I walk a lot. School drop-offs. Grocery runs. Dog loops with my beagle, Maple. One day, my friend said, “Get paid for those steps.” I laughed. I’d already been reading other walkers’ stories—like this deep dive into walking-for-cash apps—and figured, why not test them myself? It nudged me to move more. I also found this straightforward roundup of walking apps that earn rewards useful for comparing options before I started testing.
If you want a clean way to see all your movement trends in one feed without clutter, check out Loup — it won’t pay you, but it helps visualize your streaks so those paid-step apps feel even more rewarding.
Here’s what I’ve used, what I earned, and what I’d actually keep on my phone.
Quick ground rules I use
- I stack apps. Two or three at once. No shame.
- I watch battery drain. GPS can be a little hungry.
- I cap my time with ads. If it takes longer than the walk, I’m out.
- I cash out when I can. Codes vanish. Offers change fast.
Alright, let’s talk steps that pay.
Sweatcoin: Hype, but also real perks
I’ve had Sweatcoin for three years. It counts outdoor steps and pays in “Sweatcoins.” Not dollars. I’ve earned 5,412 Sweatcoins total. Most offers are discounts, but I did snag one $20 PayPal “flash” deal last spring. It sold out in like 10 minutes. I also got a free yoga mat and a trial to a sleep app that I actually kept.
- What I like: It feels like a game. Outdoor walks count best. It got me out of the house.
- What bugs me: Indoor steps don’t count well. Cash offers are rare. Battery dips if I leave GPS on all day.
Best for folks who walk outside a lot and love deals. Not great if you want steady cash.
Evidation (used to be Achievement): Slow but steady cash
This one pays real money for health stuff. Steps, sleep, surveys. It links with Apple Health or Google Fit, so I don’t fuss with it each day. I’ve made $38 over about two and a half years. I cash out $10 every few months to PayPal. Surveys pop up here and there. Some pay $1–$3, and they’re short.
- What I like: Real cash. No drama. It’s passive.
- What bugs me: It’s slow if you skip the surveys. The feed can feel clinical at times.
Best for patient walkers who want actual money, not just coupons.
StepBet: You bet on yourself; I made $34 net
This one’s a little spicy. You put in money (I did $40 per game). You get step goals for six weeks. Hit your goals, split the pot with winners. Miss, and you lose your buy-in. I did five games and made $34 net (after fees). It made me walk in light rain. It also made me stare at my step count like a hawk.
- What I like: Big push. Real stakes.
- What bugs me: Stress. If your week blows up, you pay for it.
Best for folks who need pressure to move. Don’t play during a busy month.
CashWalk: Ads, but easy gift cards
I added CashWalk this year. It tracks steps and gives coins you trade for gift cards. I earned $25 in Amazon codes in six months. It counts indoor steps fine. The app has ads, but they’re short. I check it when I drink my coffee. Done.
- What I like: Simple. Indoor steps count. Regular gift cards.
- What bugs me: Daily coin cap. Small payouts if you skip a few days.
Best for apartment walkers, mall walkers, or anyone who hates fiddly menus.
Winwalk: Slow, but it adds up
Winwalk is like CashWalk’s cousin. Steps turn into coins. Coins turn into gift cards. I got a $10 Amazon code in about three months. Lots of ads here too. Sometimes gift cards run out, so I grab them the second I can.
- What I like: It just works in the background.
- What bugs me: Rewards go fast. Progress feels slow if you don’t check in.
Best if you’re patient and okay with ad clicks.
Miles: Steps count, but so does travel
Miles gives you points for all travel—walking, bus, car, bike. If you’re curious how mileage tracking can translate into other perks—like lower insurance rates—the Farmers Signal app is another eye-opening use case. I walk a lot, so that’s where most of my points come from. I cashed in for one $5 Starbucks card after about 4,800 miles (it counts distance, not steps). Most rewards are small discounts, which I don’t love, but I do enjoy the random treats.
- What I like: It counts everything. Easy background tracking.
- What bugs me: Many deals are coupons, not cash.
Best for commuters who like tiny perks.
Charity Miles: Feel-good steps
This one doesn’t pay you. It lets sponsors donate to your chosen charity when you move. I walked and ran with my local team and raised $62 for the food bank in a year. I kept it on for long weekend walks and races. Honestly, it felt good to send something beyond myself.
- What I like: Heartwarming. Great for family walks.
- What bugs me: No personal cash. sponsors come and go.
Best for people who love cause goals.
WeWard: Check-ins and small gift cards
WeWard made it to my city last year. Steps earn “Wards.” You can also check in at certain places for extra points. I redeemed a $15 Target code after about four months. It feels like a city game. I’ll do a detour to a park just to grab that extra bump.
- What I like: Fun map. Real gift cards. Walks feel like errands-in-a-good-way.
- What bugs me: Not every town has lots of check-ins. Points drip in, not pour in.
Best for folks in walkable areas who enjoy quests.
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STEPN: Crypto sneakers—fun, but I lost money
Yes, I tried it during the big crypto buzz. You buy a virtual sneaker. Then you earn tokens when you move. At first, the numbers looked wild. Then the token price dropped. My net after fees and fall—about negative $60. The app was fun, though. I liked the sound effects while I trotted around the block.
- What I like: Gamified in a big way. Music and vibes.
- What bugs me: Real financial risk. Prices change fast.
Best only if you know crypto and can handle a loss.
What I actually use now (and how I stack)
Day to day, I keep:
- Evidation for slow, steady cash.
- CashWalk or Winwalk for light gift cards.
- Sweatcoin for outdoor walks and random freebies.
When I need a push, I add StepBet for one 6-week sprint. I pause it if life gets hectic. And if I’m doing a charity 5K, I switch on Charity Miles.
I run two or three at the same time. No issues on my phone.
Real talk on money, time, and privacy
For an even bigger picture of what’s out there, Yahoo Finance recently highlighted a bunch of apps that literally pay you just to walk, and their numbers line up pretty closely with my own experience.
- Money: For me, it’s coffee money. Think $3–$10 a month across the stack, not rent.
- Time: Keep checks short. I set a two-minute “tap time” after dinner.
- Battery: GPS drains some apps. I use low-power mode and skip constant live tracking. For emergencies when I’m out of service, I lean on my go-to offline emergency app so I don’t have to keep everything else running.
- Data: I share only what’s needed. I link Apple Health, not my full location history when I can. I read the permission screens. Boring, but smart.
Little surprises that helped
- I put my phone