Top 13 Apps That Pay You to Work Out (Plus Health Programs)

Want to make money exercising? Yes? Here are some of the top apps that pay you to work out, plus health programs.

Have you ever imagined that it’s possible to get paid to work out? A few years ago, the idea of getting paid to walk around your neighborhood would’ve sounded ridiculous. Today, it’s a legitimate way to make money.

The global fitness app market was valued at over $8 billion in 2023 and is projected to grow steadily through 2030. People are increasingly blending technology, health, and financial incentives into one streamlined experience.

Nowadays, fitness apps run rewards programs to motivate people to work out. In return, apps collect data that is valuable to brands. It’s like turning your daily jog into a tiny paycheck.

While researching this topic, I’ve come across many reward apps that pay you to work out. Trust me, not all of them are worth trying.

In this post, I’ll cover some of the top apps that pay you to work out, categorized by walking, losing weight, and running.

How Do Work Out Apps That Pay Actually Work?

The concept sounds almost too good to be true. An app tracks your workouts and then sends you money or rewards for staying active.

Naturally, people may ask: where does the money actually come from? The answer lies in a combination of partnerships, advertising, behavioral economics, and data-driven research. Fitness reward apps are designed around sustainable business models that benefit both users and brands.

Most fitness apps operate through brand partnerships and sponsorships. Brands want access to health-conscious consumers, and workout apps provide exactly that audience.

When you earn rewards—whether it’s gift cards, discounts, or small cash payouts—those rewards are often funded by brands seeking exposure. In simple terms, brands subsidize the incentives because they gain customers and valuable engagement.

There are three different types of fitness apps.

  • Step-Counting Apps: Track your steps and convert them into coins you redeem for gift cards or PayPal cash.
  • Cash Challenge Apps: Users commit money upfront and earn it back by completing fitness goals. If you succeed, you receive your original stake plus a share of the prize pool. If you fail, you lose your entry fee. It’s essentially a fitness bet against yourself.
  • Fitness Survey Apps: Connect to Apple Health or Fitbit and earn points for logged workouts and health surveys. No buy-ins, no step minimums. These apps pay users for contributing anonymized health data that supports medical studies.

Here’s a simplified comparison of reward models:

Reward ModelHow It WorksExample Apps
Step-CountingEarn points for steps/workouts and redeem for rewardsSweatcoin, CashWalk, WinWalk
Cash ChallengeBet money on completing fitness goalsStepBet, HealthyWage, DietBet
Fitness SurveyEarn for sharing health dataEvidation

Apps That Pay You to Work Out: Walking

Here are some fitness reward apps that pay you to walk. There are no buy-ins & no financial risk.

1. Sweatcoin

Earning Potential$4 – $8 per month
Payout TypeBuy Deals, Products, and Digital Offers
Ratings4.4 (Google Play Store), 4.5 (App Store), 3.8 (Trustpilot)
CompatibilityAndroid, iOS, and Apple Watch (except series 1)
Best ForDaily Outdoor Walkers

Sweatcoin is a popular fitness reward app that operates worldwide. Launched as a simple fitness app in 2016, it has since evolved into a massive Web3 ecosystem.

Sweatcoin turns your steps into real-life rewards. It rewards your physical activity with a digital currency that you can spend on products, donate to charity, or—more recently—convert into actual cryptocurrency.

“The more you walk, the more you earn. And the more you earn, the more you walk!”

Here’s how it works:

  • The Tracking: It uses your phone’s GPS and accelerometers to verify steps. You can’t just sit on your couch and shake your phone to count steps. It specifically looks for “outdoor” movement. However, it has become better at counting indoor steps recently.
  • The Conversion: For every 1,000 verified steps, you earn approximately 0.95 Sweatcoins (SWC). They charge a small 5% commission per sweatcoin created.
  • Dual-Currency System: You’ll earn in-app currency called “Sweatcoins (SWC).” It also launched its own cryptocurrency, called the $SWEAT token, which powers Sweat Economy. Your first ~5,000 to 10,000 steps daily can be “minted” into SWEAT tokens if you use their separate Sweat Wallet app.

