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C25K® 5K Run Trainer & Coach App Complaints & User Negative Comments 2024
C25K® 5K Run Trainer & Coach app received 63 complaints, negative comments and reviews by users. Have you ever had a bad experience using C25K® 5K Run Trainer & Coach? Can you share your negative thoughts about c25k® 5k run trainer & coach?
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C25K® 5K Run Trainer & Coach for Negative User Reviews
✓ Worked okIt does work, did not have any issues with bugs. Bit annoying to use, but if you work around it it’s still a free app and that’s nice. Doesn’t cut out half way or anything. It’s a couch to 5k, but run data is in miles? Ridiculous. Would be nicer to say how long you’re running/walking each bit in each workout, ie “run for eight minutes” instead of just “begin running”.Version: 5.0.14
✓ Wont work on Apple Watch even with subscriptionBeen doing this program for the past 4 weeks and got myself an Apple Watch. Upon opening the app on the watch I found you have to subscribe to use on the watch. After subscribing and restarting and reinstalling etc still getting the exact same thing. Feeling like a ripoff right now..Version: 5.0.16
✓ More like “mildly fit” to 5k...As someone who is quite overweight and quite unfit, I looked to c25k for help in starting off in trying to make a positive change to my lifestyle, hoping it would help “get me off the couch” and on the treadmill. Unfortunately, the app directs you to run, albeit for just 1 minute intervals, right from week one, day one. I’m not fit enough to run for a minute yet. Writing that hurts of course as it implies I’m so unfit, but equally this app is supposed to help get me off the couch. Instead, it’s demoralised me further! I’m now using the walking routines in iFit online with their trainers through a more expensive but much better subscription and, when I’m ready, will likely stick to iFit for when I’m able to start jogging again. Developers. You’ve presumed a base level of fitness here that’s not correct. It’s not “couch” to 5k, it’s “already running” to “run further”. Disappointing..Version: 5.0.18
✓ PaywallIt’s absurd that a once-free app switched to locking even the most basic components of the program behind a subscription paywall with the reasoning that they did it “in the best interests of our customers.” As there are other better free alternatives, I’ll definitely switch and continue running with another app. Past day 4, you are required to purchase their “pro version” to continue running with their program. In other reviews, they claim they can justify this change because they have added music and other accessory features within the app. However, I’m sure that, like many other users, the basic running program is the main focus, especially if you’re unlikely to touch the accessory features when you can listen to music through other apps. Instead, there has been incredibly poor decision-making on their part by locking the app's main selling point behind a subscription paywall. A smarter model would preserve the original running program as a free experience and promote the pro version as an optional upgrade with accessory features..Version: 5.3.5
✓ Repeated crashingNewest update won’t load. Restarted phone. Deleted and reinstalled app. Twice. Nothing..Version: 5.1.7
✓ Not very compatible with Apple productsThis app does not work well with my Apple Watch. It does not record heart rate while running, only after the run has been completed. It also does not calculate calories burned accurately, it underestimates by quite a bit. Run is not included in your daily fitness log and Apple phone..Version: 5.3.10
✓ Charged me for a subscription without my consentI loved this app for my summer training but then it billed me for a monthly subscription that I did not authorize. I hadn’t used the app in a few months and had never purchased a subscription so imagine my surprise when I saw it was billing me for a monthly subscription. Completely lost my trust and will not use this app again..Version: 5.2.6
✓ Apparently no longer available in New Zealand?Only used this app once, and even signed up for the pro version. Went to use the app again and suddenly it was telling me to upgrade to pro and wasn’t restoring purchases. Deleted the app, went to reinstall it and now it’s saying the app is no longer available in NZ! Really disappointed..Version: 5.3.10
✓ Disappointed with UpdateThis app used to be free and featured ads I assume to pay the devs. As of recently the app is a monthly subscription to utilize which is incredibly disappointing - I used to recommend this app to EVERYONE as an accessible tool but I’ll be looking elsewhere now..Version: 5.3.10
