Best running apps work offline for Android and iOS

Running is a healthy form of exercise. It allows you to lose excess weight, give your body a beautiful shape. We selected the best running apps working offline for iOS and Android. Install and test out the trackers; no matter if you are a beginner or professional sportsman. We hope it will have a positive effect on your lifestyle.

Our Top 5 Apps for running

• Best distance tracking app working offline: Strava
• Best for newcomers to running: Couch to 5K
• Best for motivation: Runkeeper
• Best app with workout routines: Running App
• Best Overall: Runkeeper

How we chose the best mobile app for running

Let's look at what criteria we use to choose the best app for running:

Offline mode: it is necessary that all the main functions work independently of the Internet connection. That is, the user could use the running app offline.

Good for beginners: all the apps in the review are designed for a wide audience of users. At the same time, it is important that a newbie can understand how to use the app.

Weight loss: the ability to record calorie consumption, different modes for burning calories and weight loss.

Distance tracker: the user can choose the time of running and the length of the distance. It can be a sprint, a marathon or other options.

Cost of subscription: which features in the app are free and which are available only after subscription.

Apps review

Strava

The Strava service consists of two apps: one for running / marathon and one for cycling. A monthly subscription costs a minimum of €2.99 (if you subscribe for a year). The first month of using the app is free to use.

Firstly, choose your goals. For example, you can set a goal to run a marathon.

Among Strava's most interesting features are:

• Auto Pause. If you have stopped the run, the training recording is automatically paused and is activated only after you have restored the run.
• Display Mode. You don't need to turn on your phone screen to track your location.
• Sync with sensors. Connect the app to any gadget with a built-in pedometer or heart rate monitor.
• Hints and notifications. The app informs about start, pause or finish.
• Personal profile. You can keep a detailed workout calendar.

The app is suitable for those for whom sport is not only a way of self-development, but also an opportunity to communicate with people.

Offline mode: The app works offline: you can record how many kilometers / miles and at what speed you ran. However, offline maps will not be available. Once you are back online, Strava will update the data and submit it to the statistics.

Distance tracking feature is available in Strava. To calculate the distance, you need a GPS tracker to work and store data in the memory of the device.

The app uses the data recorded in the GPS track to calculate the average speed, distance.

Strava uses two types of distance calculation - Ground Speed Distance and GPS-calculated Distance. Both methods have their advantages and disadvantages.

Pros:

• Earning prizes, including cash
• Tracking results

Nike Run Club

This free running app is a kind of social network, or rather, a club of interest. One of the features of the NRC is the audio training from sports stars. This is a great motivation.

There are several training plan options: preparing for the race, pumping up physical fitness and the development of speed and strength.

Some of the most interesting features include:

• Run control, auto or manual pause.
• Flexible settings. To see your heart rate, duration, pace and distance, just touch the screen.
• Ability to listen to music during a workout. There are playlists from famous athletes.

Offline mode: Does Nike Run Club work without an internet connection? The answer is yes. Keep in mind, however, that the assistant functions will not be available until you are reconnected to the web. In addition, terrain maps that you haven't used before while running won't open either. So, you can run and save stats with Nike Run Club, but some of the features will be limited in offline mode.

Using Nike Run Club app distance tracker feature:

1. Open the Nike Run Club app on your mobile device.
2. Tap the "Track" icon in the lower right corner of the app.
3. Select the type of run you would like to track: distance, time, or interval.
4. Select the distance you would like to track.
5. Select your pace and set your goal.
6. Once the goal is set, tap the "Start" button in the lower right corner of the app.
7. Follow the on-screen instructions to begin tracking your run.
8. Check your progress on the map as you run.
9. Once you've reached your goal, tap the "Stop" button in the lower right corner of the app.
10. Your run will be saved to your profile with all of the details of your run, such as the distance, time, and pace.

Cons:

• The app is suitable for running only
• There are no options for cycling or walking

Pros:

• The app is good for beginner runners
• It allows you to get in shape fairly quickly

Step Counter

The app is GPS independent so the accelerometer is used to measure distance walked. You can press the Start button and put the phone in your pocket - all the data will be collected via the phone.