The SWEAT token currently trades at a fraction of a cent (roughly $0.0006). For a casual walker taking 5,000 steps a day, you might earn less than $0.01 per day in crypto.

You can use your sweatcoins to buy deals, products, and digital offers. Moreover, you can bid in high-value auctions (PlayStation 5, GoPro Hero 9).

It also has an influencer program. You need to invite 20 new users to Sweatcoin to enroll in the program. You can grow your invites and redeem them for cash and exciting rewards in the Influencer Hub.

Pros:

  • It works as a motivational nudge to take the stairs or walk the dog an extra block.
  • It’s free. You don’t need to buy an expensive NFT sneaker to start.
  • They claim they do not sell your location data to third parties.
  • You’re earning rewards for being healthy.

Cons:

  • It can drain your battery faster because it relies on GPS and background processing.
  • You have to walk a lot to afford anything significant.
  • High-value items (like iPhones) are often “out of stock” or require hundreds of thousands of coins.

Worth it? If you view it as a loyalty program for your health, it’s great.

2. Evidation (Formerly Achievement)

Earning Potential$2 – $4 per month
Payout TypePayPal, Direct Deposit, Gift Cards, or Donate
Ratings4.4 (Google Play Store), 4.6 (App Store)
CompatibilityAndroid and iOS
Best ForDaily Healthy Habits

Evidation, formerly known as Achievement, is a digital health platform that pays you to track your daily healthy habits and participate in medical research.

Essentially, it fills the gap between health-conscious individuals and researchers or companies looking for real-world health data.

Here’s how it works:

  • Passive Tracking: You connect your fitness trackers (like Apple Health, Google Fit, MyFitnessPal, and Fitbit) to the app. It then automatically pulls data to reward you for:
    • Walking & Running
    • Sleeping
    • Logging Food/Weight
  • Active Engagement: You can participate in other activities to earn points quickly, such as:
    • Surveys: Short questionnaires about your health, lifestyle, or specific conditions.
    • Research Studies: High-value opportunities where you might be asked to participate in long-term clinical or observational studies.
    • Reading Articles: Occasionally, you get points for reading health tips or news.

It’s not a get-rich formula. There is a cap on how many points you can earn from daily activity. The conversion rate is 10,000 points = $10.

Once you hit the 10,000-point threshold, you can cash out via PayPal, direct deposit, gift cards, or donate your earnings to charity.

Pros:

  • It’s a passive income app. Once synced, you don’t have to open the app to earn from steps.
  • Connects with over 20+ popular health apps and wearables.
  • It pays in real cash rewards.

Cons:

  • It can take several months for an average user to reach the $10 payout.
  • Surveys are not always available and are often demographic-dependent.
  • Occasional bugs can cause steps or sleep data not to register correctly.

Worth it? If you already track your steps and sleep, Evidation is a “no-brainer” because it gives you a small amount of cash for things you’re already doing.

3. CashWalk

Earning Potential$5 – $15 per month
Payout TypeGift Cards (Amazon, Walmart, Starbucks & more)
Ratings4.2 (Google Play Store), 4.6 (App Store)
CompatibilityAndroid and iOS
Best ForCasual Walkers

CashWalk is a fitness-tracking mobile app that uses a phone’s built-in pedometer to track steps. Essentially, it turns your daily steps into a digital currency—often called Stepcoins—which can be traded for rewards like gift cards.

Apart from the other apps mentioned above, it works both indoors and outdoors. There is no GPS required.

