Let’s face it, we all know that staying active is crucial for our health. But did you know that a sedentary lifestyle can actually weaken your immune system and increase your risk of chronic diseases? According to the National Institute of Health, a whopping 28% of Americans over the age of 6 aren’t getting enough physical activity. But don’t worry, there’s a silver lining. You can actually earn some extra cash while getting your daily steps in, thanks to a variety of apps that pay you to walk.
Most of us carry our smartphones everywhere, so why not use them to remind us to get off the couch and make some money at the same time? Here are some apps you might want to consider:
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Achievement: This popular fitness app rewards users for staying healthy and also collects data for research studies about human health. You can earn up to 80 points per day for activities like walking, running, biking, or swimming. You need 10,000 points to cash out at a rate of $1 per 1,000 points. You can also earn points for logging daily activities such as food intake, weight changes, and your sleep schedule in the Achievement app. If you’re consistent, you can make $10 to $20 per year from Achievement.
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StepBet: This app is a fun way to earn money for walking, as long as you’re willing to bet on yourself to achieve personal fitness goals. You buy into a StepBet game with other players and if you hit your step goal for a certain number of consecutive weeks, you’ll split the total prize pool with other successful players at the end of the game. Just be aware that most StepBet games require a $40 bet to enter and the company takes 15% of the prize pool for nonmember games.
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Sweatcoin: This app rewards users for outdoor and indoor steps with its own cryptocurrency, Sweatcoins (SWC). You can redeem Sweatcoins for free trial access to streaming services or apps, discounted fitness products, and free offers from subscription box companies. However, earning cash is highly unlikely; earnings are more likely in the form of free trials or samples.
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FitPotato: This free iOS app rewards you for walking or running. You place a bet to join a group fitness challenge and if you complete three fitness “sessions” within seven days, you make it into the winning group for a challenge. Games require a $5 bet to enter, and the prize pool varies depending on the number of players in a game.
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myWalgreens (Formerly Walgreens Balance Rewards): If you regularly shop at Walgreens, joining myWalgreens is an excellent way to get paid to walk and to save money on your next shopping trip. You can earn more points by completing monthly health challenges that include physical activity and lifestyle goals.
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LifeCoin: This app lets you convert your daily steps and other physical activity, like running or hiking, into LifeCoins. You can redeem LifeCoins for prizes like gift cards to retailers like Amazon, Best Buy, Sephora, and Uber, or for gadgets like headphones and speakers.
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Charity Miles: With this app, you can get fit while supporting a charity of your choice. You earn up to $0.25 per mile you walk or run and up to $0.10 per mile you bike.
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WinWalk: This free pedometer app for Android lets you earn free gift cards for exercising. You can earn up to 100 coins per day, and 1 coin requires 100 steps. Coins are redeemable for a variety of free gift cards to retailers like Adidas, Amazon, Best Buy, CVS, Domino’s, Nike, Starbucks, and Target.
Remember, these apps won’t make you rich, but they can provide a little extra motivation to get moving. Plus, they can help you save money on your next shopping trip or even earn a few extra bucks. So why not give them a try?
