Running on a treadmill can become boring fast.
One of the main arguments for running outside is that the alternative – using a treadmill – can get repetitive, which can lower your motivation levels and put an end to those fitness gains.
So how can you make your indoor running more exciting?
Treadmill workout apps can make your running session more exciting. These apps offer programs, sync to the beat of the music, and more to make your next run less boring. Some of the top treadmill apps include Couch to 5k Runner and Nike+ Run Club. Some even have free versions available.
This article will look at the 16 best treadmill workout apps and the devices they are compatible with to make your next indoor running session more fun.
You no longer have to hate your next cardio session. Just download one of these apps and add some gamification to your next run.
Move over, HIIT-- there's a new workout in town! The Balanced Interval Training Experience, or BITE method, helps you shed weight and improve your run faster than ever before. Learn the best treadmill workout methods.
16 Best Treadmill Workout Apps
1. Couch to 5K Runner (C25K)
Couch to 5K Runner is compatible with both iOS and Android. It is a great app for beginner runners who are looking to start their fitness journey. You train to run a 5K in eight weeks. In-app purchases give you access to music, calories burned, and other integrations.
Want to run a 5K but don’t know where to start? This is the app for you.
It became something of a mainstream smash hit during the coronavirus lockdown.
You train for 30 minutes three times a week. And with a little dedication, you’ll be a 5K runner in no time.
There is a free version, but it does not give you access to the complete program. For full access, you can pay $9.99 per month or $59.99 for 12 months (you also get a 2-week free trial with the yearly subscription).
2. Nike+ Run Club
https://www.nike.com/gb/nrc-app
Nike+ Run Club is available for Android and iOS users and is free to download. This app has more than 50 guided runs led by all-stars such as Shalane Flanagan. There are six running workouts you can choose from specifically for treadmill runs.
The workouts range from 15 to 30 minutes. What’s great about this app is that it comes with audio instructions. Another great feature is integrating your Spotify or Apple Music playlists and laying the coach’s cues over your playlist. You can track your runs and challenge friends.
3. Zombies, Run!
Nothing will motivate you to run faster than zombies chasing you.
Zombies, Run! is compatible with Android and iOS devices. It’s free to download, with a few free features you can access. You can run outdoors or on the treadmill while hearing your missions through your earphones or headphones.
You complete missions by collecting supplies and running away from zombies. There are around 200 missions, all with their own stories. Users can also track their progress and share it with their friends. You also have the option of creating your own missions. You can sync your own music as well.
To access all missions and features, you can subscribe for either $9.99 per month or $34.99 per year.
4. Zwift
Zwift makes indoor training fun. It is compatible with Android, Microsoft Windows, Macintosh operating systems, iOS, and tvOS. Players are able to interact in a virtual world. You get 25 km for free; after that, you can join with a monthly subscription of $14.99. Kids under 16 years of age can join for free!
You get access to workouts created by professional coaches, and these can be completed in groups with other players. There are a total of nine maps available. You get to run through a video-game-like world in real-time.
5. Bitgym
You can join Bitgym for free or subscribe to the premium version. You can access eight rotating tours, stream or download for offline use with the free version. Bitgym premium unlocks more than 200 tours. There are new tours each month.
You can also save your progress through checkpoints and sync your workout history across several devices. Bitgym is compatible with Android and iOS. It also works on the newer Apple TV versions.
The monthly membership is $9.99 per month. If you subscribe annually, you will pay $7.50 per month. You can also make a once-off lifetime payment of $399.
6. Peloton Digital
https://www.onepeloton.com/app
Peloton Digital offers a 14-day free trial; after that, the cost is $12.99 per month. You can choose from 175 running classes ranging from 10 minutes to an hour.
The app combines different running styles like interval running, hill runs, and fun runs. Peloton Digital is compatible with iOS devices, Android devices, and Fire TVs. You can also use their web platform.
7. Adidas Runtastic
You can download Adidas Runtastic to any Android or iOS device. The app is straightforward and simple – it’s like a social network for runners. Runtastic has both free and paid versions. The paid version is $9.99 per month. The free plan allows users to track their average pace, speed, calories burned, duration, and distance.
