Quick answer: the best apps that pay you to walk in the UK in 2026 are WeWard (cash to your bank or PayPal), Sweatcoin (vouchers and discounts), Winwalk (Tesco, Amazon and Costa gift cards) and BetterPoints (vouchers in partner areas). Realistically, each pays about £1 to £5 a month for normal walking. If you want proper money from walking, dog walking pays £10 to £25 per walk in the UK.
I’ll be really honest with you from the start, because I hate clickbait as much as you do: no app is going to pay your bills for walking to the shops. But if you’re already doing 6,000 to 10,000 steps a day, it’s silly not to get a few free coffees and vouchers out of it. And if you love being outdoors, there are ways to turn walking into a genuine side income too.
I’ve checked the current earning rates for UK users (they change a lot, so I’ll keep this updated), and I’ve split them into two groups: apps that reward your steps and walking jobs that actually pay.
Apps that pay you to walk UK: quick comparison
| App | How you earn | What you get | Realistic value |
|---|---|---|---|
| WeWard | Daily step milestones (about 8 Wards at 10,000 steps) | Bank transfer, PayPal, gift cards, charity | About £2 to £5 a month |
| Sweatcoin | About 1 Sweatcoin per 1,000 outdoor steps (10 a day cap on free plan) | Discounts, vouchers, prize draws (no direct cash) | Hard to value; mostly discounts |
| Winwalk | 1 coin per 100 steps (100 coins a day cap) | Amazon, Tesco, Costa gift cards (£10 at 21,000 coins) | About £1.40 a month |
| BetterPoints | Points for walking, cycling and running | High-street vouchers, charity donations | Higher in partner council and NHS areas |
| Paace (London) | Hit 8,000 steps a day | Discounts at 400+ London cafés and gyms | Discounts, not cash |
| Charity Miles | Sponsors donate per mile | Money goes to your chosen charity | £0 to you, but feel-good |
| Vitality (if insured) | 7,000 steps = 3 points, 12,500 = 8 points | Weekly perks like a Caffè Nero drink, cheaper Apple Watch | Can be worth £100s a year if you already have cover |
Rates checked October 2026. Apps change their rewards often, so always check the in-app catalogue before you commit.
The best apps that pay you to walk in the UK
1. WeWard: best for real cash
WeWard is my top pick because UK users can cash out to a bank account or PayPal, not just vouchers. You earn “Wards” at daily step milestones: roughly 1 Ward at 2,500 steps, 3 at 5,000, 8 at 10,000 and 23 at 20,000. Some challenges in the app can add extra Wards.
- Good for: people who want actual money, not discounts
- Watch out: redemptions take a few months from walking alone, and Ward values vary by reward and country
2. Sweatcoin: best for discounts and freebies
Sweatcoin is the best-known walking app. You get roughly 1 Sweatcoin per 1,000 outdoor steps (indoor steps count for less), capped at 10 a day on the free plan. Premium (around £4.99 a month) doubles your rate and raises the cap, but I wouldn’t pay for it unless you walk a lot.
- Good for: free trials, subscription discounts and prize draws
- Watch out: there’s no direct cash out to PayPal; the SWEAT crypto token is worth very little
3. Winwalk: best for supermarket gift cards
Winwalk gives you 1 coin per 100 steps, up to 100 coins a day (10,000 steps). You can swap 21,000 coins for a £10 gift card from places like Amazon, Tesco or Costa. That’s about 7 months of daily 10,000-step walks, so think of it as a slow-burn treat jar.
4. BetterPoints: best if your council is a partner
BetterPoints works with UK councils and NHS trusts to reward active travel. In partner areas, the rewards can beat the global apps, so it’s worth checking if your area is included.
5. Paace: best for Londoners
Hit your 8,000-step daily target and unlock discounts at over 400 London cafés, restaurants and gyms. Just note vouchers must be used within 15 minutes of activating.
6. Charity Miles: best for giving back
You won’t earn a penny for yourself, but sponsors donate for every mile you walk or run to the charity you choose. Lovely if you’re training for a charity event anyway.
