Pick RunBuddy if
- You want a plan built for your goal, not only a record of what you ran.
- You want to know how ready you are to train today.
- You want to own your data or self-host it.
RunBuddy vs Strava
Strava is built for recording and sharing runs. RunBuddy is built for planning them, with a coach that adapts your plan after every run.
Strava details checked
An alternative to Strava for training plans
Strava is the place to record and share runs. It doesn’t build you an adaptive plan of its own. RunBuddy does only that part: it reads your runs from Apple Health, plans the next sessions and sends them to your Apple Watch, so you can keep Strava for the social side.
| Feature | RunBuddy | Strava |
|---|---|---|
| Coach you can chat with | Yes | No |
| Plan that adapts to your runs | Yes | No |
| Records runs | Uses Apple Health | Own app |
| Social feed and clubs | No | Yes |
| Segments | Yes | Yes |
| Readiness from HRV and sleep | Yes | No |
| Self-host your data | Yes | No |
| Free tier | Yes | Yes |
Pick Strava if
- Clubs, kudos and following friends matter most to you.
- You mainly want to record and share your runs.
Using both
Many runners keep Strava for the social side. If Strava saves your runs to Apple Health, RunBuddy picks them up and plans around them.
Questions
Does Strava have training plans?
Strava focuses on recording, segments and the social feed. Since buying Runna in 2025 it points runners who want plans to Runna, which is a separate app.
Can I use RunBuddy and Strava together?
Yes. If Strava saves your runs to Apple Health, RunBuddy picks them up and plans around them.
Is RunBuddy free?
There is a free tier with a training plan, sessions on your Apple Watch and stats. Coach Pro, with a plan that adapts after every run, is €7.99 a month.