✓ I can’t see any statsI finished my 1st work out & a map appeared briefly on my screen but I can’t figure out how to access it. Then there’s a permanent notification of some kind which appears to be a link to tracking distances, calories etc, but it’s just an advertisement for other apps. I may be missing something, but if so, my 2 star rating is purely because the menu isn’t logical to me. The concept of the app & promoting of various exercises is great..Version: 5.0.11
✓ Needs to be freeI was having a great time using this app, but when I got to week 2 day 2, it required me to pay money to continue using the app! I think that this is ridiculous and that the app should be free to use for everyone. There is the option to go pro, but this is not required. Would have loved to complete my c25k but now I can’t. Thanks heaps guys..Version: 5.2.18
✓ Hate the new voiceThe new voice prompts in the latest version are way too cheery and fake sounding. It’s so cringe..Version: 5.3.7
✓ Annoying music and zero instruction or encouragementSave some money and have a much more positive experience by downloading the free NHS Couch to 5k podcast series..Version: 5.3.8
✓ Pro Version?I bought the pro version of the app and when attempting to redownload after getting a new phone. I am unable to find it. Now it’s been replaced with a subscription based service. Where is the product I paid for?.Version: 5.3.10
✓ Useless since updateUsed this twice to get myself running and it was great - some ads now and then but ultimately the basic functionality was free to use. Reloaded it following a year out to get myself back up to fitness and it now only lets you go up to start of the second week before demanding paid subscription. With so many other apps allowing basic functionality for free (and the option of just using a stopwatch) I don’t know why they removed the free content, but now they have I’ll be downloading a competitor..Version: 5.3.5
✓ Good enoughThis app is infuriating. They seem to be so hell bent on getting you to sign up for the premium service - including things literally no one needs, like the music player - that they’ll ping you with notifications throughout the run. So the notifications are useless as you don’t know if it’s for the next session or some other random thing. Don’t break core functionality..Version: 5.2.2
✓ CrashesI have used this app twice, and when i got it the second time I remembered why I had stopped using it. It kept on crashing and half way through a run it would say "you are finished" and then it would have other times when the running portions didn't stop?. The same issues kept of happening, was slightly disappointed.Version: 3.9
✓ Works wellKeeps loading to a white screen. Great when it actually works though but inconsistent in functioning. Wifi signal is fine and other apps are working well. The material on the app is great, just needs to work consistently.Version: 5.0.10
✓ Worst AppApp with incorrect workout information I am surprised with the reviews as the App makes it hard to follow instructions. Seems like fake or self-generated paid reviews. The only thing it really does without a paid subscription is says: “start walking”, “start running” during the App. Which would be fine for free service but it does that at wrong intervals and throws a person off their momentum in the middle of the workout. I started using the App over 10 days ago. The guidance that the App gave during the run did not match the initial overview it gave for the workout that I would be doing on any particular day. First day it happened, it threw me off during the run. I immediately forced myself back into the rhythm and just tried to follow what the app was suggesting. I thought, I may have missed something along the line. Next day, same thing. I kept thinking, I missed something or its an error on a particular day’s workout but the same thing repeated everyday. So today I closely looked at the breakdown of each days workouts the App has provided and the total time of those workouts, which is give or take 30 minutes for each days workout. I added up the breakdown given and it was off by 6-8 minutes on every one of them. Didn’t make any sense. Other than this information(which is incorrect to begin with), the app doesn’t give any other information without a paid subscription and they expect people to pay for bad app..Version: 5.0.14
✓ I paid for pro years ago and now I don’t have itI paid many years ago and failed to make it 25k, this is on me but now I don’t have pro and I’m being to subscribe I can’t even pay for pro version again I don’t want another subscription and I want to use my watch. I have also got further than I ever have, the app is great but this subscription and loss of previous premium features disappearing is up setting. I just wanna leave phone at home😞.Version: 5.2.14
✓ Terrible map featureThe overall program’s great but the map is horrendous. I’ve gone into the settings to make sure that the location is always on and that data is on and it just doesn’t capture where I’ve run at all..Version: 5.0.17
✓ Location serviceIt would be five stars if the app didn’t constantly ask to know my location all the time. Shouldn’t it only require location services while it’s active?.Version: 5.0.13