Here’s how it works:

  • Tracking: The app uses a free pedometer to track every step, calories burned, and distance — simple and accurate. This is a huge plus for your battery life, and it works just as well on a treadmill as it does on a hiking trail.
  • Coin Collection: For every 100 steps, you earn 1 coin. You must collect your coins by touching the treasure box icon manually. If you don’t do this before midnight, your steps will vanish.
  • Daily Caps: You can’t earn an unlimited amount of steps per day. It supports up to 20,000 steps per day.
  • Bonuses: You can boost your balance by watching short video ads (Lucky Boxes), playing scratch-off games, or taking surveys.
  • Redemption: You can redeem your coins for Amazon, Walmart, Starbucks, and other popular gift cards. The minimum redemption threshold is $5.

Pros:

  • It works indoors and outdoors.
  • It syncs with smartwatches & fitness trackers for accurate steps.
  • Optimized to run all day with minimal battery use.
  • It offers a wide variety of gift card selections, such as Amazon, Walmart, and Starbucks.

Cons:

  • It’s an ad-heavy platform to make the app profitable.
  • On Android specifically, the app often asks to take over your lock screen to track steps accurately, which can be intrusive and cluttered.

Worth it? If you already walk 10,000 steps a day, it’s basically free money for a habit you already have.

4. Winwalk

Earning Potential$5 – $15 per month
Payout TypeGift Cards (Amazon, Walmart, Starbucks & more)
Ratings4.2 (Google Play Store), 4.6 (App Store)
CompatibilityAndroid and iOS
Best ForWalk to Earn

Winwalk is another fitness app that tracks your steps to reward you with gift cards. Unlike many fitness trackers that use GPS, Winwalk relies on your phone’s built-in sensors (pedometer) to track steps, which makes it much more battery-efficient.

Here’s how it works:

  • Tracking: It uses your phone’s built-in sensors to track steps, distance, calories, and time. It counts every step whether indoors, outdoors, or on a treadmill.
  • Earning Rate: For every 100 steps, you earn 1 coin. There is a hard cap of 100 Coins per day, which you hit once you reach 10,000 steps. You can earn extra coins by watching short video ads, taking surveys, or completing “missions” (like downloading and playing other mobile games).
  • Redemption: You can redeem your coins for gift cards like Amazon, Walmart, and Starbucks. The minimum payout threshold is $5.

Pros:

  • Because it doesn’t use GPS to track your location, it won’t drain your phone battery like other apps.
  • Compatible with Samsung Health, Fitbit, Garmin, Mi Band, and more.
  • You can use the app anonymously. It doesn’t require an email, phone number, or social media login to start earning.

Cons:

  • It takes a very long time to earn enough for a $10 Amazon or Walmart card through walking alone.
  • If you forget to tap the coin icon before midnight, your steps for that day are essentially “wasted.”

Worth it? Winwalk is a solid “set it and forget it” app if you already walk 10,000 steps a day.

5. WeWard

Earning Potential$10 – $20 per month
Payout TypeCash (PayPal or Venmo), Gift Cards (Amazon, Walmart, Starbucks & more), and Donations
Ratings3.8 (Google Play Store), 4.9 (App Store)
CompatibilityAndroid and iOS
Best ForSweatcoin Alternative and Walkers

WeWard is a walk-to-earn fitness app designed to motivate people to be more active. It has over 30 million walkers across 29 countries.

It works by tracking your physical activity and rewarding you with a digital currency called “Wards.” You can redeem your earnings for rewards.

Here’s how it works:

  • Step Conversion: Your phone’s pedometer (or linked health apps like Google Fit/Apple Health) tracks your steps. You must open the app daily to validate your steps. Otherwise, your steps are lost and won’t earn Wards.
  • The Reward Tiers: Wards are typically earned at specific step milestones:
    • 2,500 steps: 1 Ward
    • 5,000 steps: 3 Wards
    • 10,000 steps: 10 Wards
    • 20,000 steps: 25 Wards (daily cap varies by region)
  • Alternative Earning Methods: You can boost earnings by:
    • Challenges: Completing specific distance or streak goals.
    • Ads & Surveys: Watching short videos or taking market research surveys.
    • Referrals: Inviting friends (usually grants ~150 Wards to both parties).
    • Partnerships: Buying products from affiliated brands through the app’s “Shop” section.