7. Vitality: best if you already have health or life insurance
If you have Vitality health or life insurance, this is the most valuable “walking reward” in the UK. 7,000 steps earns 3 points, 10,000 earns 5 and 12,500 earns 8. Hit 12 points a week and you can pick a weekly reward like a free Caffè Nero drink or 50% off Vue cinema. Hit 160 points a month and your Apple Watch repayments can drop to £0. I wouldn’t buy insurance just for this, but if you have it, use it!
How much can you really earn from walking apps?
Let’s do the maths for a typical 10,000-step day using all three main apps together:
| App | Per month (10,000 steps a day) |
|---|---|
| WeWard | About £2 to £5 |
| Winwalk | About £1.40 in gift cards |
| Sweatcoin | A few discounts or vouchers |
| Total | Roughly £3 to £7 a month |
That’s £36 to £84 a year for doing nothing extra. Not life-changing, but it could cover a few Christmas stocking fillers! Honestly, the bigger win is the health benefit.
Walking jobs that actually pay (UK)
If you want walking to bring in real money, these are the side hustles to look at:
| Walking side hustle | Typical UK pay | Where to start |
|---|---|---|
| Dog walking (solo) | £10 to £15 per 30 mins, £16 to £25 per hour | Rover, local Facebook groups, flyers |
| Dog walking (group) | £8 to £12 per dog per 30 mins | Build up regular clients |
| Pet sitting / home visits | Usually priced per visit or per night; set rates in line with local dog walkers | Rover, Pawshake |
| Leaflet delivery | Paid per batch or hour; check it works out at least minimum wage | Local delivery firms, estate agents |
| Walking tour guide | Tips or a set fee per tour | Free walking tour companies in cities |
| Mystery shopping | A small fee per visit plus any purchase you are reimbursed for | Market Force, Proactive Insight |
Dog walking rates are highest in London (around £20 to £30 an hour) and the South East. If you go self-employed, get public liability insurance and check your council’s rules if you plan to walk lots of dogs at once.
From April 2027, side-hustle income up to £3,000 won’t need a full tax return, though tax may still be due above £1,000. Read my side hustle tax guide for details, and see more ideas in my side hustle ideas list.
My tips to earn more from walking apps
- Stack 2 or 3 apps: they all count the same steps.
- Walk outdoors with your phone on you: GPS-verified steps usually count more.
- Open the apps daily: some (like WeWard) need you to collect rewards.
- Skip paid premium plans unless the maths clearly works for you.
- Turn off unnecessary data sharing and read what each app collects.
Are apps that pay you to walk legit?
Yes, the apps above are real and pay out, but they make money from adverts, partner offers and data. Be wary of any app that asks you to pay upfront, promises “£100s a month” for walking, or pushes you to buy crypto. If it sounds too good to be true, it is.
Want more phone-based ideas? Read my how to make money from your phone guide.
Apps that pay you to walk: FAQs
What app pays you the most to walk in the UK?
WeWard is usually the best for real cash because UK users can withdraw to a bank account or PayPal. Vitality gives the most value if you already have its health or life insurance.
Does Sweatcoin pay real money in the UK?
Not directly. Sweatcoins are spent on discounts, vouchers and prize draws. Cash is only possible via the SWEAT crypto token, which is worth very little.
How much does WeWard pay per 10,000 steps?
About 8 Wards per 10,000 steps. The cash value of Wards varies by reward and country, so check the app; most people earn a few pounds a month.
Is Winwalk legit in the UK?
Yes. You earn 1 coin per 100 steps up to 10,000 steps a day and can swap 21,000 coins for a £10 gift card from retailers such as Tesco or Amazon.
Can you really make money walking?
Apps pay roughly £1 to £5 a month each. To make real money from walking, try dog walking, which pays around £10 to £25 per walk in the UK.
Do I pay tax on money from walking apps?
Small rewards from walking apps are generally not treated as trading income. Dog walking or pet sitting for money is a side hustle and may need reporting if income passes the trading allowance.
Sources
- European Funding Guide: Get paid to walk UK
- Fitcoin: Apps that pay you to walk, UK guide
- WeCovr: Vitality rewards explained
- Protectivity: UK dog walking prices 2026
Last updated: 28 October 2026. Reward rates change often; check each app’s current terms. This is general information, not financial advice.
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About the author: Dr Kalpana Govindaraasan is the PhD scientist, former secondary science teacher and mum behind MoneySavvyUK, turning complex household money topics into practical steps.