• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Reviews
  • Guides
  • Brands
  • Comparisons
Superwatches - Smartwatches for smart healthy people

SuperWatches

Super Smartwatches and Wearables

  • News
  • About Us

Top 5 Smartwatch Compatible Running Apps

smartwatch compatible running apps

Introduction

Thanks to built-in sensors, smartwatches are ideal for monitoring running performance in the short and long-term. You’re able to track distance, speed and pace, steps, heart rate, calories burned and the map of your route. When paired with smartwatch compatible running apps, this data is stored so you can analyse it after your session.

Most apps are available on both Android and iOS. They range from technical types to those that are almost game-like to encourage more activity. Either way, there’s a smartwatch and app combination that will help you achieve your goals.

Let’s look at the top five running apps.

New Apple Watch SE (GPS, 40mm) - Gold Aluminum Case with Pink Sand Sport Band
New Apple Watch SE (GPS, 40mm) - Gold Aluminum Case with Pink Sand Sport Band
  • GPS model lets you take calls and reply to texts from your wrist
  • Large Retina OLED display
  • Up to 2x faster processor than Series 3
Check Amazon Price

Strava

Available on both Android and iOS, for free, this is one of the best running apps on the market. It has some cool interactive apps. They add a level of competition through games features, as well as the expected running tracking.

The app monitors speed, distance, time taken and maps it out. It’s all incredibly useful information and it gets plugged into a leaderboard. You can track your achievements as well as entering competitions. Furthermore, make things a bit more interesting by challenging your friends. 

The best thing about the Strava app is that it works with an immeasurable number of smartwatches. This includes WearOS and the Apple Watch series.

New Apple Watch Series 6 (GPS, 44mm) - Space Gray Aluminum Case with Black Sport Band
New Apple Watch Series 6 (GPS, 44mm) - Space Gray Aluminum Case with Black Sport Band
  • GPS model lets you take calls and reply to texts from your wrist
  • Measure your blood oxygen with an all-new sensor and app
  • Check your heart rhythm with the ECG app
Check Amazon Price

Adidas Runtastic

Adidas Runtastic is available to both Android and iOS users. It’s a one-stop-shop running app that maps out your sessions as well as providing a number of running metrics for analysis. It’ll tell you your time, speed and distance with a bespoke coach that offers motivational support and encourages progress.

running shoes

Information shown can varied via a dashboard and community features encourage progress through challenges and goals. It’s a free app but there is also a premium upgrade option that gives route planning, training plans, interval training and more.

Nike Run Club

Nike fans were sad to see the departure of the FuelBand, but Nike didn’t abandon runners altogether. The free Nike Run Club app is a great way of tracking your run. It’s aimed at runners of all abilities, plays music and offers social networking features. It’s compatible with many smartwatch brands like Garmin and Polar.

red hat

The Nike Run Club app, available to both Android and iOS users offers metrics like distance, pace and mile splits. There’s a coach feature that has plans that you can customise to your own fitness goals and use to monitor progress. After your session, you can analyse and share and compare your data with others, adding photos, statistics and emojis – there’s even a cute feature that lets you hear audio cheers from peers!

Spotify

You might not immediately think of Spotify when you’re searching for a running app, but it actually has a nifty running feature for smartphones. It uses the sensors on your phone to monitor your pace and tempo and will use that to play music that matches, keeping you focused on your run! It’s available for both Android and iOS users.

You may need to be a premium Spotify member to get access to your music, depending on your smartwatch. You can get this app on Garmin and Samsung watches as well as Apple Watches and some WatchOS devices. Some devices offer something resembling a remote, rather than a full app. 

Fitbit Sense Advanced Smartwatch with Tools for Heart Health, Stress Management & Skin Temperature Trends,...
Fitbit Sense Advanced Smartwatch with Tools for Heart Health, Stress Management & Skin Temperature Trends,...
  • EDA Scan app detects electrodermal activity which may indicate your body's response to stress and a...
  • Assess your heart for atrial fibrillation –a heart rhythm irregularity- and easily share results...
  • An on-wrist skin temperature sensor tracks yours each night so you can see how it varies. You can...
Check Amazon Price

Fitbit Coach App

The Fitbit Coach app is available for both Android and iOS users and can be found on the Microsoft store – so if Microsoft ever launches the Surface smartwatch, you’ll be able to link it to the Fitbit Coach app.

