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Dev tools · alternatives · 2026

24 alternatives to I made a running app that turns your runs to a virtual garden

I started running 5 years ago and it completely changed me. Recently, I decided to train for my first marathon and needed something more than just tracking my runs to motivate me. I noticed all the apps currently available are just trackers and route finders, but nothing has solved the problem of consistency. So I thought of combining the basic idea of the Forest app with running and created a small app for myself which would reward me with plants and trees for my runs. I am not a mobile developer but then i came across Capacitor. Since I knew Next.js and have been working with it for the…

This running app gamifies fitness by growing a virtual garden as users complete runs. Built with Next.js and Capacitor, it rewards consistency with plants and trees rather than just tracking metrics. Designed for… Below are 24 products that do a similar job, ranked by how close each is in meaning and then by launch-day votes.

  1. 1

    Today marks ten years, 3653 consecutive days, of running at least one mile every day under the USRSA rules [1]. To celebrate, I built an interactive dashboard that turns a decade of GPX files into charts you can explore. Running has truly changed my life: I've made lifelong friends, explored beautiful places, and more importantly invested into my own health and fitness, which I'm starting to see the positive benefits as I get older. The stack is pretty simple: a NextJS app, with a Postgres database to keep all my running data, and all the stats are pre-computed and cached in Redis, so I…

    2025 · nodaysoff.run · its alternatives →

  2. 2

    I tried some web tools to track my workouts (specifically, running); some (like FitTrackee) came close, but I always found annoyances. So I decided to build my own. Specifically geared towards distance-based workouts, such as walking, running or cycling.

    2024 · github.com · its alternatives →

  3. 3
    Victa▲324

    The best gaming running app, start playing and get fit

    2023 · apps.apple.com · its alternatives →

  4. 4

    Hi HN! This is a trail companion web app (think AllTrails) I hacked together in a couple weeks time. I was inspired to create this project while training for an extended backpacking trip. My motivation was to create a UI tailored exactly to my liking, and to be able to track my progress along the trail without draining my battery. I also wanted to experiment with PWA technologies. I successfully used it on my five day adventure along the Knobstone Trail in southern Indiana, and even though it's web-based it hardly consumed any battery life on my old first-gen Pixel XL. It's set up currently…

    2022 · github.com · its alternatives →

  5. 5
    Just Log▲359

    Hi HN, I built Just Log after getting frustrated with fitness apps that were too complex for basic workout tracking. Most apps have social feeds, complicated interfaces, and features I never used. Just Log focuses on the essentials: quick workout logging, habit formation, and progress tracking without the bloat. Built it in a month while sharing the process publicly on Twitter. The app uses a minimalist approach - you can log a complete workout in seconds. No social features, no notifications, just simple tracking that helps build consistency. Launched on Product Hunt today. Android is live…

    2025 · justlog.app · its alternatives →

  6. 6

    Ran my first marathon. Didn’t want to keep paying so much for Runna. So I built a running coach app, and then kept improving it more and more, i think it’s pretty good now. Give it a try and share your thoughts.

    Jun 2026 · runnerapp.pro · its alternatives →

  7. 7

    Create random exercise routes, made by a 15 year old runner

    2018 · routeshuffle.com · its alternatives →

  8. 8

    Start your journey to an active life

    2023 · apps.apple.com · its alternatives →

  9. 9

    With friends, timeline, phone usage tracker & iPad support

    2018 · apps.apple.com · its alternatives →

  10. 10

    Run by growing a garden

    2025 · apps.apple.com · its alternatives →

  11. 11

    Hey HN, I'm a solo developer and I built Steps: Workout & Pedometer, an iOS pedometer and workout tracker. Last week, two German iOS publications wrote about the app. I didn't pitch them. I didn't send a press release. I didn't even know it was happening. I woke up to a spike in downloads, checked the analytics, and traced it back to their articles. That coverage pushed the app past $1,000 in sales. I still have no idea how they found the app. I'm wondering if anyone here has experience getting featured in publications, whether organically or through outreach. What worked for you? Any tips…

    Mar 2026 · getsteps.app · its alternatives →

  12. 12
    DrawRun▲122

    Plan your runs by drawing them on a map

    2018 · jordibruin.github.io · its alternatives →

  13. 132M
  14. 14

    Build habits to grow a garden. Turn your daily tasks into a game with friends. Achieving your goals has never been so easy, fast, and fun! Habits Garden is a gamified habit tracker available on iOS, Android and the web.

    2022 · habitsgarden.com · its alternatives →

  15. 15
    Runo 2.0▲132

    I built Runo after years of inconsistent marathon training. GPS watches tell you your pace AFTER it's too late. So I made a simple metronome that plays a beat at your target cadence (steps per minute). New in 2.0: Apple Watch haptics (run to the beat without headphones), Strava sync, and social features. 4.7 on App Store, 10k+ runners. Would love feedback from the HN community.

    Jan 2026 · runoapp.com · its alternatives →

  16. 16

    running app, run tracker, runner tracker

    2018 · its alternatives →

  17. 17

    Take running to the next level with custom interval workouts

    2020 · vitesserunning.com · its alternatives →

  18. 18
    Forrest▲86

    Run and ride faster and further by racing against yourself

    2020 · forrest.app · its alternatives →

  19. 19

    I initially released this as just an IOS app. Since then it has been growing steadily but a lot of people have emailed asking for a web / android version. It took me nearly 2 months to build a version for the web. The nice thing about using Convex as my backend is that all the data is always synced between the app and web. I do not have to setup any syncing logic. The moment you change something in the app, it will reflect on the web version in realtime. I know there are loads of these kind of tools online but it's starting to feel like mine is actually starting to differentiate itself…

    2025 · three-cells.com · its alternatives →

  20. 20

    Giving you r a virtual pacer and trainer in your pocket.

    2019 · pacetorace.com · its alternatives →

  21. 21

    Hey HN, I’m Alex, a triathlete, dad, and software engineer. I’ve been building Transition — an app for triathletes that creates adaptive training plans based on your goals, schedule, and workout data (Garmin, Strava, etc). Most plans are static, which never really worked for me as a parent and someone with an unpredictable schedule. Transition adjusts every week using your actual workouts and progress, so the plan changes when you miss a session, set a new PR, or need to shift your priorities. I built this because nothing else was flexible enough for my life, and I’m curious if others have…

    May 2026 · transition.fun · its alternatives →

  22. 22
    Flyrun▲75

    Running tracker that analyzes your running technique.

    2020 · play.google.com · its alternatives →

  23. 23IS

    i built a heart rate zone training app for runners. ios + apple watch. custom zones, real-time haptics, post-run graphs. all the “smart” stuff you’d expect. but i never talked to a single runner before building it. not even myself lol. started as a thesis → kept building → added features → added a paywall (€4/month!) → launched it → and yeah… no one cared. zero feedback. zero users. just code in the void. i recently made the whole thing free. not trying to “sell” anything now — just seeing if it’s actually useful, and listening this time. curious how others handle this. ever build…

    2025 · basamasa.github.io · its alternatives →

  24. 24

    Create journal and track goals, activities, mood and more

    2022 · its alternatives →

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Ranked by how close each launch is in meaning, then by votes. Prices were read from each product’s own site when checked and can change. Refine with your own description →