Do You Need Two Apps for Running and Lifting?

It is the default setup for almost everyone who runs and lifts. A running app for the road, a lifting app for the gym. It feels normal because it is what everyone does, and because no single app seemed to do both well. But that default comes with hidden costs, and for most people the honest answer is no, you do not need two apps. You need one that was built for both.

This guide lays out the real costs of the two app setup, when two apps might actually make sense, what you gain by consolidating, and how to make the switch. By the end you will know whether the two app juggle is worth it for you.

FUNDAMENTAL / THE TWO APP TRAP

The two app setup, in numbers

The honest truth: The two app setup is not a choice most people made. It is a default they fell into because nothing did both well. That has changed. For the vast majority who run and lift, two apps is now more hassle than help.

THE COSTS / WHAT IT REALLY COSTS

The hidden costs of two apps

WHEN TWO MAKES SENSE / THE EXCEPTIONS

When two apps might make sense

To be fair, there are a few cases where running two apps is reasonable. Honesty matters here, because the right tool depends on you.

For everyone else, which is most people who simply want to run and lift and stay fit and healthy, one app built for both is the better answer.

WHAT YOU GAIN / CONSOLIDATING

What you gain by consolidating

The consolidation truth: Going from two apps to one is not just tidier. It changes what is possible. Only when both disciplines live together can anything, you or an app, actually balance them and protect your recovery.

Why Edge replaces both

Edge exists precisely because the two app setup was never good enough for people who do both. Instead of a running app and a lifting app side by side, Edge is a single plan that programmes and tracks running and strength together, sequences them so they support each other, and shows your whole week in one place.

That means one subscription, one place to look, and crucially, one plan that actually balances the two. If you want the practical how-to, our guide on how to track running and strength training in one app walks through it, and our ranking of the best workout tracking app for running and lifting shows how the options compare. Over 11,500 UK users now train with Edge, and every day gets easier.