How to Get Paid to Work Out [9 Options for 2023]

A perfect figure and lots of money are probably the two things most people wish for when blowing out candles.

The problem is that a hectic schedule can make it hard to work and exercise regularly.

That’s why getting paid to work out is such a brilliant, popular side hustle.

You can make money as you run, walk, hike, or exercise in general. It lets you achieve your fitness goals and make extra cash for a rainy day. 

In this article, we’re going to cover exactly how you can get paid to work out. Grab your gym clothes and let’s dive in. 

Can You Get Paid to Work Out?

Absolutely.

Several apps will give you cash rewards, gift cards, and prizes for working out.

How Much Can You Make by Working Out

The amount of money you can make depends on how active you are.

For example, some apps will pay you based on the number of steps you walk or workout sessions you complete.

You might need to walk more than 20,000 steps a day just to get a $10 gift card. Other apps allow you to enter betting challenges and if you achieve your fitness goal, you can win your bet many times over. 

There are also team challenges with a prize pot that can reach $10,000.

Generally speaking, you won’t make that much money off of one app, but if you work them simultaneously, it’ll make a decent side hustle. Not to mention you’ll be making passive income from multiple sources as you exercise.

What You’ll Need to Get Paid to Work Out

The great thing about working out as a side hustle is that you can easily get started without much preparation.

Here’s a list of what you might need:

• A mobile phone with an internet connection and GPS tracking enabled for counting your steps or measuring activity
• Google Play Store or App Store access for downloading fitness apps
• A smartwatch for easily tracking your progress (optional)
• A PayPal account for receiving payments from most apps

Where to Get Paid to Work Out

There are tons of fitness websites and apps that’ll pay you in cash, prizes, or gift cards to work out.

They’re an excellent example of how to make money from your phone.

Here are some of the best options:

1. HealthyWage

HealthyWage is a fitness app that lets you make extra cash by betting on your weight loss journey.

As the name suggests, you make “wagers” according to your current body weight and your weight loss goal.

If you succeed in your weight loss journey, you’re not only a few pounds lighter but also a few hundred bucks richer.

When you first sign up for HealthyWage, a calculator will help you decide how much weight you can lose in a certain time frame.

Your minimum fitness goal must be at least a 10% weight loss or more.

You get to choose a time frame from 6 to 18 months and the bets go from $100 to $995 per month.

For example, let’s say you currently weigh 250 pounds.

The smallest individual weight loss bet you can make would be to lose 25 pounds in 18 months while betting $100 a month.

You’ll need to verify your weight at a gym or doctor’s office at the start and end of each challenge so HealthyWage can track your progress.

How Much You Can Make

It depends on how hard you make your weight loss challenge and the size of your bet.

If you bet $100, for example, you might make $200, doubling your wager. With some bets, you can get paid thousands of dollars.

There are also team fitness challenges that reward $10,000.

What Makes This Option Great

With HealthyWage, you can make extra money while achieving your health goals.

You can make personal bets or accept whatever challenges you like.

Unlike gambling, you’re not waiting for someone to roll a lucky number.

You’re in charge. 

When you get paid to lose weight, you stay motivated on your weight loss journey. 

• Typical Fees/Commission: No commission but paper check payments require a processing fee of $7
• Typical Payment Methods: PayPal or a mailed check

2. Sweatcoin

Sweatcoin is a useful fitness app where you can get paid to walk.

The more steps you take outside, the more money you can make.

This workout app deals in a cryptocurrency called Sweatcoins.

You can trade your Sweatcoins for gift cards and all kinds of rewards and prizes.

In other words, you walk, get Sweatcoins, and use them to buy things instead of paying cash.

For every 1,000 outdoor steps you take, you get 0.95 Sweatcoins (the app takes 5% commission, which is why you’re left with 0.95 instead of 1 whole coin).

However, you can only make 20 coins daily, limiting the amount of money you can make on your own.

It might be a brilliant idea to walk with a group of friends and pool your Sweatcoins together for a bigger cash prize.

How Much You Can Make

You can redeem every 20,000 Sweatcoins you make for about $1,000 in cash paid through PayPal.

What Makes This Option Great

If walking is a regular part of your day, you can make extra money without even realizing it.

You can get paid to shop, for example, as long as you walk to the store. 

This app promotes a healthier lifestyle and, at the same time, provides a nice side hustle.

• Typical Fees/Commission: 5% commission on each Sweatcoin
• Typical Payment Methods: PayPal or gift cards

3. Charity Miles

You might not earn direct money through Charity Miles, but you can still make some money for charity and donate it in your name.

