Best Running Metronome Apps (2026): 12 Compared for Cadence Training

Updated October 2026. Written by the team that makes Runo. We put our own app first in the table, so read the "How we compared" section and weigh our take accordingly. Every price and rating below was checked on the US App Store on October 5, 2026.

A running metronome app plays a steady beat so you can match one footstep to each click. It is the fastest way to change your cadence (steps per minute) without staring at your watch. In 2024 there were a handful of these apps. Since March 2026, more than ten new ones have launched. Most look identical in the App Store, so this guide sorts them by the three things that actually matter on a run: does the beat play under your music, does it work from your watch, and does it show you whether your cadence changed.

What is the best running metronome app?

Short answer: pick by what you need on the run.

• Best overall (iPhone, Android, Apple Watch): Runo. The beat plays under your music or podcast, the Apple Watch app runs without your phone and can pace you with haptic taps only, and it records cadence, pace, and heart rate so you can see if the change is sticking. Free to try; unlimited use needs a Runo Pro subscription. (We make Runo.)
• Best one-time purchase (iPhone + Apple Watch): RunTempo. $4.99 once, no subscription, no account. It does one job, the beat, and does not track your runs.
• Best free option on iPhone + Apple Watch: Cadence Keeper. Free, with Apple Watch, Lock Screen, and Control Center controls. No run tracking.
• Best free option on Android: Metronome Beats. A musician's metronome with ads in the free version, but it plays in the background alongside other audio.
• Best for slow jogging and Zone 2: Slow Jogging-Running Metronome (called Zone 2 Running Metronome Timer on Android). Free, suggests a cadence from your age and experience, 4.8 stars from 805 ratings.
• Best for structured cadence workouts: PaceBeat or RunningTempo. Both build multi-stage sessions with different cadence targets.

What cadence should I set my running metronome to?

Start at your current cadence plus about 5%, not at 180. Most recreational runners land between 150 and 170 steps per minute at easy pace, and that can be fine. The 180 figure comes from coach Jack Daniels' observations of elite runners at the 1984 Olympics, at race pace. It is not a target for a 10-minute-mile easy run.

To find your number:

1. Run at your normal easy pace for a few minutes.
2. Count every time your right foot lands for 30 seconds.
3. Multiply by 4. That is your cadence.
4. Set the metronome about 5% higher. If you measured 160, set 168.
5. Hold that for 2 to 4 weeks before going up again.

The research basis: in Heiderscheit and colleagues' 2011 study in Medicine & Science in Sports & Exercise, raising step rate 5 to 10% above a runner's preferred cadence reduced loading at the knee and hip. Cadence also rises naturally with speed, so your easy-run number and your 5K number will differ. Our running cadence by pace chart shows typical ranges for each pace, and the stride length guide explains how cadence and stride length trade off. If you are worried you are "too low", read why 180 steps per minute is not a universal rule.

The 12 running metronome apps compared

Prices are from the US App Store on October 5, 2026. Prices vary by country and change often; the app shows your local price before you pay.

"Plays under music" means the listing states the beat keeps playing alongside Spotify, Apple Music, or podcasts. "Not stated" means the listing does not say either way.

1. Runo

Best for: runners who want to change their cadence and check that it actually changed.

Runo is a running metronome built for long runs rather than music practice. You set a target steps per minute, put your headphones in, and the beat plays under whatever you are already listening to. Music, podcasts, and audiobooks keep playing.

What it does:

• Beat under your audio. The metronome mixes beneath music and podcasts instead of pausing them.
• Apple Watch without your phone. Start a run from the wrist and get the beat as audio or as haptic taps only, which is useful in races and group runs where you do not want anything in your ears.
• Training mode. Switches the beat on and off in intervals (30 seconds on and 30 off, 60 on and 30 off, random, or custom) so you practise holding cadence without it.
• Run tracking. Records cadence, pace, distance, and heart rate for each run. Works with Bluetooth heart rate straps and syncs runs to Strava.
• Metronome Only mode. Plays the beat without GPS tracking if you track your run in another app.
• Four beat sounds: Original, Maschine, Classic, Sonar.

Price: free to download with a limited free tier. Runo Pro (unlimited runs) is a monthly or yearly subscription. Price depends on your country; the app shows it before you subscribe.

Platforms: iPhone (iOS 15.1 or later), Android, Apple Watch. 4.5 stars from 151 ratings on the US App Store; used by 10,000+ runners.