✓ Stick with the free versionDon’t bother upgrading to the paid app if you just want to access to the music. You can’t shuffle the playlists. You can only skip songs 6 times per an hour, so if you are using the same playlist each run, you’re stuck with listening to pretty much the same thing each time (i.e. You can start at Song #1 or Song #7). Also, if you’re wanting music to help with your running cadence, the playlists all have the same listed BPM as 130 (even if the playlist is called “Workout 170” has a listed BPM of 130) which is way too low for safe running. The BPM of the playlists I’ve listened to are also all over the shop, actually making it harder to have a consistent cadence..Version: 5.2.8
✓ Shady privacy practicesShady privacy practices, false claims about “opt out” and dark UI patterns. Tried to trick you into consent and even the back button on the consent setting is disabled. YUCK. No thanks. Deleted within 5 min of downloading..Version: 5.2.11
✓ Hard work!But good.Version: 3.9
✓ The app becomes unuseable after 7 days.Unable to use the app after 7 days. Even the ability to willingly pay is impossible. The only thing useable in this app after 7 days is a screen selling someone on a subscription that can’t be purchased. Garbage..Version: 5.0.14
✓ So much naggingI have a paid version of the app but I still am constantly nagged by additional upsells, pop-ups, notifications, and other clutter that gets in my way when I just want to go for a run. This app is terrible and I would recommend anyone considering it look elsewhere. I’d assumed that getting the paid version would stop this but it does not. Awful, awful, awful..Version: 5.2.8
✓ Fails to track steps 1/3 of the timeOn four of my six runs so far, the app tracked the number of steps and the distance. On the other two it didn’t. There was no error message or warning displayed, it just marked down 0 steps and 0 distance. Phone was unlocked the whole time, app was in the foreground, all permissions granted except third party ad tracking. Contacted support, they tried to get me to enable third party ad tracking. So even if you pay for the subscription, they’ll still try to trick you into giving up your privacy. Greedy, dishonest behaviour..Version: 5.1.3
✓ Pretty greatIt's great. I thought it would be hard doing even the first week but my boyfriend who never runs ever had no trouble! All I'd say is the notification system is very very quiet. If there was an option to turn up the notification sounds I'd put 5 stars in a heartbeat, but I kept missing them while listening to music and had to keep checking my phone which was super inconvenient.Version: 4.7
✓ Money HungryI paid for the Pro versions of ALL of the Zen Labs apps years ago, whatever bundles were available and whatever apps leftover, I bought.. and now they want me to start paying $4.95 a month to use the apps as Pro feature apps? Isn’t this what I already paid for when I purchased the PRO versions rather than the free ones? Why not refund me for every Pro app I have of yours if I could have just had the free ones and the same demand would have been made once the developers wanted more money. Don’t pull that with people who’ve already paid for your apps and expect them to be happy about it once you introduce your subscription versions. I went from having a great opinion of Zen Labs to having a terrible one..Version: 5.0.21
✓ Rubbish customer serviceThe app is great but on mine it doesn’t save the maps of each run but my friend’s does and we both have the same version etc. Customer service took 3 days to respond and just told le that your app doesn’t save completed run maps (but it obviously does) and didn’t offer up any help or additional support. I replied to that message and have still not gotten a response. If the app saved my completed run maps, had an alert halfway through programme and also made date format relevant to the country the runner is in then I’d give it 5stars.Version: 5.0.14
✓ KLots of pop ups getting in the way.Version: 5.0.17
✓ Minutes overstatedWeek 4 day 1 says the workout should be 31 minutes. It’s only 27 minutes. There should also be a guide on how to use rather than expecting people to rely on FAQs..Version: 5.0.5
✓ Bait and switchApp isn’t free you have to pay to subscribe for anything longer than 3 days absolutely ridiculous considering it was 100% free this time last year.Version: 5.2.20
✓ The App WAS amazingLately the app is glitching like crazy. Can’t even finish a workout with it resetting itself. Not sure what has happened but it went from amazing to now looking for anything else to use. Too bad really..Version: 5.0.14