On average, 3,000 Wards is roughly equivalent to $15–$20 (depending on your local currency and the current reward catalog).

The minimum threshold is 3,000 Wards. You can redeem your Wards to cash, gift cards, or charitable donations.

Pros:

  • It works internationally.
  • Gamifies walking with levels, badges, and “WeCards” (collectible cards).
  • It offers multiple reward options.
  • No subscription is required to earn the basic rewards.

Cons:

  • It takes a long time to earn enough for a significant cash payout.
  • Forgetting to open the app at the end of the day means earning zero.

Worth it? If you already walk a lot, it’s “free money” for a habit you already have.

6. Macadam

Earning Potential$5 – $10 per month
Payout TypeCash (Bank Transfer or PayPal), Gift Cards, Donations
Ratings4.7 (Google Play Store), 4.8 (App Store)
CompatibilityAndroid and iOS
Best ForCasual Walkers Searching for Motivation

Macadam is another “move-to-earn” fitness app that rewards you for physical activity, primarily walking. It’s part of a growing niche of fitness apps designed to gamify healthy habits by offering small financial incentives.

Here’s how it works:

  • Track: The app tracks your steps throughout the day. It is compatible with most smartwatches and fitness trackers linked to your phone.
  • Validate: You must manually open the app and “validate” your steps before the end of the day (usually by midnight). If you forget, your steps for that day are lost and won’t earn coins.
  • Earn: Your validated steps are converted into “Macadam Coins,” the app’s virtual currency. You can maximize your coin earnings by:
    • Playing sponsored mobile games
    • Taking surveys
    • Watching short video ads
    • Using the “Map” feature to visit specific real-world locations

Once you hit a specific threshold, you can exchange these coins for cash (via bank transfer or PayPal), gift cards (like Amazon), or donate them to charitable projects.

Pros:

  • Unlike many scammy apps, Macadam is verified by users to actually pay out.
  • The app uses your phone’s step data rather than constant GPS tracking, which saves battery.
  • It offers multiple reward options.

Cons:

  • You can lose your earnings if you forget to validate your steps.
  • Earning through walking alone is very slow; you really need to play games or do surveys to cash out quickly.

Worth it? If you already walk a lot for work or exercise, Macadam is a “set it and forget it” (as long as you remember to validate) way to earn a free lunch every few months.

7. Charity Miles

Earning Potential$0.25 – $0.10 per mile
Payout TypeDonations to charity
Ratings2.4 (Google Play Store), 4.8 (App Store)
CompatibilityAndroid and iOS
Best ForRunners and Cyclists

Charity Miles works differently from other fitness reward apps. It allows you to raise money for various non-profit organizations simply by walking, running, or biking.

Here’s how it works:

  • Choose a Charity: You can select one of over 40 world-class charities (e.g., World Wildlife Fund, St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, Feeding America).
  • Select Your Activity: You can choose whether you are walking, running, or cycling. The app uses your phone’s GPS and motion sensors to track your distance. It works with Apple Health, Strava, or Garmin to log miles automatically.
  • Earn Money: For every mile you complete, a portion of the app’s corporate sponsorship pool is donated to your chosen cause.
  • Corporate Funding: Your mission is funded by sponsors like Johnson & Johnson, Brooks Running, and Humana, who use their advertising budgets to fund these donations.

Pros:

  • It’s completely free. The money doesn’t come from your pocket.
  • It provides a purpose for exercise, making you more likely to stick to a routine.
  • You can sync it with Apple Health, Strava, or Garmin.

Cons:

  • No personal income.
  • It uses GPS to track miles, which can drain your phone’s battery.
  • You cannot add your own local or niche charity.

Worth it? If charity is your goal, it’s a great option.

Apps That Pay You to Work Out: Health Challenge

Here are some of the best apps that pay you to complete health challenges.