Downsides: unlimited use needs a subscription, and some App Store reviewers in mid-2026 said the paywall appears too soon after onboarding. If you only want a beat and already track runs elsewhere, a one-time-purchase app like RunTempo costs less over a year.

We wrote a full head-to-head here: Runo vs RunTempo.

2. RunTempo

Best for: iPhone and Apple Watch runners who want to pay once and never think about it again.

RunTempo (by DockMarket) has been around since 2013, which makes it the oldest running-specific metronome on this list. It is deliberately simple: set a BPM, press start, run. It mixes with music, podcasts, and audiobooks, has a built-in timer for intervals and progressive sessions, works fully offline, and needs no account. The Apple Watch app runs standalone with background audio, plus a Smart Stack widget.

Price: $4.99 one-time on the US App Store. No subscription, no ads.

Platforms: iPhone and Apple Watch. No Android version. 4.1 stars from 47 ratings.

Downsides: it does not record your cadence, so you need a watch or another app to see whether you are improving.

Naming note: a different, unrelated app called "RunTempo" (by Bokyeong Kim) launched in August 2026 as a free download. Check the developer name before you buy.

3. Cadence Keeper

Best for: a free, no-fuss beat with excellent iPhone controls.

Launched in June 2026 and updated often since. You dial a BPM between 40 and 240, press play, and pocket the phone. The click plays on top of your music with the screen locked. It has more ways to control the beat than any other app here: an Apple Watch app (Digital Crown to change tempo, and it can play the click from the watch alone for up to an hour), a Smart Stack widget, Home Screen widgets, a Lock Screen Live Activity, Dynamic Island, and a Control Center toggle. It also works for cycling cadence.

Price: free. No in-app purchases listed.

Platforms: iPhone and Apple Watch. 4.7 stars from 9 ratings.

Downsides: no run tracking or cadence history. Very new, so there is little track record yet.

4. PaceBeat

Best for: runners who want a training plan written in cadence, not just a beat.

PaceBeat (Digital Twins LLC, launched January 2026) calls itself an audio-first running coach. The metronome runs in the background under Spotify, Apple Music, or podcasts, and gives "On Beat" and "Drifting" cues. A Run Builder creates interval, tempo, and long-run sessions for 5K to marathon, and its training plans prescribe cadence targets. It also includes strength sessions driven by the same metronome. The Android version describes GPS tracking of cadence, pace, distance, and route.

Price: free download; Premium is $2.99 per month or $29.99 per year (US App Store).

Platforms: iPhone and Android. 5.0 stars from 2 ratings on iOS.

Downsides: few reviews so far. No Apple Watch app listed on iOS. A second, unrelated paid app also uses the name "PaceBeat", so check the developer.

5. Metronome Beats

Best for: Android runners who want a free, proven metronome.

Metronome Beats by Stonekick is a musician's metronome, not a running app, but runners have used it for years because it keeps playing in the background alongside other audio. It covers a very wide tempo range, has a Speed Trainer that raises the tempo automatically, and offers vibrate mode and visual beats. Over 10 million downloads on Google Play.

Price: free with ads on Android, with a Pro upgrade. On iPhone it is "Metronome Beats Pro": free download with an $8.99 Pro unlock.

Platforms: Android, iPhone, Apple Watch. 4.7 stars from 5,497 ratings on the US App Store.

Downsides: built for music practice. Screens and presets are about time signatures and setlists, not runs, and there is no cadence tracking.

6. Pro Metronome

Best for: runners who like haptic beats and rhythm drills.

Pro Metronome (Polybeat) was featured in Apple's WWDC 2014 "Apps We Can't Live Without" showcase. Free features include multiple tones, haptic feedback, and background play. Pro adds a Rhythm Trainer that mutes beats to test your timing, plus automatic tempo changes. Its Apple Watch app delivers haptic or audio beats.

Price: free; Pro is available as a $3.99 purchase or a subscription, plus individual feature unlocks (US App Store).

Platforms: iPhone, iPad, Apple Watch, Android. 4.7 stars from 20,492 ratings.

Downsides: music-first design and many small in-app purchases. No run tracking.

7. The Metronome by Soundbrenner

Best for: runners who want muted-beat drills and lots of sounds.

