I’ll be honest — when I first started downloading apps that claimed to pay you for walking, I was sceptical. It felt like the kind of thing that sounds brilliant in a Facebook group and then turns out to be 47p after six months of effort.
Some of them are exactly that. But a handful are genuinely worth having running in the background, especially if you’re already fairly active. I’ve been testing these for a couple of years now and here’s what I’ve actually found.
Can You Actually Earn Money Just by Walking?
Yes — but let’s set realistic expectations upfront. These apps won’t replace income. The most you’d realistically earn from walking apps, even stacking a few together and being consistent, is around £30-50 a year.
What makes them worth having is that they require no extra effort. You’re walking anyway. Your phone is in your pocket anyway. The apps pull from your phone’s built-in step counter, so running several at once adds up without any extra work on your part.
The other thing worth knowing: most apps need a daily check-in to bank your steps. It takes about ten seconds, but if you miss a day on some of them, you lose that day’s progress. I do it when I get into bed — it’s become automatic.
The Best Walking Apps That Pay in the UK (2026)
1. WeWard ⭐⭐⭐⭐
WeWard is my current top pick. Every 1,500 steps earns you one Ward, and once you’ve built up enough you can cash out via PayPal or swap for gift cards (Amazon, Nike, Decathlon and more). The minimum payout is around €10 and in my experience it takes about two to four months to get there from walking alone.
What I like about WeWard is the location bonuses — you can earn extra Wards by visiting parks, nature reserves, and certain landmarks, which is a nice reason to actually explore a bit rather than just pacing round the house. I’ve earned around €35 in six months, which is the best return I’ve had from any walking app.
Minimum payout: ~€10 | Payment: PayPal or gift cards | My rating: 4/5
2. BetterPoints ⭐⭐⭐⭐
BetterPoints is brilliant if you want the fastest route to an actual payout. The minimum is just £5 and in my experience it’s reachable in one to three months. It rewards sustainable travel choices — walking, cycling, using public transport — and has partnerships with local councils in various UK cities (including York, which suits me).
You can swap points for gift cards or donate to charity. The interface isn’t the flashiest but it’s solid and reliable, which honestly matters more than it having pretty animations.
Minimum payout: £5 | Payment: Gift cards or charity donation | My rating: 4/5
3. Sweatcoin ⭐⭐⭐
Sweatcoin is one of the most well-known walking apps and it’s good for motivation — but there’s an important catch. It only tracks outdoor GPS walking. Treadmill steps, walking round the house, the supermarket — none of it counts. If you’re an outdoor walker this is fine, but if you’re mostly active indoors it’s pretty limited.
The other thing: there’s no direct cash payout. You redeem Sweatcoins in their marketplace for products, PayPal cash (when available), and discounts. The marketplace is often sold out of the good stuff, which is frustrating. Worth having alongside other apps, but I wouldn’t rely on it as your main earner.
Minimum payout: Varies by reward | Payment: Marketplace rewards | My rating: 3/5
4. Cashwalk ⭐⭐⭐
Cashwalk has a low withdrawal threshold (3,750 coins for a £5 gift voucher) which I like — you’re not waiting forever to see anything. The downside is that it requires more tapping to convert your steps than other apps. You have to click through a few screens each time, which is a bit tedious. Not a dealbreaker, but it’s the most annoying daily process of all the apps I use.
I do still use it though, because the lower threshold means you actually see payouts more regularly.
You can read my full Cashwalk review here.
Minimum payout: £5 | Payment: Gift cards | My rating: 3/5
5. Macadam ⭐⭐
Macadam earns 100 coins per 10,000 steps and requires 30,000 coins for a £15 payout — which works out to around 300 days of consistent walking. Referrals boost this significantly, but in 2025 and 2026 there have been concerning reports of payment rejections and unexplained coin reductions from long-term users.
I have received one payout from Macadam personally, but given the more recent issues I’d now suggest treating it cautiously and cashing out as soon as you hit the threshold rather than letting your balance build up. It’s moved down my list because of this.
I’ve written a full updated Macadam review here if you want the detail.
Minimum payout: £15 | Payment: Bank transfer or gift cards | My rating: 2/5
6. Charity Miles
This one’s different — you don’t earn money for yourself, you earn it for a charity of your choice. For every mile you walk, run or cycle, sponsors donate 25¢ to your chosen cause. It’s a feel-good option rather than an income earner, and I run it alongside the others because it genuinely costs nothing extra to have it ticking away.
7. StepBet
StepBet works on a betting model — you put in $40 upfront and join a six-week challenge. If you meet your step goals, you get your $40 back plus a small profit (usually $5-10). If you don’t, you lose the money. It’s more of a fitness accountability tool than a passive earner, and it requires real commitment. Worth considering if you need a financial nudge to stay active, but it’s not passive income.
Honest Earnings: What to Expect
Running WeWard, BetterPoints, and Cashwalk simultaneously, walking around 8,000-10,000 steps a day, you could realistically earn £3-7 a month. That’s roughly £40-80 a year for doing nothing differently.
Not life-changing. But free money is free money, and if you’re already meeting a step target for health reasons, you might as well get something for it.
Tips for Getting the Most Out of Walking Apps
Stack them. All these apps read from your phone’s built-in step counter (Apple Health or Google Fit), so running several at once means zero extra effort for multiple streams of coins.
Do your daily check-ins. Most apps require you to open them and convert your steps each day. I do this at bedtime — it takes ten seconds. Miss a day on some apps and you lose that day entirely.
Keep your phone charged. Obvious, but if your phone dies halfway through the day you’ll lose those steps.
Cash out when you can. Don’t let balances sit, especially in newer or less established apps. There’s no benefit to holding coins — cash out as soon as you hit the threshold.
Walking Apps Comparison Table
| App | My Rating | Min. Payout | Time to Payout | Payment Method | Steps Counted |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| WeWard | ⭐⭐⭐⭐ | ~€10 | 2-4 months | PayPal / gift cards | Indoor + outdoor |
| BetterPoints | ⭐⭐⭐⭐ | £5 | 1-3 months | Gift cards / charity | Indoor + outdoor |
| Sweatcoin | ⭐⭐⭐ | Varies | Varies | Marketplace rewards | Outdoor GPS only |
| Cashwalk | ⭐⭐⭐ | £5 | 4-6 months | Gift cards | Indoor + outdoor |
| Macadam | ⭐⭐ | £15 | 8-12+ months | Bank transfer / gift cards | Indoor + outdoor |
| Charity Miles | N/A | N/A (charity) | Immediate | Charitable donation | Indoor + outdoor |
| StepBet | ⭐⭐⭐⭐ | $40 stake + profit | 6 weeks | PayPal | Indoor + outdoor |
FAQs
Can I use multiple walking apps at once? Yes — and I’d recommend it. They all pull from the same step counter on your phone, so there’s no extra effort. I run three or four simultaneously.
Do these apps work with Fitbit? Most don’t sync directly with Fitbit. You’ll need Google Fit (Android) or Apple Health (iPhone) — connect your Fitbit to those platforms first.
Which app should I start with? If you want cash, start with WeWard and BetterPoints. If you want motivation rather than money, try Sweatcoin. Add Cashwalk as a backup once you’ve got those set up.
Are there tax implications? For the small amounts these apps pay (well under £1,000 a year), you typically don’t need to declare it. Keep records if you’re concerned, but realistically you’re not going to hit a threshold that matters.
How much can I realistically earn? Based on 10,000 steps a day across a few apps: around £3-7 a month. Pocket money, not income — but free pocket money for something you’re doing anyway.
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