kovaaComparison
kovaa vs Runna
Runna is a running coach with coach-written plans from 5K to ultra and its own Apple Watch app; kovaa coaches triathlon as well as 5K to marathon. Pick Runna if you only run and want its content, community and Strava bundle. Pick kovaa if you also swim and bike, or want a plan that adjusts on its own to your sleep and HRV.
Updated
- You only run, and want ultra distances or Pilates and yoga sessions too.
- You want the Strava bundle and community.
- You use Android, or a Garmin, COROS or Suunto watch.
- You also swim and bike, or are building toward a triathlon.
- You want the plan to adjust on its own to your sleep, HRV and resting heart rate.
- You want to see why every change was made.
- You want no account, and a lower yearly price.
Side by side
| kovaa | Runna | |
|---|---|---|
| Sports | Triathlon from Sprint to IRONMAN, and running from 5K to marathon, with strength | Running from 5K to ultra, plus strength, Pilates, yoga and stretching |
| Price | $99 a year or $12.99 a month. The plan is included. | $119.99 a year or $19.99 a month; $149.99 a year bundled with Strava |
| Free trial | 14 days, and sample data to explore first | First week free |
| Where the plan comes from | Built by kovaa's engine around your race, your days and your hours | Coach-designed plans tailored by an algorithm, 6 to 26 weeks |
| Adapts automatically | Every morning and after every session, within safe limits on load | Paces change when you keep missing or beating targets. A re-plan is offered after several missed workouts. |
| Uses sleep and HRV | Reads sleep, HRV and resting heart rate from Apple Health | Not documented |
| Explains changes | Every change is saved with its reason. You choose what applies on its own. | Re-plans and heat adjustments ask you first |
| Feeling unwell | Tell kovaa you're sick and it eases the next days, with a gradual return | "Not Feeling 100%" mode for 3 to 14 days |
| Heat | Not yet | Suggests pace changes for heat and humidity |
| Apple Watch workouts | The next seven days of run, bike and swim sessions in Apple's Workout app | Its own watch app with live structured runs |
| Swim and bike | Full plans, with pool swims on Apple Watch | Running only |
| Other devices | Imports FIT, GPX and TCX files, including Garmin's full export. No direct sync yet. | Garmin, COROS, Suunto, Fitbit and Strava |
| Strength | Included and periodized, logged on iPhone | Strength plans in the app; they don't sync to watches |
| Platforms | iPhone and Apple Watch only | iPhone and Android |
| Account | None. Your data stays on your iPhone. | Required |
Runna details and prices checked October 11, 2026 from the sources below. Prices in US dollars; they change, so check before you buy.
Where Runna is stronger
- Running depth. Coach-written plans from 5K to ultra, with a big library of run sessions and guided Pilates, yoga and stretching.
- Community. Strava owns Runna, and there’s a Strava bundle. It has a 4.9 rating from more than 76,000 App Store reviews.
- Heat. Adapt for Heat suggests pace changes in hot, humid weather. kovaa doesn’t yet.
- Devices. Garmin, COROS, Suunto and Fitbit, and Android.
Where kovaa is different
- Three sports. Swim, bike and run in one plan, from Sprint to IRONMAN, as well as 5K to marathon.
- Readiness. Each morning kovaa reads your sleep, HRV and resting heart rate from Apple Health and eases the day if you’re run down.
- It explains. Every change shows what moved and why, and is saved in the plan’s history.
- Safe limits. Your weekly load can’t climb faster than set limits, and long runs grow in small, capped steps.
- Price and privacy. $99 a year, no account, and your training stays on your iPhone.
Switching from Runna
- Export your history.In Garmin Connect, use Export your data for a ZIP of everything, or download workout files from the app you use now.
- Import it into kovaa.Share the files or the Garmin ZIP to kovaa from the Files app. kovaa matches them to your history and measures your current training volume from them.
- Set up your race.Answer the setup questions and kovaa builds your plan. You can see the whole season before your free trial starts.
Questions
Is Runna owned by Strava?
Yes. Strava announced the acquisition on April 17, 2025, and a Strava and Runna bundle followed in July 2025.
Does Runna do triathlon?
No. Runna covers running from 5K to ultra, plus strength and mobility sessions. kovaa covers Sprint to IRONMAN triathlon as well as 5K to marathon.
Does Runna adapt to sleep or HRV?
We couldn't find that in Runna's documentation. Its adaptations respond to missed or beaten targets, missed workouts, feeling unwell and heat. kovaa reads sleep, HRV and resting heart rate from Apple Health every morning.
Sources
- Runna pricing
- Runna home page
- Runna help: Plan Realignment
- Runna help: Not Feeling 100%
- Runna help: heat and humidity
- DC Rainmaker on Strava acquiring Runna
- Runna on the App Store
Runna is a trademark of its owner. This page is our own comparison and isn't endorsed by Runna. Spotted something out of date? Email support@kovaasport.com.