The best running and trail apps for running in 2024

To start running or learn trail running, you can use an application on your Android or iOS smartphone. Here is a selection of the best running applications, free or not, for running occasionally or preparing for a marathon.

Running is an activity particularly suited to staying in shape. It is passable all the time, anywhere, whether in town or on a more natural route for the trailand even with little means (even if good shoes are still recommended).

During your sessions, your smartphone will often be your best companion, whether for listening to music or podcasts, but also and above all for motivating yourself, monitoring your progress and preparing a regular training plan.

Strava, Runtastic or Runkeeper… which application to choose? Free running app or premium plan? Follow the leader !

Strava, the best app for running with friends

Strava is certainly the most well-known and renowned running application. It offers a multitude of free features, including automatic pause, for runners and fans of trail or even cyclists and swimmers.

One of its strong points is the presence of challenges that will encourage you to put on your sneakers more regularly to go running. Certain challenges can even be beneficial to you in another way since they allow you to obtain preferential rates on events, for example.

The community aspect is therefore much more developed on Strava and pushes you to surpass yourself to be better than your friends (or other participants). Certain routes already provided by other users are also offered, even if their number is not very high (even in Paris).

Note that those who want to add a little fun to their races can also download Run Players League, in order to gamify their results recorded on Strava.

Is the Strava app reliable?

Since the military base scandal revealed by Strava, some may wonder about the reliability of Strava’s data. Since then, the developers have worked on the application to secure the data and allow it to be obscured to avoid, for example, revealing your place of residence.

Adidas Runtastic, the very good free application for running

Runtastic (affiliated with Adidas since 2019) is a very popular running app. Complete, it allows you to follow our training sessions running and offers many features without having to pay an overpriced plan.

In addition to tracking your training and recording your progress, Runtastic can set distance or time goals or give voice directions. It even pairs with your favorite audio playback app to prevent the voice coach from intruding too much on your playlist. The particularly nice point: the screen is locked during the race, which prevents you from accidentally pausing the data recording.

It is also compatible with many connected watches and connected bracelets and can record many activities (including more static activities, such as yoga). Furthermore, its GPS is very precise.

Finally, you can subscribe to the Premium monthly subscription (59.99 euros per year with a one-week free trial) to follow specific training plans based on your objective (lose weight, get in shape, plan a workout). race…).

Decathlon Outdoor and Kiprun Pacer Courir Running, applications made by Decathlon

Both developed by Decathlon, Decathlon Outdoor and Kiprun Pacer Courir Running are complementary and can help you follow a precise training program, allowing you to progress until you reach a specific objective.

While Decathlon Outdoor offers hiking and trail routes for your outdoor outings, Kiprun Pacer Courir Running is more like a running coaching application. She plans personalized training sessions based on your physical condition and your goal (marathon, VMA, etc.).

GPS guidance, routes suggested by other hikers and runners and recording of your route are the free features offered by Decathlon Outdoor. Kiprun Pacer Courir Running collects the data collected by Decathlon Outdoor and your connected watch to calculate your progress.

Running Frequency, to prepare for a race

If your goal is to prepare for a Marathon or a half, Frequence Running will be able to satisfy you. Less complete than the previous ones, the application of running offers to find official races and set a training plan to achieve your goal for the big day. All without having to pay.

Are you aiming for a specific time at the next Paris Marathon? Select the race, indicate your availability and you will get a complete schedule to follow for training. It is less precise and less complete when it comes to tracking your training, but nothing stops you from using it only for the diary and pairing it with Runtastic or Strava for your running outings.

You can of course go even further with expert advice (nutrition, equipment, etc.), but also Premium training plans (with a monthly subscription) to improve your performance more quickly.

Campus Coach, to prepare for a competition

A marathon is a sporting competition that should not be entered into lightly. Running long distances without injury while effectively managing your physical effort requires significant preparation, which can last from a few weeks to several months. And that’s where Campus Coach comes in.

It is not a question of offering you running routes, but of offering you a training program designed by coaching and running experts. Depending on your age, your availability, your physical condition and your previous performances, a personalized plan is established to achieve your goals without injury, with advice to improve your performance.

Trail Connect, the trail reference

If you practice trail, the Trail Connect application is probably the most suitable. Its most important functionality is its compatibility with the Trace de Trail site which allows you to have routes of trails near you. Thus, you can follow a route while being continuously located with an offline mode, practical for paths which are not necessarily covered by 4G.

You can time your journey to try to beat your record and share it with your friends. It is also possible to share your position with anyone who would like to join you or follow your progress.

There is also a shortcut to contact emergency services in case of problems. Finally, a “Trail Challenges” system is integrated to try to face other trail runners.

AllTrails, the best (free) application according to Apple

AllTrails received the award for best iPhone application in 2023 and it’s not for nothing. This free application provides quick and intuitive access to thousands of hiking and trail trails for all sports enthusiasts outdoor. With an active community, the application allows you to record your own routes and share them with other members of the community, also leaving your comments, impressions and photos.

A GPS guidance system is also available to you as well as detailed maps so you never get lost. You can download AllTrails on your Android or iPhone smartphone for free and enjoy the free features. Please note, however, that there is an AllTrails+ version with subscription which provides other practical information such as weather, air quality, allergens, etc.

Runkeeper and Nike Run Club, other running apps

Of course, if this selection is limited to listing our favorite applications, there are others, with their advantages and disadvantages, and we can only advise you to try them as well in order to find the one that best meets your expectations. .

We can cite Runkeeper, frankly neck and neck with Runtastic, with a more sober and more polished interface, but which narrowly missed first place, notably for its GPS precision which was a bit less good and the absence of a lock on the screen touch during the race.

You can also take a look at Nike Run Club (formerly Nike+), but in our opinion it lacks options and possibilities compared to its competitors.

Running Heroes and Zombies Run, to play while running

Gamifying an activity uses game mechanics, with rewards to increase motivation and turn what can be a chore into fun.

In this category, we find for example Running Heroes, an application offering to earn rewards when you complete objectives. You can link certain traditional running applications (Strava, Nike+, Fitbit, Runkeeper, etc.) and earn points during your sessions, which can be exchanged for promo codes from sports equipment manufacturers, tickets to sporting events and more.

For its part, Zombies, Run takes the principle literally by immersing you in a world virtually invaded by zombies. You’ll have to run to survive!

ZRX: Zombies Run + Marvel Move

To accompany your running application

To better monitor your progress during your sports sessions, you can turn to dedicated accessories, such as a tracker of activity. They will allow you to follow the evolution of your heart rate, but also to follow your activity closely, from the simple daily walk during your journey to work or your other more intense exercises. Note that a connected watch can also offer similar functionalities, particularly watches specialized for sports.

If running is not for you or if you want to diversify your exercises, you can also find our selection of applications to fully resume a sporting activity, without it necessarily being running.