Earn money by walking: apps that pay you "by steps"

The idea of earning while walking might seem like a sci-fi concept to anyone who isn’t already familiar with the innovative solutions that mobile technology offers today. However, it is a tangible reality thanks to a growing number of apps that pay users for their daily physical activities, especially walking.

This phenomenon not only stimulates an improvement in personal health and well-being through the encouragement of physical activity, but also opens new frontiers for earning money by walking, allowing users to accumulate rewards, discounts, and even cryptocurrencies , for every step they take.

Let’s explore some of the most promising apps that reward users: from WeWard, which offers incentives for exploring new places, to Movecoin and Sweatcoin, which convert steps into exchangeable virtual currency. We’ll also cover StepBet, an app that sets personalized physical activity goals, Virtuoso that rewards users with discounts and products, and Runtopia, focused on long-term goals and improvements in physical form. With such a diverse landscape, these platforms provide diverse opportunities to make money while walking, whether it’s monetizing daily steps, earning rewards, or even supporting philanthropic goals, proving that making money while walking has never been so accessible and inspiring.

WeWard

WeWard is a mobile application designed to encourage users to walk more frequently by offering rewards for the steps taken. Steps are converted into "Ward", an internal currency of the app. Users can earn Ward for activities such as walking, visiting specific geographic locations, completing quests, and taking surveys. The application is automatically connected to App Health or Google Fit, depending on the operating system, making it easy to use without excessively draining the battery.

How to get started?
To start using WeWard, you need to download the app, available for both Android and iOS, and register. Next, you activate your phone’s pedometer to start accumulating Ward. It is important to validate steps at the end of the day to ensure they are counted; otherwise, steps would not be recorded and the count would reset at midnight.

Prizes and Rewards
WeWard offers different forms of rewards, ranging from cash, which can be transferred directly to the user’s bank account, to discount vouchers and gift cards that can be used in specific stores. It is also possible to convert Wards into donations for charities. Ward thresholds for obtaining rewards vary: for example, 3,000 Wards can be exchanged for 15 euro. Additionally, by referring friends who register with a unique code, both the user and the friend receive Ward bonuses.

Movecoin

Movecoin is an Italian application that rewards users for physical activities such as walking, running and cycling. Launched in 2015, this platform converts every kilometer driven into Movecoin, a digital currency that can be used for a variety of green and sustainable purposes. The application supports environmental sustainability and promotes a healthy lifestyle, offering an economic incentive for physical activities.

How to get started?
To start earning Movecoin, users need to download the app, available for both Android and iOS, and register. Once the integrated pedometer is activated, the app automatically detects the distance traveled, whether on foot, by bicycle, or by running, thanks to the smartphone sensors and GPS. This allows you to accumulate Movecoins based on the kilometers traveled.

Use of credits
The accumulated Movecoins can be spent in several ways. Users can use the virtual currency to purchase public services such as bus tickets, pay local taxes, or convert Movecoins into euros on their credit card. It is also possible to use Movecoins in participating stores or convert them to Ethereum via Smart Contract, thus offering flexibility in the use of earned credits.

Sweatcoin

Sweatcoin is an application that transforms users’ steps into a digital currency called Sweatcoin, using the mobile device’s accelerometer. Every 1,000 steps taken earns you 1 Sweatcoin, minus a 5% commission. Users can accumulate up to 10 Sweatcoins per day unless they activate a Premium account for higher earning opportunities.

How to get started?
To use Sweatcoin, you need to download the app on Android or iOS devices and sign up using a Google or Apple account. It is essential to grant permissions to access motion data and activate Google Fit or HealthKit for physical activity tracking. Once your step count is set up, the app starts converting your movements into Sweatcoins.

Credit Conversion
The Sweatcoins earned can be used to purchase goods and services in the app’s marketplace, obtain discount codes for various products such as sportswear and technological gadgets, or converted into donations for charities. It is also possible to exchange Sweatcoin for SWEAT Token, an off-platform tradable cryptocurrency. For enthusiasts, the Sweat Wallet app allows you to manage and exchange your accumulated SWEAT tokens.

StepBet

StepBet is an app that turns the daily physical activity into a motivating challenge, encouraging users to set and achieve personalized step goals. Using historical data from the user’s pedometer app, StepBet customizes weekly goals to be challenging yet attainable. Users bet on themselves, investing an initial sum that helps create a collective prize pool.

How to get started?
To get started with StepBet, you need to download the app, available for both Android and iOS, and register. After registration, the user must connect the app to one of the supported services such as Google Fit, Garmin, Fitbit or Samsung Health. This allows the app to access your step history and set personalized goals. The user can then join a challenge by choosing from several available options and wager an initial fee to participate.

Weekly Challenges
StepBet’s weekly challenges push users to maintain a constant level of physical activity. Each week, step goals are updated based on previous performance, ensuring the challenge remains challenging. If the user surpasses all weekly goals throughout the game, they will win a portion of the prize pool, which consists of their initial bet as well as a portion of the profits generated by other participants’ bets. If the objectives are not achieved, the initial bet is lost.

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Virtuoso

Virtuoso is a free app based on a system of incentives and rewards for those who dedicate themselves to maintaining a healthy lifestyle through walking, running, and weekly training. Using gamification, the app turns the physical activity into a fun and challenging game, allowing users to compete with friends and family. Virtuoso has entered into collaborations with important brands such as Asics, Amazon, and Runtastic, offering discounts and prizes for those who overcome the proposed challenges.

How to get started?
To start using Virtuoso, simply download the app for free and register. The app syncs with Google Fit (for Android) or the Health app (for iOS), allowing you to track your daily activities. Users can participate in individual or group challenges, encouraging healthy competition and continuous improvement.

Use of credits
Credits earned through Virtuoso can be used to redeem physical rewards, discount coupons, or vouchers. The platform offers a variety of rewards that are updated monthly, always ensuring new opportunities for active users. Furthermore, by participating in company or community competitions, you can accumulate additional credits and prizes, increasing involvement and motivation to maintain an active lifestyle.

Runtopia

Runtopia stands out as an ideal application for running enthusiasts, offering precise tracking via GPS. This feature allows users to view detailed statistics of each running session, including route map, distance traveled, pace, speed, calories burned, altitude, and heart rate. The integration of a real-time pedometer transforms each step into a "Sports Coin", a virtual currency that can be spent to purchase sports equipment, prizes, and various services through the app’s dedicated shop. Furthermore, Bluetooth compatibility extends its use to devices such as Runtopia S1, Runtopia X3, Runtopia Shoes, and other products from well-known brands such as Suunto, TomTom, and Garmin.

How to get started?
To start using Runtopia, you need to download the app and accept the terms and conditions. After installation, the user can register using their Google, Facebook, Apple account, email, or phone number. Next, you are required to enter personal details such as age, gender, weight, and height, or you can choose to skip these steps. Once registration is complete, the user is ready to start tracking his activities and earning Sports Coin.

Training programs
Runtopia offers a wide range of personalized training programs, suitable for various experience levels. Users can choose from programs for walking, running, weight loss, and even preparations for 5/10km marathons. The app also includes specific training organized in events, races, and through community and running clubs. To access premium features, users can opt for a monthly, semi-annual, or annual subscription, with the option to cancel at any time.

Original article published on Money.it Italy 2024-06-20 18:14:58. Original title: Guadagnare camminando: le app che ti pagano per camminare