Sweatcoin is a popular app that pays users for being physically active and walking. The app converts your steps into a digital currency called “Sweatcoins” which you can use to redeem rewards like gift cards, merchandise, charity donations and more.
But is Sweatcoin legit or a scam? In this comprehensive review, we’ll take an in-depth look at how Sweatcoin works, its pros and cons, user reviews and determine if it’s worth your time and steps.
Overview of Sweatcoin
Sweatcoin.com is a free app launched in 2016 that pays people to be active and walk. The basic premise is simple:
- You download the Sweatcoin app and allow it to track your steps using your phone’s motion sensors or Fitbit device.
- For every 1,000 steps you take, you earn 0.95 Sweatcoins.
- You can then redeem your Sweatcoins for rewards like gift cards, electronics, fitness gear and more.
According to Sweatcoin, their users have walked over 23 billion miles to date and earned over 300 million Sweatcoins. The company claims it’s one of the world’s fastest growing apps with over 100 million users.
But how does Sweatcoin actually work? Let’s take a closer look under the hood.
How Sweatcoin Works
When you first sign up for Sweatcoin, you grant the app access to your phone’s motion and fitness sensors in order to count your steps. You also set your daily step goal.
As you walk throughout the day, Sweatcoin uses your phone’s accelerometer and gyroscope motion sensors to detect and record your steps. The sensors can detect subtle movements like when you walk, run or climb stairs.
Your step count is displayed on the app’s dashboard, along with the number of Sweatcoins earned. For every 1,000 steps recorded, you earn 0.95 Sweatcoins.
Here’s a quick breakdown of how steps convert into Sweatcoins:
- 1,000 steps = 0.95 Sweatcoins
- 5,000 steps = 4.75 Sweatcoins
- 10,000 steps = 9.5 Sweatcoins
The app converts steps into Sweatcoins in real-time. So if you hit 10,000 steps at noon, you’ll see 9.5 Sweatcoins added to your wallet immediately.
Once you’ve accumulated enough Sweatcoins, you can redeem them for rewards (more on redemptions below).
A few things to note:
- Sweatcoin uses a proprietary algorithm to detect fake/fraudulent steps and will delete them. So no cheating the system!
- Sweatcoin caps step conversions at 5 hours of activity per day or approximately 9,000 to 10,000 steps.
- The app provides bonus Sweatcoins on occasion for completing challenges or sharing socially.
Now let’s take a look at the pros and cons of using Sweatcoin.
Pros of Sweatcoin
Here are some of the major benefits and perks of using Sweatcoin:
It encourages more walking and movement
The biggest pro of Sweatcoin is that it motivated people to walk more! If you’re looking for extra incentive to hit your daily step count, Sweatcoin makes racking up steps fun and rewarding.
Numerous users report walking and exercising more thanks to the app. Even just doing more daily errands on foot instead of driving quickly earns you Sweatcoins.
Rewards anddiscounts you can redeem
The main incentive of course is being able to redeem your Sweatcoins for real rewards. Some of the reward options include:
- Gift cards for major retailers like Amazon and Nike
- Electronics like iPads, Fitbits and headphones
- Magazine subscriptions
- Charitable donations
- Entries into prize giveaways
- Discounts on services like Babbel language learning
The specific rewards available at any time vary based on your country. But most users can find plenty of appealing redemption options.
Free to use
One of the best aspects of Sweatcoin is that the app is completely free to download and use. You don’t have to pay anything to start earning Sweatcoins.
There is a “Sweatcoin Premium” subscription with more benefits, but it’s not required to earn and redeem Sweatcoins.
Social and community features
Sweatcoin has built-in social features so you can connect with friends who also use it. You can join groups, see friends’ progress, encourage each other and even compete in step challenges.
There’s also an in-app newsfeed where users can share their achievements, photos and stories.
If you enjoy fitness social networks like Fitbit Community or social accountability, you’ll appreciate these features.
Cons of Sweatcoin
However, there are some downsides and criticisms of Sweatcoin to consider:
Slow earning of Sweatcoins
One common complaint is that it takes a long time to accumulate Sweatcoins, especially compared to the number of steps required. At 0.95 Sweatcoins per 1,000 steps, most users feel the earning rate is slow.
For example, it would take over 5,200,000 steps to earn the maximum 5,000 Sweatcoin reward available. That’s thousands of miles of walking!
