Getting paid to walk sounds like the easiest money you’ll ever make. You’re already walking to the car, around the office, through the grocery store, around the block with the dog. What if every step put a few cents in your pocket?
That’s the pitch behind walking apps, and it’s not entirely wrong. Several legitimate apps really do pay you for steps you’re already taking. The catch — and there’s always a catch — is that the amounts are tiny. We’re talking fractions of a cent per step. Most users earn $3 to $10 per month from a single walking app.
But here’s where it gets interesting: you can stack multiple apps simultaneously. They all track the same steps, but each pays through a different system. Walk once, earn from three or four apps at the same time. Combined with a few smart strategies, a daily walking habit can generate $25 to $50 per month in free rewards without any extra effort.
I’ve tested 12 walking and exercise apps over extended periods, tracking consistent daily step counts to determine which ones actually pay, which ones are all hype, and how to stack them for maximum earnings.
Before We Get Into the Apps
If you’re exploring ways to earn money beyond your main income, walking apps sit at the very bottom of the earning spectrum. They’re legitimate but low-paying. Before you spend time optimising step counts and stacking reward apps, consider whether your effort would be better spent elsewhere.
I build simple two-page websites that show up in Google for local service businesses. Each site generates $500 to $1,500 per month in recurring revenue. That’s what meaningful side income actually looks like — not $8 per month for hitting 10,000 steps.
Go here to see the exact system I use
Now — the walking apps.
How Walking Apps Make Money (And Why They Pay You)
Walking apps aren’t charity. They’re businesses monetising your activity data. Understanding how they make money helps explain why the payouts are so small — and also why the model is sustainable.
Advertising revenue. Most walking apps are ad-supported. You see ads between activities, during reward redemptions, or as optional “watch this ad to boost your earnings” prompts. The more users the app has, the more ad revenue it generates, and a portion flows back to users as incentive to keep the app installed.
Anonymised health data. Some apps (particularly Evidation) aggregate anonymised user health data and sell insights to health researchers, insurance companies, and wellness brands. Your individual data isn’t sold — the aggregated patterns are.
Brand partnerships and sponsorships. Apps like Sweatcoin partner with brands to offer discounted products and services in their marketplace. Brands pay to be featured, and the app passes some of that value to users as rewards.
The economic reality. Walking apps pay small amounts because each individual user generates small ad revenue and small data value. The model works at scale — millions of users each generating modest revenue — but the per-user payout is inherently limited.
The 12 Best Apps That Pay You to Walk and Exercise
1. Sweatcoin — Most Popular Walking App
Sweatcoin is the most widely used step-tracking app globally, converting your outdoor steps into a digital currency called “Sweatcoins” redeemable for products, gift cards, and occasionally PayPal cash through partner offers.
How it works. The app runs in the background and tracks your outdoor steps using GPS verification. Indoor steps (treadmill, walking around your house) generally don’t count. You earn approximately 1 Sweatcoin per 1,000 verified outdoor steps.
What can you redeem? The Sweatcoin marketplace offers brand-name products, subscription discounts, charitable donations, and gift card offers. High-value rewards (like a new iPhone or $1,000 PayPal payout) require thousands of coins accumulated over months. Smaller rewards — discount codes, low-cost products, and charitable donations — are accessible within weeks.
The SWEAT cryptocurrency. Sweatcoin also connects to the SWEAT token, a cryptocurrency that users can earn and trade. This adds speculative upside if the token appreciates, but also adds volatility — the token’s value fluctuates with the crypto market.
Realistic monthly earnings. At 8,000 to 10,000 steps per day, expect to earn 240 to 300 Sweatcoins per month. Redemption value varies, but a reasonable estimate is $2 to $5 in equivalent reward value per month.
Key limitation. Outdoor-only step verification means treadmill walkers and indoor gym-goers earn significantly less. If most of your steps happen indoors, Sweatcoin underperforms.
Availability. iOS and Android.
2. WeWard — Best for Cash Payouts
WeWard is a French-founded walking app now available in the US and Europe. It converts steps into “Wards” redeemable for real cash via bank transfer, PayPal, or gift cards. Venus Williams is an investor — a somewhat unusual celebrity endorsement that adds credibility.
