While certain health conditions and diseases might be beyond our control, taking preventive steps remains the most effective strategy to protect ourselves from illnesses and reduce healthcare expenses.

A lack of physical activity can significantly weaken your immune system, making you more vulnerable to chronic illnesses. Yet, studies show that nearly 28% of Americans over the age of 6 live sedentary lives.

Fortunately, there are ways to stay motivated to move and even earn money while doing it. You don’t need to push yourself alone – various apps reward you for walking, turning your fitness journey into an opportunity to make extra income.

Top Apps That Reward You for Walking

You probably carry your smartphone everywhere, so why not turn it into a tool for both fitness and financial gain? If you’re in need of a little extra encouragement to get moving and want to earn some cash in the process, here are some apps that can help.

1. Achievement

  • Pros: Ability to earn more by tracking various activities.
  • Cons: Maximum earnings capped at $30 annually.
  • Compatible Trackers: Works with over 20 devices like Fitbit, Garmin, Apple Health, MyFitnessPal, and more.

Achievement is a popular app with over 3 million downloads. It encourages users to stay active by rewarding them with points for healthy activities, which are then converted into real money or charitable donations. Simply download the app, sync it with a fitness tracker, and start earning points by walking, biking, swimming, or even logging your food and sleep patterns.

While earning $30 per year is the maximum potential, the average user might earn closer to $10 to $20 annually by consistently tracking their daily activities. You can redeem your points through PayPal or direct deposit after reaching 10,000 points (equivalent to $10).

2. StepBet

  • Pros: Fun and engaging, with a competitive twist.
  • Cons: Requires an upfront buy-in, and the prize pool can be low due to large participant pools.
  • Compatible Trackers: Works with Garmin, Fitbit, and Apple Health.

StepBet takes a gamified approach to fitness. Players participate in challenges where they bet on themselves to achieve weekly step goals. If you hit your goal consistently, you win a portion of the prize pool. Games last about six weeks and cost $40 to join, but winnings can range from $5 to $20, depending on how many people participate.

StepBet does take a 15% cut, but if there are a lot of winners, they’ll forfeit that percentage to ensure players still earn money. The app pays out via PayPal, so it’s a competitive and potentially rewarding way to get moving.

3. Sweatcoin

  • Pros: Large selection of rewards.
  • Cons: Earning actual cash is rare, and most rewards are in the form of discounts or free trials.
  • Compatible Trackers: Uses built-in phone GPS or Apple Watch.

Sweatcoin is a unique app that converts your steps into its own cryptocurrency (SWC). The app rewards you for walking outside and also tracks your indoor activity, but it’s important to note that rewards tend to be more in the form of discounts or trials rather than cash.

You can accumulate Sweatcoins by reaching different membership levels, with the free “Mover” plan offering up to 5 SWC per day. However, the rewards typically include gift cards, fitness products, or discounted subscriptions rather than cold hard cash. The app also offers big-ticket prizes, like an iPhone or a hefty cash reward, though those are extremely difficult to achieve.

4. FitPotato

  • Pros: Competitive and quick one-week challenges.
  • Cons: Smaller player base and limited rewards.
  • Compatible Trackers: Uses iPhone’s built-in GPS.

FitPotato is a fun app that allows you to participate in weekly fitness challenges. Players must meet a 10,000-step goal within 24 hours to complete a session. For every challenge you win, you share a prize pool with other successful participants. The entry fee is $5, and the prize pool usually ranges between $1 and $5.

It’s a great app if you’re looking for a fast-paced and competitive way to make small earnings, but remember that consistency is key. Don’t forget to sync your steps before the challenge ends to ensure you get credit.

5. myWalgreens

  • Pros: Earn cash back on regular Walgreens purchases and health challenges.
  • Cons: Health challenges have a low earning potential.
  • Compatible Trackers: Integrates with over 20 fitness apps and devices.

If you’re a frequent Walgreens shopper, myWalgreens offers a great way to earn money while also focusing on your health. As a member, you’ll earn Walgreens Cash for both purchases and completing health challenges like walking 10,000 steps a day.

In addition to earning cash back on every purchase, completing challenges could earn you $0.25 per week in bonus points. It’s not a huge payout, but it adds up if you shop at Walgreens often and want to stay motivated to meet your fitness goals.

6. LifeCoin

  • Pros: Rewards in the form of gift cards and other prizes.
  • Cons: Slow to accumulate points and high redemption thresholds.
  • Compatible Trackers: Uses phone GPS tracking and Google Fit.

LifeCoin rewards users for their walking and running activities by converting steps into LifeCoins. A standard membership earns you up to 5 LifeCoins per day, but you can increase this limit with a paid membership. The app lets you redeem your LifeCoins for gift cards to popular retailers or even tech gadgets, though you’ll need a significant amount of coins to cash out.

At 5 LifeCoins per day, it takes about 500 days to earn a $50 gift card. While it’s not a quick moneymaker, it’s a good app if you want to build up rewards over time.

7. Charity Miles

  • Pros: Support charities while you walk or run.
  • Cons: Requires manual tracking for each workout.
  • Compatible Trackers: Works with phone GPS, Apple Health, and Strava.

If you’re looking to make a difference while getting fit, Charity Miles lets you donate to a charity of your choice based on how much you walk, run, or bike. You can earn up to $0.25 per mile walked or run, and up to $0.10 per mile biked. While it’s not a way to pocket cash yourself, it’s an excellent way to support causes that matter to you, with earnings going to the charity of your choice.

Charity Miles tracks your activity using your phone’s GPS and syncs with apps like Apple Health and Strava. Just make sure to start the workout within the app for it to count.

8. WinWalk

  • Pros: Multiple ways to earn points, including surveys and sweepstakes.
  • Cons: Only available for Android users.
  • Compatible Trackers: Uses phone’s built-in pedometer.

WinWalk is an Android-exclusive app that rewards you for walking with coins. Every 100 steps equals 1 coin, and the goal is to collect enough coins for gift cards. You can redeem rewards like Amazon or Starbucks gift cards once you’ve accumulated enough coins.

Additionally, you can increase your earnings by participating in surveys, watching ads, or downloading new mobile games. It’s a versatile app with multiple earning opportunities, but it may take time to see substantial rewards.

9. HealthyWage

  • Pros: The highest earning potential of any fitness app
  • Cons: Requires a minimum bet of $100

According to a 2008 study in the Journal of the American Medical Association, monetary incentives are an effective motivator for achieving weight loss goals. HealthyWage puts this theory into practice by letting you bet on your weight loss. You set a weight loss goal, choose a time frame, and wager a monthly amount, with the potential to win big if you meet your target.

10. DietBet

  • Pros: Low monetary commitment with the opportunity to earn money
  • Cons: Requires a $35 bet to join,

DietBet offers a fun and low-stakes way to get paid for losing weight. Like HealthyWage, you place a bet on your success, but the amount of weight you need to lose is generally smaller. Most games require a 4% weight loss within a four-week period, which makes it more achievable.