For every mile you run, walk, or bike, Charity Miles donates a small amount of money to the charity of your choice.

Some of the most popular charities include the American Cancer Society, Autism Speaks, Feeding America, and Every Mother Counts.

How Much You Can Make

If you choose to run or walk, you can make $0.25 per mile.

Bikers can earn $0.10 per mile.

What Makes This Option Great

If you regularly donate to charity, this app can help you save money while still making generous donations.

Charity miles is a great way to keep up a healthy lifestyle and you’ll stay motivated knowing you’re making money for charity.

• Typical Fees/Commission: None
• Typical Payment Methods: Donation to charity

4. Evidation 

The Evidation app, previously known as Achievement, is another great way you can get paid to work out.

Almost every activity you do, like going for a walk, exercising, or answering surveys, earns you points.

These points can then be converted to cash.

It’s one of a few apps where you can get paid to take surveys and exercise at the same time. 

Like most exercise apps, it has a fitness tracker that lets you monitor your progress.

You can also add your friends on the app and compare workouts. 

How Much You Can Make

For every 10,000 points you make, you’ll earn $10.

The one downfall is you can only earn about 80 points per day, which means it’ll take some time to make decent cash.

You’re better off treating it as a source of free passive income.

What Makes This Option Great

Evidation integrates with several iPhone and Android apps, including Apple Health and Samsung Health.

That means you can let these apps count each step or activity you do and then Evidation will generate your extra income.

• Typical Fees/Commission: None
• Typical Payment Methods: PayPal or direct deposit

5. StepBet

StepBet is another way fitness enthusiasts can get paid to work out. 

Much like HealthyWage, it involves placing bets.

But this time, you’re betting on a number of steps instead of weight loss.

You can enter group fitness challenges and bet on yourself or other players achieving their step goals.

Most bets are around $40 and last for about six weeks.

To stay in the game, you have to achieve your daily steps and challenge goals over several weeks.

At the end of the challenge, the money pool is split between the remaining players. 

StepBet is compatible with the Apple Watch and most iOS and Android fitness apps.

How Much You Can Make

It depends on how many players enter your game and how many are still standing at the end.

For example, let’s say you bet $40 and there are initially 20 players.

That gives you a money pool of $800, or $680 after StepBet commission fees.

If only four players are left to split the money pool, you earn $170.

That’s a return on investment of over 300%!

What Makes This Option Great

For $50 per year, you can become a StepBet member and participate in three games at a time (non-members are limited to one).

The health app also waives its commission fees to members, which means you can make a lot more money.

• Typical Fees/Commission: 15% commission from non-members
• Typical Payment Methods: PayPal

6. Runtopia

If your workout routines usually include running, walking, or cycling, you might want to try Runtopia.

It’s another great app that pays you in a digital currency called SPC (Sports Coins) when you complete fitness milestones.

The app doesn’t specify the exact number of steps it takes to earn 1 SPC, but users have noticed it’s around a thousand steps.

You can convert your SPC to cash via PayPal.

If you usually go places on foot instead of commuting, you’ll appreciate Runtopia.

You can get paid to go to school, for example, as long as you walk to class.

How Much You Can Make

It depends on the offers available on the app, but generally speaking, every 600 SPC can earn you about $10.

There’s also a large cash prize of $500, which costs around 35,000 SPC.

What Makes This Option Great

It might not be the most lucrative app, but you can use it to make money passively as you go through your fitness activities.

It’s easy to use and available for both Android and iOS users.

It also gives you the option to listen to an audio coach as you exercise.

• Typical Fees/Commission: None
• Typical Payment Methods: PayPal

7. Pact (Previously Called GymPact)

GymPact is a great app that pays you to work out and makes sure you stay on track.

Once you sign up, you make a “pact” that you’re going to stick to your fitness programs.

Every time you hit the gym or a fitness center, you can check in and count your workout.

GymPact pays you for each workout session.

However, if you skip a day, you get a $5 penalty, which is why so many people keep an eye on their fitness progress.

How Much You Can Make

You can make from $0.50 to $0.75 per workout.

What Makes This Option Great

The $5 penalty helps you stick to your “workout pact” because you don’t want to lose all of your hard-earned money.

It keeps you motivated, which is one of the most common things people struggle with. 

• Typical Fees/Commission: None
• Typical Payment Methods: PayPal

8. Fit for Bucks

Fit for Bucks doesn’t exactly pay you money to work out, but it gives you free rewards that can help you save extra cash.

This app tracks all of your fitness activities, and the more steps you take, the more rewards you can get.

Fit for Bucks rewards start from around 20,000 steps.

How Much You Can Make

It depends on the rewards you choose.

