Many people assume that a free app like Sweatcoin is too good to be true. Some might even believe it to be a scam. How could any company make money by rewarding you for walking? However, with mention in national magazines and more than 5 million users prove otherwise. A quick visit to their website will show you all the current offers of what you can earn. On the other hand, critics claim it is not worth the investment of your time or energy. So is Sweatcoin worth it? Here are some important points to consider to help you decide for yourself.
How Does Sweatcoin Work?
The idea behind Sweatcoin is simple. It is an app designed to reward you for walking. By tracking your steps, you earn digital currency called Sweatcoins. When you have accumulated enough Sweatcoins, you can convert them into real-life rewards. The best part is that it is absolutely free to download and use.
Once you download the app, you can begin earning your Sweatcoins right away. In order to accurately track your step count, you will need to share you location. You will then earn one Sweatcoin for every 1,000 steps you take. To put this in perspective, there are about 2,000 steps in a mile. The average American walks roughly 2,000-4,000 steps daily. If you fall in this category, you can expect to earn 2-3 Sweatcoins every day, or 60-90 over the course of a month.
Unlike other apps, you cannot fake your step count. Since developers use GPS to verify your movements, you need to be outside to use it. If you had planned to rack up steps at the gym, you may need to think again. You also need to actually take physical steps, so biking and swimming will not earn you any Sweatcoins.
The last thing to remember is that the app has to be running at all times. It runs in the background, but can drain your phone battery quickly. The good news is that there is a battery saver mode, but it still uses a good deal of your phone’s battery life. If your phone dies, then there is no way to track your steps or earn your full amount of Sweatcoins for the day. For those who can’t remember to charge their phones, Sweatcoin may not be worth it.
How Much are Sweatcoins Worth?
The highest cash reward is $1,000 USD for 20,000 Sweatcoins. If you do the math, one Sweatcoin equates to .05 USD. Unfortunately, this is now the only way to cash out using the app. When it first launched, other bloggers had reported that they redeemed their Sweatcoins for Paypal cash. However, this is no longer an option. Now, the only way to redeem Paypal cash is when friends use your link to sign up. Sadly, even this is limited to a $20 maximum for 20 sign-ups using your invitation code.
There have been rumors about future changes that would allow you to trade your Sweatcoins for cryptocurrency. In 2018, the creators announced work on a blockchain cryptocurrency which would allow users to sell Sweatcoins on a cryptocurrency exchange. However, there has not been any mention since. There is still debate whether Sweatcoin will become a real cryptocurrency in the future. Until that happens, Sweatcoins have no market value and can only be used to redeem awards in the app’s marketplace. Although, if it does become tradable then Sweatcoin would definitely be worth it in the long run.
How Can I Redeem Rewards?
The good news is that there are other ways to redeem your Sweatcoins. Their marketplace has a variety of Daily Offers in addition to the long-term Marathon Offers with bigger rewards. The app has more than 300 partnerships, so you can expect a wide variety. Once you have earned enough Sweatcoins, you can trade them in for music downloads, e-Books, gift cards and gift certificates, airline miles, and other merchandise.
The offers are constantly changing based on the app’s agreement with individual retailers. Many offers are short-lived, so you will need to check back frequently to see what is currently available. Some of the rewards may seem more like promotional offers. For example, they regularly offer discounts on subscription boxes, free gifts for using their services, or extended free trial periods. If you play the waiting game, the rewards for Marathon offers include wireless headphones, an iPhone, or cold hard cash. However, it could take years to accumulate enough tokens to redeem the top tier rewards.
What are the Rules and Limitations on Earning?
Just like all offers in life, there are rules and limitations that apply. First of all, you can earn a maximum of 5 Sweatcoins per day, or 150 per month. This figure is based on walking approximately one mile each day to reach the limit. However, there are options for the more active walkers. You can use your Sweatcoins to purchase upgrade tiers, allowing you to earn more Sweatcoins. Here are the upgraded tiers and associated thresholds for each.
| Tier | Daily Max | Monthly Max | Cost |
| Mover | 5 SWC | 150 SWC | Free |
| Shaker | 10 SWC | 300 SWC | 5 SWC |
| Quaker | 15 SWC | 450 SWC | 15 SWC |
| Breaker | 20 SWC | 600 SWC | 20 SWC |
Based on the earning thresholds, you can see why the Marathon Offers require years of commitment. If you remained at the lowest level, it would take 11 years, or 133 months to earn enough Sweatcoins to redeem the iPhone or $1,000 cash. Even with the upgraded status with the highest earning potential, it would still take approximately 3 years to accumulate.
Is Sweatcoin Worth It?
In the end, only you can decide if the app holds value for you. While you will definitely not get rich using Sweatcoin, it is possible to earn rewards with minimal effort. You literally can start collecting crytpocurrency with the click of a button. If you are lucky, there may be affiliated partnerships for products and services you already use. If the app can save you even a little money, then it is worth it from my perspective. Download the app and try it for yourself to decide if Sweatcoin is really worth it.
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Jenny Smedra is an avid world traveler, ESL teacher, former archaeologist, and freelance writer. Choosing a life abroad had strengthened her commitment to finding ways to bring people together across language and cultural barriers. While most of her time is dedicated to either working with children, she also enjoys good friends, good food, and new adventures.