21 Real Ways To Get Paid To Workout

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get paid to work out

You already know the common benefits of exercising, including weight loss, more energy, and less stress, but what if somebody offered to pay you to workout?

The truth is, most of us probably should exercise more frequently, but we don’t because we haven’t found the right incentive; maybe the prospect of getting paid to exercise will.

These workout apps can be a great side hustle for anybody, even if you don’t think you have time because you work full-time already.

Editor’s Top Picks

COMPANYFEATURES
EvidationGet paid for tracking steps
HealthyWageMake money for losing weight
SweatcoinGet rewards to get free merchandise

How to Get Paid to Workout

If you spend any time at the gym or exercising at home, you can be rewarded for your hard work financially, physically, and mentally. Plus, being healthy can help you save money in general.

1. WayBetter

WayBetter offers a chance to earn by caring for your physical or mental health. Once you create a profile, you’ll bet on yourself for a particular game. Some available games include ‘Read a Book,’ ‘Run it Off,’ and ‘Eat Mindfully.’

The bets range from $10 to $30+. If you complete the game, you’ll split the pot with the other winners. Depending on the game, you might double your funds by winning.

A wide range of betting opportunities makes this an enticing experience. For those looking to boost their mind and body, these challenges might come in handy.

2. HealthyWager

Like other fitness apps, HealthyWage lets you participate in individual, team, and corporate challenges.

You make a bet to lose a minimum number of pounds within a specific number of months, and you get paid if you meet your weight loss goal.

Participating in a challenge requires a small wager to have some “skin in the game.” If you win, you can potentially double your wager; you bet $150 and win $300, for instance.

You will need to get your weight verified by your health club, doctor’s office, or Weight Watchers meeting at the beginning and completion of the challenge.

Challenges can vary in length from four weeks to twelve months. You pay a wager each month but can recoup the money plus profits if you accomplish your goals. You can potentially win up to $10,000 with the five-person team challenge.

One individual HealthyWage member, Kristin W., won $4,000 after losing 114.5 pounds in 12 months!

Who knew you could lose weight AND make more money at the same time through exercise apps like HealthyWage?

Learn More: HealthyWage Review

3. Sweatcoin

Sweatcoin is a free app that will reward you for walking with what it calls Sweatcoins.

Using your smartphone accelerometer and GPS, Sweatcoin verifies the number of steps you take daily and converts the number of steps into a Sweatcoin.

You can redeem your sweatcoins for merchandise like a new smartphone, clothing, or fitness classes. It’s also possible to donate your coins to a charity.

Sweatcoin is free to join and available for Android and iOS devices. If you have an iPhone, it must be a 5s model or newer.

Learn More: Sweatcoin Review

4. Rakuten

While the other apps will pay after you exercise, the Rakuten app pays you before you exercise.

That’s because you can get cash back for your online fitness-related purchases. This differentiates it from other apps that will pay you to work out.

Here are a few examples of how you can get paid to work out with Rakuten:

  • $5 by joining Weight Watchers
  • 5% back when you join 24 Hour Fitness
  • 4.5% back at the Bowflex Shop
  • 12% back on athletic shoes at Shoes.com

If you pay online for any fitness products, shop through Rakuten to get paid from the very beginning. And you’ll get a $10 cash bonus by making your first Rakuten purchase.

Rakuten also offers double cash back at select retailers when you shop with the Rakuten mobile app for iOS and Android devices.

Learn More: Rakuten Review

5. DietBet

DietBet is another app that pays you to bet on whether you will lose weight. You win the money if you accomplish your goal, but you have to pay in the bet if you don’t.

You can compete in the weekly Kickstarter contests to win money and engage in healthy competition. Besides the weekly competition, you can join DietBet’s monthly sweepstakes and participate in member-initiated games.

These features make it one of the best apps that will pay you to workout since it offers an added incentive.

You can also get paid to maintain your weight loss once you’ve shed those unwanted pounds with 12-month challenges.