✓ Poor UpdateI understand that apps costs money to create and then maintain, however, what used to be a great free app now requires you to pay for 3 months of access after your first week despite the programme itself lasting for less than 2 months more. Feels like a rip off, and really disappointed to see this for a beginners 5K app. Would be far more understandable for bigger programmes like half-marathon training. The NHS app is free and at least the first few weeks are the exact same intervals anyway - would suggest people check that out instead.Version: 5.3.10
✓ Too basic for the price.Too expensive for the offered functionality.Version: 5.0.14
✓ Paid for pro for no reasonLoved this app so paid for pro features only for them to decide to start charging monthly and took away all my pro features so I paid for nothing. Not very impressive..Version: 5.0.22
✓ LimitedReally confused about how to use, there only seem to be three runs a week? And no distance or stats on the free version which means not as motivating as I hoped. So I’ve downloaded a free tracking app but shame I didn’t do this first as I don’t have a record of early progress..Version: 5.0.11
✓ Basic Functionality But Doesn’t Reach 5kI’m just about to graduate week 8 of C25K, and I am debating whether or not I’ll continue to use ZenLabs’ app to continue working toward 10k. Unless you pay for ZenLabs Unlimited, the features are extremely basic, including no Apple Watch integration. The voiceover for the intervals is really the only perk here, but it is helpful and motivating to have your runs set up three days a week. My biggest complaint is that once you’re through the first half of the program, you begin running longer runs to use the stamina you’ve built, but the app assumes people are running a 10 minute mile. If people are truly couch potatoes, a 10 minute mile in only four weeks doesn’t seem realistic. Right now, I’m running the final 28 minute runs at a 13 minute pace, and so I’m going to need to keep training to reach 5k. Despite having a distance goal, this program uses all time-based intervals (ex: run 5 minutes, walk 3) rather than distance. The app is really rudimentary and if I could do it over again, I’d recommend everyone use another app..Version: 5.0.16
✓ Version gratuite rendue nulleJ’ai utilisé la version gratuite de C25K avant et c’était très correct. Je n’aurais pas payé car du stop and go, pas besoin d’une appli pour nous le dire, mais c’était agréable. J’y retourne et ohlala, on est ailleurs ! Déçue que vous ne nous laissiez plus évoluer. Je ne payerai pas plus, mais je n’irai plus..Version: 5.1.7
✓ Cash grabWas a great app, could deal with the ads and annoying popups. But now you need to pay extortionate amounts to continue training. See you later C25K and all the other Zen Labs garbage..Version: 5.3.3
✓ Plays ads but gives you almost nothingThe fact this app will play ads BUT not do something as basic as give you the distance you run without having to upgrade to a monthly subscription is an absolute joke. If you’re going to push ads, than give people the basic functionality that is available with every other running app. Greedy short sighted devs = failed app..Version: 5.0.11
✓ Very basic, not worth the subscriptionI didn’t mind the simplicity of this app to start with. No bells, no whistles, just a voice telling you when to run and when to walk. But when it suddenly sprang on me the fact I would have to subscribe before I could do run five (of 27) I was a bit shocked. Pay for this? Seriously? I wasn’t aware it was a paid app. Then I accidentally deleted the record of a run (which is really easy to do, btw) and though the human help desk response to my query on how to retrieve it was prompt and helpful, I was a bit annoyed to discover it couldn’t be retrieved. So the app now thinks I have done one run fewer than I actually have. And if you don’t do a quick screenshot of the route you have completed when you have finished your run, you will never find it again. AND, most annoying of all, when you go to forums to ask a question of fellow runners there, it’s just saturated with spam messages. Seriously, admins, DELETE THE SPAM. Basically, do not sign up to this app. It isn’t helpful or intuitive..Version: 5.3.3
✓ Too many adsToo many ads. I just want to run. I hate that I have to pay more to find out my stats. It’s unfair. And because I haven’t upgraded I have all these ads that are distracting. I don’t want the fitness plan and I don’t want to purchase any music.Version: 5.0.13
✓ I like it but….Being new to running what would make this app even better (and not jus another running app) was if there was some running hints and tips. I know it’s not rocket science, but I would love to know more about things to focus on eg breathing, stride etc..Version: 5.2.8
✓ Great app.User friendly. Great thanks can use my own music with it. Look forward to achieving my goal & finishing the course!.Version: 3.9
✓ Tracks your location everywhere, even when not usingA good app to start running (I was using it again to come back from injury, after starting running with C25k almost 10 years ago). BUT it tracks your location all the time, not just when in a run. I was horrified when I got the iOS 13 pop up showing it had accessed my location everywhere for the last week..Version: 5.0.10
