Features
You can get paid to walk, but probably not the way you’re hoping. Walking apps turn your steps into points, coins or a share of a cash pot, and most of them pay out a few dollars at a time. That’s real money for something you already do, just not a side income. If you need cash faster, there are other ways to make money fast.
This guide breaks down six legit walking apps available in the US: how each one pays, how much you can realistically earn, how you cash out and the fine print that matters. Every app detail comes from that app’s own website or official app listing. Where an app doesn’t publish a figure, we say so instead of guessing.
There are two broad ways to get paid to walk:
A third option sits in between. StepBet lets you bet your own money that you’ll hit your step goals and split a pot with other winners if you do.
| App | How you earn | Cash out options | Minimum to cash out | Cost |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Evidation | Points for walking, other health activity and in-app cards | Bank transfer, PayPal, gift card or donation | 10,000 points ($10) | Not listed |
| WeWard | Wards for steps, challenges, surveys and shopping | Bank account, PayPal, gift cards or charity | Not listed; 14 days of activity required | Free; Premium $5.99 a month |
| StepBet | Share of a cash pot when you hit step goals | PayPal only | Not listed | Bet to join (most are $40) |
| Scrambly | Points for steps, challenges and competitions | Cash or gift cards | $1 | Free; Premium $7.99 a month |
| Sweatcoin | Sweatcoins for verified steps | No direct cash out | Not applicable | Two plans; Premium has a seven-day free trial, with pricing shown in the app |
| Cashwalk | Coins for steps, up to 10,000 steps a day | Gift cards only | Not listed | Free |
| Earning potential | Cash-out from | Payout methods |
|---|---|---|
| Up to 8 points a day for walking and up to 40 points a day for all tracked activities, plus extra for in-app cards | $10 (10,000 points) | Bank transfer, PayPal, gift card or charity donation through payment partner Tremendous |
How it works: Evidation gives you points for health activities it tracks through connected apps, like walking, sleep and logging meals, and for completing “cards” in the app, such as daily check-ins, surveys and health articles. Every 10,000 points converts to $10. It’s open only to US residents 18 and older.
Walking alone earns up to 8 points a day, so reaching $10 from steps would take about three and a half years. Evidation’s help center says members who complete cards reach 10,000 points much sooner, so it pays to treat it a little like one of the survey sites that pay for your opinions. Its help center also notes that points expire if you don’t complete a card for 12 months, and activity synced more than two weeks late doesn’t earn points.
| Earning potential | Cash-out from | Payout methods |
|---|---|---|
| Not listed on its website; WeWard’s terms say Wards per action are shown in the app and can change | Not listed; bank transfers and gift cards require 14 days of app activity first | Bank account or PayPal for cash prizes, gift cards, vouchers, discounts or charity projects |
How it works: WeWard turns your steps into points called Wards, which you redeem for rewards in the app. You can also earn Wards by visiting places on its map, completing quests, answering surveys, shopping with partners and referring friends. WeWard’s terms say Wards have no cash value on their own, that earning may be subject to daily, weekly or monthly limits and that different users may see different Ward prices for the same reward.
US users must submit an IRS Form W-9 before WeWard pays a cash prize, and WeWard may ask you to verify your identity. Its terms also allow WeWard to delete accounts after 30 days of inactivity. The app is free, with an optional Premium plan for $5.99 a month or $39.99–$46.99 a year, per its App Store listing.
| Earning potential | Cash-out from | Payout methods |
|---|---|---|
| Your bet back plus a share of the pot if you hit every goal; varies by game | Not listed on its website | PayPal only |
How it works: StepBet works differently from the rest of this list. You bet your own money that you’ll hit personalized step goals, and everyone who hits every weekly goal splits the pot. StepBet sets your goals from your step history. Most bets are $40, most games run six weeks and the first week of most games is a no-elimination warm-up.
StepBet keeps 15% of the gross pot in non-member games, while member-only games split 100% of the pot. Its No Lose Guarantee means StepBet gives up its share if needed so winners at least get their bet back. Winnings land as StepBet points you can cash out through PayPal, and those points expire after 12 months of inactivity. You must be 18 or older, and the App Store lists the app as containing gambling.
| Earning potential | Cash-out from | Payout methods |
|---|---|---|
| Not listed; Scrambly doesn’t publish points per step | $1, per its App Store listing | Cash or gift cards; specific payout methods for the walking app aren’t listed |
How it works: Scrambly’s walking app turns your daily steps into points you can redeem for cash or gift cards once you connect a step tracker. You can also earn through step challenges, competitions and limited-time bonuses. Its listing says withdrawals start at $1, with some redemptions available in as little as three hours.
The walking app is free, with an optional Premium plan for $7.99 a month or $79.99 a year that Scrambly says unlocks enhanced earning opportunities. It’s listed for iPhone only and rated for ages 18 and older. Scrambly’s main platform also pays for playing games and testing apps, which we cover in our Scrambly review.
| Earning potential | Cash-out from | Payout methods |
|---|---|---|
| 0.95 sweatcoins per 1,000 verified steps, or 9.5 for 10,000 steps | No direct cash out | Spend in the in-app marketplace; PayPal or Amazon vouchers sometimes appear in its auctions |
How it works: Sweatcoin counts your verified steps and converts every 1,000 into 1 sweatcoin, minus a 5% commission. It discounts shakes and bumps it detects, so not every step converts. Sweatcoin’s help center says you can’t cash out to PayPal or a bank, and the only cash-like option is vouchers in its auctions. Sweatcoin offers two plans, and its Premium plan comes with a seven-day free trial and a daily cap of 100 sweatcoins, or about 52,000 steps. Pricing is shown in the app.
Important change for 2026: Sweatcoin says its separate sister crypto app, Sweat Wallet, and the SWEAT token will end in their current form on December 30, 2026. The Sweatcoin app and marketplace aren’t affected. If you hold SWEAT, Sweatcoin recommends backing up your private key, and warns that anyone messaging you about “migrating” tokens is a scam.
| Earning potential | Cash-out from | Payout methods |
|---|---|---|
| Coins for steps, up to 10,000 steps a day; coins per step not listed | Not listed | Gift cards only |
How it works: Cashwalk is a free step counter that gives you coins for walking, which you redeem for gift cards from well-known brands. It counts indoor and outdoor activity without GPS, so treadmill walks and walking the dog both count. Steps past 10,000 a day don’t earn coins.
You can earn extra coins by joining step challenges in its community. Cashwalk’s listing warns that using a VPN or emulator may get your account suspended. It’s rated for ages 13 and older and is listed for iPhone.
If you want walking to pay like actual work, look at gigs where walking is the job. These pay for your time, not your step count:
Unlike walking apps, these usually mean you’re working as an independent contractor, so you’re responsible for tracking your income and paying taxes on it. Pay can also swing from week to week, and cash advance apps for gig workers can help cover a short gap between payouts. If you’d rather have flexible work that isn’t tied to walking, plenty of other side hustles fit around the rest of your week.
Possibly. Cash and prizes you receive can count as taxable income, and some apps collect tax information before paying out. WeWard, for example, requires US users to submit an IRS Form W-9 before receiving cash prizes, and may withhold amounts it’s legally required to. Rules depend on how much you earn and how the payment is classified, so check with a tax professional if your rewards add up.
Walking apps are just one corner of the many ways to make money online. If you like earning small amounts in your spare time, other money-making apps pay for surveys, games and shopping, and some free apps pay real money instantly.
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