3 Amazing Apps That Pay You to Walk and Exercise

Would you believe me if I told you I made $200 last month just by walking my dog? Yeah, I couldn’t believe it either when I first stumbled onto these walking apps!

Look, we all know we should be walking more anyway. The CDC recommends at least 10,000 steps daily, but let’s be real – motivation can be tough. That’s where these genius apps come in, turning your daily stroll into a money-making side hustle.

I’ve been testing walking reward apps for the past year, and lemme tell you, some are absolute goldmines while others… well, they’re barely worth the phone battery they drain.

How Walking Apps Actually Make You Money

So here’s the deal – these apps track your steps through your phone’s built-in pedometer or fitness tracker. Every step gets converted into points, coins, or whatever currency the app uses. Then you cash out for real money, gift cards, or donate to charity.

The companies behind these apps make money through advertising, partnerships with health insurance companies, and selling anonymized fitness data. It’s actually a win-win situation. They get their data and ad revenue, you get paid for doing something healthy.

I remember thinking it was too good to be true at first. But after my first $20 Amazon gift card from Sweatcoin, I was hooked!

The Top Walking Apps I’ve Actually Made Money With

Sweatcoin – My Personal Favorite

This one’s been my go-to for over a year now. Sweatcoin pays you in their own cryptocurrency for outdoor steps (indoor steps don’t count as much, which was annoying at first). You earn about 1 Sweatcoin per 1,000 verified steps.

What I love is their marketplace – I’ve snagged everything from workout gear to tech gadgets. The downside? Converting to actual cash takes forever unless you’re walking like 20,000 steps daily.

Achievement – Best for Passive Earning

Achievement connects to tons of fitness apps and pays you for various healthy activities, not just walking. I’ve earned about $30 every three months without really trying. It’s slow but steady.

The app gives you 10,000 points for every $10, and walking typically earns 6 points per day. Not gonna make you rich, but hey, free money is free money!

StepBet – For the Competitive Types

Okay, this one’s different – you actually bet on yourself to hit step goals. I was skeptical about putting money down, but StepBet has been surprisingly profitable for me.

You join a game (usually $40 buy-in), commit to personalized step goals for 6 weeks, and split the pot with other winners. I’ve made about $5-15 profit per game. The fear of losing money is real motivation though!

Tips to Maximize Your Walking Earnings

After a year of doing this, I’ve learned some tricks. First off, stack multiple apps! There’s no rule against running Sweatcoin, Achievement, and others simultaneously. Just watch your battery life.

Get a cheap fitness tracker if your phone’s pedometer is wonky. Mine was undercounting by like 30%, which I only discovered when I borrowed my wife’s Fitbit. That was literally money left on the table!

Also, plan your errands strategically. I used to drive everywhere, but now I walk to the grocery store, bank, wherever’s within a mile or two. The steps add up quick, plus I’m saving on gas.

Common Mistakes to Avoid

Don’t fall for apps requiring upfront payments or personal info beyond basic stuff. I got burned by one sketchy app that wanted my social security number – huge red flag!

Be realistic about earnings too. You’re not gonna quit your day job with these apps. Think of it more like a fun bonus for staying healthy.

Oh, and actually cash out regularly! I lost $50 worth of points when an app shut down unexpectedly. Learned that lesson the hard way.

Try All Of Them (Pun Intended!)

Walking apps won’t make you rich, but they’re perfect for earning extra pocket money while improving your health. Start with one or two apps, see which fits your lifestyle, then expand from there.

The best part? You’re probably walking anyway, so why not get paid for it? Even if you only make $20-50 monthly, that’s a free dinner out or gas money just for moving your body.

Ready to explore more creative ways to boost your income? Check out other money-making strategies at Budget Hackers – we’re always finding new ways to hack your budget and maximize every opportunity!