At the same time, some functions require GPS activation. Like the apps mentioned above, you can save not only the information about the distance covered, but also the track on the map, as well as all the data related to these: heart rate, speed, etc.

Other Step Counter features:

• Offline distance tracking via accelerometer.
• The app does not use the resources of your mobile device in the background, all functions are controlled manually.
• Detailed activity statistics - by week, month, day or selected period.
• User-friendly customizable interface with different themes.

Couch to 5k

Among the most important features of Couch to 5K we should note voice assistance: a virtual trainer tells you what to do and how to do it.

This app is designed for a 9-week course. You will gain enough strength for a 5K run. The course begins with a five-minute run. During the course, a minute and a half of walking alternates with a minute of running. Then the load increases, and the walking time is reduced. Training becomes more and more difficult.

The program allows for variations: you can stop and repeat the past week in case it becomes difficult to train. There is no need to rush.

Offline mode: According to user reviews, using Couch to 5K Without Data (offline) is possible. Even if you have a cheap smartphone without a stable internet connection, the Couch to 5K app allows you to use features, such as the speedometer, odometer, and measure the distance you've covered, while you run. Wi-fi is only needed to download the app and preload maps for running.

Cons:

• In week five, the load increases dramatically, which many people are not prepared for. At this stage, you can stop and start with the fourth week.
• The lack of a full-fledged warm-up. It lasts only five minutes and consists of a single walk. Users suggest including running exercises in the warm-up.

Pros:

• Simple interface
• In nine weeks, any beginner can complete a five-kilometer distance

Map My Run

The app is suitable not only for experienced runners, but also for runners, walkers, cyclists, cross country, yoga and gym members. Map My Run is a perfect choice for those who like to keep a diary and record all achievements. A one-month subscription costs $5.99.

A total of about 600 activities are available in Map My Run. Among the most interesting features are:

• Connecting Under Armour sneakers to the app.
• The ability to track runs from the Apple Watch and learn about your progress with alerts.
• Synchronization with the latest fitness devices and apps, including Garmin and Apple Health.
• Real-time workouts.
• There's a workout log.
• An audio trainer will advise on pace, distance, time and step rate.

You can also connect the Map My Run app to Apple Health to monitor your heart rate and save information about your workouts.

Offline mode: You can also use the MapMyRun app without a stable internet connection. This is handy if your mobile internet traffic is limited. Simply run the app, then turn on wifi to download the statistics data to the server so that you can analyze your achievements in the form of graphs later.

Using distant tracker feature on your phone:

1. Download the Map My Run app from the App Store or Google Play Store.
2. Open the app and log into your account, or create an account if you don’t have one.
3. Tap Choose activity menu at the bottom of screen.
4. Choose Workout setup – for example, Run.

5. Select “Start Workout”.

6. Map My Run will begin tracking your run and will display your current distance, pace, and time.
7. When you have completed your run, tap “Pause” and Hold to Finish.

8. Save Workout: its name, description, Add photo and other details if needed.
9. Map My Run app will show your total distance, pace, and time.

Zwift

Zwift is a combination of an online game and workout programs. You can compete on fitness equipment from the comfort of your room. The app is priced at €14.99. There is a week free trial period.

In order to use this app, you need to have a home exerciser, a smartphone with bluetooth, and a pedal frequency sensor. It is better to get a bike.

To start training, choose a "virtual country" to ride in. This can be New York, France or Paris, Yorkshire, Richmond, London or an imaginary Watopia. Each country has multiple itineraries.

Zwift is not only an opportunity for structured strength training, but also for races with other users. You choose the intensity of the group races yourself.

There are also workout options that real trainers have created. You can create your own workouts and plans for them.

Runkeeper

Runkeeper is in high demand among runners, thanks to its array of useful features, accurate readings, and easy to learn. The app will appeal to you whether you're a novice runner or a seasoned marathon winner. The app is available for iOS and Android platforms.