How it works. Walk, earn Wards. The basic rate is approximately 1 Ward per 1,500 steps. Bonus Wards are available for visiting local partner businesses, completing in-app challenges, and watching ads.
What makes it different. WeWard pays actual cash, not just marketplace credits. You can withdraw directly to your bank account or PayPal. The local business visit feature — where you earn bonus rewards for physically visiting partner locations — adds a unique earning dimension that other apps don’t offer.
Realistic monthly earnings. $3 to $8 per month for consistent walkers. The app’s gamification features (daily challenges, streaks, leaderboards) add engagement beyond simple step counting.
Availability. iOS and Android.
3. Evidation — Best for Fitness Tracker Users
Evidation (formerly Achievement) is a health data rewards platform that pays you for multiple health-related activities — walking, sleeping, logging meals, meditating, answering health surveys — tracked through connected fitness apps.
How it works. Connect Evidation to your existing fitness apps — Apple Health, Google Fit, Fitbit, Garmin, Samsung Health, MyFitnessPal, and 20+ others. Earn points for each tracked health activity. 10,000 points = $10 paid via PayPal.
Why it’s valuable. Unlike pure step-tracking apps, Evidation rewards a broad range of health activities. If you already wear a fitness tracker and log sleep, you’re earning Evidation points without any additional effort.
Realistic monthly earnings. $2 to $6 per month. Most users take 2 to 5 months to accumulate the 10,000 points needed for a $10 payout.
Key advantage. Counts indoor steps. Because Evidation reads data from your phone’s health app or connected fitness tracker, treadmill walking, indoor gym workouts, and walking around your house all count.
Availability. iOS and Android.
4. StepBet — Highest Earning Potential (With Risk)
StepBet takes a different approach: you bet real money on your own ability to meet personalised step goals. Join a game, place a bet ($10 to $40 typically), and commit to hitting your step target every week for 6 weeks. Winners split the pot. Losers forfeit their bet.
How it works. StepBet analyses your recent step history and sets a personalised goal slightly above your average. Each game runs for 6 weeks. If you hit your weekly goal every week, you earn a share of the prize pool. If you miss even one week, you lose your bet and your money goes to the winners.
Realistic earnings. $5 to $15 profit per game for consistent winners. Some games have large player pools and offer proportionally larger pots.
The psychology. StepBet’s real value isn’t the money — it’s the motivation. Having $20 on the line makes you take that evening walk even when you don’t feel like it. The financial incentive drives behaviour change that pure tracking apps don’t achieve.
Key risk. You can lose money. If life gets busy, you get injured, or you simply forget to walk one week, your bet is gone. Only play with money you can afford to lose.
Availability. iOS and Android.
5. Winwalk — Best Low-Threshold Payout
Winwalk rewards you with coins for daily steps, redeemable for gift cards (Amazon, Starbucks, Walmart, Target, and others). The payout threshold is low — as little as $1 — making it one of the fastest apps to redeem from.
How it works. Earn 1 coin per 100 steps, capped at 100 coins per day. Coins are redeemable for gift cards.
Realistic monthly earnings. $1 to $3 in gift card value per month.
Why it makes the list. Winwalk is simple, reliable, and counts indoor steps. The low payout threshold means you get rewards quickly rather than waiting months. It’s a solid “set it and forget it” background app.
Availability. Android (limited iOS availability).
6. Charity Miles — Best for Motivation
Charity Miles doesn’t pay you. Instead, corporate sponsors donate money to your chosen charity based on your walking, running, or cycling distance. Approximately $0.25 per mile walked or $0.10 per mile biked.
Why it’s on this list. Not everyone is motivated by earning $3 in Amazon credit. Some people are more motivated by knowing their walk helped fund clean water, animal rescue, or cancer research. Charity Miles turns every walk into tangible charitable impact.
Availability. iOS and Android.
7. HealthyWage — Best for Weight Loss Goals
HealthyWage isn’t a step-tracking app — it’s a weight-loss betting platform where you wager on yourself to lose a specific amount of weight within a set timeframe. Walking is typically the primary activity, and payouts can be substantial.
How it works. Calculate your bet using HealthyWage’s prize calculator. Place your wager ($20 to $500 per month, for 6 to 18 months). If you achieve your weight loss goal within the timeframe, you win a cash prize. If you don’t, you lose your bet.
