks runs with GPS, gives basic stats and audio cues, and has challenges and running groups. Only Runkeeper GO costs money. ASICS lists GO at $39.99 a year in the US after a 7-day free trial.
- Is Strava better than Runkeeper?
- Not better, just different. Strava is social first, with a feed, clubs and segments, and its paid plan is $79.99 a year in the US. Runkeeper is quieter and simpler, and its paid plan is cheaper at $39.99 a year. If you run alone and want plans, Runkeeper GO is the better deal. If you want to see and follow friends, Strava wins.
- Who owns Runkeeper?
- ASICS does. ASICS announced it had bought FitnessKeeper, the company behind Runkeeper, on 12 February 2016. That is why the app is now called ASICS Runkeeper on the App Store.
- Can I keep my Runkeeper runs if I switch apps?
- Runkeeper can share your workouts with Apple Health on iPhone. Turn that on before you switch, so your past and future runs sit in Apple Health where other apps, such as Strava or Run&Grow, can read them. For a full copy of your history, check Runkeeper’s help pages for the current export options before you delete the app.
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 reads your runs from Apple Health.
Get the free appFree on iPhone · Also on Android