Runna vs TrainingPeaks vs Strava vs StrideRun: Which Running App Is Actually Worth $13/Month in 2025?

1. Introduction

If you've tried shopping for a running app recently, you already know how crowded the market has become. There are now dozens of platforms—each promising smarter training, better motivation, or deeper analytics. Most cost somewhere between $10 and $20 a month. And if you're like me, you eventually ask yourself: Is any of this actually worth paying for?

As a marathon runner, I've personally tested four of the most talked-about options: Strava, TrainingPeaks, Runna, and StrideRun. And what I learned is that each one excels in different areas. Some are great for the community. Some are built for athletes who love data. And a few actually try to coach you in a meaningful, adaptive way.

This comparison breaks down the strengths and weaknesses of each so you can decide which one fits your training style—not just your budget.

2. What Runners Actually Need from a Training App

Before comparing features, it helps to get realistic about what runners actually need—especially if you're training for a 5K, 10K, Half Marathon, or Marathon.

• Adaptable training plans — Life happens. A good training app should adjust when you get sick, travel, miss workouts, or feel fatigued.
• Progress tracking and analytics — Some runners just want weekly mileage. Others want advanced charts. Either way, you need feedback to stay motivated.
• Motivation and accountability — Check-ins, streaks, community support—these things matter more than people admit.
• Guidance when things go wrong — A good app should help you navigate injuries, bad workouts, or missed long runs.
• Race-day strategy — Fueling, pacing, warm-ups—apps that help here are more valuable than apps that just store run data.
• More than just logging workouts — Your Garmin, Coros, or Apple Watch already logs runs perfectly. The app you pay for needs to offer something beyond logging.

3. Overview of the 4 Apps Compared

Here's the quick snapshot before we go deeper:

Each one solves a completely different problem.

4. In-Depth Comparison

STRAVA — $11.99/month

Strava is the default home for most runners. It's where your friends give you kudos and where segments become battles.

Training features: Strava offers basic plans and light analytics, but it's not a full training system. It doesn't adapt your schedule or guide you strategically.

Best for: Social runners who love community motivation and sharing workouts.

Verdict: Amazing social network. Decent for training insight. But not a training coach.

TRAININGPEAKS — $19.95/month

TrainingPeaks is built for serious athletes and coaches. If you love data, this is paradise.

Best for: Advanced runners, triathletes, or anyone with a human coach.

It can be overwhelming if you're not familiar with training science. Many runners only use 10–20% of what it offers.

Verdict: Best-in-class analytics. Too complex for most runners.

RUNNA — $19.99/month

Runna exploded in popularity because of its clean UI and audio-guided runs.

Best for: Runners who want structured plans and enjoy guided audio sessions.

If you get sick, miss multiple runs, or need to modify training, you usually have to guess or manually tweak things.

Verdict: Great for structured training and audio coaching. Limited adaptability.

STRIDERUN — $12.99–22.99/month

StrideRun is the newest app here, but it solves the problem I personally struggled with: coaching that actually adapts and answers your questions.

StrideRun is the only app on this list that remembers your full training context without long chat histories. The coaching feels surprisingly personal.

Best for: Runners who want adaptable training, ask lots of questions, or frequently have schedule disruptions.

Verdict: The best option for adaptive AI coaching at the same price point as Runna. Most helpful for busy adults who can't follow a perfect plan.

5. Feature Comparison Table

| Feature | Strava | TrainingPeaks | Runna | StrideRun | |---------|--------|--------------|-------|-----------| | Price | $11.99/mo | $19.95/mo | $19.99/mo | $12.99–22.99/mo | | Training Plans | Basic | Advanced/pro | Structured plans | AI-personalized | | Coaching Type | None | Human/none | Audio | Conversational AI | | Plan Adjustments | ❌ | ❌ | ❌ | ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ | | AI Coaching | ❌ | ❌ | ❌ | ✅ | | Workout Tracking | ⭐⭐⭐⭐ | ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ | ⭐⭐⭐⭐ | ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ | | Analytics Depth | Moderate | Extremely high | Moderate | High (simplified) | | Social Features | ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ | ⭐ | ⭐⭐ | ⭐ | | Audio Coaching | ❌ | ❌ | ✅ | ❌ | | Best For | Social runners | Data athletes | Structured beginners & intermediates | Adaptive coaching seekers |

Key takeaway: Every app "wins" somewhere—your needs dictate the winner.

6. Which App Should You Choose? (Decision Framework)

Here's the simplest way to match your goals to the right app:

Choose STRAVA if:

• You're motivated by community
• You love segment battles
• You want a place to store and share runs
• You already have a coach who gives you your plan

Choose TRAININGPEAKS if:

• You're a triathlete or advanced marathoner
• You work with a professional coach
• You love data, charts, and structured workouts
• You don't mind complexity

Choose RUNNA if:

• You want audio-guided training
• You prefer pre-built structured plans
• You're a beginner or intermediate runner
• You don't need adaptive or conversational AI

Choose STRIDERUN if:

• You want AI you can actually talk to
• Your schedule changes often
• You need automatic plan adjustments
• You travel, get sick, or have unpredictable weeks
• You found ChatGPT helpful, but not reliable for long-term coaching

7. The Real Winner: It Depends on You

No single app dominates every category. Each has a valid role:

• Strava → Social motivation
• TrainingPeaks → Professional analytics
• Runna → Audio-guided structure
• StrideRun → Adaptive AI coaching

You can even combine them. Many runners use Strava for social features and another app for training guidance.

Before committing to anything long-term, try a free trial and see how well the app fits into your actual routine—not your ideal one.

8. Conclusion & Recommendations

Here's the quick summary:

• Strava is unparalleled for community and motivation.
• TrainingPeaks is unbeatable for deep analytics and coaching integrations.
• Runna offers solid structured plans with excellent audio guidance.
• StrideRun delivers the most adaptable AI coaching—ideal for runners with real-life schedules.

My personal pick is StrideRun, simply because it solved the exact problems I faced during marathon training. But the right choice depends on your goals, experience, and lifestyle.

If you want to try StrideRun, you can get started for free—no credit card required—at striderun.app.