Free running apps: choose by the job
Nike Run Club is a practical starting point for free guided runs and training plans. Strava's free tier suits recording and sharing activities. Those are different jobs: recording a run does not by itself provide a plan or individual coaching.
Nike describes its guided runs and training plans as free. Strava confirms that activity recording and sharing are free, while mobile route creation requires a subscription. Feature access was checked on October 18, 2026; verify the current offer before subscribing.
Test the free workflow before moving your history
Record one familiar short run. Check distance, pause behaviour, battery use, privacy and any watch connection you need. Then inspect an ordinary training week: can you find the next session, understand its purpose and decide what to do if it is missed? Keep your existing history until the new workflow works.
A free app is enough when it meets those needs. Paying is worth considering only for a specific missing capability, such as a particular device workflow or ongoing coaching. Neither price nor an AI label establishes training quality.
26weeks.ai publishes this guide and offers its own coaching product; it is not included here as a verified free alternative. Compare the running-app guide for broader choices, or use the marathon training hub and pace calculator alongside your current tracker.