Comparison
SUB vs Runna.
Runna is a polished marathon training app sold on a USD 11.99 monthly subscription. SUB is free, supports Garmin and COROS auto-sync natively, lets coaches auto-complete workouts on watch sync, and unifies multi-watch mileage. Here is the honest side-by-side.
Side-by-side
| Runna | SUB | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | USD 11.99/mo | Free |
| Marathon training plans (sub-3, sub-4) | ✓ | ✓ |
| Garmin Connect auto-sync | ✓ | ✓ |
| COROS auto-sync (Pace 3, Apex, Vertix) | limited | ✓ full native |
| Apple Watch (HealthKit) | ✓ | ✓ |
| Polar | — | ✓ |
| Multi-watch mileage dedup | — | ✓ (max across sources) |
| Coach platform (assign workouts) | — | ✓ (auto-complete on sync) |
| Race finder (worldwide) | — | ✓ Boston, Tokyo, Berlin, HK |
| Weekly plan UI polish | ✓✓ (their strength) | ✓ |
| Languages | EN | EN, 繁中, 日本語 |
| Ads | — | — |
Where Runna wins
- More polished week-by-week training plan UX.
- UK-first race coverage if you race in Britain.
- Established brand recognition.
Where SUB wins
- Free. No USD 11.99/mo subscription.
- Native COROS support with full running dynamics.
- Multi-watch mileage dedup — wear both Garmin and COROS without inflating totals.
- Coach platform with auto-complete — your coach assigns workouts; runs auto-complete from watch sync.
- Worldwide race finder — Boston, NYC, Chicago, Berlin, London, Tokyo, Osaka, HK.
- Trilingual — English, Traditional Chinese, Japanese.
Try SUB
Free on iOS and Android. No subscription. Works alongside Runna — install both if you want.
Frequently asked questions
Is there a free alternative to Runna?
Yes. SUB is a free marathon training app that auto-syncs from Garmin Connect, COROS, Apple Watch, and Polar. Pick a sub-3, sub-3:30, or sub-4 marathon goal — SUB calculates per-kilometre target pace, finds matching races, and auto-completes coach-assigned workouts. No subscription. No ads.
How does SUB compare to Runna for marathon training?
Runna sells goal-driven training plans (sub-3, sub-4, half marathon) on a USD 11.99 monthly subscription. SUB is free and provides similar goal-driven pace calculations plus Garmin and COROS auto-sync, multi-watch dedup, race finder, and a coach platform with auto-complete workouts. Runna has more curated training plan UX; SUB has broader watch support and is free.
Does Runna work with COROS Pace 3?
Runna primarily integrates with Garmin and Apple Watch. COROS integration on Runna is limited or via third-party workarounds. SUB has full native COROS support with running dynamics (stride length, vertical oscillation, ground contact time) and lap detail.
Can I use Runna and Garmin together?
Yes, but Runna requires a paid subscription to access marathon-distance plans. SUB integrates Garmin Connect for free and adds goal-driven pace calculations on top.
Should I switch from Runna to SUB?
If you value Runna's polished week-by-week plan UI and don't mind USD 11.99/month, stay. If you want goal-driven training that is free, supports Garmin and COROS, auto-completes coach workouts on watch sync, and unifies multi-watch mileage — try SUB. Both can coexist; SUB does not require uninstalling Runna.