Walking is one of the simplest ways to stay healthy, and now, thanks to a number of apps, you can actually get paid to walk.
Whether you’re walking the dog, taking the kids to school, or just getting in your daily steps, these apps can help you earn a little extra cash or rewards.
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Here’s a roundup of the best apps that pay you to walk.
Sweatcoin
To start using Sweatcoin, you need to sign up with your email address and phone number. The app claims not to sell your data, which is reassuring if you’re concerned about privacy.
Tracking your activity: Sweatcoin tracks your steps both indoors and outdoors using your phone’s built-in pedometer.
If you have an Apple Watch (Series 2 or later), you can use it for tracking, but if not, you’ll need to have your phone on you to log your steps.
Rewards: for every 1,000 steps you take, you earn 0.95 sweatcoins. However, if you use the free version of the app, there is a limit and you can only track up to 10,000 steps per day.
If you are a serious stepper, the premium version offers unlimited tracking so you can earn more sweatcoins.
You can redeem your sweatcoins for rewards, although the selection is limited and changes frequently.
Examples of rewards include discounts on brands such as Garmin, Adidas, Grüum, Green Chef and Loveholidays.
Accuracy: the app only verifies about 65% of your steps, so some steps won’t be counted. You may see this more if your phone is in battery saver mode as it may miss even more steps.
Earn more Sweatcoins: In addition to walking, you can increase your sweatcoin earnings through daily rewards, participate in challenges, accept offers and invite friends to join the app.
How Sweatcoin makes money: Sweatcoin generates revenue through partnerships with brands and some limited advertising, which helps fund the rewards you can claim with your sweatcoins.
Download Sweatcoin: Android | iPhone (requires iOS 13.4 or later)
Wind Walk
To get started with Win Walk, sign up using your email and allow location tracking.
The app currently only works in European countries and claims that it does not share your data with third parties.
Tracking your activity: Win Walk tracks your steps indoors and outdoors using the phone’s built-in step sensor. To improve accuracy and save battery life, you can sync the app with Google Fit.
Rewards: for every 100 steps you take, you earn 1 coin. The app limits you to 10,000 steps daily, which means you can earn a maximum of 100 coins daily.
To redeem a £10 gift card, you need 21,000 coins. If you walk 5,000 steps every day, it will take almost 14 months to earn £10; walking 10,000 steps daily would cut this down to about 7 months.
Win Walk allows you to redeem gift cards from popular brands such as Amazon, Costa, Just Eat, Primark, H&M and others.
Earn more coins: you can boost your coin earnings by watching additional ads and playing games in the app. These activities can help you reach your goals faster.
How Win Walk makes money: the app generates revenue primarily through in-app advertising, which helps fund the gift card rewards you can earn.
Get Win Walk: Android only
Vitality
The Vitality app is only available to those with Vitality health or life insurance.
If you are not a policyholder, you will not be able to access the app or its benefits.
Tracking your activity: the app connects to a compatible activity tracking device and tracks various activities including walking, running, cycling, swimming, participating in Parkruns and partner gym training.
This makes it easy for anyone who enjoys different types of physical activity.
Rewards: Vitality awards points based on your daily activities. You can earn up to 8 active Vitality points per day with a weekly cap of 40 points.
For example, 7,000 steps will get you 3 points, 10,000 steps will get you 5 points, and 12,500 steps or more will get you the maximum 8 points.
The points you earn can be redeemed for rewards. If you earn 12 points in a week, you can enjoy a free drink from Caffé Nero.
Collect 48 points in a month and you’ll receive a free cinema ticket, valid at Vue or Odeon.
No additional ways to earn points: Unlike some other apps, the only way to earn points with Vitality is by logging your physical activities.
There are no extra points for viewing ads or completing offers – your points are based solely on your healthy habits.
Gain Vitality: Android | iPhone
Charity Miles
To use Charity Miles, you must sign up with your email and allow location tracking. The app assures users that their data is not shared with third parties.
Tracking your activity: Charity Miles tracks activities such as walking, running (both indoor and outdoor) and outdoor cycling.
Unlike some other apps, you have to start tracking each training session manually. For those who already use Strava, the app can be linked for easier tracking.
Rewards: instead of earning points for yourself, Charity Miles allows you to earn money for the charity of your choice based on the miles you move.
The exact amount earned per mile, varies depending on the total number of miles earned by all participants for the charity.
The app supports over 40 charities, including well-known organizations such as Save the Children, Stand Up To Cancer and the World Wildlife Fund.
You can choose a charity when you start using the app and change it whenever you want, so you can support different causes over time.
How Charity Miles makes money: the app is funded through sponsorships and it also includes in-app advertising. These funds are used to support donations to the various charities.
No additional ways to earn points: the only way to earn money for your chosen charity is by logging your physical activities.
There are no extra rewards for viewing ads or completing other tasks, making it a straightforward way to support good causes through exercise.
Download the Charity Miles app: Android | iPhone
Biscuit – earn rewards for going and looking after your dog
To start using the Biscuit app, sign up with your email and provide some basic information about your dog, such as its breed and age.
This helps the app offer personalized recommendations tailored to your dog’s specific needs.
Tracking your dog’s activity: Biscuit helps you log your dog’s walks and other active play sessions.
To track an activity, you must manually start the session in the app and ensure that GPS access is enabled. This ensures accurate tracking of your dog’s movements.
Rewards: When you track your dog’s activities, you earn points, known as “biscuits”. For every one hour walk you will earn 25 biscuits.
If you prefer shorter walks, you can split the time into several sessions. Additionally, if you reach a weekly goal of three one-hour walks, you’ll earn an additional 50 biscuits as a reward.
The biscuits you collect can be redeemed for a variety of rewards. You can exchange them for gift vouchers from popular brands such as Asda and Amazon or for pet care products.
For example, 10 biscuits can get you discount codes, while 650 biscuits can get you a £10 Caffè Nero voucher. To access gift cards, you must enter your dog’s microchip information.
Additional Ways to Earn Biscuits: In addition to just walking, you can earn “Wellness Badges” by taking care of your dog’s health, such as applying flea treatments.
These badges also reward you with extra biscuits, helping you earn rewards faster while ensuring your dog stays healthy.
Download the Biscuit app: Android | iPhone
Are these apps worth your time?
If you’re already someone who likes to walk or stay active, these apps can still be a great way to earn a little extra for what you do.
They can also be an excellent motivator to help you stay on track with your fitness goals or be more environmentally conscious by walking instead of driving.
However, if your main goal is to earn rewards quickly, you might find the pace a bit slow.
While the perks are a nice bonus, they can take time to accumulate, so it’s best to see them as an added benefit to improving your health rather than the main attraction.
Ricky Willis is the original Skint Dad. A money making enthusiast, father and husband to Naomi. He is always looking for unique ways to earn a little extra.