Adidas running app review

When I look at the homepage on my Adidas Running app (formerly named Runtastic), my heart sings. Not only does it display every workout and run I’ve completed with a map, and photos (if I decide to upload them), but it details each with the total mileage, the duration and my average pace. That’s not anything out of the ordinary for a running app, but the ease of having it all in one place feels very motivating and appealing. 

Best of all, you can look into each run further by clicking on your activity and delving into more stats, graphs, and charts. You then have the option to challenge yourself on that particular route — a great motivator to help you improve and run a specific course a little quicker. 

In this Adidas Running app review, we’ll compare the free vs the paid version to help you decide whether or not the monthly $9.99 premium membership is worth it. Looking for more app reviews? Take a scroll through our round-up of the best running apps, to find one that matches your running style. 

Adidas Running app review: Free vs Paid membership

Adidas’ Running app has a free version or a paid membership. The free version includes real-time tracking with GPS, shining a spotlight on your duration, distance, calories burned, average pace, speed and heart rate data. You’ll also get basic running stats, such as your weekly activity and how far you are away from your personal goal (I challenged myself to running a marathon a week, 26.2 miles).

Users of the free app still have access to the Adidas running online community and blog posts, and the ability to join challenges and training groups. You’re also able to listen to a selection of the free “Story Runs” from the library (a bit like podcasts, designed to guide, coach or simply distract you during your workout). 

The premium package costs $9.99 monthly, or you can sign up for a full year for $49.99. Paying users can delve into a much deeper range of stats – such as personal bests, elevation, maximum speed and a personal record log. You’ll also be able to activate auto-pause, which stops tracking activity when you stop moving. Then there’s access to targeted training plans and interval training for running, walking or cycling. Plus, you can create personalized training plans for everything from weight loss to running a marathon. 

When you sign up, your log in details will also sync with the separate Adidas Training app, where you can follow guided workouts specific to your goals and particular body area.

Adidas Running app review: Interface

Tracking a workout on the app couldn’t be easier. You simply click the activity icon at the bottom panel and press: “start live running”. 

To end the run you just have to slide your finger across the screen, which actually isn’t the easiest with sweaty and often shaky fingers. Once you do successfully finish your run, you get a whole host of stats on one page and the chance to name your run, add photos, give your run a smiley face (or not) and choose an icon that best describes your run (hilly, countryside, beach, town etc). 

You can also add a note, the weather and see the current mileage that you’ve run in your trainers. You’ll also hear a voice telling you that you’ve completed your run with a summary, so there's no need to touch your phone again until you’ve taken your trainers off and had a drink.

Despite its name, the variety of activities you're able to track on the Adidas Running app is also extensive. You can track a total of 48 different sports including hiking, lacrosse, skipping, rowing, cycling and swimming. The tracking data is different for different sports and – although I only tested the walk, gym and circuit training settings – it’s a great way to get all your activities logged and stored in one place. 

The app is straightforward to use, and it's easy to join challenges and view your data.  The only fiddly part is finding all the settings – they’re in the settings section on the activity page. Once you’ve found them you can select your sport type, your workout or your training plan, as well as your soundtrack – be it music, Story Running or PowerSong. Adidas Running works with any and all music apps, so you can listen along to Apple Music, Spotify or any other platform. 

The more you explore the app over time, the more customizable features you find. There are certainly a few rabbit holes to go down, but for those looking for simplicity, you can track your runs very easily and get going without much set-up at all.

Adidas Running app review: Smartwatch apps

With Adidas Running, there’s no need to be a slave to your watch or phone when running because the audio updates notify you at every mile of your pace, distance and duration. 

However, if you do like to wear a watch, then you can also track your activities and upload the data onto the app. As a fan of Garmin, it was easy to pair my Vivoactive, which meant that all my activities were automatically uploaded onto the platform and onto my feed. To connect, simply, head to settings, then partner accounts, and press connect.

Adidas Running app review: The community

Adidas Running allows you to connect with fellow runners and your phone contacts in the community section. I quickly joined the Adidas Runners London group, where you can view and join local upcoming events, be part of a mileage leaderboard and interact with other runners (via the Facebook page or via the app). 

While I didn’t find any of my current running friends on the app, I certainly made a few new ones when I joined an organized nine mile run one weekend. It was easy to sign up via the events tab, which gave me all the details such as location, time and who else from the community would be there.

Adidas Running app review: Verdict

With a successful brand behind Adidas Running, you can’t fault its features, layout and attention to detail. I quickly set my weekly mileage goal and I loved being able to see all my activity on my home screen. I also found it helpful to see how many miles my current trainers had left in them before potentially causing an injury (it’s recommended that you change your trainers every 300 to 400 miles or so). 

The coaching support, the additional gym training (via the Adidas Training app) and the interval training session plans offer great variety for your training – which is good if you’re feeling a bit stuck, or just fancy trying something different. Nevertheless, it’s worth noting that this coaching support and in-depth tracking is also accessible and free via the Nike Run Club app. 

Adidas Running has been designed for those who are serious about improving their running and keeping check of their stats and mileage. I loved the interval training option and the thought of sticking to a dedicated program tailored to my personal goal. I liked the voice-guided coach, too. 

I did feel, however, that there wasn’t much community interaction. For me, Strava is where it's at, and it feels more lively with friends, contacts, segment awards and of course those all-important kudos. I didn’t get this sense of “I saw your run” interaction on Adidas Running — in fact, I had very little interaction at all. 

Overall, Adidas Running is full of useful information and you can certainly benefit from the free version. But if you’re looking for some tailored programs to help you prepare for an event, and really looking to challenge yourself and see those improvements, then you should pay and go premium.

Download Adidas Running app on Android and iOS here.