Consumers Walk to Make A Buck with Cash Earning App

Some rewards apps are gaining popularity as users earn points simply by walking. With over 20 million users worldwide, the app lets people exchange points for cash, gift cards, or donations to charity.

How WeWard Turns Walking Into Cash

A Korean American user in his 20s downloaded an walking rewards app ‘WeWard’ after hearing about the app’s potential to earn money while walking. By hitting daily goals, he collected enough points to redeem for a $10 Walmart gift card.

For a Korean American office worker in their 30s in Los Angeles, WeWard also encouraged better health. “Using WeWard makes me want to take one more walk to complete a mission,” they said.

CNBC recently reported that WeWard gamifies walking to encourage users to take more steps each day. The app tracks steps and rewards them with digital points called “Wards,” which can be exchanged for cash, gift cards, coupons, or charity donations.

Launched by Yves Benchimol in 2019, WeWard was designed to promote healthier lifestyles by turning smartphone use into a tool for more active living. Benchimol explained, “People spend too much time in front of screens. We wanted to help them live healthier lives.”

Rewards and User Experience

WeWard’s points system can generate up to hundreds of dollars per year for users who consistently walk. Top users can earn as much as $1,000 annually by taking daily walks of 10,000 steps or more. So far, the company has paid over $20 million in cash rewards and donated $1 million to charity.

WeWard also includes game-like features. For example, the app’s treasure hunt feature lets users walk to specific locations—like parks, museums, and monuments—within about 1,600 feet of their homes to collect cards and earn points.

Beginners can start with easy goals, such as walking a few times a week. The app also provides customized challenges to keep motivation high, like taking 5,000 steps in a day or walking 100 steps between noon and 2 p.m.

Industry insiders note that WeWard and similar apps should be seen as a fun activity or a small extra income—not a substitute for a job. Comparable apps include Sweatcoin, CashWalk, and WalkFi, all available for free on the Apple App Store and Google Play.

BY HOONSIK WOO [woo.hoonsik@koreadaily.com]