16 Best Running Apps 2021 to Hit Your Training Goals

Technology now plays quite a role in fitness, so it’s no surprise that many people are on the hunt for the best running apps out there. Whether you’re looking for on-demand marathon training guidance, or seeking to plug into music or a podcast, there are tons of options available.

Whether you’re just getting started running or you are a more advanced athlete with a bunch of races under your belt, there’s an app out there for you, Emily Abbate, a United Endurance Sports Coaching Academy (UESCA)-certified run coach and ACE-certified personal trainer in New York City, tells SELF. These apps can vary greatly depending on what you’re looking for. Some offer an incredible array of stats and analysis, while others are beneficial because they offer up a community that you may not be able to find otherwise.

If you’re interested in trying a running app to boost your running game, here’s what you need to know.

How to choose the best running app for you

Because running apps have different focuses, it can be helpful to ask yourself what you’re looking to add to your workout before you swipe to the app store. This can help you narrow down which features are important to you, so you can choose a running app that melds with what you want to experience with your workouts.

For some people, the main draw of a running app is adding a community.

“Right now, when we’re all so disconnected with the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, many people are looking to feel more in the loop in whatever way we can,” Abbate says. “An app that can provide you a community and make you feel less alone is really valuable.” If this is the case for you, an interactive running app that lets you connect with other runners may be a good choice. Added bonus: Having a community alongside you may help give you the boost you need to get your workout started on days you want to give the effort, but are feeling a little unmotivated to get going.

Other running apps bring the workout (or even the run coach) to you, which can be helpful both to beginners who are looking to get started and more advanced runners who want to get faster or otherwise up the game on their training.

These apps can be great to help provide direction before a run, Abbate says. You can open up an app and decide what you want to get into that day, whether it’s more mindful running with a motivational coach, or a guided interval workout. Plus, guided sessions can provide helpful tips, like running form cues, that can make you a better runner, she says.

Or maybe you want your running app to be a bit more passive—meaning, it provides an awesome way for you to zone out, turn off your mind, and just enjoy your run. In those cases, a running app that uses music or podcasts may be a good choice for you. In fact, research has also shown that music can be performance-enhancing, helping you pick up the pace and push harder than you otherwise would have, Abbate says.

Whatever camp you may be in, here are the best running apps that can help improve your workouts—and help you enjoy them even more, too.

Best beginner running apps

1. Couch to 5K

Want to run a 5K, but don’t know where to start? This app is specifically targeted at newbies starting from zero, but who want to get up to running 3.1 miles. Starting with run-walk sessions, the app will help you build up to a 5K race in nine weeks via three, 30-minute sessions per week. It also tracks your time and distance with GPS, and has a virtual coach providing workout cues and guidance along the way to help you get to that goal. You also have the option to log your data on active.com after each run.