For example, 20,000 steps can get you a free cup of coffee or a $20 gift card that is redeemable at certain fitness centers.

For 30,000 steps, you can get a free haircut.

What Makes This Option Great

Fit for Bucks encourages you to hike, walk, take a class, or run and get in shape.

The steps required for each reward are very transparent, so you can easily work your way toward whatever prize you want.

• Typical Fees/Commission: None
• Typical Payment Methods: Rewards and prizes

9. WayBetter

WayBetter is an app that pays you to work out both physically and mentally.

It rewards physical activities like running and walking, but it also pays you to read a book or “eat mindfully.”

WayBetter is concerned with your overall health and wants its users to have active lifestyles.

It’s actually the parent company of StepBet, which is why it also involves betting money and trying to achieve your bet conditions.

The money pool from each contestant’s bet is split among the remaining winners who achieved their challenge goals. 

How Much You Can Make

Bets typically range from $10 to $30 and depending on the game and number of contestants, you might end up winning double your bet or more.

What Makes This Option Great

WayBetter helps you turn your training plans into gamified micro-goals that keep you motivated and earn you money.

The app rewards physical activities but also considers your mental health. 

• Typical Fees/Commission:10-25% commission based on each pool size
• Typical Payment Methods: PayPal

Why You Should Consider Working Out As a Side Hustle

Getting paid to work out is a great side hustle that helps you achieve both fitness and financial goals.

Here’s why you should consider it:

• Most of the apps work in the background as you exercise, so you only have to focus on your physical activities while making money
• The money you make can help you cover the cost of gym memberships, fitness classes, or personal training
• Getting paid to work out keeps you motivated to achieve your fitness goals
• You can also get paid to listen to music as you work out and diversify your sources of income 

Problems With Working Out for Money

While getting paid to work out is a great side hustle, there are a few things you might want to consider before jumping in:

• Most apps have a limit to the amount of money, points, or cryptocurrency you can earn per day
• It’s mainly a side hustle for extra income and not something you can turn into a full-time business
• To reap the most benefits, you’ll need to use several apps at the same time, which can be a handful to keep up with

How to Get Paid to Work Out: Step-By-Step Instructions

Getting paid to work out is relatively easy.

You only have to follow a few simple steps.

1. Download Several Apps

To get the most money out of your workouts, you’re better off downloading several apps at once.

Visit the App Store or Google Play Store and download at least 5 or 6 apps from this article.

Make sure to sign up for each and follow the steps necessary to set up your account.

For most apps, you’ll only need an email address and a PayPal account to receive payments.

2. Plan Your Workout Goals

Take a look at the healthy actions or outdoor activities you need to complete to get your rewards.

Some apps give you a cash bonus or exclusive rewards for hitting tough milestones, so make a mental note of what will get you the most money.

You might need to add a few miles to your weekly runs to reach a personalized step goal.

3. Get Your Weight Verified for Certain Apps

Some apps like HealthyWage will require you to verify your weight before joining a game so they can make sure your weight loss journey is legit.

You might need to go to a gym or doctor’s office for a weight confirmation.

You’ll need to do this at the beginning of challenges and again when they end.

4. Pay Attention as You Work Out

Once you have all of your activity-tracking apps set up, start exercising!

Monitor your progress as you run, hike, or cycle.

Some activities might earn you more points, steps, or money than others.

Keep an eye on your fitness apps and make a mental note of the exercises and workouts that give you the best feedback.

Things to Consider When Working Out for Money

Getting paid to work out is relatively simple, but there are a few things you should keep in mind. Here are two of them:

• Most apps require an internet connection and GPS tracking, so make sure your phone has enough battery before your workout
• You might need to walk or run for long distances to hit in-app goals, so make sure you stay properly hydrated and don’t overexert yourself

Frequently Asked Questions

Similar Ways to Get Paid

Getting paid to work out is a useful side hustle, but there are several excellent alternatives you can try to supplement your income.

• Get Paid to Coach Online: If you have the knowledge and drive to help people, you can make some decent cash as an online coach. 
• Get Paid to Woodwork: Woodworking is another way you can make money and stay active without having to hit the gym. 
• Get Paid to Travel: Getting paid to travel is a way you can stay active, explore the world, and make money at the same time. 

Wrapping Up

Getting paid to work out is the ultimate side hustle for achieving your fitness and financial goals.

It’s no easy task, but if you’re going to exercise anyways, why not make a few bucks in the process?

Hopefully, the nine apps in this article can help you achieve your dream shape and financial stability at the same time.

Let us know what you think in the comments, and if you liked the article, share it so others can benefit as well!