Studies indicate that moving every 30 minutes matters for overall wellbeing. Step counters make it easier to ensure you’re staying active throughout the day.
Luckily, your smartphone is surprisingly capable in this capacity. Researchers at the University of British Columbia discovered that the iPhone’s integrated step counter performed as accurately as a lab-grade pedometer during a moderate-to-brisk walk.
Of course, a pedometer only helps if you actually use it. That’s the benefit of choosing an app rather than buying another device. Most of us barely put our phones down, so adopting a pedometer app usually requires only a small adjustment in habits.
Below are the top free pedometer apps we located.
iPhone Apple Health App
If you own an iPhone, you already have a step tracker that connects to the native Health app. You might need to enable motion tracking in Settings under Privacy & “Motion & Fitness.” The Health app displays your average daily steps and indicates whether you’re meeting or surpassing your usual step count for the day. It’s simple, but it’s free and preinstalled.
HealthTracker
Offered for both iOS and Android, this step counter keeps intrusive ads to a minimum while providing the essentials. A key feature is the daily target. Research suggests that pedometers by themselves aren’t hugely motivating, but users who set a daily step target remain more engaged. When you install HealthTracker, the default goal is 6,000 steps — a reasonable target that’s easy to reach (and your phone gives a satisfying chime when you do). If you’re ambitious, you can raise that goal up to 40,000.
Pedometer++
This iPhone-compatible app has a neat streak function that shows how many consecutive days you’ve hit your goal. After about three weeks of maintaining a streak, many people feel more driven not to break it. Another handy feature in Pedometer++ is tracking cumulative miles, so you can watch when you reach 500 miles and then when you notch another 500.
Pedometer StepCounter
This Android app sends gentle reminders every few hours to hydrate while it records your daily steps. Each time you meet your goal, you earn a blue ribbon — great for folks who thrive on small daily rewards. If you prefer reviewing progress, the app also lets you examine your steps across the past week, month, and year.
Google Fit
Developed in collaboration with the American Heart Association, this app is impressively feature-rich for a free offering. It can monitor your movement using both the phone’s internal step counter and GPS, improving accuracy. The app also distinguishes between low- and high-intensity activity, so it can tell the difference between a stroll to the fridge and an intense burpee session. You can set goals for both light and vigorous activity, making it a strong pick for fans of HIIT.