A top-rated musician's metronome with tap tempo, many sounds, and preset saving. Soundbrenner Plus adds incremental tempo changes and a muted-beats trainer, which is useful for learning to hold cadence when the beat drops out. It can also pair with Soundbrenner's vibrating wearables.

Price: free; Soundbrenner Plus is a subscription (the US App Store lists monthly and yearly tiers from $4.99 to $9.99 per month and $39.99 to $79.99 per year).

Platforms: iPhone, Android. No Apple Watch app listed. 4.7 stars from 48,247 ratings.

Downsides: built for musicians, with no running features and no watch app. Most of the drills runners would want sit behind the subscription.

8. Slow Jogging-Running Metronome (Zone 2 Running Metronome Timer)

Best for: slow jogging and Zone 2 runners.

CMoney's app is built around slow jogging, the Japanese low-intensity method usually done at about 180 steps per minute with short, quick steps. It suggests a cadence from your age, gender, and experience, logs time, cadence, speed, and calories, and has team streaks so friends can keep each other going. It is the most-rated running-specific metronome in this guide.

Price: free.

Platforms: iPhone ("Slow Jogging-Running Metronome", 4.8 stars from 805 ratings) and Android ("Zone 2 Running Metronome Timer", 100K+ downloads).

Downsides: focused on slow jogging; less useful for tempo runs or race-pace cadence work. No Apple Watch app listed. If you are working on easy-run cadence, see Zone 2 running cadence.

9. Cadence Trainer: Run Metronome

Best for: a simple beat plus a basic cadence trend graph.

Bl4cksun's app sets 100 to 220 steps per minute, plays audio cues in the background or with the phone locked, works alongside other running apps, and shows cadence trends in simple progress graphs.

Price: free; Go Unlimited is $1.99 per month or $14.99 per year, or buy run tokens (US App Store).

Platforms: iPhone and Android. No ratings yet on the US App Store.

Downsides: no Apple Watch app and almost no public reviews. Not the same app as the "Cadence Trainer" in older 2015 roundups.

10. RunningTempo: 180 BPM Pacer

Best for: staged cadence workouts with an Apple Watch heart-rate guard.

RunningTempo (launched March 2026) has a free core: a steady metronome, iPhone and Apple Watch control, and post-run reports with cadence and heart-rate trends. The one-time Pro upgrade adds multi-stage cadence workouts that change BPM automatically and a Heart Rate Guard using the Apple Watch.

Price: free; Pro is $5.99 one-time (US App Store).

Platforms: iPhone and Apple Watch. No ratings yet on the US App Store.

Downsides: very new, with no public reviews to judge reliability.

11. Beto

Best for: building warm-up, tempo, and cool-down blocks at different cadences.

Beto (launched May 2026) is a running metronome with multi-segment workouts (each segment at its own tempo), saved presets, custom sounds and accents, and an Apple Watch app with haptic beats so you can leave the phone at home.

Price: free; no in-app purchases listed.

Platforms: iPhone and Apple Watch. 5.0 stars from 2 ratings.

Downsides: brand new and no run tracking. The listing does not say whether the beat plays under music.

12. CadenceBeep

Best for: the simplest possible free beat, fully offline.

CadenceBeep (launched May 2026) does one thing: 100 to 220 SPM, presets at 150, 160, 170, and 180, three sounds, and accents every 2, 3, or 4 beats. It plays with your music, keeps going with the screen off, and needs no account or connection. No ads.

Price: free.

Platforms: iPhone. No ratings yet.

Downsides: no watch app, no tracking, no workouts.

Also checked

• Cadio: iPhone metronome that plays over your music; Pro is a $0.99 one-time unlock for interval programs and more sounds. One rating so far.
• Cadence Runner: iPhone metronome with 60 to 300 steps per minute, 20+ sounds, and voice alerts; Pro is a subscription ($0.99/week, $1.99/month, $12.99/year) or $17.99 lifetime.
• Free music metronomes in general: they work for a short run, but some stop or duck your music in the background. We cover that trade-off in Runo vs free metronome apps.
• Motera: you may see motera.app ranking for "running metronome app". Motera is a GPS territory game, not a metronome; its page recommends other apps.

Which running metronome app should you pick?