✓ Poorest performing app I’ve ever usedIt takes nearly one minute to load. When I tap on functions, especially anything to do with music, it doesn’t open. Also, I see no reason why it should say it works better if it can track my location even when I’m not using the app. Once I complete the 5k program, I’M OUT!.Version: 5.0.22
✓ Improvements could be madeI am using this app only for the fact I can use my GPS only watch in standalone mode. Many other apps don’t seem to work when a phone is disconnected. The features it provides are very minimal, no coaching, or progress updates. Also, a halfway point notification would be helpful. Also, when syncing back to my phone is displays a route taken and other stats, once this is closed it disappears completely, with no way to view it again???.Version: 5.0.11
✓ Subscription only now?This app is a run walk prompt which requires no ongoing support, yet they’ve chosen a subscription model? Greedy. I would buy it but there is no way I’d pay a monthly fee for this. Try another 5k trainer option there are many..Version: 5.3.10
✓ App design did not work for meThis app is super annoying, even with the subscription. The “disable sleep” function does not work, so the app goes black on your phone AND watch unless you manually turn off your sleep mode every time you use it. (And even then, the watch still sleeps) And then the vibration does not work on the watch, so when I put my phone in a pocket and tried to rely on my watch, it not only kept going dark, but it also never notified me that I needed to switch to a run. Maybe it is set up to use the voice reminders through headphones, but I wasn’t using headphones because I was running with a partner, and we were chatting. If the app is created to disable sleep function and to vibrate when it’s time to switch, then those features should work on an iPhone X and an Apple Watch 5. When I decided to just carry the phone and watch the screen, every time my skin even barely touched the phone, it would fast forward or back up to a different location in the run, screwing everything up. Basically I wasted a week of trying to run, using this glitchy app. I’ll figure it out myself from now on. I still plan to run, but not using some clunky app that slows me down..Version: 5.0.14
✓ Not free anymore. :(I have had this app for a couple of years and used it as a way to just tell me when to start running/walking during intervals. The whole running plan was free! I don’t need anything more. I was disappointed after finally getting through the first week (I don’t have loads of time to run so it took me 2 weeks) I was informed that I now needed a pro membership to continue past the 4th workout. I was so disappointed that I have to go back to timers or find something else. It’s otherwise great if you don’t mind paying for a glorified timer...every month. The couch to 5k plan is excellent and I have used it many times without fancy apps to ease back into running after an extended break. The price tag is a limiting factor as I don’t need much from the app and hate subscriptions. Off to find something new….Version: 5.3.8
✓ Good, but not GreatIt does a good job of starting simple and building over time, but there are a couple big cons for me that keep me from giving it 4 or 5 stars. Pros: - pre-designed training sessions so you don’t have to research, build a training schedule and figure out when to walk vs run each day. - built in playlists - when using their music, the coaching can still be heard easily so you don’t miss a cue Cons: - music variety isn’t great, you can only skip a couple times, some playlists aren’t long enough to last the 35 minutes if you skip 1 song - if using another music app, you can’t hear the apps cues/notifications, they’re extremely quiet and it doesn’t lower the volume of your music. - the noise indicating to start/stop jogging is the same as the halfway/1 minute notification so when your jogging you hear the ding and start waking only to find out it’s just updating you on where your at in the session, this could easily be a different noise so you don’t loose your rhythm - to hit the distance goals, including the final 5K run, it assumes your running 9min mile which for a couch to 5K app is ridiculously unrealistic - on the final Run a 5k session, despite having built in GPS tracking, it just starts a timer for 30 minutes, absolutely nothing about distance so I guess if you haven’t hit 3.2mi at exactly the 30min mark your out of luck and on your own to figure it out..Version: 5.0.14
✓ Used to be a good appI've used this app a couple times to try to get to 5 k. This current version is terrible. It's reset on me a couple times during a run, the menus are terrible to navigate unless you've struggled through them..Version: 3.9
