Runna vs Strava

Choose Runna if…

• Runners training for a specific race who want an adaptive, coach-designed plan
• Personalised plans for every distance up to ultramarathon
• Sends workouts to Apple Watch, Garmin, Fitbit and Coros

Choose Strava if…

• Runners and cyclists who want a social feed, segment leaderboards and to sync any GPS device
• You want a free option (Runna is paid only)
• You need Web, which Runna doesn't list
• Large active community with clubs, challenges and kudos
• Segments and leaderboards make training competitive

What is Runna?

Runna is a running app focused on structured training plans rather than activity logging. You pick a goal, such as a first 5K, a faster 10K, a half marathon, marathon or ultra, along with a race date and how often you can run, and it builds a plan of easy runs, tempo and interval sessions and long runs that adjusts as you go. Plans are designed by experienced coaches and include pacing guidance, plus optional strength and mobility sessions. Workouts sync to Apple Watch, Garmin, Fitbit and Coros, and runs connect to Strava. The app runs on iPhone and Android. Runna is a subscription with monthly or annual billing after a one-week free trial, and you only see the full plan on the annual option. It suits runners training for a specific race who would otherwise pay for a human coach or follow a static PDF plan.

What is Strava?

Strava records runs, rides, walks and dozens of other sports with your phone's GPS or a connected watch or bike computer, then shows a map, pace, speed, heart rate and other stats for each activity. What sets it apart is the social side: friends follow each other's activities, give kudos, join clubs and challenges, and compete on segments, short stretches of road or trail with their own leaderboards. Recording, the feed and basic safety tools are free. A paid subscription adds full segment leaderboards, route suggestions and offline maps, advanced training analysis, custom goals and the Fitness Score, and Strava also sells a bundle with Runna, its running-coach app. It runs on iPhone, Android and the web, and syncs with most GPS devices including Garmin, Wahoo and Apple Watch. Some useful features that used to be free now need the subscription, and the public-by-default privacy settings are worth checking when you sign up.