8. HealthyWage

Earning PotentialFrom $100 up to $10,000
Payout TypePayPal or Check
Ratings4.5 (Google Play Store), 4.8 (App Store)
CompatibilityAndroid and iOS
Best ForWeight Loss

HealthyWage is a wellness platform that motivates people to lose weight through financial incentives. It’s the highest-earning app on this list. However, it works differently from other apps.

Here’s how it works:

  • The Prize Calculator: Enter your current weight, height, target weight (at least a 10% loss), and how much money you’re willing to wager each month. The calculator then uses its own proprietary algorithm to estimate the guaranteed prize you could earn.
  • Make Your Bet: Once you choose a prize and goal combination that feels right for you, you simply set a timeline (anywhere from 6 to 18 months) and begin making your monthly or one-time payment.
  • Verification: You’ll need to confirm your starting weight before beginning. You can do this by recording a quick 30-second video of yourself standing on a scale using the HealthyWage app, or by having your weight verified by a healthcare professional.
  • The Journey: You’ll keep track of your progress along the way, but the real result comes down to your final weigh-in when the challenge ends.
  • Winning: If you reach your goal—or even go beyond it—by the deadline, you get the reward. But if you fall short, even by a tiny fraction of a pound, you lose the entire amount you bet.

It also has other challenge types, such as:

  • Team Challenges: Teams of five compete for a $10,000 top prize.
  • Jackpot Challenges: Individuals or groups aim for a 6% weight loss; everyone who succeeds splits the “pot.”
  • Step Challenges: Participants hit personalized step goals to earn a share of the pot.

Pros:

  • You choose your own goal, timeline, and monthly budget.
  • Highest-earning potential with average winners netting over $1,000.
  • It works as a motivation to lose weight.

Cons:

  • If you’re just 0.1 lbs short of your goal when the deadline arrives, you don’t get anything at all.
  • Once the challenge begins, refunds are no longer available—even if you become injured or pregnant.

Worth it? If losing weight is your ultimate goal, there is no better option than HealthyWage.

9. StepBet

Earning Potential$5 to $15 per profit game
Payout TypePayPal or Check
Ratings4.1 (Google Play Store), 4.8 (App Store)
CompatibilityAndroid and iOS
Best ForSerious Walkers

StepBet is a fitness app by WayBetter that motivates you to be more active. You bet on yourself to meet your personalized step goals during every week of the game.

Here’s how it works:

  • Sync Your Tracker: Just connect your wearable device or smartphone—like an Apple Watch, Fitbit, Garmin, or Google Health—to the app.
  • Get Personalized Goals: StepBet reviews your activity from the past 30–90 days to set two personalized goals for you:
    • Active Days: A manageable but steady step count.
    • Power Days: A higher, more challenging step count.
  • Join a Game: Most games run for about six weeks. During that time, you’ll usually aim to complete your Active goals four days a week and your Power goals two days a week, leaving one day to rest. Most games have a buy-in of $40.
  • The “Warm-Up” Week: Week 1 is usually a grace period, giving you time to get comfortable with the goals without worrying about being disqualified.
  • Win or Lose: After the warm-up period, missing even a single day’s goal means you’re out, and you lose your bet. But if you complete your goal every day until the game ends, you’ll share the prize pool with the other winners.
  • Membership: For about $50 a year, members get access to ‘Members Only’ games where the house doesn’t take its usual cut (around 15%), and they can even play several games at once to boost their earnings.

Winners get their original bet returned along with a portion of the money lost by participants who didn’t complete the challenge.

In most cases, StepBet ensures winners get back at least what they put in. If there are so many winners that profits would be just pennies, the company reduces its commission so participants don’t end up losing money.

Pros:

  • Financial “loss aversion” is a powerful motivation to complete fitness goals.
  • Goals are based on your history, not a generic 10,000-step rule.
  • As long as you put in the work, your original investment will stay safe.

Cons:

  • If you get sick, are injured, or just forget to sync your device, you could end up losing the entire $40.
  • When trackers like Fitbit or Apple Health don’t sync properly with the app, it can sometimes cause users to be unfairly disqualified.