✓ Keeps crashing on my IPhone XRI’m really disappointed that this app didn’t work out for me. This app crashed 2 of 3 workouts that I tried to use it. This app does not give you any distance, map or heart rate stats unless you pay for it. Which is fine but the app apparently doesn’t like it very much or there are some bugs. I ALWAYS have my apps and IOS software update and restart my phone just in case if I start having app issues. The first time I used it everything was going great but my Apple Watch detected I was doing a workout and I started the outdoor run, shortly afterwards my app crashed and lost my workout. Day 2 I used the default workout app on my Apple Watch and everything was fine no issues. Day 3 did the same steps as day 2 and the app crashed halfway through my workout. It’s extremely frustrating losing your progress so I downloaded a competitor and if it’s stable during my 7 day trail they will probably get my money. Sorry C25K you missed out on some $$. I at least gave you 2 stars because I did like the app layout and the screen lock feature for keeping the app in the foreground..Version: 5.0.5
✓ DodgyI opened the app for the first time and noticed an add at the bottom with a close button next to it Naturally I hit the close button, this bought up the prompt to scan my fingerprint, I didn't know why so I hit cancel at which point it told me that my in app purchase failed... Now this might be legit and the in app purchase might be for upgrading to pro in order to get rid of adds, but it doesn't tell you that and could easily be som sort of scam. This is not a good first impression for the app!.Version: 2.64
✓ Used to love this appUsed to be my go to running app, now they are trying to charge an obscene amount for a glorified timer. Not impressed..Version: 5.3.10
✓ Optional slower pace of progression pleaseRunning isn't easy. Starting out running is even harder. Trying to start running when you have asthma feels impossible. Running will help build lung endurance, but the asthmatic runner has to understand that while their perseverance will get them to the same abilities of running as someone without asthma, they will progress slower. That being said, how about a slower paced option on this app? It took me three weeks just to get past week one of this program comfortably. Perhaps you can have a setting option (you don't have to say it's for asthmatics, who should seek medical advice - just for anyone who would want or need the feature) where a user could select a slower pace of progression through the program. You could have a slower course with easier transitions. That would be nice to try to help someone who needs to exercise but not get discouraged or frustrated because they can't keep up. You'd be the only ones to have such an option - making you more valuable..Version: 3.9
✓ Get better value on their longer distance appsAs a fitness program, it works great. However, this app is more or less superseded by any of their longer distance apps.. For example, the 10K app has the initial c25k and the addition of back to 10k, so why would I waste $8 on the c25k app when the combined 10K costs $10 (which as a separate app you have to pay for the 10K if you only bought the c25k) Bought the c25k version, in hindsight might have purchased the full marathon one and took my time on it..Version: 3.9
✓ Annoying updateLatest update is full of ads where you can’t get rid of the notification bubble.Version: 5.2.8
✓ DisappointedI used C25K pre covid and felt that it really positively impacted the way I look at exercise. I’ve since changed my focus to other forms of exercise and it’s been really enjoyable! I have never wanted to be a runner - but I am now dating in a family full of dedicated runners. After a few years of dating, I’ve finally been invited to run a 5k with my partners family. Years ago, this would have been a horrifying offer to me. I didn’t fret however because I knew I could go back to my old friend C25k. I’ve just reached the fourth day of training and I am more than dissatisfied. I’m actually quite angry. To add a paywall to a life changing app that used to be free is infuriating. I’ve read through a ton of reviews to try to figure out on what planet the developers thought this would be a good idea and I’ve found nothing. I know I would have been happy without paying because I’ve already completed this course without having to pay. I never felt like the app needed enhancements. You can try all you want to justify the pay wall but at the end of the day it’s ZenLabs being greedy. Don’t come on here and claim to care about people’s wellbeing when all you care about is money..Version: 5.3.10
✓ Liked it better before the subscription charges🤷♀️.Version: 5.2.21
🙂 C25K® 5K Run Trainer & Coach Positive Reviews
C25K® 5K Run Trainer & Coach works most of the time. If it is not working for you, we recommend you excersise some patience and retry later or contact C25K® 5K Run Trainer & Coach.
⛔ C25K® 5K Run Trainer & Coach Problems