There are also a few free story-runs, and you get access to the blog and community. With the free plan, you’re also able to join challenges. The premium plan will give users access to more detailed statistics, all story runs, and targeted training plans.
8. Studio
You get the instructor’s audio-based directs and a playlist with the studio running app. It’s available for $15 per month.
The app lets you earn ‘FITCOIN’ for the time and distance of your runs and ranks you on the app’s leader board. There are also prizes up for grabs. It’s available for all IOS devices who want to make their treadmill runs more exciting.
9. Aaptiv
You can try Aaptiv for free for one week. After that, you can subscribe for $14.99 per month. Several workouts are added each week in 12 categories. Users can choose a workout based on the trainer, playlist, intensity, estimated distance, and peak speed.
You get workouts as short as seven minutes if you’re strapped for time. The app supports iOS 13.0 and above and Android 5.0 and above.
10. Treadmill Trails
Treadmill Trails transports you to different parts of the world. The routes are about 30 minutes, and you can layer your own music over the minimal narration. Treadmill Trails is compatible with Android and iOS. You can download the videos for $0.99 each, and it’s yours forever.
11. iFit
The iFit app is available for Android and Apple devices, and you will need to pair the app with your treadmill via Bluetooth. With iFit, you get access to various workouts led by personal trainers. The app offers a 30-day trial. After that, you can subscribe to any of the following plans:
- Yearly Family Plan for $396 per year.
- Monthly Family Plan for $39 per month
- Yearly Individual Plan for $180 per year
12. PulseTread
PulseTread offers 30-minute high-intensity workouts straight to your iPhone. Workouts vary every day, but usually, the workout is split into three 10-minute intervals or two 15-minute intervals. You can complete these workouts while listening to your downloaded playlists or running podcasts.
There are different payment options. If you want one workout, you can purchase that workout for $0.99 or pay $4.99 per month to access all workouts. There is also a yearly plan of $39.99.
13. CardioCast
CardioCast offers audio workouts from coaches while listening to music. Users can work out anytime and anywhere with world-class instructors. You also choose your own courses and access more than 1000 workouts.
Membership is $9.99 per month, $24.99 quarterly, or $89.99 per year. CardioCast offers a 7-day free trial for those who first want to get a feel of the app. CardioCast is compatible with Android and iOS devices.
14. Charity Miles
Charity Miles is an amazing initiative that we can really get behind. They donate 25 cents for every mile you run to a charity of your choice. There are more than dozens of charities you can choose from. This app is compatible with all Android and iOS devices.
It tracks your movement through your phone’s GPS or internal pedometer. It will sync with your Apple Health app on iPhones, and on Android, it will sync with your phone’s internal pedometer.
15. Asics Runkeeper
Runkeeper is available to Android and iOS users. It is a fitness tracking app developed by Asics, similar to Strava in many ways. The app is free, but you can upgrade to an Elite membership for $9.99 per month or $39.99 per year.
The app will track your workouts, help you set goals, offer customized training plans, and track your progress. You can also tag your family or friends in a workout if they have a Runkeeper account. The app allows you to choose from multiple voices to deliver audio cues.
16. Kinomap
Kinomap is compatible with Android and iOS. It allows you to upload videos and GPS tracks that create videos that move at the same pace as your running or riding. In other words, it syncs the video’s speeds with your speed. You get to see parts of the world you’ve never seen before and upload your own footage.
Kinomap has a free version available where users can access a few routes. Full access is $10 per month, or you can choose to have a lifetime membership for $229.
Another bonus is that you can even earn a small amount of money if you submit great videos and routes. There are thousands of routes you can choose from.
The app also features training videos and programs with workouts.
Our Verdict on Workout Apps for Treadmill Runs
We love treadmill workouts but there’s no denying… it’s gets a bit boring. The cold interior of the gym or home garage is no replacement for running outdoors.
These top rated treadmill workout apps will make your next indoor run less boring. They provide the interaction and incentives to keep you pushing when it would be easy to call it a day. Or not turn up at all.
Most offer free trials to get a feel of the features they offer, and then you can decide whether you would like to subscribe to the app.