Worth it? If you’re a serious walker, it’s a great option to motivate yourself. You must skip the membership until you use it consistently.

10. DietBet

Earning Potential$15–$25 in profit
Payout TypePayPal
Ratings4.7 (Google Play Store), 4.8 (App Store)
CompatibilityAndroid and iOS
Best ForGamified Weight Loss

DietBet works similarly to StepBet. The only difference is that it encourages people to lose weight. The platform uses financial incentives to motivate people to lose weight.

It offers two primary types of challenges, such as:

  • Kickstarter: Your goal is to lose about 4% of your body weight in 4 weeks—a favorite choice for those looking for quick, short-term results.
  • Transformer: This is a longer-term plan where the goal is to lose 10% of your body weight over six months. The journey is divided into monthly rounds, each with its own milestone to keep you on track.

Here’s how it works:

  • Join a Game: Check out the app to see which games are about to start. Most bets fall between $35 and $50, but if you’re feeling bold, some high-stakes games can run into the hundreds.
  • Official Weigh-In: To keep things fair, just snap two photos: one of you standing on the scale, and another showing the scale’s reading alongside your unique “weigh-in word” from the app.
  • The Challenge: You stick to your own diet and workout routine, while the app gives you a social feed to connect with others, share progress, and stay motivated together.
  • Final Weigh-Out: When the challenge ends, you’ll share a final set of photos to show how far you’ve come.

DietBet keeps a small cut—usually around 10% to 25%—from the total pot, and the rest is shared equally among everyone who hits their goal.

Pros:

  • Financial accountability is a powerful motivation to lose weight.
  • DietBet doesn’t tie you to any one diet—you can go Keto, Paleo, CICO, or whatever approach fits your lifestyle.
  • There is a no-lose guarantee that ensures your success will at least be rewarded with your own money back.

Cons:

  • Taking a 10–25% cut is a big deal—it basically means you’re hoping that less than three-quarters of the group succeed, just so you can make a decent profit.
  • The platform focuses on rewarding weight loss rather than healthy habits, which can encourage things like temporary water weight tricks or extreme dieting right before weigh-ins.

Worth it? If you are looking for motivation to lose weight, there is no better option than DietBet.

11. WayBetter

Earning PotentialVaries
Payout TypePayPal
Ratings3.1 (Google Play Store), 4.5 (App Store)
CompatibilityAndroid and iOS
Best ForGamified Health Challenge

WayBetter is a fun, game-like health and wellness platform that taps into behavioral science—using “financial commitment contracts”—to help you stick to healthy habits.

Basically, you’re putting money on yourself to reach certain health goals—and if you follow through, you get your cash back along with a little extra reward.

Here’s how it works:

  • Join a Game: You can check out challenges like walking 10,000 steps five days a week or drinking 64 ounces of water every day.
  • Place a Bet: To participate, you contribute a set sum, often in the $10–$100 range.
  • Verify Your Progress: You can track what you do in the app by snapping photos, recording videos, or automatically syncing data from your wearables like an Apple Watch or Fitbit.
  • Win the Pot: Finish all the game’s challenges, and you’re a winner! When the game wraps up, the total pot—the money everyone has bet—is shared among the winners, with WayBetter taking a small management fee first.

Usually, when you win, you get your original bet back along with a little bonus from the players who didn’t make it to the finish. Most of the time, this bonus is just a few dollars, though bigger games or longer challenges—like the legacy DietBet—can sometimes bring in more.

Pros:

  • These challenges emphasize simple, lasting habits—like staying hydrated—rather than drastic diets.
  • Games come with social feeds where players can cheer each other on and share the fun.
  • It works with most major fitness trackers and Apple/Google health apps.

Cons:

  • You’ll need a membership to get full access ($14.99/month or about $69 for six months), which could cut into your winnings.
  • Miss a day or forget to sync your tracker, and suddenly your ‘perfect’ streak—and your bet—are gone.

