Accuracy of running apps

I use runkeeper. I just checked on google maps (I take the same route everytime, I just use runkeeper for the speed) and it was very accurate. A little different but I would assume that was more error with me trying to map the route in google maps.

I use cardiotrainer, and it is pretty accurate. The handful of times I've had issues were when my phone was acting up....a reboot solved the issue.

Strava, here.

I use the digift app with a gps and a heart rate monitor and its been very accurate so far.

I use runkeeper, has been accurate for me

The accuracy is more dependent on the accuracy of the GPS receiver in the phone than the app itself.

If you want improved accuracy you need something along the lines of a Garmin Forerunner, if you don't want to spend more money on gadgets your phone and whichever app you decide to use is probably accurate enough.

This,
I find there's a big difference on whether i use my old iphone 3 vs my husbands 5 (running on gps alone).
for added accuracy, I've gotten myself the Nike+ shoe sensor - yes, it's basically a pedometer, but it stops the annoying gps spikes, where runkeeper for example tells you you just did 120km/h, hopping a few miles back and forth...
still, i found there is up to a 10% difference between the two phones.

I've gotten myself the Nike+ shoe sensor - yes, it's basically a pedometer, but it stops the annoying gps spikes, where runkeeper for example tells you you just did 120km/h, hopping a few miles back and forth...
still, i found there is up to a 10% difference between the two phones.

I used the shoe sensor when I had/used the iPod 3rd gen. But switched just to the Nike Running app on iPhone 5, when I upgraded my phone last year. I find it pretty accurate using both gps and non gps. If I step on my street off my driveway and walk the loop of my neighborhood it is .7 miles according to my car and google maps and Nike Running with gps gives me .7. If I use it in indoor mode on the treadmill it will be within .02 of the distance the treadmill says. It's not that different, but I will adjust the distance and split the difference.

I have a Droid phone.
For my runs I run Sports Tracker and Endomondo at the same time for various reasons.
There has always been a discrepancy between the two readings. The difference is .03 miles in a 5k race but it increases with distance.
Endomondo was the closest in accuracy to the sanctioned race distance.
In the end I don't sweat the inaccuracies. I'm moving, running, burning calories, keeping my cardio conditioning.

The accuracy is more dependent on the accuracy of the GPS receiver in the phone than the app itself.

To my understanding, every smartphone app on the market uses pretty much the same method of coding/algorithm to utilize the GPS receiver in the device.

No one yet has worked out a way to distinguish 'bad' data points from the good ones and improve the accuracy of tracking. It's all about your signal strength.
Some are using a workaround, like I do with Endomondo. I go to the website and create a route within my profile that uses google earth measurements, then when I leave on the run I just set my workout to 'Follow Route' and that seems to minimize the effects because I've told the phone where I'll be running beforehand. It still comes back with a 0.1-0.2 mile error over a 10-12 mile run but that can be corrected as well.

The accuracy is more dependent on the accuracy of the GPS receiver in the phone than the app itself.

If you want improved accuracy you need something along the lines of a Garmin Forerunner, if you don't want to spend more money on gadgets your phone and whichever app you decide to use is probably accurate enough.

This.

I have used most all of the apps and have run several concurrently. None stands out as more accurate than the others over time. I trail run and mountain bike which is very challenging to gps due to tree coverage. The GPS/Hrm watches are most accurate, but even they fail due to heavy clouds or foliage. Nothing is going to be perfect, but it is fair to say you get what you pay for. Only you can determine where to draw the line. For me the free apps don't provide sufficient accuracy for my use.

This and this.

To add - even Garmin Forerunners and other dedicated GPS are not 100% accurate. There is a degree of error involved, plus other factors that can affect accuracy. I still prefer the Garmin (but I did use Mapmyrun before I had my garmin). I just have to throw that out there as a race coordinator who often deals with issues of people complaining of distance based on their garmin. The marathon that I volunteer with is Boston certified, it is as close to accurate as you can get and several runners had it register as long on their Garmin

What about the "calories burned" on apps like Runkeeper? Thoughts?