• You want the beat under your podcast and proof your cadence changed: Runo.
• You want to pay once, iPhone only: RunTempo ($4.99) or RunningTempo Pro ($5.99).
• You want it free on iPhone with an Apple Watch app: Cadence Keeper or Beto.
• You want it free on Android: Metronome Beats, or Cadence Trainer if you want a trend graph.
• You do slow jogging: Slow Jogging-Running Metronome.
• You want a cadence-based training plan: PaceBeat.
• You run with only a watch, no headphones: an app with haptic beats on the watch: Runo, Beto, or Pro Metronome.

How we compared

We make Runo, so we are not neutral. To keep this useful:

• Every price, rating, platform, and launch date comes from the app's own App Store or Google Play listing, checked on October 5, 2026.
• For apps other than Runo, features are what the developer's listing states. We say "not stated" instead of guessing.
• We list Runo's downsides, and we name the cheaper option when it fits your use better.
• We update this page when an app changes price or platforms. If something here is out of date, email support@runoapp.com and we will fix it.

How to train with a running metronome: a 4-week plan

1. Week 1: measure. Run easy without a beat. Measure your cadence (right-foot strikes in 30 seconds times 4).
2. Week 2: +5% in short blocks. Set the metronome 5% above your number. Use it for 3 to 5 minute blocks in the middle of easy runs, then turn it off.
3. Week 3: longer blocks. Run 10 to 15 minutes at a time to the beat. Keep the pace easy: shorter steps, not faster running.
4. Week 4: check without the beat. Run without the metronome and measure again. If you hold most of the gain, keep that target for another few weeks before adding 5% more.

The full version, with drills, is in how to improve running cadence with a metronome. New to metronomes? Start with how to use a running metronome.

FAQ

What is the best running metronome app?

For most runners, Runo: it plays the beat under your music or podcasts, works standalone on Apple Watch with haptic taps, runs on Android too, and tracks cadence, pace, and heart rate. If you want to pay once and only need a beat on iPhone, RunTempo ($4.99) is the best one-time-purchase option. On Android for free, Metronome Beats is the most proven choice.

Is there a free running metronome app?

Yes. Free options in October 2026 include Cadence Keeper (iPhone and Apple Watch), CadenceBeep (iPhone), Beto (iPhone and Apple Watch), Slow Jogging-Running Metronome (iPhone and Android), and the free versions of Metronome Beats and Pro Metronome. Runo, PaceBeat, and Cadence Trainer have free tiers with paid upgrades.

What BPM should I set for running?

Set it to your current cadence plus about 5%. Measure by counting right-foot strikes for 30 seconds and multiplying by 4. Most recreational runners start between 150 and 170 steps per minute. 180 is a common goal but not a requirement, and your cadence should be higher at faster paces.

Can a running metronome play over Spotify or podcasts?

Running-specific metronomes like Runo, RunTempo, Cadence Keeper, PaceBeat, Cadio, and CadenceBeep state that the beat plays alongside Spotify, Apple Music, or podcasts. General music metronomes vary: some pause or duck other audio in the background, so check before a long run.

Which running metronome apps work on Apple Watch without a phone?

Runo, RunTempo, Cadence Keeper (up to an hour from the watch alone), and Beto list standalone Apple Watch use. Runo and Beto can pace you with haptic taps only, so you do not need headphones.

Which running metronome apps work on Android?

Runo, PaceBeat, Metronome Beats, Pro Metronome, Soundbrenner, Cadence Trainer, and Zone 2 Running Metronome Timer (CMoney) are on Google Play. RunTempo, Cadence Keeper, RunningTempo, Beto, and CadenceBeep are iPhone only.

Does running with a metronome reduce injuries?

It can help if you overstride. Raising cadence 5 to 10% shortens your stride so your foot lands closer to under your hips, and a 2011 study by Heiderscheit and colleagues found this reduced loading at the knee and hip. It is not a cure-all: total training load, strength, and shoes matter too. See how to fix overstriding.

How long does it take to increase running cadence?

There is no fixed timeline. A common approach is to use the metronome for part of 3 or 4 runs a week and hold each 5% step for 2 to 4 weeks. Add the next 5% only once the current target feels normal without the beat.

Keep reading

• Running cadence by pace: the chart every runner needs
• Running stride length: guide with calculator and height chart
• Is 180 steps per minute the perfect cadence?
• The 15 best running apps by category

Try Runo

If you want a metronome that stays out of the way of your podcast and shows whether your cadence actually changed, try Runo free on iPhone and Apple Watch or Android. Set your current cadence plus 5%, run three easy runs to the beat this week, and check the number.