Can You Make Real Money With a Walking App?

Thanks to the invention (and increase) of technology, making money on the side has become easier than ever!

In fact, you’ve probably heard that you can earn money by doing something as simple as walking.

But can you make real money with a walking app? Yes, you can actually earn some money by using a walking app. If you’re dedicated and you work hard, you can earn anywhere between $30 to $240 per year.

So, let’s break down how it all works, and how you can turn steps into cash!

What Is a Walking App?

The walking apps that we’re talking about here are apps that you can download on your phone (generally iOS and Android devices) that pay you for walking around and being active.

Sometimes, the apps will have their own built-in method of tracking your steps or your distance, but others you have to link to external pedometers such as a FitBit or Apple Health.

The mission of (most of) the apps is ultimately to make money while also encouraging people to become more active and healthy.

Generally, they get paid through their partners and sponsorships (ads) so they can, in turn, pay you!

Making Money With a Walking App

It might seem a little unlikely at first that someone would pay you to do something you would probably be doing anyways, but it’s actually a legitimate way to make a few extra bucks. 

The process of getting started and earning money is similar across most of the different apps, and it isn’t too complicated.

The first step is to pick the app you want to download. There are a ton out there, and they all have different methods of tracking your steps, point systems, and ways you can cash out your money. So, it’s important to look into them and decide which is going to fit you best. 

Are you already an avid exerciser that wants to earn a little doing what you’re already doing? Then you might like apps like Achievement. Do you need a little help getting motivated? Then apps like StepBet, WinWalk or BetterPoints might be a good fit for you.

Either way, once you determine which app is best for you and download it, then you can start tracking your steps, which can be done in a number of ways:

• Directly through the apps built-in pedometer
• By connecting to an external pedometer (like FitBit)
• By tracking your distance on your GPS

If you don’t already own a FitBit or other step counter, you might want to avoid apps that require them (unless you want to pay a huge up-front cost). 

On the other hand, if you do most of your walking in stores or inside, you might want to choose an app that doesn’t track your steps via GPS, since that would really only work in an outdoor setting.

No matter which one you pick, once you’ve started tracking your steps, you’ll start earning points. Points are ultimately what converts to cash, so earning as many points as possible is the goal.

Here’s a few examples of point systems from different popular apps to give you an idea of how much you’ll have to walk to earn money:

• Achievement: Earn up to 80 points per day for walking, and 10,000 points is equivalent to $10.
• Walgreens Balance Rewards: Earn 100 rewards points every week, and 1,000 points is equivalent to $1.
• Sweatcoin: 1,000 steps gives you 1 Sweatcoin, and 20 Sweatcoins is worth approximately $1.

After you’ve started racking up points, you can convert them either to cash or use them to buy products, depending on the app you chose.

For example, apps such as Sweatcoin don’t let actually give you money directly for your points. Instead, you can exchange them for products. Here are a few examples of what Sweatcoins could buy you:

• A $50 Nike gift card (costs 3,650 Sweatcoins)
• Amazon vouchers (e-gift cards)
• A new iPhone

The marketplace changes daily, so you’ll have to check back often and see if there’s something you’d be interested in.

How Much Can You Make?

How much you can make will, of course, depend greatly on which app you use and how frequently you exercise.

If you exercise a lot, but are on an app where the conversion rate of steps to points is really low, you’ll probably make less than if you were on an app that offered better rates. 

The same principle applies if you’re on an app with great conversion rates, but you don’t walk around that much.

You can probably expect to earn anywhere from $30 to $240 per year, depending on the app you chose and if you stick with it or not. Of course, there’s always exceptions, but chances are that you won’t get rich quick using a walking app.

The good news is that there are other ways you get paid to walk and by combining some of these unique methods, you could end up creating a decent income stream.

What are the Startup Costs?

Startup costs, like how much you make, varies greatly on the app you chose. Most apps are free to download, so there shouldn’t be an initial startup cost there (assuming you already have a phone).

If you chose an app with a built-in tracking system, you won’t have to go out and buy any external apps or step counters.

So, theoretically, it could be completely free to start doing (which is good, because you won’t be making hundreds of dollars per month at it). But there are a few ways you could rack up your starting costs.

One is by using the app StepBet. This app requires you to place a bet on yourself (up front) and then enter into a sort of game where you have weekly step goals you have to make. 

The game lasts six weeks, and if you win, you get your bet back plus a portion of the pot (that’s divided between all the winners). If you don’t make your weekly goals and lose, however, you’ll forfeit your up front money.

Games usually cost $40 to enter, unless you become a member and enter into member-only games (membership would add on an additional extra cost). 

The other way to add on a significant startup cost would be going out and buying a pedometer that connects with most apps, like a FitBit.

FitBit fitness trackers can cost anywhere from $60 to $250 depending on which one you get. So, as you can see, that would be a huge upfront cost that really isn’t worth it (if you’re just buying it to earn money walking with an app).

If you don’t already have one, you might be better off just sticking to an app with a built-in tracker at first.

Pros and Cons

As with anything, there are pros and cons to trying to earn some extra cash by using a walking app. Let’s take a look at those.

Pros

• You can earn money while being active and doing something you already do everyday
• There are potentially zero startup costs
• It’s a simple, straightforward process

Cons

• You don’t make very much money
• You have to be disciplined and dedicated to walk a lot every day
• Takes a long time to earn enough points to cash out

In Conclusion

Overall, you can actually make money with walking apps, however you shouldn’t expect to get rich overnight.

If you’re already active and just want to earn a few extra dollars doing what you’re already doing, then it would be a great option for you! 

However, if you’re looking to make a larger amount of money in a shorter period of time with walking, you might be better off trying something like dog walking or becoming a walking tourist guide for example.

Either way, it’s a personal decision, but there are ways to try it out for free and see whether or not you like it!