12 Best Running Apps for Beginners of 2024

• ” Unlock your potential “! This is how the brand welcomes users in its Nike Plus Running application. The application is visually attractive and accessible to everyone.
• Let’s go into a little more detail now. After downloading it, they ask you to register an essential requirement in all current best running apps for beginners to have a follow-up and more detailed information about your brands’ evolution.
• Nike Plus Running offers you absolute customization, but first, you have to inform your gender, weight, size, and measurement unit, either in miles or kilometers.
• All this information is collected with a specific objective: to provide you with optimal results, in particular, the calories burned during each race.
• In the event that you do not wish to record your personal information, the application will be based on average values ​​recorded by other users.

Once you have informed yourself about all these elements, you are ready to run accompanied by your application! After your first run, the app will ask you how you feel, which surface you have run on, and which pair of Nike you have used, a brand with experience!

You will also find in the menu the detail of your activity with graphs and very playful data. The application has managed to win over its fans as the Nike Plus community continues to grow. The application offers you “Nikefuel” points consumed in your races in addition to all the great features.

A pure invention of the brand that has specially created an application proposes you to buy a connected bracelet to follow your activity permanently. This technology can be used for any sport and daily activity. Indicated for people who want to constantly improve themselves, it is a very good online solution to train yourself.

Enter the Nike community and share your brands with your friends!

2. Runkeeper – GPS Track Run Walk

Runkeeper is a very dynamic and easy to use application. With more than 45 million users, it is the most used application in the world.

After passing the traditional registration stage, the application offers you to use it in the basic mode or to purchase the «GO» program.

• The cost of this program is $9.99 per month or $39.99 per year. You won’t find a sports coach at that price! Why have a personal trainer? That is another question!
• This program puts you in the role of the online personal trainer and offers you very detailed statistics.
• In addition to the basic tracking and follow-up that we find in the free version, you will find an illustration of your progression, the comparison of your marks, tips to improve, weather data, as well as a live follow-up of your race.
• What contributes to the success of this application is undoubtedly the “My program” menu. Here you have the possibility to define yourself your goals to run longer or lose weight.
• You also have the option of asking for help in order to define your goals. You have an assistant to reach your goals who offer you several options, such as launching a challenge, learning to run, training for a race, or getting in shape.
• This application is relatively complete. Everything is done so that you can run in good condition. You can prepare your training sessions yourself, dividing them.
• For example, or activating prerecorded Runkeeper sessions. You can choose different options such as activating warm-up exercises, resting phases, and choosing the frequency!

The application is really easy to use, ideal for both beginners and runners who want to push their limits. It is also a free application (without the GO program). There are also several videos on the internet to train you.

3. adidas Running App Runtastic: the most complete

Runtastic is somewhat less aesthetic than the previous two but no less effective! There are two versions, a free “Runtastic” and a paid ($4.99) “Runtastic Pro”. It is the application with the best rating in online stores.

• In addition to your runs and your bike sessions, the application offers you a follow-up of your bodybuilding sessions.
• It also has a service in which it is shared to receive friends’ support on social networks. The notification system will help you keep your motivation intact and become aware of the efforts made, sending you a weekly summary of your activity.
• Once connected, Runtastic measures almost everything: height, speed, and usual pace per kilometer, you’ll find plenty of options. Runtastic is a true gem of functionality.
• The vocal coach is just great, and you have the choice of a male or female voice, which will inform you in detail of your career in Spanish, Italian, French, Japanese, English, or even German.
• With the professional version, your personal trainer will cheer you on, and you can also activate the “Powersongs” in case you feel low during the session.
• The pro version offers you great options such as measuring your heart rate, monitoring if you are dehydrated, setting calorie goals to eliminate.

The great attraction of this application is the linked objects. You have watches with very advanced options, bracelets to measure your pulse or synchronization tools for your smartwatch. Runtastic is truly the go-to app for racing nuts.

4. Pumatrac: the Most Ambitious

The Puma brand‘s running application is, without a doubt, the most extraordinary and the one that differs the most from the others.

It doesn’t offer a multitude of functionalities, but it does present a more precise view of your optimal running conditions.

• In other words, this application has a technology called “Tictrac”, which allows the application to determine the times when you will perform more or less.
• This technology considers the weather conditions, the music you listen to, the place and time you run, and is even guided by the Moon. Incredible but true.
• The handling is super intuitive. You just have to follow the tutorial and that’s it.
• The application offers the possibility of using it with many sports such as hiking, cycling, soccer, hockey, etc.
• In addition to the basic functions of all jogging running apps for beginners, Pumatrac will seduce you with its simplicity.
• You will undoubtedly discover the soul of a runner that you have inside you in extreme conditions.

The interest of the application lies there, learning to know yourself and better direct your efforts based on all the elements in your environment. If you are a fan of Usain Bolt and cutting-edge technology, do not hesitate, download it!

5. Freeletics Training Coach: the most outstanding

In addition to a great design, Freeletics Running is a very complete application. It combines perfectly with the other Freeletics application to work your muscles.

When we open the application, it offers us to personalize our training with the personal trainer’s help. First, you have to know that this function is paid (a fee that decreases depending on the subscription duration).

• Request a series of basic data (weight, height, age), sport level, experience in running, and end by asking your goal (modifiable later ).
• The application integrates it and proposes a program adapted to you. What stands out most about this application lies in the choice of workouts.
• These are personalized fractional exercises to allow you to reach your goals faster.
• You also have a menu devoted to distances. The advantage is that it really helps you to go beyond your limits.
• The Freletics community is comparable to that of Nike Plus. This running app is a good alternative.
• The union with the other Freeletics best running apps for beginners has been announced soon.