After you verify your final weight, DietBet rewards you with points that can be redeemed for PayPal cash or merchandise rewards or rolled forward to your next weight loss challenge.

6. Walgreens Balance Rewards

If you shop at Walgreens, you can earn bonus rewards with the My Walgreens program.

You can earn 250 points for creating goals, achieving goals, and linking health devices. You can even earn points for testing your blood pressure or blood glucose, quitting smoking, and (of course) exercising.

In addition to earning Walgreens Balance points, you’ll also have access to expert advice from WebMD to learn more about healthy behaviors and to have extra motivation to pursue a healthy lifestyle.

Don’t forget to shop at Walgreens with Ibotta to make a little extra money for when you need to buy those healthy items, and you’ll get a $10 bonus when you redeem your first Ibotta offer!

7. Higi

Do you use the free blood pressure monitoring machines near the store pharmacy? Chances are, you’re using a Higi station located at food, club, and drug stores across the country.

With Higi, you can track your body stats for free at these Higi stations and earn points for your effort.

With your health device or built-in smartphone step tracker, you can upload your data to Higi daily to earn points when you don’t check in at a Higi station.

For some extra motivation, you can participate in challenges with other Higi members and share your progress within their social network, too.

The points you earn through this health app can be redeemed for prizes and fitness-related discounts based on the type of challenge.

8. Charity Miles

Maybe you want to help others with each workout through Charity Miles. If you give to charity regularly, this app can supplement your regular giving and let you earn money for charity.

You can turn your everyday run into a fundraiser and give money to worthy causes. Charity Miles is available for iOS and Android devices.

9. MapMyFitness

MapMyFitness is a free fitness app from Under Armour that awards prizes to the top monthly performers.

You can also win the grand prize at the end of the calendar year.

In addition to the prize opportunities, you can find new exercise routes that other MapMyFitness app users share to find a more challenging route or some new scenery.

You can also use the app to create workout routines and training plans and count calories.

10. Vitality

Vitality partners with employee wellness programs. If your employer doesn’t partner with Vitality, send a request to HR so you can get paid for your healthy behaviors.

By participating in Vitality’s program, you can get a free fitness tracker device, such as an Apple Watch or Fitbit, for free when you exercise regularly.

You can also win prizes like Amazon gift cards as an additional reward for your effort. This is one of the top apps that will pay you to work out.

11. Virgin Pulse

Virgin Pulse is another fitness app that partners with corporate wellness programs.

Ask your HR department about Virgin Pulse if they don’t offer a rewards-based corporate wellness program yet.

With Virgin Pulse, you can participate in individual and group challenges to win cash rewards and merchandise prizes.

You can track your exercise progress with a pedometer app, Fitbit, or your smartphone too.

12. AARP Rewards for Good

In the AARP Rewards for Good program, you can also get points for connecting your Fitbit wearable device and earning points each time you reach a fitness milestone.

Your points can be redeemed for travel rewards and other bonuses, including gift cards.

You earn bonus points the first time you visit the rewards catalog.

AARP Rewards for Good program is free for anybody at least 18 years old. Although you must be at least 50 to enjoy the full benefits of an AARP membership, this program benefits adults of all ages.

Related Article: Is AARP Worth It? Benefits, Fees, And More

13. Dick’s Sporting Goods ScoreCard

If you shop for fitness items at Dick’s Sporting Goods, their free ScoreCard loyalty rewards program gives you 3% back with each purchase.

Membership is always free, and you only need to have the cashier scan your rewards before you pay for your purchase to earn the rewards points.

Like Rakuten, this is one of the few ways to get paid for exercising before you ever start!

14. Skillshare

Skillshare can be one way to earn recurring income from exercising because you’re making a video course for others to watch.

You can teach others the best way to exercise to lose weight, complete a hang clean or even walk them through a CrossFit workout to maximize their gym memberships. So, you can get paid to work out and help others.