Worth it? If you could use a little push to get moving and don’t mind risking $20 if you skip a workout, it’s a fun way to turn staying healthy into a game.

Apps That Pay You to Work Out: Runners or Cyclists

Here are some of the best apps that pay you based on distance, pace, and heart rate zones.

12. Runtopia

Earning Potential$5 to $25 per month
Payout TypeCash (PayPal), Gift Cards, Fitness Gear, Discounts
Ratings3.8 (Google Play Store), 4.7 (App Store)
CompatibilityAndroid and iOS
Best ForRunners and Cyclists

Runtopia is a GPS-powered fitness app that turns your workouts into a game by rewarding activities like walking, running, and cycling with a virtual currency known as Sports Coins (SPC).

Although it’s similar to apps like Sweatcoin, Runtopia leans more toward being a professional fitness tracker, combining detailed performance insights and coaching with its reward system.

Here’s how it works:

  • Activity Tracking: The app uses your phone’s GPS and built-in sensors to track real-time stats like distance, pace, calories burned, elevation, and heart rate. It can also quietly count your daily steps in the background.
  • Earning Sports Coins (SPC): You can collect SPC by meeting your daily step goals, completing tasks like running 3km, or participating in challenges with the community.
  • Audio Coaching: One of its best features is a real-time voice coach that guides you during your runs, giving tips on your pace and form to help you avoid injuries.
  • The Reward Shop: After you’ve collected enough SPC, you can trade them in for rewards like PayPal cash, gift cards, fitness gear, or discounts on Runtopia’s own products, such as smart shoes and watches.

Your earning potential can increase a lot with a Premium Membership, since it gives you double points for tasks and access to exclusive, higher-value rewards.

Pros:

  • It offers better data (cadence, pace analysis) than basic “pay-to-walk” apps.
  • It offers multiple reward options.
  • It’s free to use with no buy-in required.

Cons:

  • The cash-out minimum is quite high, and the points reset every year.
  • Using GPS all the time can quickly drain your phone’s battery.

Worth it? If you want a powerful running tracker with a few extra features to keep you motivated, Runtopia is a great choice

13. Paceline

Earning Potential$10 to $30 per month
Payout TypeGift Cards and Brand Discounts
Ratings4.8 (App Store)
CompatibilityiOS
Best ForCardio Goals

Paceline is a health and wellness platform that connects your physical activity with real financial rewards. It motivates you to stay active by rewarding you with gift cards and discounts from popular brands.

Here’s how it works:

  • Sync Your Wearable: To use the Paceline app, you’ll need to link a compatible fitness tracker like an Apple Watch, Garmin, or Fitbit.
  • Track eHR Minutes: The app tracks ‘elevated heart rate’ (eHR) minutes, meaning it focuses on periods when your heart rate stays high from real activity—not just how many steps you take.
  • Hit the Goal: Try to get at least 150 minutes of heart-pumping activity each week, ideally spread out over three or more days.
  • Unlock Rewards: When you reach your weekly goal, you unlock a streak and get access to a rewards marketplace.

Pros:

  • It provides a tangible financial “nudge” to hit exercise targets.
  • Once it’s synced, everything runs in the background—so you don’t have to log your workouts manually.
  • Many of the discounts are on popular health and fitness brands you probably already know and use.

Cons:

  • Recent user reviews show that direct gift cards—like Amazon ones—are becoming less common, with many platforms now offering more low-value discounts or trial deals instead.
  • The app can be a bit picky. If your wearable doesn’t mark the activity as a ‘workout,’ it may not count your higher heart rate toward your streak.

Worth it? It’s worth trying if you hit cardio goals consistently and brands match your spending habits.

Health Insurance Programs That Pay You to Exercise

Many major health insurance companies have started expanding their “pay-to-exercise” programs. With these programs, you can earn rewards like cash, gift cards, or even discounts on your premiums just by staying active—such as tracking your steps, reaching gym visit goals, or completing wellness challenges.