This will allow you to have a global vision of your physical activities and have unprecedented monitoring. Yes, personal training is democratizing, but athletics apps keep up.

You will be able to track the number of calories, prepare a training program, or train for a marathon or half-marathon.

6. Formyfit: the Most Predictive

Formyfit, although it offers the same functionalities as the usual best running apps for beginners, stands out for the customization of workouts.

The application is based on the user’s personal constants and shows the predictions in relation to their profile.

• In particular, it is an invaluable aid in setting realistic goals and making effective progress.
• When you download the application for the first time, you will have to perform a stress test, not enter the data yourself in relation to your brands, and analyze your potential for progress.
• The training plan is fully customizable.
• It is a very practical tool for preparing a class, for example, as it is suitable for beginners. Regardless of your level, the program adapts and allows you to customize the sessions based on your availability.
• Vocal training will tell you during training when you will need to increase your intensity and pace.

It offers a free version, but in order to take advantage of the brand prediction, the personal training plan, or the vocal training plan, you will need to download the Premium version.

7. Strava: the most social

Strava is one of the most successful running apps in recent years. It will allow you to analyze your sessions according to three main criteria: speed per kilometer, climb, or heart rate.

What changes compared to the other more traditional best running apps for beginners? Your social network side. It is an application that brings together a large community of runners.

• It is perfect for those who like competition and are looking for a challenge to advance.
• With Strava, you can collect all the data related to your running sessions in your profile, but you can also easily share it with your friends and receive encouraging comments about your brands.
• Thanks to Strava, you can also explore new routes and compare yourself with other users.
• You can become the King of Mountain (KOM), that is, show the best performance in the measures defined in the application. Strava includes routes, challenges, and races to vary your training and motivate you.
• The multisports application is used primarily for cycling and running, but it can also be used for other sports types.

The application will allow you to synchronize your data with the running brands automatically.

8. One You Couch to 5K: for beginners

Its name in English means “sofa 5 km. ” Without a doubt, it is an application to start running without demoralizing you.

Go from the sofa to the asphalt thanks to this application to be able to get started in the world of running at your own pace.

• The 9-week program is very popular among beginners starting in the races, since the application allows you to get into sports activity gradually.
• The 20 to 30-minute sessions are repeated three times a week. At first, they start with a warm-up session, followed by a brisk walk. As the weeks go by, the program progresses and intensifies.
• The application is quite dynamic and easy to use, thus allowing you to advance at your own pace.
• The possibility of choosing 4 virtual trainers and entering your musical playlist in the application.
• It is an ideal application for beginners since it will allow you to learn the basic techniques to run properly and avoid beginner mistakes.
• The menu allows you to visualize your progress against brands and motivate yourself.

If you need advice, you can share your results on Facebook or in the user community. After 9 weeks, the goal is to run 5 km in 30 minutes. Not bad, right?

9. Zombies, Run! (Free): the most playful

This application is aimed at players, athletes who get bored while jogging, who are looking for additional motivation to put on their sneakers. If you are one of them, download it now.

• Beyond a simple race, it is a parallel universe. In the program, you will find different missions that you will have to carry out while the zombies escape.
• The soundtrack (in English) will cheer you up thanks to its shrill voices, dialogue, and realistic sound effects.
• The application will help you achieve your sports goals in reality while saving the virtual world.
• The story is simple, and you land on a base after a zombie apocalypse. You will have to run to ensure your survival, escape from dangers, and retrieve useful objects.
• Please note that this is not a game but an actual training program. During the running sessions, you will see that the difficulties are increasing: races that last longer, accelerations (you will have to escape from the dogs or the zombies).
• The scenario changes to progress in your race sessions. The items you have collected will allow you to advance in the game and the story.

The free version is quite fun, but in order to benefit from all the features it offers and unlock some 200 additional missions, you will have to download the Premium version.

10. Charity Miles: the Most Supportive

Looking for a target to motivate you to go for a run, but zombies aren’t your thing? How about running for a good cause?

If it catches your attention, the application you are looking for is called Charity Miles.

• With Charity Miles, you will run for a good cause.
• The concept is simple: you run, you share your results on social networks to validate them, and the application makes a donation of 25 cents for each kilometer you (re) run to an NGO of your choice.
• Currently, there are dozens of humanitarian associations that benefit from this concept. A double win system based on a collaborative model, partnerships, and sponsorship.
• It was created in 2012 and has been a worldwide success by revolutionizing the world of running.
• If you are looking for an application that records your data, statistics about your races, heart rate, and marks and offers you personalized training, this application is not the best.
• However, to motivate you to run, it is the only one that exists for a good cause.

Therefore, it is not necessary to run to use it; in fact, you can even use it while walking your dog or playing Pokemon Go.

11. RockMyRun – Best Workout Music

Research has shown that upbeat, dynamic music can significantly improve scores and greatly impact your exercise time.

• RockMyRun, as the name suggests, is an application that provides you with the best music for entertainment so that you can constantly maintain your energy and pace while running.
• Some famous DJs have designed the playlists like David Guetta, Zedd, Major Lazer, and others.
• With mixes built-in bpm (beats per minute), the songs offer a unique training experience.
• To further improve your intensity and effectiveness, the app automatically adjusts your mixes’ tempo and tempo based on your steps.
• ou will start to feel the difference in your training sessions once you start using the app.