RunPackGuides · 6 min read
A private Strava alternative for small running groups
Strava is a public social network for athletes. If you only want to share runs with a handful of friends, here’s how a crew-only app like RunPack compares.
Strava is the default app for sharing runs, and for good reason: huge community, segments, leaderboards, clubs, and it works with almost every device. But it’s built as a public network. Plenty of runners use it only to keep up with a few friends — and spend time in privacy settings making sure nobody else sees their runs.
If that’s you, a crew-only app may fit better. Here’s an honest comparison.
The core difference: audience
Strava is designed around followers, public segments and leaderboards. It has privacy controls — you can limit who sees activities and hide the start and end of your maps — but the network itself is public, and it’s on you to set and keep those controls right.
RunPack has no public side at all. There are no profiles to find, no followers and no leaderboards. Your runs go to your crew — the people you invited — and nobody else.
What you keep
- Runs from any device. RunPack has its own GPS run tracker on iPhone, and also picks up runs from Apple Watch, Garmin and anything else that writes workouts to Apple Health.
- The run itself. Distance, pace, time, and — with RunPack Plus — the route map and photos.
- Kudos, more or less. Preset reactions: 🔥 👏 💪.
- Group goals. Streaks and — with RunPack Plus — a weekly crew goal, instead of leaderboards.
What you give up
- Segments and leaderboards. RunPack doesn’t have them, on purpose.
- A big community. You won’t discover strangers’ runs or join public clubs.
- Comments. RunPack only has reactions.
- Android. RunPack is iPhone only for now.
What RunPack adds
Each morning RunPack gives you a readiness read — a 10-second check-in, or a recovery score if you wear a watch or ring — and gives the crew a short morning card: who’s fresh, who should go easy. Friends see coarse bands like “recovery low”, never your health numbers.
Do you have to choose?
No. Because RunPack reads workouts from Apple Health, you can keep recording on your watch, keep Strava for the wider world, and use RunPack for the five people you actually run with.
Strava is a trademark of Strava, Inc. RunPack isn’t affiliated with or endorsed by Strava. Features described here can change; check each app for the current details.