The best running app in the world? Why runners are switching to a game

"Best" depends on what running is to you

Search "best running app in the world" and you'll get the same global leaderboard every year — the biggest trackers, ranked by features. They're genuinely excellent. But here's the thing nobody says out loud: most runners don't quit because their app lacked a metric. They quit because running got boring.

So the real question isn't "which app has the most graphs?" It's "which app keeps you running?" — and increasingly, the answer is the one that turns running into a game.

The global giants (and what they're best at)

Credit where it's due. Each of these owns a clear lane:

If your goal is a training plan or a kudos feed, pick from the first three — they're the best in the world at that. This post is for everyone whose goal is simpler and harder: actually wanting to run tomorrow.

What changes when running becomes a game

On a tracker, you finish a run and get a number. On Run on Realms, you finish a run and the map changes: the loop you closed becomes a realm you own, the streets you crossed fill with your colour, your squad sees it live, and a rival somewhere just lost ground. Running stops being a solo chore and becomes a move in an ongoing game over your city.

It works in any city on Earth

A territorial running game runs on real-world map data, so it isn't built for one country — it's built for any street, in any city, anywhere in the world. Whether you run in Bengaluru, London, Lagos, São Paulo or Sydney, the game is the same: your runs claim your map. We're rolling out city by city — starting in India and expanding outward — so the waitlist is how you bring it to yours.

So, the best running app in the world?

Honestly? It depends on the runner. For pure tracking and social, the global giants are hard to beat. But "best" is moving — toward apps that make running fun enough to become a habit, not just measured enough to become a spreadsheet. If that's the kind of best you're after, a running app you actually play is the future, and that's exactly what we're building.

Related reading

• The next generation of running apps: from tracking to playing
• The best Strava alternatives in 2026 (free & gamified)
• Best running app in India (2026): the honest guide
• FAQ: what makes Run on Realms the best running app?

Strava, Nike Run Club and Runna are trademarks of their respective owners. Run on Realms is independent and not affiliated with them; comparisons reflect our honest opinion.