The app offers guided workouts which can be altered to suit your fitness goals, streamed right there on your wrist. It’s also free, but the features on this are very basic compared to the premium version which is $39.99 annually. 

fitness training

You can get the app itself from the Apple App, Google Play and Microsoft stores. It will work on on most devices and platforms, though functions best with a Fitbit, in particular, the Fitbit Ionic, Versa and Versa 3 which have access to custom workouts.

Summary

Garmin, Samsung and Apple Watch users will have the hardest time deciding what app to use to monitor their pace, distance, calories burned and mapped routes and a whole other range of exciting options. 

It is arguable that a smartwatch or fitness tracker isn’t a necessity as the compatibility will always be there between your app and smartphone. Isn’t a watch, therefore, just an additional expense? But with a smartwatch on your wrist, you can have instant access to the most important data (or change songs to keep you on pace) and the freedom to leave your phone behind means won’t be distracted or weighed down.

Follow us

Facebook Instagram Twitter Pinterest

Last Updated on December 22, 2020

Maygen
Maygen

Maygen is a multifaceted writer, proofreader and an experienced smartwatch industry writing and editing professional.

December 22, 2020 By Maygen 4 Comments Filed Under: Buying Guides, Fitness & Sports Watches, News

Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. AvatarAndrew says

    October 27, 2020 at 4:57 pm

    Hi Maygen,
    I am considering a smartwatch as a gift for a friend who uses the Nike Run App. I am wondering, are there any watches that still interface with this app besides the Apple Watch? The Apple model is a little out of my price range, but if there was something made by, say, Garmin that could link to their Nike app, I would be interested in that.

    Thanks for any information you can provide.

    Reply
    • Emma MorrisEmma Morris says

      October 28, 2020 at 12:18 pm

      Hi Andrew, thank you for your question. Of course, we would always advise you to fully check out a device is compatible before purchasing rather than relying solely on our information however after some research on the Nike website it seems the app is compatible with devices from Garmin and TomTom. I have added the link below for you to see.

      https://www.nike.com/gb/help/a/connect-nrc-partner-apps-devices

      Apologies I can not give you a more detailed answer however I hope this somewhat helps.

      Many thanks

      Reply
  2. AvatarSeb says

    November 2, 2020 at 4:41 pm

    Hi,
    Thanks for this article.
    I am a RunKeeper user since many years from my phone and I am planning to buy a Samsung Galaxy Watch 3. Can we use Runkeeper with this watch ?
    Thanks in advance,
    Seb.

    Reply
    • Emma MorrisEmma Morris says

      November 4, 2020 at 12:56 pm

      Hi Seb, thank you for your question.

      I have done some research and I couldn’t really find a definitive answer. However, RunKeeper state the app is compatible with iOS and Android devices but the Samsung Galaxy 3 uses Tizen as their operating system so unfortunately I do not think they are compatible.

      To be 100% sure though, maybe send an email to Samsung or RunKeeper.

      Many thanks, Emma

      Reply

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

seventeen − fourteen =

Affiliate Disclosure: Superwatches.com is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program. As an Amazon Associate, we earn from qualifying purchase.
Our participation in affiliate programs is at no extra cost to you.


Copyright © 2021 · Superwatches.com · Privacy · FAQ · Terms · Contact us
Superwatches is a trading name of Lezgo Limited. Our correspondence address is Lezgo Limited, 4283 Express Lane, Suite 6707-288, Sarasota, FL 34249

We use cookies on our website to give you the most relevant experience for repeat visits. By clicking “Accept”, you consent to the use of cookies.
Cookie settingsACCEPT
Privacy & Cookies Policy

Privacy Overview

This website uses cookies to improve your experience while you navigate through the website. Out of these, the cookies that are categorized as necessary are stored on your browser as they are essential for the working of basic functionalities of the website. We also use third-party cookies that help us analyze and understand how you use this website. These cookies will be stored in your browser only with your consent. You also have the option to opt-out of these cookies. But opting out of some of these cookies may affect your browsing experience.
Necessary
Always Enabled

Necessary cookies are absolutely essential for the website to function properly. This category only includes cookies that ensures basic functionalities and security features of the website. These cookies do not store any personal information.

Non-necessary

Any cookies that may not be particularly necessary for the website to function and is used specifically to collect user personal data via analytics, ads, other embedded contents are termed as non-necessary cookies. It is mandatory to procure user consent prior to running these cookies on your website.

SAVE & ACCEPT