15 Creative Ways To Get Paid For Walking (2025)

Have you ever wondered if there’s any way to get extra cash from your daily exercise? I’m excited you asked about this topic, because over the past couple of years, I’ve explored dozens of “get-paid-to-walk” ideas, tested a few, and learned a great deal.

Walking is something most of us already do (or could be doing more of), so the concept of turning those steps into dollars, or at least side income, is genuinely appealing.

In this article, I’m going to walk you (pun intended) through 15 creative ways to make $500 a month (or more) by walking, either partially or fully. Some ideas are low-effort, passive-type income; others are more hands-on gigs.

I’ll share what I’ve discovered, what works (and doesn’t), and tips you can use no matter where you live. Think of this as my personal “walking side hustle toolkit.”

Can You Really Get Paid to Walk?

Let’s start with some realistic expectations. Yes, you really can make money walking, but it won’t magically replace your full-time job overnight (unless you scale up quite a bit).

Most of these ideas supplement income. The trick is combining several smartly: some pay you just for moving (via apps), while others pay for gigs where walking is part of the job (like deliveries, tours, or dog walking).

Look at it from two angles:

• Rewarding your steps: apps that pay or reward you for walking or hitting activity goals.
• Walking as work: jobs or hustles where walking is built into what you do.

When you blend both types, your total earnings can add up surprisingly fast. Let’s dive in.

1. Scrambly

While Scrambly isn’t purely a walking app at its core, it recently added step-based earning features that fit neatly alongside its usual mix of online rewards. iOS users can connect their phone’s step counter or fitness tracker, and the app awards points for meeting daily step goals. Those points can then be redeemed for PayPal cash, gift cards, or in-app bonuses like game credits and survey boosts.

What makes Scrambly interesting is its versatility; walking is just one of several small tasks that earn rewards, so you can pair step tracking with offers, games, or short challenges for a more rounded experience. It’s best seen as a “multi-reward” platform with a walking twist rather than a full-on fitness tracker. While payouts per step are small, the app’s casual design and easy integrations make it a light, fun way to turn motion into a few extra points over time.

2. Sweatcoin and WeWard — The Everyday Step Rewards Combo

If you’re already walking every day, start here. These two apps are the easy “set-it-and-forget-it” earners.

Sweatcoin converts your steps into digital “Sweatcoins,” which you can redeem for discounts, gift cards, and occasionally even cash or crypto (depending on your region). The marketplace mostly features promotional offers, but it’s free money for something you already do.

WeWard works similarly but pays out a bit more directly. You earn “Wards” for every few thousand steps, redeemable through PayPal, bank transfer, or gift cards. Some consistent users earn close to $1,000 per year just by walking daily.

Run both apps simultaneously. You won’t hit $500/month from them alone, but they form a nice passive base layer in your walking income stack.

3. Evidation (Achievement) — Turn Your Health Data Into Dollars

Evidation rewards users for maintaining their health through activities like walking and working out, and better sleep and food tracking. The app requires you to link Apple Health or Google Fit or Fitbit, or Garmin to your account for background activity tracking.

The points you earn from your daily activities become redeemable when your total reaches a certain threshold.

Each 10,000 points equals $10, and though progress can be slow, it’s entirely passive. If you’re already using a fitness tracker, this app quietly rewards your consistency. It’s the kind of app you forget about until you realize you’ve earned a payout.

4. Winwalk and Macadam — Step Apps for Android Users

If you’re an Android user, be sure to check out Winwalk and Macadam. Both will offer fun, lightweight ways to earn rewards.

Winwalk gives you coins for steps (up to a daily limit), redeemable for Amazon, Walmart, or other gift cards. The only catch? You need to open the app daily to claim earnings, or you lose them, so make it part of your nightly routine.

Macadam is newer and promises small cash rewards or credits for walking. Since it’s still growing, treat it as experimental: cash out early and avoid letting large balances accumulate until the platform proves stable.

5. Shopkick — Get Paid Just to Walk Into Stores

Shopkick isn’t exactly a pedometer app, but it does pay you to walk. Specifically, when you enter partner stores, you earn “kicks” (points) for visiting, scanning products, or making purchases.

If you already shop on foot, Shopkick adds a bonus layer of earnings without extra effort. Combine it with other step apps for a multi-reward routine—it’s easy, fun, and surprisingly motivating.

6. Charity Miles — Walk for a Cause

While this one doesn’t pay you directly, Charity Miles is worth including. This app has a partnership with corporate sponsors who donate to your chosen charity for every mile you walk, run, or bike.

It’s an inspiring way to give back while staying active. And if you’re already using other step-tracking apps, this one adds purpose to your progress. Walk for fitness, for income, and now, for impact.

7. Gigwalk — Small Gigs That Get You Moving

Gigwalk offers work opportunities for people who want hands-on tasks, which include walking into stores to perform fast assignments such as display checks and photo taking, and sign verification.

