Do you know which is the most powerful and free way to stay strong and healthy? It is walking! So, if you are searching for the best walking apps to get significant benefits to your physical and mental health, you have come to the right place. In this article, we have compiled a list of the five best walking apps that will help you keep your fitness level on track.
However, before diving deep into these apps, let us check out some benefits that walking offers.
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Research shows that regular walking can help reduce belly fat and improve insulin response. Also, it can help you live longer and reduce chronic illness risks. It is recommended by American Heart Association that adults should spend a minimum of 30 minutes and kids should spend a minimum of 60 minutes per day in physical activities like walking and moderate exercise per day to stay healthy and fit.
However, sometimes you struggle to track all of your miles, steps, and pace, but we have come up with a solution! – A list of the best walking apps!
These apps will help you track distance, pace, and personal records while offering other helpful tools, such as coaches and the community. It will help you stay motivated.
So, without further ado, lace up your walking shoes and dive in!
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1. Map My Walk
It is one of the most well-known walking apps which lets you track your walking workouts. Besides, it also provides information about popular routes that other people are using for walking near you. The app records distance, pace, miles, steps, etc. If you have a fitness tracker, you can sync that too. The app will incorporate the fitness tracker’s data too. The best thing about this app is that it is completely free to use. However, for some features, you need to buy its upgraded version.
Supported Platforms – iOS, Android
Features
- Save and discover routes
- Monitor heart-rate
- Personal training plan
- Ad-free
- Community & Training features
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Pros & Cons
| Pros | Cons |
| User-friendly | To access premium features, you need to upgrade. |
| Easily sync with other devices. | Sometimes freezes while in use. |
| Easy-to-read charts & graphs | |
| Audio feedback | |
| Create & save personalised routes |
2. Walkmeter
Are you a solo walker? If yes, Walkmeter is the perfect pick. If you work out alone early in the morning or late in the night and want private tracking without giving it a second thought, download this app. This app uses your smartphone’s GPS and sensors to track activities such as cycling, skiing, running, and more. Let us check out a few impressive features of this app.
Features
- Track steps & basic workouts such as walking, running, hiking, and kayaking
- Treadmill support
- Cadence coaching
- Training plans for 5K, 10K, half marathon, and marathon events
Pros & Cons
| Pros | Cons |
| Live tracking and messaging capabilities | Not beginner friendly |
| Excellent for improving speed, distance, and pace | Premium features cost extra |
| Voice-activation controls | If you are in a remote location, GPS can lose signal. |
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3. Strava
Do you love to stay connected throughout your fitness journey? If yes, Strava is the right pick. The Strava is well-known for its community features. The impressive thing about this app is that it helps you work toward your walking goals along with personalised voice-guided cues. Its free version is perfect for daily walking. Taking its premium version will add some perks.
Features
- The free version lets you track and share workouts with others.
- The premium version provides you with route planning, goal setting, advanced metrics, etc.
- Hands-free option through Siri
- 5K, 10K, and marathon training programs
Pros & Cons
| Pros | Cons |
| The dashboard is easy to navigate. | No free version is available. Only a 30-day free trial is available. |
| The online community is available to connect and share data with friends. | |
| This app tracks essential stats. |
4. Fitbit
Looking for an app that can constantly motivate you for a workout? Fitbit is the one that you need to download. The best thing about this app is that you do not require a Fitbit device to use the Fitbit app. This app’s free version can track your steps using the motion sensor on your phone. The app offers community support and challenges with friends, which is why this app stands out from the crowd. Let’s quickly check out a few features of this app.
Features
- Daily Inspiration
- Sleep and stress insights
- Easy stat sharing
- Helpful reminders and rewards when you meet your goals.
- Nutrition insights
Pros & Cons
| Pros | Cons |
| The app tracks walking data, nutrition, sleep, and stress. | Some feature cost an extra amount. |
| Offer goal-setting features | The app works better with a Fitbit device. |
| Track heart rate |
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5. Nike Run Club
Last but not least on the list is Nike Run Club. Do not get confused with its name. The app can be used for walking, too. The mind-blowing thing about this app is that, just like other apps, it does not give constant upgrades for more reminders. Every feature available in this app is completely free to use. It means tracking challenges, training plans, and clubs, and none of them cost extra.
Features
- Running and walking stats
- Large community
- Various training plans
Pros & Cons
| Pros | Cons |
| Easy to use | You cannot choose walking as an activity. |
| You can integrate the app with Apple Music and Spotify. | Android device integration is not as seamless as Apple. |
| Free training plans |
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Juicing The Whole Content – Best Walking Apps
In a nutshell, the best walking apps listed here with pros, cons, and features will help you cut your dilemma of which app you should choose. Of course, finding the right walking app to fit your needs may take trial and error, but the best thing here is that all the apps listed here are free to download and use.
In my view, if you are searching for a comprehensive walking app, go with Map My Walk. This app is user-friendly and comes with GPS capabilities and thorough data tracking for miles, calories burned, and duration.
Besides, the impressive feature of this app is that it lets you build an online community of like-minded people where you can share your walk data and set group fitness goals or challenges. So, what are you waiting for? Try these apps and let us know your favourite in the comment section below.
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