The short answer: Runkeeper tracks your runs, stores your history, and reads out your pace and distance at intervals, with some features behind its paid Go tier. Steady Pace plays a tone locked to your target pace that moves as soon as you drift. If you want a full tracker with a history, Runkeeper does that. If you want to hold a pace, that is what Steady Pace does.
How they differ
Runkeeper is a tracker with a history and a social side. During a run it reads out your pace and distance every so often. Between those updates it does not tell you your pace, so if you drift you will not hear about it until the next one.
Steady Pace has no history feed. It plays a tone that sits at your target pace and moves the moment you drift, so there is no gap. It needs no account and makes no network connections.
Steady Pace and Runkeeper compared
| Steady Pace | Runkeeper | |
|---|---|---|
| Main use | Holding a pace as you run | Tracking runs and storing history |
| Pace feedback during a run | A continuous tone | Spoken updates at intervals |
| Account required | No | Yes |
| Price | One-time purchase | Free tier; Go subscription for more |
| Your data | Stays on your phone | Synced to your account |
What Runkeeper is for
Runkeeper suits runners who want a full tracker with a stored history, spoken stats, and plans to follow. It has done that for years. Some features need the Go subscription and an account.
What Steady Pace is for
Steady Pace suits runners who already know their pace and want to hold it closely. The tone tells you the moment your pace slips, which a spoken update every few minutes cannot. It needs no account and costs one payment.
Runkeeper tracks your runs and stores them. Steady Pace holds your pace during them, with no account and one payment.
Compare
Steady Pace vs Nike Run Club
Another app with spoken updates.
Blog
What is pace by ear?
How a pace tone works.
Blog
No cell service
Pacing where a tracker wants to sync.
Is Steady Pace like Runkeeper?
Both play audio while you run, but Runkeeper tracks your runs and reads spoken stats at intervals, while Steady Pace plays a continuous tone locked to your target pace.
Does Runkeeper hold you at a pace continuously?
No. Its spoken updates come at intervals, so between them you run on feel. Steady Pace updates its tone continuously.
Do I need an account or a subscription?
Runkeeper uses an account and holds some features behind its Go subscription. Steady Pace needs no account and has no subscription.
Can I use both?
Yes. Let Runkeeper record and store the run while the tone keeps you on pace.