This Free Run App Has Been Downloaded 858,000 Times in Lockdown

The best free running apps do exactly what they say on the tin: they're free and help you with your running. Nothing better, right? With more people than ever running in lockdown – and the fact that a couple of the most popular and previously-free run apps are now charging for some of their services, finding a free alternative is a great way to keep on track.

According to one report, we're not only doing more running, we're also talking about running more – in March, 34 million people discussed the pavement-pounding pastime on social media and 207k sharing running stats from exercise apps – both figures that are more than January and February combined. National lockdown forced us from the gym to the garden, to the great outdoors, trying to find a way to stay active and fit – running, it seems, has taken the cake in terms of accessibility and scalability. Thanks, running!

But, know you how to run, how can you actually keep it up? From motivational run-walk plans to route trackers, navigation-aids and mile-loggers, we've rounded up the 8 best free running apps to help you hit your next PB – including the one that's had a 92% jump in downloads on 2019. Wowza.