Runtile vs Garmin Connect for running stats on iPhone
Garmin Connect has the deepest training data of any platform. It also only knows about Garmin. Runtile reads every run in Apple Health and adds a pace heatmap, automatic shoes and a private, simpler view.
Checked against public feature lists on 12 September 2026. Tell us if something changed: support@runtile.app
What Garmin Connect does well
Training status, VO2 max estimate, training load, recovery time, race predictor, all from Garmin's physiology models.
Running dynamics from the watch or a pod.
Structured workouts and training plans on the watch.
Gear tracking with automatic default shoes per activity type.
A full web dashboard.
Where Runtile is different
Every source, one total. Garmin Connect counts Garmin activities. Runtile counts every Running workout in Health: Garmin, Apple Watch, Strava, a treadmill app.
A year in tiles. Garmin's calendar shows icons per day. Runtile's heatmap shows pace at a glance across 53 weeks.
Simpler, calmer. One number per screen, warm colours, no dashboard of forty tiles. Runtile is what you open at breakfast, Garmin Connect is what you open when planning a block.
Shoes across brands. Garmin's gear only sees Garmin activities. Runtile's shoes see every run in Health, and can import your Strava gear history too.
Private. Garmin Connect needs an account and syncs to Garmin's cloud. Runtile has no account and no server.
Side by side
| | Garmin Connect | Runtile |
|---|---|---|
| Records runs | Yes, on Garmin watches | No, reads Health |
| Physiology: VO2 max, training status | Yes | No |
| Totals across Garmin, Apple Watch, Strava | Garmin only | Yes, via Health |
| Year heatmap by pace | No | Yes (Pro for pace) |
| Run page with route, splits, zones | Yes, with running dynamics | Yes, dynamics when written to Health |
| Compare with your similar runs | Partly | Yes |
| Shoe mileage | Garmin activities only | Every run in Health |
| Race predictions | Yes | Yes (Pro) |
| Widgets on iPhone | Some | Twelve |
| Account | Required | None |
| Price | Free with a Garmin | Free, Pro optional |
Verdict
Garmin Connect for the science and the watch. Runtile for the honest total, the picture of the year and shoes that track themselves across every device you run with. Turn on Apple Health in Garmin Connect and both work from the same runs.
Questions
Do I lose Garmin's training status or VO2 max in Runtile?
Those stay in Garmin Connect. Runtile reads what Garmin writes to Health: distance, duration, heart rate, route and steps. Use both.
Can Runtile see runs from before I enabled Health sync?
No. Garmin Connect writes activities from the moment you enable Apple Health. Earlier runs stay in Garmin only.
Start with your last year of runs.
Runtile reads what is already in Health. Your history appears in seconds, no account needed.
Free on iPhone, iOS 17 or later. Explore with sample data, no Health needed.