What it does
Sweatcoin is a fitness app that gamifies walking by converting outdoor steps into a digital currency called 'sweatcoins'. Users can then spend this currency in an in-app marketplace on goods and services, donate it to charitable causes, or even convert it into a real cryptocurrency. The app aims to motivate physical activity by providing tangible rewards and creating a robust in-app economy around movement.
Where it shines
Sweatcoin excels at creating a deeply engaging, game-like experience around the simple act of walking. The app's economy is surprisingly robust. For example, at 08:50, users can participate in auctions, bidding thousands of their earned sweatcoins for high-value items like gift cards. The app also features a multi-layered reward system, seen in the 'Daily Rewards' flow (01:49), which uses mandatory ads and a 'Spin and Win' mechanic to keep users coming back daily. This transforms a basic step counter into a compelling resource management game.
UX highlights
- Conversational Onboarding: The app uses friendly, step-by-step language to request permissions (00:12), which likely improves opt-in rates.
- Gamified Goal Setting: When setting a daily goal (00:44), the app provides real-time feedback like 'Easier goal' or 'Challenging goal', making the process feel interactive and personalized.
- Multiple Engagement Hooks: The home screen isn't just a step counter. It features entry points to daily rewards, prize draws, and friend invitations, offering many reasons to open the app.
- Clear Social Leaderboards: The 'Friends' tab (12:32) presents a clean leaderboard for various timeframes (streaks, daily steps, weekly steps), fostering friendly competition.
- Rewarded Actions Everywhere: Nearly every major feature, from claiming bonuses to doubling draw entries, offers a rewarded ad option, seamlessly integrating monetization with user actions.
- Comprehensive In-App Help: The settings menu links to a detailed FAQ section (16:16) that addresses common issues, reducing the need for direct customer support.
Monetization & growth
The app's monetization is multifaceted. The primary driver appears to be rewarded advertising, which is integrated into daily rewards (01:49) and prize draws (07:39). Sweatcoin also offers a Premium subscription (04:24), which provides benefits like double sweatcoin earnings and an ad-free experience. The premium plan is presented with a clear 'Save 58%' callout on the yearly option. Growth is heavily driven by a multi-layered referral system that combines direct coin bonuses with entries into high-value prize draws (00:56), creating strong incentives to invite others.
Who it’s for
Sweatcoin is for individuals who need extra motivation to be physically active. It appeals to a gamified mindset, targeting users who enjoy daily check-ins, collecting rewards, and seeing tangible progress. The addition of a marketplace and charitable donations also attracts users who are motivated by real-world goods or altruism. Its social features make it a good fit for friends or groups looking to start friendly fitness competitions.
Notes & opportunities
The user experience is generally smooth, but the sheer number of features can feel slightly overwhelming initially. The home screen is busy with many competing calls-to-action. While the ad-based rewards are effective, their frequency could be a point of friction for some users, making the Premium ad-free offer more appealing. The distinction between 'Sweatcoin' and the '$SWEAT' crypto could also be clarified earlier in the user journey to avoid confusion.