The payment for each job on Gigwalk ranges between $3 and $30 based on the duration and difficulty level of the task. I completed a $5 task that required me to visit an electronics store to capture display images during my 40-minute walk, and it only took 5 minutes of work.

The tasks required no special skills, but it was easy to complete. You can maximize your time by selecting tasks that are located close to each other because this allows you to complete multiple tasks during a single trip.

8. DoorDash (Walking Option) — Deliver on Foot

Did you know you can use DoorDash without a car? DoorDash provides walking delivery service to customers in densely populated urban neighborhoods. It’s perfect for places like downtown NYC, Chicago, or compact cities in Europe or Asia.

The delivery service between restaurants and customers generates $15 to $25 per hour of earnings for delivery personnel who work during peak hours. People can now earn $100 per day through strategic walking route planning, according to my observations.

The position enables staff members to work in a flexible environment that combines flexible schedules with physical activity opportunities.

9. TaskRabbit — Walk Off Errands for Cash

On TaskRabbit, you can literally get paid to run errands, many of which involve walking. The list includes package delivery services as well as grocery shopping and courier delivery.

You get to determine your own payment rates, while Taskers can earn between $20 and $40 per hour. The main factor is to select jobs that are located near each other because this will help you walk more and reduce your need for commuting.

It’s an easy way to turn steps into a steady side income.

10. Dog Walking with Rover or Wag

This one’s probably my personal favorite. Walking dogs provides both personal fulfillment and financial gain to people who enjoy dogs.

You can establish your own availability and pricing through pet sitting apps such as Rover or Wag, which offer payment between $15 and $35 per walk and additional fees for overnight stays and check-ins.

Your monthly income will exceed $500 when you handle only a few repeat clients. The activity helps you achieve three health benefits and mood improvements while helping you reach your daily step goal.

11. Pet Waste Cleanup — The “Unseen” Walking Gig

Pet waste removal operates as a genuine business that generates substantial profits. You will move between clients' outdoor spaces, which include their yards and parks, to perform cleaning tasks for $10 to $30 per visit.

Some people use this as their main source of financial income. Pet waste cleaners in neighborhoods with numerous pet owners can generate substantial earnings from their work.

Working outdoors with occasional manual labor creates a dependable side business that operates in a low-competition market. Plus, it offers repeat business; once people find out you’ll do the job they don’t want to, they’re likely to keep you on a regular schedule.

12. Litter Pick-Up / Street Clean-Up Side Hustle

People need to walk more to collect the trash that exists on the streets. Brian Winch famously built a $650,000/year business cleaning up parking lots, mostly by walking around. You can begin by providing cleaning services to individual businesses and property management companies in your area.

The product is environmentally friendly and allows you to stay outside, while it has the potential to expand into a small business when you establish a consistent customer base. The process requires basic equipment, which includes a grabber and bags, together with regular maintenance.

Many communities, together with property owners, choose to pay for cleaning services because these services deliver dependable results. You should definitely take advantage of this to earn more cash.

13. Flyer and Leaflet Distribution

The established methods of earning money continue to work effectively in the present times. Local businesses pay you to distribute flyers door to door, usually by block or route. The process requires simple steps because walking to deliver flyers will lead to receiving payment.

The delivery of water to densely populated areas becomes expensive because water drop prices fall between $0.02 and $0.10 per drop.

People who walk consistently at a high pace can develop this into a profitable business opportunity. Users can select their work hours on the platform to earn extra money by walking dogs and tracking their steps from home.

14. Mystery Shopping and Store Audits

Like Gigwalk, mystery shopping pays you to visit stores, but with more evaluation. You need to assess customer service and cleanliness, product placement, and create a short report.

Field Agent and BestMark, and IntelliShop offer payment rates between $5 and $25 per visit, and they also provide purchase reimbursement. Choose stores near each other and you’ll earn cash while getting your daily steps in.

The solution requires you to create efficient routes that enable you to visit different locations during one trip. The experience becomes enjoyable when you find your pace, and you might stumble upon fresh stores or items during your journey.

15. Become a Walking Tour Guide

Tourists who live in popular tourist destinations can find this opportunity both enjoyable and profitable. Offer local walking tours through Airbnb Experiences or your own site.

Street food walks and haunted history, and street art tours provide popular alternatives to traditional historical tours, which do not require historical knowledge. Some part-time guides can make $2,000+ monthly during busy seasons.

If you love storytelling or meeting new people, it barely feels like work. The activity enables you to maintain physical activity while showing others your favorite aspects of your hometown.

Your tours will generate consistent revenue because happy customers will post positive feedback that brings in new visitors each year.

16. The “Walk While You Work” Lifestyle

Walking opportunities exist beyond the requirement of outdoor activities. Remote workers should invest in treadmill desks or under-desk walking pads because these tools enable them to walk while keeping their standard compensation.