Here are some of the top programs that pay you to exercise:

  • UnitedHealthcare (UHC Rewards): This rewards program offers up to $1,000 per year in total incentives. It is available to many employer-sponsored and individual plan members. Earn rewards by completing everyday goals, such as walking over 5,000 steps, tracking 15+ minutes of activity, or getting 7+ hours of sleep.
  • Oscar Health (Step Tracking Rewards): It is well-known for its “Get Paid to Walk” feature integrated directly into its mobile app. You get $1 for each day you reach your personal step goal. Most plans limit rewards to about $100 per year, although the exact amount can range from $25 to $100 depending on your state and specific plan.
  • Humana (Go365): The program is a points-based system that translates activity into buying power. You earn “Bucks” by working out, reaching step goals (tracked through devices like Fitbit or Apple Watch), and checking in for verified gym visits. If you complete 12 or more workouts in a month, you can also unlock a special monthly bonus.
  • Blue Cross Blue Shield (Well onTarget): Many local BCBS plans offer access to the Well onTarget portal, where members can take advantage of the Blue Points rewards program. You’ll earn 55 points daily when you sync your fitness device, plus up to 300 points each week for gym visits.
  • Kaiser Permanente (Fit Rewards): Available mostly in certain regions like Hawaii, this program basically covers your gym membership—as long as you actually go and use it.
  • Cigna Healthy Rewards: The Cigna Healthy Rewards® program helps your patients stay on top of their health and well-being by encouraging smart preventive care choices. Members can also enjoy discounts of up to 25% on a wide range of health and wellness products and services.

FAQs

Do these apps work if I already have a fitness tracker?

Yes. Most of these apps use devices like Apple Watch, Fitbit, and Garmin to track steps and heart rate. All you need to do is connect your tracker in the app settings.

Are fitness reward apps legit or scams?

All of the apps mentioned above are legitimate. Sweatcoin, Evidation, StepBet, and HealthyWage are popular in the fitness reward industry.

To avoid scams, check for real user payment proof on Reddit’s r/beermoney community.

How do these apps actually track my workouts?

Most apps tap into your phone’s built-in accelerometer and GPS to track your movement. They usually sync with health platforms like Apple Health or Google Fit.

Some need to stay open while you’re using them, but others—like Sweatcoin or Evidation—can quietly count your steps in the background without interrupting your day.

Do I need a wearable like an Apple Watch or a Fitbit?

You don’t always need one, but wearing a device can boost both your accuracy and your earnings. Gadgets like Garmin, Fitbit, or Whoop can track your heart rate and intense workouts—things your phone might miss, like cycling, swimming, or rowing.

How much money can I realistically make?

Don’t quit your day job just yet! Most passive apps usually bring in around $5 to $20 a month, often as gift cards or small PayPal deposits. If you’re feeling more adventurous, competitive apps like HealthyWage can pay out much bigger prizes—sometimes even thousands—but they usually need an upfront investment and some serious lifestyle changes.

Will these apps drain my battery?

For the most part, yes. Apps that rely on GPS for precise tracking—like running or cycling apps—tend to use up your battery quicker. Step counters that run in the background are easier on your phone, though they still have a small effect on performance.

Is my health data safe?

Here’s the real “price” of the app: when you sign up, it often gets access to things like your location, step count, and sometimes even more sensitive health info. Take a moment to read the Privacy Policy to see if your data could be shared with others, and make sure they’re keeping it secure with encryption.

Can I “cheat” the system?

These days, most apps are smart enough to spot fake activity—like shaking your phone or strapping it to a ceiling fan. If they catch you, your account can get banned, and you’ll likely lose any balance you’ve earned.

Final Thoughts

As you can see, many apps pay you to work out. All you need to do is choose the best-suited apps that match your workout habits.

None of these apps is going to replace your day job. These apps can cover a streaming service, a pair of running shoes, or a gym membership every month, for doing what you were already doing anyway.

What do you think about apps that pay you to work out? Let me know in the comments.

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