StepBet: Walk, Get Active, Win Reviews

by Sbook

Scroll the challenge comments and you will see that there are consistently sync issues with tracker and this app app. I personally have the Apple Watch. this app syncs from Apple Health, not your tracker or Activity App. In two instances (separate challenges), Health did not sync the correct steps from my watch/Activity app. Interestingly enough, another step app that I use synced the correct number of steps even though it’s connected to Health. That happened to me TWICE. While I understand some of the burden of the issue lies on Apple, I think this app should evaluate how they capture steps when there a numerous participants with sync issues no matter what device they’re using. I often see FitBit and Garmin users in the challenge comments complaining about sync issues as well.

The first time the sync issue occurred, a this app rep said she knew it was a known issue because of the iOS update and updated the steps on their end accordingly. This second time I reached out (after have installing the update), a this app rep said too bad. 🤷‍♀️ Cool...thanks for the help. I would not recommend StepBet until this app rectifies syncing issues that are discussed in the challenge comments.

by ILOVEtheEARTH

Careful about joining a game if your plans are subject to change in any way wether you can foresee it or not. There is absolutely no flexibility on getting a refund if for reasons out of your control you can no longer participate in a game unless it’s a medical emergency, which is apparently the only good reason to not be able to participate in a time consuming activity. Also don’t expect professionalism from any customer service agent as I was lied to and patronized when I reached out for help. I explicitly let them know I couldn’t participate in the game and didn’t know until after it started and that was why I was requesting a refund and the response I got was they couldn’t issue a refund but I could earn my money back by completing the game. The thing I specifically said I couldn’t do. And for a game I had already failed out of because, as I said, I couldn’t participate. And apparently it’s perfectly fine for them to lie to you because I wound up speaking to someone else hoping to find someone who’d treat me with a modicum of respect and they didn’t even acknowledge that I was lied to or treated the way I was. The customer service is a joke. Don’t use StepBet unless your ok with giving your money away for reasons outside of your control.

by Cheryleparrish

I checked sync from Apple Watch to this app app daily. But for some reason 2 weeks ago, 3 days at the end of the week showed me with zero points at the very end. Of course I was disqualified from winning the bet. I was very sure that STEPS were synced daily and not sure what caused this glitch, but it appears to be an issue with StepBet . When I contacted SUPPORT they were adamant that they could not do anything once I was disqualified (which I don’t believe) even though the glitch had to have been on their end. They offered no solution, but SORRY. I also asked to cash in on the on used portion of my membership since they evidently don’t work very well with customer satisfaction and they refused to give me any type of refund. I am done, I never missed a day of syncing and for there to be 3 days in a row, there is certainly and issue. Then I noticed 2 days after I complained to them, there is a bug fix update. I WILL NOT be using StepBet any more.

by Nike27

I have been using StepBet for almost a year. I really enjoyed it and raved about it to my friends. I’ve had two instances where there was a syncing problem and my steps were not recorded correctly. The first time it was a quick fix with a couple screen shots to verify I made my goal. The second time was a nightmare. I proved the goal was met through my Apple Watch app and apple health app however because step bet didn’t receive the correct information they disqualified me from the game after giving me the run around for an entire week. I jumped through all of their hoops sending countless screen shots, spending hours on the phone between them and apple, requesting official correspondence from apple saying that the steps are verified but just not syncing to their app and they took my money regardless. I will never trust my money in StepBet again. Fix your bugs and get your app to work correctly!

by Shellychester

So i started a “game” and payed the amount that was due to join. I started to realize StepBet had a different count of steps than my Apple Watch health. At first i though wasn’t updated so i waited and tried the next day. Well today my Apple Watch said i walked over 11,000 steps. I was excited because i hit my goal! I open StepBet to be disappointed when i saw i only walked just over 6,000 steps. I tried to reload, redownload, restated both my phone and Apple Watch. Nothing changed. So the next thing i could do was hit the “contact us” button. it went right to an email. I wrote the email explaining my situation. And i receive and email back, yet again excited bc this will hopefully get fixed. Well it was an auto email stating that i won’t get a response back for 3-5 days. Well guess what. That means i failed my week because according to StepBet i didn’t hit my goal. I’m extremely disappointed. And i will advise everyone that StepBet is a scam for money.

