Best VO2 Max Training Apps: Compared by What You Need
Run these workouts on your iPhone, or hands-free on Apple Watch. Get PEAKVO2 There is no single best VO2 max training app, because "training VO2 max" covers four different jobs: running guided protocols, timing custom intervals, following a coached plan, and tracking your VO2 max trend. The best app is the one built for the job you need. This page compares the main options by use case, with the type of athlete each fits.
VO2 max rises when you train near your maximum in structured intervals, so most "VO2 max apps" are really one of a few tools. Match the tool to your goal and the choice gets simple.
Compared by Use Case
| App | Best for | Guided VO2 max protocols | Apple Watch | Price model |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| PEAKVO2 | Ready-to-run VO2 max protocols | Yes (Norwegian 4x4, Tabata, and more) | Wrist-native | 3 workouts free |
| Seconds Pro | Fully custom interval timers | No (you build your own) | Yes, wrist alerts | One-time purchase |
| Intervals Pro | HIIT and Tabata timers | No (you build your own) | Yes | Free with premium |
| Runna | Coached running plans | Interval and tempo sessions in a plan | Yes, audio cues | Subscription |
| Native trackers (Apple, Garmin) | Tracking the VO2 max trend | No | Built in | Included with device |
Guided VO2 Max Protocols: PEAKVO2
If you want the proven VO2 max protocols to run themselves, this is the category. PEAKVO2 ships the Norwegian 4x4, Tabata, HIIT 30/30, Billat 30/30, Ronnestad 30/15, and more as ready-to-run workouts on iPhone and Apple Watch, with full-screen phases, automatic transitions, a haptic tap at each switch, and the heart rate zones the protocols depend on. It runs on the wrist without a phone and tracks your VO2 max trend over time, and it includes built-in beep and Cooper field tests. Best for runners, cyclists, and endurance athletes who want structure without programming each interval by hand.
Custom Interval Timers: Seconds Pro and Intervals Pro
If you would rather design your own intervals, a flexible timer is the right tool. Seconds Pro is a long-standing, highly customizable interval timer with Apple Watch alerts and Apple Health saving, sold as a one-time purchase. Intervals Pro offers HIIT and Tabata timers with Apple Watch support. Neither prescribes VO2 max protocols; they give you a blank canvas to build any work and rest structure, which is ideal if you already know exactly what you want to run.
Coached Running Plans: Runna
If your goal is a race and you want a full plan rather than single sessions, Runna builds personalized running plans from 5K to marathon, with pace targets, interval and tempo sessions, and audio coaching to your Apple Watch, on a subscription. The VO2 max work is embedded inside a broader plan rather than offered as standalone protocols.
Tracking the Trend: Native and Dedicated Trackers
Apple Watch (Cardio Fitness) and Garmin estimate your VO2 max automatically from outdoor runs, which is the simplest way to watch the trend. Dedicated trackers add context like resting heart rate and training load. These measure the number; they do not run the training that changes it, so most people pair a tracker with a training app. For more on the wearable estimates, see our fitness tracker comparison and how to improve your Apple Watch cardio fitness.
How to Choose
- Want the workout handled for you? A guided-protocol app like PEAKVO2.
- Want to build your own intervals? A custom timer like Seconds Pro or Intervals Pro.
- Training for a race? A coached plan like Runna.
- Just want to see your number move? Your Apple Watch or Garmin already tracks it; pair it with one of the above to actually raise it.
Train VO2 max with guided protocols
PEAKVO2 runs the Norwegian 4x4, Tabata, REHIT, and more on iPhone and Apple Watch, with heart rate zones, automatic phases, and your VO2 max tracked over time. Three workouts free.
Get PEAKVO2 free