Realistic earnings. Variable — prize calculator shows potential winnings of $100 to $10,000+ depending on bet size and weight loss goal.
Key consideration. This is a serious financial commitment. Only appropriate for people genuinely committed to weight loss who want financial motivation.
Availability. Web, iOS, Android.
8. Miles App
Miles rewards all types of movement — walking, running, driving, cycling, public transit, and flying. Walking earns the highest multiplier (10x compared to driving), incentivising eco-friendly transport.
Realistic monthly earnings. Primarily discounts and partner offers. Occasional gift card redemptions worth $1 to $5 per month.
9. Runtopia
Runtopia combines step tracking with structured exercise plans and an in-app audio coach. You earn “Sports Coins” for completed activities, redeemable for athletic gear, coupons, and occasionally cash.
Best for. Runners and serious exercisers who want structured training plans with a reward component.
10. Paceline
Paceline rewards you for elevated heart rate activity — not just steps. 150 minutes of elevated heart rate exercise per week unlocks rewards from brand partners plus a weekly $1 to $3 gift card.
Best for. People whose exercise involves running, cycling, or gym workouts rather than casual walking.
11. Paidtogo
Paidtogo is one of the few walking apps that pays direct cash via PayPal. The catch: it’s a subscription service ($7.50 to $15 per month). Your walking earns coins redeemable for PayPal cash, but you need to earn enough to offset the subscription cost.
Worth it? Only if you’re very active and confident you’ll out-earn the subscription fee consistently. For most casual walkers, the maths doesn’t work.
12. Step App (Crypto-Based)
Step App operates on a cryptocurrency ecosystem where users earn KCAL tokens for physical activity. Tokens can be traded or used within the app’s marketplace.
Best for. Crypto-curious users interested in move-to-earn models. Token values fluctuate with market conditions, adding speculative upside (and downside).
Complete Comparison Table
| App | Payment Type | Monthly Earnings | Payout Min | Indoor Steps? | Risk? |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sweatcoin | Marketplace / SWEAT crypto | $2-$5 equiv. | Varies | ❌ | No |
| WeWard | Cash / PayPal / gift cards | $3-$8 | ~$1 | ✅ (limited) | No |
| Evidation | PayPal cash | $2-$6 | $10 | ✅ | No |
| StepBet | Cash (pot winnings) | $5-$15/game | Bet-based | ✅ | Yes |
| Winwalk | Gift cards | $1-$3 | ~$1 | ✅ | No |
| Charity Miles | Charity donations | $0 (donations) | N/A | ❌ | No |
| HealthyWage | Cash prize | $100-$10K+ | Bet-based | N/A | Yes |
| Miles | Discounts / gift cards | $1-$5 equiv. | Varies | ✅ | No |
| Runtopia | Sports gear / coins | $1-$4 | Varies | ✅ | No |
| Paceline | Brand rewards / gift cards | $3-$10 | Weekly | ✅ | No |
| Paidtogo | PayPal cash | $5-$15 | Varies | ✅ | Subscription cost |
| Step App | KCAL crypto token | Variable | Varies | ✅ | Crypto volatility |
How to Stack Walking Apps for Maximum Earnings
The real strategy with walking apps is stacking — running multiple apps simultaneously so that a single walk generates earnings from three or four apps at once.
The Recommended Stack
Tier 1 — Always running (passive, no effort):
- Sweatcoin (outdoor steps → marketplace credits / SWEAT)
- Evidation (all health activity → PayPal cash)
- Winwalk (all steps → gift cards)
Tier 2 — Add for higher earnings:
- WeWard (steps + local visits → cash)
- Paceline (elevated heart rate → gift cards)
Tier 3 — Add for motivated exercisers:
- StepBet (bet on step goals → cash profit)
How Stacking Works
Your phone tracks steps once. Multiple apps read that step data independently. Walking 8,000 steps earns you Sweatcoins from Sweatcoin, points from Evidation, and coins from Winwalk — all from the same walk.
The apps don’t conflict. They don’t drain meaningfully more battery than running a single app. And the combined earnings are roughly 3x what any single app pays alone.
Realistic Stacked Earnings
At 8,000 to 10,000 steps per day with the Tier 1 + Tier 2 stack:
Monthly earnings: $10 to $25 across all apps combined.