Unless you’re able to walk 10,000+ steps daily, it can take weeks or months of consistent use before you earn enough Sweatcoins for a reward.
Limited reward options
While Sweatcoin offers a decent variety of gift card and merchandise rewards, some users report the selection is limited compared to other rewards apps.
The specific rewards available depend on your country. But users in some countries have complained of few options and inflated Sweatcoin costs for rewards.
Additionally, many of the merchandise rewards sell out quickly due to limited quantities available. This can be frustrating if you’ve been saving up Sweatcoins for a specific item.
Faulty step counting
One of the biggest complaints about Sweatcoin is inconsistent and inaccurate step counting. Many users report steps not registering properly or being undercounted.
Issues seem particularly common among iPhone users. The app’s step counting accuracy is sensitive to phone position and placement. It may fail to record steps if your phone is in a purse, pocket or backpack instead of handheld.
There are also reports of Sweatcoin randomly deleting legitimate steps, especially over 10,000 in a day. This negatively impacts how many Sweatcoins you can earn.
Requires carrying your phone
In order for Sweatcoin to track steps, you need to physically have your phone on you. This can be inconvenient if you prefer not to carry your phone when exercising or forget it at home.
Many users rely on syncing with a Fitbit or Apple Watch instead of carrying their phone. But Sweatcoin limits step syncing to only one hour per day. For avid exercisers or outdoor enthusiasts, this hour cap eliminates many steps.
Privacy concerns over data
Any app that extensively tracks your location and activity raises some privacy concerns. Sweatcoin can access and share your location, activity habits, device info and other data.
Their Privacy Policy states data will be used anonymously and handled securely. But some users may still feel uncomfortable with the access required, especially since steps are tracked in real-time.
Batterydrain
Allowing an app constant access to your motion sensors in the background can drain your phone’s battery life faster. Some Sweatcoin users report significantly reduced battery, particularly on older phones.
There are ways to optimize the settings and reduce the battery impact. But it’s something to be aware of when using Sweatcoin extensively.
How Much Can You Earn with Sweatcoin?
The most pressing question is: how much money or value can you actually get from Sweatcoin? Here’s an estimate:
The average Sweatcoin user earns roughly 1-3 Sweatcoins per day. That’s based on around 5,000 to 7,500 steps daily, assuming normal activity and light exercise.
At that rate, here’s approximately how much you could make:
- 1 month: 30 to 90 Sweatcoins
- 6 months: 180 to 540 Sweatcoins
- 1 year: 360 to 1080 Sweatcoins
Power users who walk over 10,000 steps daily earn closer to 5-9 Sweatcoins per day. At the high end, you could earn over 3,000 Sweatcoins after a year.
Keep in mind Sweatcoin sets a daily redemption limit between 20 and 150 Sweatcoins depending on your account status.
Now in terms of redeemable value, popular rewards include:
- $5 Amazon gift card: 750 Sweatcoins
- $10 Nike gift card: 1,500 Sweatcoins
- Magazine subscription: 600 to 2,500 Sweatcoins
- Fitbit (basic model): 2,500 to 5,000 Sweatcoins
- iPhone SE: 35,000 Sweatcoins
Considering most casual users earn 500 Sweatcoins or less per month, it would take several months to earn a $5 gift card. More valuable rewards like iPads or AirPods can take well over a year to accumulate Sweatcoins for.
However, by consistently using Sweatcoin for months/years and taking advantage of bonuses and promotions, you can eventually earn some decent rewards. Power users who clock over 30,000 steps daily can earn rewards faster.
You’re not going to get rich with Sweatcoin by any means. But the rewards can add up to a nice perk over time for being active.
Tips for Earning More Sweatcoins
Here are some tips and strategies to earn Sweatcoins faster:
- Set step count goal to 10,000+ steps daily. The more steps, the more Sweatcoins earned. Going beyond 10,000 steps allows you to earn the daily max of 5 hours tracked.
- Sync with Fitbit or Apple Health.This provides credit for steps when you aren’t carrying your phone. But note the 1 hour daily limit.
- Place phone in pocket or hand when possible. This improves step count accuracy compared to in a bag. If your movements aren’t being detected, try repositioning your phone.