I’ve done this while writing, coding, or in meetings. Walking at a speed between 1–2 mph allows people to stay alert while keeping their concentration abilities intact. Taking thousands of additional steps becomes almost imperceptible when spread across weeks and months.

The change brings a gentle yet strong impact to your daily life because your energy levels increase, while your need to rest while sitting becomes minimal. A daily time investment of one to two hours will improve your health without needing you to add any extra time to your schedule.

How to Assemble a $500 / Month Walking Income Strategy

Now that you've got the 15 ideas, here’s how to turn them into a real $500+/month plan.

Step 1: Estimate Your Local Rates & Viability

First, for each idea that interests you, check the going rate in your city or region. Dog walking rates in New York differ wildly from Hanoi or Bangkok, for example. Do a little research: ask local walkers, check platforms, or test a few gigs.

Step 2: Choose a Mix of Passive + Active

• Pick 2–3 passive walking reward apps (Evidation, WeWard, Winwalk).
• Add 2–4 active gigs that align with your skills (dog walking, deliveries, mystery shopping, flyer distribution).
• If feasible, add one scalable idea (walking tours, litter pick-up contract) for upside.

Step 3: Block out “Walking Hours”

Say you walk 1 hour per day purely for fitness — convert that into gig time: dog walking, exploring for flyer routes, short deliveries. Over a week, that’s 7 walking hours. Allocate more walking time on weekends or days off.

Step 4: Route Planning & Efficiency

• Cluster tasks geographically (don’t crisscross the city).
• Use public transit or bikes to access dense zones.
• Reuse walking routes for deliveries, inspection, litter pick-up, etc.

Step 5: Upsell & Recurring Clients

• Convert one-off gigs into recurring ones (e.g. r regular dog walks, weekly flyer routes).
• Offer add-ons (e.g., pet playtime, minor errands with dog walk, “trash clean up” during walk).
• Ask for referrals from satisfied customers.

Step 6: Track Earnings and Adjust

Use a spreadsheet or income tracker. For each idea: hours spent, money earned, net profit (subtract costs like shoes, transport). Drop or scale the worst performers. Focus energy on what returns best.

Sample Income Breakdown

Here’s a quick mock-up to illustrate how someone might hit $500+ monthly using a balanced mix:

That’s 8 walking hours a week (just over an hour a day) plus passive apps, and you’ve crossed $500. You could scale with a second dog-walking client, an extra route, or more shop gigs.

Tips and Lessons from My Experiments

Here’s what I learned through trial and error:

• Battery & phone usage matters — running multiple walking apps and GPS tracking can drain your phone. Use power-saving settings, close background apps, or carry a power bank.
• Keep a walking log — record your time vs. income. This lets you see which hustles are wasting time.
• Costs matter — walking shoes, transit, gloves, phone plan, etc., chip away at profits. Budget for them.
• Don’t expect linear scaling — some gigs saturate, client flow fluctuates. Diversify across at least 3–4 income streams.
• Build a brand/reputation, especially for dog walking, tours, or waste removal. Word-of-mouth is powerful.
• Licenses/permits— some regions require permits for flyer drops, tours, or waste services. Be sure to check local regulations.
• Stay safe — this one is especially important. Remember to carry water, phone, first aid, and light if walking after dark. Use reflective gear.
• Passive income trickle — realize that the apps will never be your main revenue. They’re only a bonus, foundational layers.

Common FAQs & My Answers

Q: Can I really make $500/month just by walking?

Maybe, if you live in a dense urban area with high rates, and you stack gig walking effectively. In most places, you’ll combine passive apps + walking gigs to reach that target.

Q: Do these apps pay “real” money?

Yes, some (Evidation, some local step apps) pay or allow gift card redemptions. But many pay in gift cards or discounts, not always cash. Always check the payout method in your country.

Q: Will a phone battery kill me?

It’s a factor. Monitor your usage, disable location for non-used apps, use battery-saving modes, or carry extra power.

Q: What if my city doesn’t have many gig opportunities?

Focus more on pet services, waste removal, litter pick-up, small-scale tours, or build demand (advertise locally). Use online platforms to find remote mystery shopping or audits for stores in your area.

Q: Which gig is the “best”?

It depends on your market, preferences, and schedule. For me, dog walking + local deliveries were best. For you, flyers + mystery shopping might dominate. Test a few to find your sweet spot.

Final Thoughts & Encouragement

Turning walking into a side income is not a get-rich-overnight hack. But done consistently and smartly, those steps can absolutely become a meaningful income stream. Doing 1–2 walking-based hustles plus layering passive step apps can move you toward $500/month.

The trick is to combine, optimize, and persist. Try 3–5 of the ideas in this article, measure what works in your area, and lean into those. Over time, you might even replace a portion of your full-time income with walking-based hustles.

So what are you waiting for? Get out there and earn some cash while keeping yourself healthy!