Walking is one of the simplest and most beneficial forms of exercise. It can improve your health, mood, and fitness, as well as reduce stress and prevent chronic diseases. But did you know that you can also get paid to walk? Yes, you read that right. There are several apps and websites that will reward you for walking, either with cash, gift cards, or other perks. In this article, we will explore some of the best ways to get paid to walk, and how you can start earning money from your daily steps.
Apps that pay you to walk
One of the easiest ways to get paid to walk is to use apps that track your steps and reward you with coins, points, or credits. These apps usually run in the background of your phone and use your GPS or accelerometer to measure your distance. You can then redeem your earnings for various rewards, such as physical or digital products, gift cards, charity donations, or even PayPal payments. Here are some of the most popular apps that pay you to walk:
1. CashWalk
This app uses the pedometer function on your phone to track your steps throughout the day. Those steps convert into CashWalk coins — up to 100 a day — which can then be redeemed for gift cards to Amazon and other stores. For power users and serious walkers, that translates into $5 every 4-5 weeks.
2. Evidation
Evidation formerly known as Achievement, allows you to earn money for walking, swimming, cycling, and taking health surveys. You can earn up to 80 points a day for exercise activities, and six points for logging food, tracking your sleep, or meditating. The app pays you $10 for every 10,000 points you earn, so it’ll take you a while to earn a significant amount of money, but still, every little helps, right?
3. Sweatcoin
Sweatcoin is a free app that allows you to earn cryptocurrency for walking. The company believes that “building a healthier planet requires everyone to move more”, so as a reward for taking 2,000 steps, you get a coin, which can be converted into various goods, services, and experiences. The downside with this app is that it doesn’t connect to any fitness trackers; instead, it uses your phone’s GPS and built-in accelerometer, meaning you’ll have to clock all of your miles outdoors.
4. Lifecoin
Lifecoin This app is another app that rewards you for walking or running outdoors. Each time you do a run or walk, Lifecoin will record the steps taken and convert these into Lifecoins, which can be spent on different rewards. You can also earn Lifecoins for signing family and friends up to the app. It might take you a while to earn enough points to get a significant reward, but if you’re already heading out most days for a walk or run, it’s a handy app to have running (literally) in the background.
5. StepBet
StepBet turns walking into a game — a game in which you can win money. Players are ‘betting’ against their ability to reach their own personalized step goals each day, and if you hit your goals, you can win your own money back, plus a profit. It helps you stay fit, win money, and stay accountable.
Jobs that pay you to walk
Another way to get paid to walk is to find a job that requires walking as part of its duties. These jobs usually involve performing specific tasks or delivering goods or services to customers. In this case, your main goal isn’t to increase your steps but to finish your work-related tasks. However, walking is still a bonus benefit that can help you stay active and healthy. Here are some examples of jobs that pay you to walk:
1. Dog walker
If you love animals and enjoy spending time outdoors, becoming a dog walker could be a perfect fit for you. You can either start your own dog walking business or join an online platform like Rover or Wag! that connects dog owners with walkers. You can set your own schedule and rates, and choose the dogs that suit your preferences. Depending on your location and experience, you can earn anywhere from $10 to $30 per hour for walking dogs.
2. Delivery person
Another option is to become a delivery person for food, groceries, or other items. You can work for companies like Uber Eats, DoorDash, Postmates, Instacart, or Shipt that allow you to pick up and deliver orders using your own mode of transportation. If you live in a walkable area or have access to public transit, you can opt to deliver by foot instead of using a car or bike. This way, you can save money on gas and parking, and get paid to walk at the same time. You can earn tips and fees for each delivery, which can vary depending on the distance, demand, and time of the day.
3. Mystery shopper
A mystery shopper is someone who visits stores, restaurants, or other businesses and evaluates their customer service, product quality, and overall experience. You can sign up for mystery shopping companies like BestMark, Market Force, or Secret Shopper that will assign you different tasks and pay you for completing them. Some of these tasks may involve walking to different locations or browsing through different sections of a store. You can earn anywhere from $5 to $25 per assignment, depending on the complexity and duration of the task.
Tips to get paid to walk more
If you want to maximize your earnings from walking, here are some tips that can help you:
1. Use multiple apps
Since most apps that pay you to walk run in the background of your phone, you can use more than one app at the same time to double or triple your rewards. For example, you can use CashWalk to earn coins, Evidation to earn points, and Sweatcoin to earn cryptocurrency, all from the same walk. Just make sure that the apps are compatible with each other and don’t drain your battery too much.
2. Walk more often
The more you walk, the more you earn. It’s that simple. To increase your daily steps, you can try some of these strategies:
- Walk to work or school instead of driving or taking public transit.
- Take the stairs instead of the elevator or escalator.
- Park your car farther away from your destination or get off the bus a few stops earlier.
- Take a walk during your lunch break or after dinner.
- Join a walking group or find a walking buddy to keep you motivated and accountable.
3. Walk faster
Another way to boost your earnings from walking is to walk faster. This will not only help you burn more calories and improve your cardiovascular fitness, but also increase your step count and distance in a shorter time. To walk faster, you can try some of these tips:
- Swing your arms in sync with your legs and keep them close to your body.
- Keep your head up and look ahead, not down at your feet.
- Take shorter and quicker steps, not longer and slower ones.
- Push off with your toes and land on your heels.
- Breathe deeply and evenly through your nose and mouth.
Walking is a great way to stay fit, healthy, and happy. But it can also be a great way to make some extra money or get some free rewards. By using apps that pay you to walk or finding jobs that pay you to walk, you can turn your steps into cash or other perks. So what are you waiting for? Grab your sneakers and start walking today!