Getting in shape doesn't have to cost you money. Actually, if you already have a smartphone, you can pick up a couple pennies on the way to fitness!
None of these apps will make you rich. Let's be clear, this is "beer money" territory at best. And I mean cheap beer, not craft beer. But if you're motivated by earning, you might want to goose yourself into getting outside with an app that pays you for exercise.
I'm on my 4th stepbet. I'm someone who is motivated by watching points accumulate, so StepBet is really fun.
How it Works: The StepBet algorithm gives you a regular goal and a stretch goal. This is based on how many steps you usually take. Meet these goals throughout the week, with one rest day, and you win the week. Keep it up through the game and you split a portion of the pot with the other winners. If you don't make your goals, you don't get your money back: the step bet winners (and step bet itself) take your share!
Is it profitable? Winners split 85% of the pot, so it will probably not make you rich. My average profit from each $40, six-week step bet has been about $7.
Most people who do a stepbet agree that it's not about the money, it's about the motivation.
The same company that makes Stepbet makes Dietbet, which works on a very similar principle: you put up some money, and split the pot with everyone who meets their goal.
How it works: Goals are based on a percentage of your body weight.
You have to take a couple pictures of yourself on a scale to do an initial weigh in- a "feet on the scale" shot and a full body shot. Then, every day on weigh in day, you take these same pictures again to prove your weight loss. They're verified by a real person who checks for cheating.
Is it profitable?
If you have weight to lose and can stay on track, Dietbet is a lot more lucrative than StepBet. I'm in the middle of a six month challenge. I've earned an average of $18/month on my $25/month bet. Not bad! I have to admit, it is VERY difficult.
How it works:Sweatcoin tracks your steps outdoors, then converts your steps to sweatcoins.
Is it profitable? I'm a little disappointed with sweatcoin's smaller offers, which are usually just discounts on items to buy like water bottles, tea samplers, and meal kit subscriptions. I don't really like buying small stuff, but that doesn't mean sweatcoin's not legit. There are larger ticket items available, but it'll take me about four years to earn enough sweatcoins to buy an iPhone! Either way it's fun to watch them accumulate, and I'm hoping that either I'll find an offer that really speaks to me, or I'll eventually get that iPhone.
Go ahead and try out Sweatcoin and see if any of the offers speak to you. I know some folks are really into the tea subscription and water bottles.
Sweatcoin only works well if you walk a lot already, or are doing some other challenge like a stepbet. Alone, it's not enough incentive for me to get moving. Nobody says you can't do stepbets, sweatcoins and charity miles all at once, to squeeze the most good out of every step!
I love charity miles. I was a little hesitant to put them on this list because, like the name implies, the app doesn't make money for you. It makes money for your chosen charity.
How it Works: Big companies will advertise on Charity Miles and sponsor your walk, run or bike ride. They're the ones giving the money to charity, and by getting active, you're the one who decides where the money goes.
Is it profitable? Charity miles definitely makes money for the charities it supports.
My only gripe is that I wish you had more charities to choose from. I try to support smaller animal shelters and sanctuaries that serve cats, but the closest thing I can find on Charitymiles is the ASPCA.
Please join my team on Charity Miles! It's called #TeamCats.
None of these apps will make you rich. Let's be clear, this is "beer money" territory at best. And I mean cheap beer, not craft beer. But if you're motivated by earning, you might want to goose yourself into getting outside with an app that pays you for exercise.
Stepbet
I'm on my 4th stepbet. I'm someone who is motivated by watching points accumulate, so StepBet is really fun.
How it Works: The StepBet algorithm gives you a regular goal and a stretch goal. This is based on how many steps you usually take. Meet these goals throughout the week, with one rest day, and you win the week. Keep it up through the game and you split a portion of the pot with the other winners. If you don't make your goals, you don't get your money back: the step bet winners (and step bet itself) take your share!
Is it profitable? Winners split 85% of the pot, so it will probably not make you rich. My average profit from each $40, six-week step bet has been about $7.
Most people who do a stepbet agree that it's not about the money, it's about the motivation.
Dietbet:
The same company that makes Stepbet makes Dietbet, which works on a very similar principle: you put up some money, and split the pot with everyone who meets their goal.
How it works: Goals are based on a percentage of your body weight.
You have to take a couple pictures of yourself on a scale to do an initial weigh in- a "feet on the scale" shot and a full body shot. Then, every day on weigh in day, you take these same pictures again to prove your weight loss. They're verified by a real person who checks for cheating.
Is it profitable?
If you have weight to lose and can stay on track, Dietbet is a lot more lucrative than StepBet. I'm in the middle of a six month challenge. I've earned an average of $18/month on my $25/month bet. Not bad! I have to admit, it is VERY difficult.
Sweatcoin:
How it works:Sweatcoin tracks your steps outdoors, then converts your steps to sweatcoins.
Is it profitable? I'm a little disappointed with sweatcoin's smaller offers, which are usually just discounts on items to buy like water bottles, tea samplers, and meal kit subscriptions. I don't really like buying small stuff, but that doesn't mean sweatcoin's not legit. There are larger ticket items available, but it'll take me about four years to earn enough sweatcoins to buy an iPhone! Either way it's fun to watch them accumulate, and I'm hoping that either I'll find an offer that really speaks to me, or I'll eventually get that iPhone.
Go ahead and try out Sweatcoin and see if any of the offers speak to you. I know some folks are really into the tea subscription and water bottles.
Sweatcoin only works well if you walk a lot already, or are doing some other challenge like a stepbet. Alone, it's not enough incentive for me to get moving. Nobody says you can't do stepbets, sweatcoins and charity miles all at once, to squeeze the most good out of every step!
Charity Miles
I love charity miles. I was a little hesitant to put them on this list because, like the name implies, the app doesn't make money for you. It makes money for your chosen charity.
How it Works: Big companies will advertise on Charity Miles and sponsor your walk, run or bike ride. They're the ones giving the money to charity, and by getting active, you're the one who decides where the money goes.
Is it profitable? Charity miles definitely makes money for the charities it supports.
My only gripe is that I wish you had more charities to choose from. I try to support smaller animal shelters and sanctuaries that serve cats, but the closest thing I can find on Charitymiles is the ASPCA.
Please join my team on Charity Miles! It's called #TeamCats.
