Zombies, Run! is still the best running app for people who get out the door for a story. It’s free to try with a limited set of missions, and a membership that opens the full library of 500+ missions costs $6.99 a month or $49.99 a year for new US subscribers. It’s worth paying for if audio drama keeps you running. It’s the wrong app if you want structured training plans, heart-rate coaching, or anything for the weight room.
Here’s how it works, what you get free versus paid, and who should pick something else.
What is Zombies, Run!? #
Zombies, Run! is an audio adventure you listen to while you run, walk, or roll. You play Runner 5, a supply runner for a small settlement called Abel Township, and each mission is an episode of radio drama that plays between the songs from your own playlist. The story was co-created by novelist Naomi Alderman and has been running since 2012.
The game was made by the UK studio Six to Start, which its press page says is now owned by Hong Kong fitness company OliveX. The App Store listing names Zombies Run! Ltd as the seller and describes more than 500 missions across 11 seasons.
How does Zombies, Run! work on a run? #
You pick a mission, start your music, pocket your phone, and go. Story clips play every few minutes, and between them you hear your own songs.
- Mission length: most missions last around half an hour, and you can adjust the length or set it by distance.
- Supplies: as you move, you “collect” items that you later use to build up the township in the app. It’s a light base-building layer on top of the story.
- Zombie chases: optional. If you turn them on, the app occasionally warns that a horde is closing in, and you need to speed up for about 100 seconds to escape. Chases only trigger once you’re moving faster than about 3.5 km/h, according to Six to Start’s support page on chases. Getting caught costs you supplies, not the mission.
- Where it works: the App Store listing covers walking, running, treadmill, and wheelchair workouts, and lists Apple Watch support. On a treadmill, turn chases off or use the modes that don’t rely on GPS.
Subscribers can also change how much faster you need to go to escape a chase, which makes the feature usable for walkers and beginners.
What’s free and what’s in the membership? #
| Free | Membership | |
|---|---|---|
| Price (US, new subscribers) | $0 | $6.99/month or $49.99/year |
| Story missions | A limited selection | Full library, 500+ missions |
| 5K training program | No | Included |
| Chase difficulty settings | Default | Adjustable |
| Works with your music | Yes | Yes |
The $6.99 and $49.99 prices apply to subscriptions bought since May 2024, per the Zombies, Run! blog. Older subscribers on continuously renewed plans may still pay less, and prices vary by country, so check the Memberships page in the app before you buy. There’s also a higher VIP tier that adds virtual races and community extras.
What’s good about Zombies, Run! #
The story is the motivation. The writing and voice acting are good enough that people go for a run just to hear what happens next. That’s a rare quality in a fitness app, and it’s the main reason Zombies, Run! is still around after more than a decade.
It fits any pace. Walkers, beginners, and wheelchair users can all play. Nothing in the story depends on how fast you are, and chases are optional.
The library is huge. With hundreds of missions, a regular runner won’t run out for years. If you like it, the yearly price works out to under a dollar a week.
It uses your own music. You don’t have to put up with a playlist someone else chose.
What’s not so good #
It isn’t a training plan. Outside the 5K program, missions don’t structure your training. There are no pace zones or heart-rate targets, and no progression from week to week. If you’re training for a race, you’ll want a proper plan alongside it.
Missions reward showing up, not getting fitter. Your township grows whether you jog a slow 30 minutes or run a hard 10K. That’s great for building a habit, less useful for measuring progress.
Audio interruptions aren’t for everyone. If you run to podcasts or like uninterrupted music, the story breaks will annoy you.
It does nothing for strength training. No lifts, no sets, no reps. It’s a cardio app.
Who should skip Zombies, Run!? #
Skip it if you mainly lift weights, if you want a coached plan with intervals and paces, or if you don’t enjoy fiction. Serious racers usually prefer a structured training app, and people who want a social feed and segment leaderboards are better off with Strava.
Zombies, Run! versus other gamified fitness apps #
| App | What it gamifies | Price | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|
| Zombies, Run! | Runs and walks, through audio story missions | Free to try; $6.99/mo or $49.99/yr | Runners who love stories |
| One Gym Man | Lifts and runs, through RPG stats and monster fights | Free with ads | People who lift and run |
| Strava | Runs and rides, through segments and challenges | Free; subscription for full leaderboards and routes | Social and competitive athletes |
If most of your training happens under a barbell, One Gym Man takes the gamified idea into the gym. You log bench press, squats, deadlifts, overhead press, rows, push-ups, sit-ups, and runs, and your real numbers set your character’s Strength and Agility for turn-based fights against 30 monsters and a weekly boss. It has no story missions or audio. It’s a training log with a game on top, and every feature is free with ads.
The two work well together: run a Zombies, Run! mission on cardio days and log the distance and time in One Gym Man so your runs still count toward your stats. For a wider comparison, see our guide to the best gamified fitness apps, or read what a fitness RPG is if the idea of turning training into character stats is new to you. Stuck indoors? Try these fun cardio workouts at home.
Frequently asked questions #
Is Zombies, Run! free? #
It’s free to download and try, with a limited set of missions available without paying. A membership, $6.99 a month or $49.99 a year for new US subscribers, gives you the full library of 500+ missions and the 5K training program. Check the in-app Memberships page for the current price in your country.
Can you use Zombies, Run! on a treadmill? #
Yes. The app supports treadmill workouts. Because chases rely on GPS speed, turn them off or use a mode that doesn’t track your position, and the story missions will still play normally.
What happens if the zombies catch you? #
You drop some of the supplies you’ve collected, and the mission continues. Getting caught doesn’t fail the mission or force a restart. To escape a chase, speed up for about 100 seconds.
Is Zombies, Run! good for beginners? #
Yes. Missions work at walking pace, chases are optional, and the membership includes a 5K training program for new runners. It’s one of the gentler ways to start running because the story gives you a reason to go out that isn’t about speed.
Does Zombies, Run! work with Apple Watch? #
The current App Store listing includes Apple Watch support. Features on the watch can differ from the phone app, so check the listing’s latest release notes for what’s supported before you rely on it.