Compare · Ghost Runner
Ghost Runner vs Apple Watch Race Route
Race Route is part of the Workout app on Apple Watch. Ghost Runner is a separate app for iPhone and Apple Watch. Both let you race your own earlier time on a route. Here are the facts, from Apple’s Apple Watch User Guide and from Ghost Runner itself.
| Feature | Apple Watch Race Route | Ghost Runner |
|---|---|---|
| What it is | Part of the Workout app on Apple Watch, added in watchOS 9 | A separate app for iPhone and Apple Watch |
| You need | An Apple Watch with watchOS 9 or later | An iPhone with iOS 18 and a paired Apple Watch with watchOS 11 |
| Workouts | Outdoor Run and Outdoor Cycle | Outdoor runs |
| Which routes | Created automatically once you’ve repeated the same route, with little or no deviation, at least twice | Built from your outdoor runs in Apple Health, older ones included. One run is enough to race. |
| Who you race | Your last or personal best time on the route | Up to six ghosts at once: past runs you choose, a goal pace or a past you. Friends’ posted times in challenges. |
| During the run | How far ahead or behind you are, and the distance left | Seconds ahead or behind, your place among the ghosts, pace and heart rate, and a map with every ghost |
| Off the route | Proceed To Route shows until you’re back on the route | Off route shows until you’re back on the route, and both clocks keep running. In Run Course, a flag shows where to rejoin. |
| Starting | Suggested when you’re near the start of a route; every route is under Suggested, then Route | Send a Route from the iPhone, then choose Race on the Watch near its start |
| Cost | Part of watchOS | Free, in beta through TestFlight |
Which to use
Race Route needs nothing to install and works for cycling too. Ghost Runner is for runners who want to choose the runs they race, race several at once, or race friends.
You can use both: Ghost Runner reads the runs Apple Health already has, including runs recorded with the Workout app. To try it, join the TestFlight beta.
Sources
- Apple Watch User Guide: Start an outdoor run workout on Apple Watch, section “Use Race Route to race your last or best time”.
- Apple Newsroom: watchOS 9 delivers new ways to stay connected, active, and healthy (June 2022).
Apple Watch and watchOS are trademarks of Apple Inc. Ghost Runner is an independent app and is not made by Apple.