By running with them! We've downloaded and used all of the apps on this list for at least one month to find out more about how they work, and who they are best for.
We looked at how easy the apps were to download and use, whether they were compatible with most of the best running watches on the market, and how motivating they were on days when we just didn't want to run.
We tracked runs on the treadmill, as well as outside, as well as walks and bike rides on recovery days. We quickly learned that the more time you spend setting up the app, often the more accurate the data will be. While sitting and inputting your height and weight and working out how to pair the app with your running watch and heart rate monitor might feel like an extra step, it does make the information the app records more accurate.