Learn More: Skillshare Review

15. StepBet

StepBet is an app that builds up your activity by adding a bet to the mix. After you set up your profile, the app uses your fitness information to set a personalized step goal.

If you want to bet on yourself, most bets are around $40. The bet usually plays out over six weeks. But in some cases, the duration of the bet is longer or shorter. If you hit your step foals for the whole game, you’ll split the prize pot with the other winners.

Importantly, StepBet takes 15% of the pot. For those building up their steps, a ‘warm-up’ week is included in your bets.

16. Fit for Bucks

Fit for Bucks doesn’t reward you with cash. But you can redeem your steps for rewards, like a free coffee, haircut, or massage.

The California-based company offers most of its physical rewards for experiences in the area. With that, Fit for Bucks won’t be a motivating choice for everyone. But if you live near businesses offering rewards through the fitness app, it might be the right choice.

17. Evidation

As one of the most popular fitness apps, Evidation has been used by over 1.5 million people to get in shape while getting paid.

Evidation pays you for the following activities:

  • Tracking steps
  • Sleep
  • Meals
  • Tweets

You can use Evidation for over 30 Android and iOS apps, including Apple Health, Samsung Health, and Fitbit.

If you’re already counting your steps at the end of each day through the built-in smartphone app, now Evidation will pay you.

Learn More: Evidation Review

18. Lead Fitness Classes

Fitness classes are a great way to stay in shape. If you are passionate about fitness, leading a fitness class might be the right way to monetize your workouts.

This flexible option allows you to create your own fitness classes in a public space. If you prefer a set schedule with built-in clients, find out if your local gym is hiring.

19. Teach Yoga Classes

A yoga class is a helpful way to care for your mind and body. If you are very comfortable with yoga, consider becoming an instructor. Many yoga studios regularly hire instructors to teach classes.

The amount you’ll earn per class varies based on your location. But at the very least, you’ll get to do your yoga routine for free.

20. Teach Sport Lessons

Do you have a specific sports skill? You can turn those skills into an income stream.

For example, I’m a tennis player with reasonably high skills. Over the years, I’ve intermittently taught tennis lessons. Depending on the sport, giving lessons can be a very lucrative way to stay active.

If interested in giving sports lessons, look into any particular requirements. Some sports offer skills assessments and training specifically for potential coaches.

21. Become a Bike Messenger

A bike messenger can zoom through town, burning calories and collecting a paycheck at the same time.

Bike messengers are very popular in big cities, but even more suburban locations might have a market for them.

Although this might not be the most glamorous job, you’ll stay outside and active while earning money.

Summary

Whether you’re a couch potato needing some extra motivation through money and participating in team challenges or a fitness junkie that enjoys counting how many steps you take in a day, now you can get paid for your endeavors.

Since most of these exercise apps are free, you can earn money with your first step or rep.

It doesn’t matter if you want extra cash or merchandise; you need to use one of these legit apps to get paid to work out.

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8 Comments

  1. Is Runister still an app? It’s not coming up.

    1. We’ll check into that. Thanks for letting us know.

  2. Looks like a few of these no longer exist – might want to update the info.

    1. That could be, although several of the ones I tried are still working. It’s difficult to keep up with all of the new deals different companies offer, though. But isn’t it great that you can get in shape and make money from it too! What an incentive!

  3. Thanks for writing such a beautiful article. I am happy that you have brought out the crucial tips under one roof. I really like it. It’s so knowledgeable and motivational too.

  4. Smart Money and Travel says:

    We love Ebates and use it often for our purchases!

    It’s neat to see so many angles to earning extra money for working out, but it seems like you have to make purchases for that to happen, and we’re in the camp of minimizing costs as much as possible.

    1. Josh Patoka says:

      Many of the other apps don’t require a purchase, and we encourage everybody to go those routes too. But, since exercise, clothing, shoes, and equipment do wear out, Ebates helps defray the cost in this instance.