With the Runkeeper app, you can:

• use GPS devices to keep track of your distance,
• measure your time,
• alternate between running and walking,
• make up different activities,
• set goals to track your progress,
• create personalized workouts,
• use reminders and motivators,
• synchronize workouts with smart devices, fitness bracelets (Apple Watch, Fitbit, and others )

In addition to running, Runkeeper is suitable for keeping track of cycling and fitness walking activity.

Pedometer for Walking and Running

A small app records the user's motor activity. It is recommended that you carefully calibrate the sensitivity and check the app settings before starting.

Main functions:

• Step counting and measuring the distance walked
• Counting [calories spent] - for those who want to lose weight
• A detailed log to mark your achievements for a certain period - year, month, day
• The calculation of the minimum / average / maximum indicators
• Heart rate, blood pressure, water balance and other data.

Advantages:

• GPS is not required to calculate the distance covered. It uses an accelerometer, which is available on almost any smartphone.

Disadvantages:

• Not all features are available for free
• There are errors when using the accelerometer

Start to Run

The main problem for beginners is not knowing how to start running. Start to Run is a great app for easy immersion in running. You don't have to reinvent the wheel, just choose a training program and follow the instructions.

Thanks to the level system, you can gradually develop your skills. The first workouts will not exhaust you, adding motivation to achieve new goals. Each level has its own duration, intensity and load. It takes about 4 weeks to overcome each section in the run.

Useful features available in the Start to Run mobile app:

• personalized training system
• work with gps-trackers
• several multi-level plans from simple to advanced
• creation of your own training plans
• collecting statistics during training (calculation of distance, time, etc.)
• additional tools for recording running performance (pedometer, stopwatch, calorimeter).

Running App

This app has several workout plans for running. The main focus is on weight loss. All weight loss programs are developed by competent specialists. The app will be useful to a wide audience, young and old people.

All achievements are recorded in the app log, along with digital indicators such as time, distance, speed, number of calories spent. You can display the data in a form of charts.

So, what workout plans the app offers:

• Interval walking: a weight loss plan for those who prefer walking and speed walking to running
• Running is the standard mode, allows you to pump up your skills, you can start with jogging and short distances
• Introductory running with comments from a personal trainer.

Other useful features of the Running App:

• Weight loss goals
• Detailed analysis of workouts, detailed graphs and statistics
• Recording routes, comparing performance on different days on the same section.

Sports Tracker

Sports Tracker is an app for those involved in active sports - running, walking, mountain biking, skiing. It allows you to track activity, analyzing the progress in the form of graphs.

Key features of Sports Tracker:

• Track workout progress
• View reports, training logs
• Compare results of your chosen period
• Keep a progress diary
• Track calories, speed, pace, and other values in real time
• Track logging, route search on map
• Personalized workouts, video tutorials

To use the running distance tracker:

1. Tap the Start button
2. Select the type of activity: Running

3. If necessary, change additional settings: Audio feedback, Auto Pause, etc.
4. Press the Continue button
5. The main screen displays Duration / Time, Distance, Speed/pace, Avg speed avg pace.

6. Press Start to begin the distance tracker and Stop / End to finish.
7. If you want to see the statistics, go to the Training zone - Summaries section.

8. The distance settings in kilometers or miles can be changed in the app settings by selecting the unit system - metric or imperial.

Sports Tracker works with major fitness gadgets: trackers, smart watches, allowing you to synchronize workout data and export it in a convenient way.

Set goals and go to them, keep in shape and motivate yourself every day!

FAQ

Will a running app work without the Internet?

Yes, some iOS and Android mobile apps work well in offline mode.

Among the best offline running apps, we would like to mention Stava. The reason for this is that the GPS does not require downloading data from the Internet. Therefore, the tracking functions will work fully.

Other apps for running also support the offline mode, we advise you to test it by disconnecting from the Internet. If you are not satisfied with how running apps work without the Internet, use a smartwatch - a more reliable option, but requires the purchase of the device itself.