Ranner vs Runna: similar names, very different coaches
Ranner and Runna are easy to mix up, but they coach you in different ways. Runna gives you a polished, structured plan. Ranner is an AI coach you talk to, and it rewrites your plan around your sleep and recovery. Here is how their prices, watch support and coaching compare.
If you typed "Ranner" and got Runna, or the other way round, you're not alone: the names look and sound alike, and search engines mix them up all the time. They are two different apps from two different companies, and they coach you in quite different ways. We make Ranner, so keep that in mind as you read. We've tried to be fair to Runna, which is a very good app.
Short answer
Runna gives you a polished, structured plan with excellent watch sync and a huge community. It's the safer pick if you want a clear plan to follow and don't feel the need to discuss it. Ranner is an AI coach you talk to: it reads your sleep, HRV and resting heart rate every morning, rewrites the day when you need it, explains its choices, and costs €5 a month less. Runna has free beginner plans. Ranner has a 5-day trial and no free plan.
| App | Ranner | Runna |
|---|---|---|
| Price | €14.99/mo€89.99/yr | €19.99/mo€119.99/yr |
| Free option | 5-day trial | 7-day trial |
| How it coaches | AI coach you talk to | Adaptive plan (algorithm) |
| Chat with your coach | ||
| Adapts to sleep & HRV | ||
| Sends workouts to | Garmin, Apple Watch, COROS, Suunto, Zepp / Amazfit | Garmin, Apple Watch, COROS, Suunto |
| Reads data from | Garmin, Apple Health, Strava, COROS, Suunto, Polar, Zepp / Amazfit, WHOOP, Oura, Wahoo, Zwift, Google Health, Health Connect | Strava, Garmin, Apple Health, COROS, Suunto, Fitbit |
| Platforms | iOS, Android, Web | iOS, Android, Apple Watch |
| App languages | EN ES FR IT NL | EN ES FR IT DE NL PT JA |
The core difference: a plan versus a coach
Runna starts from a plan. You choose a race, a date and how many days a week you can run, and you get a structured block of intervals, tempo runs and long runs designed by its coaching team. As you complete sessions, it adjusts your target paces. It's clear, well designed and easy to follow.
Ranner starts from a conversation. You tell the coach what you're training for, what a normal week looks like and anything it should know: an old injury, a work trip, a new baby at home. It builds the plan from that, and the conversation doesn't end there. You can ask why Thursday is a tempo run, mention that your calf feels tight, or say you only have 30 minutes today, and the plan changes.
Recovery: who notices that you slept badly?
This is the biggest practical difference. Every morning Ranner reads your sleep, heart rate variability and resting heart rate from your watch and looks at how your last runs actually went. If the signals say you're run down, today's intervals become an easy run and the rest of the week is rearranged so you don't simply lose the session. You see the reason in the app, and you can push back if you disagree.
Runna adapts to your running, meaning the paces you hit, and since July 2026 to the weather with Adapt for Heat. We found no sign that it uses sleep or HRV to change your plan.
Price
- Runna: €19.99 a month or €119.99 a year, with a 7-day trial. The New to Running and Return to Running plans are free. Strava sells a Strava + Runna bundle for $149.99 a year, through Strava rather than Runna.
- Ranner: €14.99 a month or €89.99 a year, after a 5-day free trial (14 days with a friend's invite code). You don't need a card to start, and there's no free plan after the trial.
Over a year Ranner costs €30 less. If all you want is a free beginner plan, Runna wins.
Watches and apps
Both apps send structured workouts to Garmin, Apple Watch, COROS and Suunto, so pace targets and intervals show up on your wrist. The differences are in the details:
- Runna has its own Apple Watch app. Ranner sends sessions into Apple's built-in Workout app instead (on iPhones with iOS 17 or later), which works well but isn't a dedicated app.
- Ranner also sends workouts to Zepp / Amazfit watches, and reads data from Polar, WHOOP, Oura, Wahoo, Zwift, Google Health and Health Connect: 13 sources in total.
- Runna belongs to Strava, so the two fit together very smoothly. Ranner syncs with Strava too.
Where Runna is better
- Polish and track record. 4.9 stars from about 34,000 ratings on the US App Store, and a big community around it.
- Free beginner plans, a genuinely free way to start running.
- A dedicated Apple Watch app.
- More languages. Runna is available in eight; Ranner in five (English, Spanish, French, Italian and Dutch).
Where Ranner is better
- You can talk to it. Ask anything, get an answer based on your own data, and change the plan just by saying so.
- It follows your recovery. Sleep, HRV and resting heart rate change the day's session, not only your paces.
- Strength and nutrition come with the plan. Strength sessions go to your watch too, and daily calorie and macro targets move with your training load.
- A lower price, plus more watches and data sources.
Choose Runna if…
- You want a clear, proven plan and don't feel the need to discuss it
- You're new to running and want to start for free
- You want a dedicated app on your Apple Watch
Choose Ranner if…
- You want to ask your coach questions and hear why each session is there
- You want the plan to back off by itself when you've slept badly or feel run down
- You use Zepp / Amazfit, WHOOP, Oura or Polar, or want nutrition planned with your training
Still not sure? Try both: Runna offers a 7-day trial and Ranner a 5-day one. And to see how both compare with the rest of the field, read our best AI running coach apps of 2026.
Frequently asked questions
Is Ranner the same app as Runna?
No. They are different apps made by different companies. Runna is a structured training plan app owned by Strava. Ranner is an AI running coach you chat with, made by a small independent team. The names are close enough that search engines often mix them up.
Is Ranner cheaper than Runna?
Yes. Ranner costs €14.99 a month or €89.99 a year. Runna costs €19.99 a month or €119.99 a year, or $149.99 a year in a bundle with Strava. Runna has a longer free trial (7 days against Ranner's 5) and free beginner plans, while Ranner has no free plan after its trial.
Does Runna use AI?
Runna adjusts your target paces with an algorithm as you complete runs, and it now adapts for heat. It has no coach you can chat with, and we found no sign that it changes your plan based on sleep or HRV. Ranner's coach is a conversational AI that reads those signals every morning.
Which is better for beginners, Ranner or Runna?
Runna's free New to Running plan is a good, low-risk way to start. Ranner suits beginners who have a lot of questions, such as whether a pain is normal, how slow easy should feel or what to do after a bad night, and who want the plan to back off by itself when they are tired.
Do both apps send workouts to my watch?
Yes. Both send structured workouts to Garmin, Apple Watch, COROS and Suunto. Runna has its own Apple Watch app, while Ranner sends workouts into Apple's built-in Workout app. Ranner also supports Zepp / Amazfit watches.
Try Ranner free for 5 days
Tell the coach your goal in a two-minute chat and get your first training week. No card needed to start.