Filed under: Software, Freeware, iPhone, App Store
RunKeeper's new low price: free
In early September, TUAW published an article about iPhone exercise-tracking apps that use the built-in GPS of the iPhone 3G to track walks, hikes, runs, and bike rides. One of the apps, RunKeeper, provided instantaneous feedback of speed through a bar chart display and had a $9.99 price point. Jason Jacobs of Fitness Keeper, the developers of RunKeeper, announced yesterday that the company is going to make the application available for free in the App Store (click opens iTunes). As noted in Jason's email, "Although we have been featured recently in TechCrunch and NY Times (and TUAW, of course!), and we have several thousand paying customers and a vibrant community, we are making a bold move and making the app free. We are doing so in order to forgo short-term revenues with the hope that our community will get to massive scale."
Fitness Keeper definitely listens to user feedback -- our September post mentioned that RunKeeper didn't track total rise or elevation vs. speed, and now both of these items are available on the tracking Web site.
Please note that Apple must approve Fitness Keeper's price change request before the new pricing goes into effect.
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)
mikoday said 11:42AM on 10-13-2008
That sucks for those of us who paid $9.99. It's a great app, and i paid the price, but to give it away free. Bummer!
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artifex said 1:46PM on 10-13-2008
How does it suck? Was it not worth the price to you, when you paid it?
Stacy said 9:57PM on 10-13-2008
Just use Fitnio, it's always been free.
* it does everything RunKeeper does
* its easier to use
* it tells you how many calories you've burned (which runkeeper doesn't)
* it doesn't lose your data when you get a call or change the music
* they give you a free account on http://www.fitnio.com
I think Fitnio is the reason RunKeeper changed their price.
They better watch out even a free RunKeeper isn't as good as Fitnio.
firebirdswm said 11:46AM on 10-13-2008
Any chance at all this works with the accelerometer in the first gen iPhone?
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Bubbler said 11:53AM on 10-13-2008
As of 8:30 am on 10/13, RunKeeper is still listed at $9.99 in the app store.
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Sean said 12:20PM on 10-13-2008
12:15pm... still 9.99
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JaceFace said 12:20PM on 10-13-2008
I'm all for free apps.
Its surprising to me, however, that this developer would go from $10 to free.
Any app I actually plan to keep longer than 1 day I will gladly pay $.99 for. I'm trained so effectively, that I don't even see the $.99 as "buying" the app. Its a service fee, or an Apple Tax. I get how fan-boy-ish that sounds. And it is. (Ir)regardlessly, though, that is my reality.
Common, runkeeper, charge me that dollar. Apple needs their $.30. Ain't nutten free that aint not worth sumten.
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et said 1:06PM on 10-13-2008
Why not just post about it when it actually IS free?
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Steven Sande said 1:43PM on 10-13-2008
Good morning, everybody! Some replies to the comments are in order:
1) I received an email last night from the developer stating that the app would be available for free once Apple approved the price change, probably some time today. That comment is included in the last line of the post. The change may NOT happen today, but the developer still wanted us to let everyone know about the new price.
2) My guess is that this app is having problems competing against the free Trailguru app, so they've decided to go with a similar profit model.
Cheers! Thanks for your comments,
TUAWSteve
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et said 5:12PM on 10-13-2008
It still doesn't make sense to post it until it's a done deal. Especially given the "relaxed" nature with which Apple approves and denies applications/updates into the App store.
Brian said 1:59PM on 10-13-2008
I second the request for info on whether this works with 1st Gen iPhones... That'd be handy.
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Steven Sande said 2:35PM on 10-13-2008
For those who have asked, apps of this type will work with the original iPhone, but your mileage and speed readings will not be as accurate as they are when using an iPhone 3G with the GPS receiver turned on. In actual use, I find RunKeeper and Trailguru to work best with the iPhone 3G. If you're in a crowded metropolitan area with lots of Wi-Fi hotspots, the original iPhone may work as well as the 3G since GPS is often blocked by tall buildings.
TUAWSteve
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Robert said 2:49PM on 10-13-2008
"My guess is that this app is having problems competing against the free Trailguru app, so they've decided to go with a similar profit model."
Ok, I guess I don't understand... How does the profit model of free work?
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Steven Sande said 3:27PM on 10-13-2008
If you take a look at the Trailguru site, the reporting site for the free Trailguru app, they make all of their revenue from online ads (usually for a site called fitness-singles.com). I'd be willing to bet that at least for the near future, the Fitness Keeper / RunKeeper folks are going to do the same thing.
TUAWSteve
Rick said 4:05PM on 10-13-2008
it still $9.99 please let me know went it free....thanks
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Stacy said 9:52PM on 10-13-2008
Just use Fitnio, it's always been free.
* it does everything RunKeeper does
* its easier to use
* it tells you how many calories you've burned (which runkeeper doesn't)
* it doesn't lose your data when you get a call or change the music
* they give you a free account on http://www.fitnio.com
I think Fitnio is the reason RunKeeper changed their price.
They better watch out even a free RunKeeper isn't as good as Fitnio.
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Kendal said 1:53AM on 10-14-2008
Stacy, you've posted this twice now. You're clearly employed/developing Fitnio. Stop advertising!
nicholasfranklin said 1:01AM on 10-14-2008
Runkeeper is now listed as FREE in the App Store.
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Alex said 1:10AM on 10-14-2008
it's up and free now.
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Roberto said 6:08AM on 10-14-2008
Hey just to let you know it is not free in Europe ...
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