How to get paid to walk (and what to realistically expect)

How apps that pay you to walk actually work

Most walking reward apps read the step count your phone already keeps, so you don't need a smartwatch or fitness tracker. As your steps add up, the app gives you points. You then spend those points on rewards inside the app.

The money doesn't come from the walking itself. It comes from advertisers and partners. You see ads or partner offers in the app, and the app shares part of that revenue with users as points. That is why rewards are modest and why most apps cap how many steps earn points each day.

The main types of walking reward apps

Apps that pay you to walk fall into a few groups. They differ in what you put in, what you get back and how much risk you take on.

• Points-for-gift-cards apps. You earn points for steps, and sometimes for other healthy habits, and redeem them for gift cards. They are usually free and supported by ads.
• Step challenge apps. You put money into a pot, hit a step goal and split the pot with the others who hit it. If you miss the goal, you can lose what you put in.
• Employer, insurance and research programs. Some employers, health plans and research studies reward people for tracking activity. Whether you qualify depends on your job, your plan or the study.
• Crypto move-to-earn apps. Rewards are paid in tokens whose value can rise or fall quickly. Some require you to buy a token or digital item before you can earn.

How much can you realistically earn?

Expect small amounts. Walking reward apps usually pay out in gift cards worth a few dollars at a time, and most limit how many steps earn points each day. With regular walking over weeks, that can add up to a free coffee or a gift card toward groceries. It is not a side income.

Be careful with any app that promises a specific dollar amount per day for walking. Rewards depend on ad revenue, which changes, and trustworthy apps say up front that point amounts can change over time.

How AHEALTH pays you to walk

AHEALTH, formerly Moneywalk, is a free iPhone and Android app that gives you points for everyday healthy habits. Your phone counts your steps, so no wearable is needed. You earn points as you walk, up to a daily limit, plus random bonus points along the way.

Walking isn't the only habit that counts. In the U.S., you can also earn points for logging sleep, water, meals and medication, and for quick daily habits such as squats, stair climbing and a daily health quiz. Point amounts differ by habit and can change over time.

In the U.S., you redeem points in the app's Gift Shop for email gift cards from more than 25 brands, including Amazon, Walmart, Target and Starbucks. The smallest gift cards are $5, and most arrive by email within 1 to 3 days. See how AHEALTH rewards work for the details.

1. Download AHEALTH from the App Store or Google Play.
2. Allow the app to read your step count when it asks.
3. Walk as you normally do and collect your points in the app.
4. Open the Gift Shop and redeem your points for a gift card. Before your first redemption, you may be asked to verify your phone number.

How to tell if a walking app is legit

Before you spend weeks walking for points, spend a few minutes checking the app.

• Check who makes it. A real company name, location and contact email should be easy to find.
• Look for clear reward prices. You should be able to see how many points a reward costs before you start.
• Read recent reviews about redemptions. Reviews that mention rewards actually arriving tell you more than reviews about the design.
• Check what it asks for. Reading your step count is normal. Requests that have nothing to do with steps or rewards are a red flag.
• Be wary of paying to start. If an app asks you to buy a token, an item or a membership before you can earn, make sure you understand what you could lose.

For reference, AHEALTH is made by Gravity Labs Co., Ltd., a company founded in 2022 and based in Seoul, South Korea. In the U.S., it is rated 4.6 out of 5 on the App Store (30,000+ ratings) and 4.7 on Google Play, as of October 2026.

How to get more out of every walk

The best reason to walk is still your health. The CDC recommends that adults get at least 150 minutes of moderate-intensity physical activity, such as brisk walking, every week. That works out to about 30 minutes a day, 5 days a week.

Step counts matter too. A 2022 analysis of 15 studies in The Lancet Public Health found that adults who took more steps per day had a lower risk of death. The benefit leveled off at about 6,000 to 8,000 steps a day for adults 60 and older, and at about 8,000 to 10,000 steps a day for younger adults.

If weight loss is one of your goals, see how many steps a day it takes to lose weight and why food matters too.

• Keep your phone with you. Steps your phone doesn't see don't count toward your points.
• Walk in short bouts. A 10-minute walk after each meal adds up to 30 minutes a day.
• Pick up the pace. Walk fast enough that you can talk but not sing. That is roughly what moderate-intensity activity feels like.
• Make it a daily check-in. Open the app once a day to collect your points.

If you have a health condition or haven't been active for a while, talk with your doctor before you start a new exercise routine.

Frequently asked questions

Related guides

• One app that rewards sleep and stepsWhy sleep and steps belong in the same app, how AHEALTH rewards both along with water and meals, and a simple daily routine that ties them together.
• How many steps a day to lose weightWhat research says about daily steps and weight, how to set a step goal that fits you and why walking works best with small changes to what you eat.
• Step counter without a smartwatchHow your iPhone or Android phone counts steps on its own, how accurate it is compared with wearables and how to make sure your walks show up in your total.

All AHEALTH guides