- Take longer routes. Walk farther distances and take side trips on errands to add more steps. Always take the stairs, park farther away, etc.
- Jog or run instead of walk as the app can’t detect pace, just steps. Occasional short bursts of running can help rack up steps quicker.
- Participate in challenges.Sweatcoin regularly offers contests and campaigns that reward bonus Sweatcoins for certain activities.
- Invite friends. You can earn Sweatcoins for getting friends to join Sweatcoin. Referral bonuses are offered.
- Link Facebook account.Connecting your Facebook provides opportunities to earn bonus Sweatcoins.
- Reach daily step goals consistently. Try to hit at least 5,000 steps daily minimum to earn Sweatcoins steadily. Consistency is key.
Can You Cash Out Your Sweatcoins?
A common question is whether you can convert Sweatcoins directly into cash or get them paid out.
Unfortunately, there is currently no way to cash out your Sweatcoins balance directly into money or your bank account. All you can do is redeem them for the reward options made available in the app.
Sweatcoin is intended solely as an incentive program. You cannot withdraw or exchange Sweatcoins as you would a typical cryptocurrency.
However, there are a few roundabout ways to extract monetary value from your Sweatcoins:
- Redeem Sweatcoins for gift cards to places like Amazon, Starbucks or Nike that you can use or resell.
- Similarly, redeem for actual merchandise or electronics you can resell for cash.
- Participate in Sweatcoin giveaways and contests with cash prizes.
- Use Sweatcoins for Babbel language learning subscription, then cancel auto-renew so you get free lessons.
But overall, you’ll need to redeem for the available rewards – you cannot cash out Sweatcoins directly.
Is Sweatcoin Legit?Sweatcoin Review: Is it Legit or Scam?
So is Sweatcoin ultimately worth using or just a waste of time? Here’s an overview of the pros vs cons:
Pros
- Encourages more daily activity and exercise
- Rewards physical movement with free perks and gifts
- App is free to use
- Social fitness community and challenges
- Can eventually earn high value rewards
Cons
- Very slow earning of Sweatcoins for most users
- Limited reward options depending on country
- Faulty or inaccurate step counting
- Requires carrying phone and drains battery
- No way to cash out Sweatcoins directly
For most people, Sweatcoin is worth downloading and trying out, especially if you want extra motivation to walk more. Just don’t expect to earn tons of rewards quickly without significant daily steps.
The app is ideal for already active people looking to earn some bonus perks from exercise. But it likely won’t motivate couch potatoes to start walking miles per day.
Overall, Sweatcoin offers a fun way to feel rewarded for being more active. Just be patient accumulating Sweatcoins and take advantage of promotions. And don’t rely on it solely for income.
Is Sweatcoin a Scam?
While Sweatcoin has its flaws, Sweatcoin is definitely not a scam.
The app clearly explains how you earn and redeem Sweatcoins. There are no shady hidden fees or impossible requirements. Reward availability is dependent on supply and varies globally, but that’s typical for loyalty programs.
Negative reviews mostly criticize slow earnings and inaccurate step counting – not deceitful business practices. There are advertisements, but so do most free apps.
As long as you have reasonable expectations on earnings, Sweatcoin can provide some nice incentives and discounts. Just don’t expect it to make you rich without significant daily walking.
For a free app, Sweatcoin generally delivers on its promise to reward steps – albeit slowly. It pays out as advertised, making it legit overall.
Sweatcoin Review Conclusion
In the end, Sweatcoin is a legit rewards app that provides incentive to walk more through Sweatcoin earnings. But rewards build up slowly and are limited.
For avid walkers and exercisers, it can offer nice perks and discounts over time at no cost. However, earnings are extremely incremental for average users.
Expect to wait weeks or more before having enough Sweatcoins for basic rewards. But with patience and active daily use, you can eventually redeem for high value items.
Give Sweatcoin a try if you want extra motivation and accountability for hitting step goals. Just manage expectations, be wary of faulty tracking, and take advantage of promos.
Compared to scam apps, Sweatcoin upholds its promises and pays out reliably. But also weigh cons like battery drain and privacy before diving in.
Overall, Sweatcoin makes fitness rewarding and fun for the right user. For sedentary people, the slow pace of rewards provides too little incentive for high activity levels. But as a supplemental app for already active folks, it can offer nice discounts and free perks over time.
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