Best Walking App (2026): 9 Apps for Steps, Routes and Habits

Walking is the easiest exercise to start and the hardest to keep up once the novelty fades. A good app gives you a reason to get out of the door, whether that's a streak, a route you haven't tried or a plan that tells you what to do today.

The nine apps below are listed alphabetically and in no particular order, from simple step counters to route planners and walking plans. Each description comes from the app's own App Store listing, re-checked this week. If you've wondered about apps that reward steps, my explainer on how Sweatcoin works covers the catch.

Walking apps at a glance

In the free plan column, Yes means the app's own store listing or site describes free use or a free download, Trial only means a time-limited trial and No means neither is stated on the pages we read. Many free apps carry ads or sell optional upgrades.

Tool	Type	Good for	Free plan
Charity Miles	Charity walking app	Walking for a good cause	Yes
Footpath Route Planner	Route planner	Planning a walk by drawing it	Yes
komoot	Route planner	Discovering new routes	Yes
Map My Walk	Walking tracker	Mapping daily walks	Yes
Pacer	Step counter	Friendly challenges	Yes
StepsApp	Step counter	A clean daily step count	Yes
Stepz	Step counter	Battery-friendly counting	Yes
WalkFit	Walking plans	Structured walking plans	Yes
Walkmeter	Detailed tracker	Detailed stats and splits	Yes

Nine walking apps

Charity Miles

Best for: Walkers who are more motivated knowing their miles support a charity they care about.

Footpath Route Planner

Best for: Planners who like to draw a route with a finger, see the distance and elevation, then follow it with directions.

komoot

Best for: Explorers who want inspiration from routes other people recommend, then turn-by-turn guidance on the day.

Map My Walk

Best for: Everyday walkers who want to track steps, map routes and hit a daily walking goal on their phone or watch.

Pacer

Best for: Sociable walkers who enjoy friendly challenges and a community cheering them on through the week.

StepsApp

Best for: Anyone who wants a clear, simple view of their daily steps and activity without clutter.

Stepz

Best for: iPhone owners who want a step counter that uses the phone's motion chip and works with their Apple Watch.

WalkFit

Best for: Beginners who want a guided walking plan with daily targets rather than just a running step total.

Walkmeter

Best for: Data lovers who want detailed stats, splits and graphs for every walk and hike across iPhone and Apple Watch.

How to tell if your walk is brisk

The NHS says a brisk walk is about 3 miles an hour, and you're walking briskly if you can still talk but can't sing the words to a song; a brisk 10-minute daily walk counts towards the recommended 150 minutes of weekly exercise.

What that means for you: steps aren't everything. A slow stroll and a brisk walk can show the same step count, but the brisk one does more for your heart. Choose an app that shows pace or active minutes as well as steps. This guide is general information, not medical advice, so talk to your doctor or midwife about your own situation.

Step counter, route planner or walking plan?

Step counters run quietly in the background and show your daily total, often with streaks and badges. Route planners help you find and follow new walks, with maps, distance and elevation. Walking plans give you a daily target or session to follow, which suits people who like being told what to do.

If you already walk most days, a route planner keeps it interesting. If you're starting from scratch, a simple plan or step goal helps the habit stick.

Building a walking habit that lasts

1. Pick a time of day you can protect, like after lunch.
2. Start with a short brisk walk rather than a long slow one.
3. Set a weekly goal, not just a daily one, so a busy day doesn't end your streak.
4. Try a new route each week to keep it interesting.
5. Walk with a friend or join an app challenge.
6. Check your active minutes, not only your steps.

Making walks more interesting

• Podcasts or audiobooks. Turn a walk into your learning time.
• Walking meetings. Take a phone call on foot.
• Photo walks. Look for one interesting shot on every route.
• Hills. Add a slope to raise the effort without walking further.

Walking in winter and bad weather

Winter is when walking habits usually fall apart. Darker evenings and wet pavements make it easy to skip a day, then a week.

It helps to move your walk to daylight hours if you can, wear something bright and pick routes with good lighting and even ground. On the worst days, a brisk walk around a shopping centre or a few laps of the stairs still counts.

Most apps let you lower your goal for a season. That's not cheating; it's how you keep the habit alive until spring.

Do you make a walking app? Tool makers can ask to be considered for a featured place on this list.

My plain advice on choosing a walking app

Choose the app that matches your personality. Competitive walkers do well with challenges, explorers with route planners and busy people with a simple plan that fits a lunch break.

And remember that the walk matters more than the app. If you'd like to add some strength work on the days you don't walk, my guide to back workouts at home is a gentle place to start.

Frequently asked questions

What is the best walking app?

One that keeps you walking, whether that's step goals, route ideas, plans or friendly challenges.

How fast is a brisk walk?

The NHS says a brisk walk is about 3 miles an hour; you can talk but not sing.

Do I need a walking app to count steps?

Not always. Many phones and watches count steps already; an app adds goals, plans and routes.

Are walking apps free?

Most apps here are free downloads, with optional upgrades or trials.

How much walking should I do?

The NHS says a brisk 10-minute daily walk counts towards the recommended 150 minutes of weekly exercise.

Can a walking app plan routes for me?

Yes. Route planners here let you find, draw or follow walking routes with maps.