Annual earnings: $120 to $300.
That’s not life-changing money. But it’s free money for activity you were doing anyway. Over a year, it covers a few months of a streaming subscription or a decent pair of running shoes.
The Honest Math
Let’s put walking app earnings in proper perspective.
Time investment for stacked apps: 5 minutes of setup per app. Zero ongoing time (apps run passively).
Annual earnings with 3-4 stacked apps: $120 to $300 per year.
Effective hourly rate: Not calculable in the traditional sense — you’re not “working.” The apps run while you walk normally.
Compared to other earning methods:
| Method | Monthly Earnings | Time Required |
|---|---|---|
| Walking app stack (passive) | $10-$25 | 0 hours (passive) |
| Survey apps | $20-$75 | 5-10 hours |
| Gig economy apps | $500-$2,000+ | 20-40 hours |
| Lead generation websites | $500-$1,500/site | 2-5 hours/month maintenance |
Walking apps are the lowest-effort option with correspondingly low returns. They make the most sense as a “why not?” supplement to other earning methods, not as a primary income strategy.
Tips to Maximise Your Earnings
Walk outdoors when possible. Sweatcoin — the biggest walking app — only counts outdoor steps verified by GPS. If most of your daily walking is indoors, your Sweatcoin earnings will be minimal.
Connect every fitness tracker you own. Evidation rewards data from multiple sources. The more apps and trackers connected, the more points you earn per day.
Don’t change your routine for these apps. The entire value proposition is earning from activity you’d do anyway. If you start driving somewhere to walk outdoors specifically for Sweatcoin, you’ve defeated the purpose. Walk for your health. Let the apps be a bonus.
Check your health insurance. Several major insurers (UnitedHealthcare, Humana, Blue Cross) offer wellness programmes that pay for physical activity — sometimes significantly more than walking apps. Your insurance might already be the highest-paying “exercise app” available to you.
Cash out early and often. Don’t let points or coins accumulate. Apps change terms, devalue rewards, and occasionally shut down. Redeem as soon as you hit the minimum threshold.
For more ways to earn from your phone, check out my best reward apps guide, apps that pay real money instantly, and my full side hustle database with 60+ income ideas.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do walking apps really pay?
Yes, but the amounts are small — typically $2 to $10 per month from a single app. Stacking 3 to 4 apps can push combined earnings to $10 to $25 per month.
What’s the highest-paying walking app?
StepBet offers the highest per-game payout potential ($5 to $15 per game) but requires a financial bet. For risk-free passive earnings, WeWard and Evidation offer the best cash payouts.
Can I use walking apps on a treadmill?
Depends on the app. Sweatcoin only counts GPS-verified outdoor steps. Evidation, Winwalk, and WeWard count steps from your phone’s motion sensor regardless of location, so treadmill walking counts.
Do walking apps drain battery?
Modestly. Sweatcoin uses GPS and can consume 3% to 8% additional battery per day. Apps that use only the phone’s motion sensor (Winwalk, Evidation) have minimal battery impact.
Are walking apps worth the privacy trade-off?
The apps listed here are legitimate and widely used. They collect step data, location data (GPS-based apps), and health metrics. Read each app’s privacy policy and decide whether you’re comfortable with the data collection. For most users, the trade-off is reasonable.
Walk for Your Health — Earn as a Bonus
Walking apps are a nice addition to an active lifestyle. Stack three or four, let them run in the background, and collect $120 to $300 per year in free rewards for steps you were taking anyway.
They are not income. They are not a side hustle. They’re a small perk for doing something you should be doing for your health regardless of whether anyone pays you for it.
Walk because it reduces your risk of heart disease, diabetes, obesity, and depression. Walk because it makes you feel better. Walk because it’s the single most accessible form of exercise on the planet. And then collect your $10 per month as a nice bonus.
If you want recurring income that actually moves the needle — the kind that pays rent, builds savings, and creates financial freedom — go here to see how I build simple websites that generate $500 to $1,500 per month each.
Walk for your health. Build something for your income.
Mark is the founder of MarksInsights and has spent 15+ years testing online business programs and tools. He focuses on honest, experience-based reviews that help people avoid scams and find real, sustainable ways to make money online.