by Busy Mom 1977

Would give 0 stars if app would allow. I signed up and the program got me moving more, great! Then one night I worked hard to hit my goal by midnight and somehow it didn’t register. I have searched and can’t figure out who to talk to, how to get it fixed and I’m out a bunch of money because I was confident of (and succeeded at) following through on my goals so I signed up for the membership and three programs. Now I’m out $190. Because there was a bug in how my watch talked to my phone, or because it’s a scam, or both. Not sure how many others this has happened to?? It was not the first time StepBet didn’t easily synch to my watch, but the other times it was earlier in the evening. I am a runner, a triathloner and an honest person and am worried this company is taking advantage of people. I’m a busy mother of 3, who works full time, so even writing this post is pulling energy from places I don’t have it to spare. If magically the company gets back with me about this ‘hack/bug’ in the software gets resolved I’ll take down this review. Until then, feel I must warn people.

by K. Crim

I despise fitness trackers because I just think they’re hideous. So I use Apple Health to track my steps and am very diligent about keeping my phone on meat all times. Step Bet wasn’t accurately recording my steps so it looked like I wasn’t meeting my daily goals. Customer service is useless. They just copy and paste info from their FAQ section if you reach out to them. Obviously I did all that before I contacted them and I even included screenshots of the inaccuracies between StepBet and Apple Health. Then support asks for more screenshots. I’ve had to delete several other health and fitness apps I use just to get Step Bet to accurately record my steps. Now support is asking for the more of the same screenshots I’ve sent to them twice already. At this point I want a refund. It shouldn’t be this much of a hassle and I shouldn’t have to delete other apps for this to work.

by Jacob Hantla

It’s a great idea and is indeed motivating. However, I’ve lost my money one too many times even when I walk the required steps.

This most recent that made me drop my membership and now I will be recommending people do not join happened when I’m the middle of a 6 week step bet I apparently didn’t open my app until Wednesday to sync up my steps from the week before. They all synced and were valid but because it was late in the week they didn’t qualify. There is no reason for this other than to take our money. StepBet doesn’t notify you to open; the first notification you get is “you lose.”

It’s sad because I love the motivation and the concept is ingenious. The company and its policies ruin the whole thing. Subscription canceled. Done

by Alynnclark

I joined this app because I thought it would be a good way to join in with others for team support, motivation and/or fitness camaraderie. If that is what you’re seeking, find your team carefully or join with those you already know. I joined a team by myself. I post motivational messages regularly, like their comments and comment on their comments. I get very little interaction from them. There’s no connection at all going into week three. Some of them are posting about their pets vs. how they’re getting their fitness activity in. Initially, I thought I’d just keep doing these challenges, one after another after another, but I don’t think I will unless I have my own group join with me or if I see a group that is interacting as a real team. If you’re looking for help with motivation, you may not find it here. I can use my FitBit for my stats, so don’t need this app for that. Good luck with your fitness! You can do it!!

by LynStacee

I’ve completed 2 step bets so far and was happy with the basic idea of it as extra motivation to get my steps in. However, the fact that your payment turns into points and you can only get the points payout through PayPal is disheartening. And you don’t find out that the payment is turned into points until after you make the payment. And if you’re not a member, Step Bet takes 15% of the pot before players get paid out and if the group is large, with lots of winners, the payout is small. So you’re basically banking on others failing so you can make more money! And I got kicked off StepBet ...a lot...trying to sync up my steps. I get y’all are in it to make money, but so was I...not just to make sure I didn’t lose $40.

by G Gx Shk

It is pretty cool app but just be sure that everything works out in your favor and you do not have an emergency or any type of bad luck that will result in you not making your steps, even by a few! I missed about 50 steps that would have taken two minutes to complete. I work at my Retail job til Midnight, if anyone knows when you work retail you cannot be seen charging your phone or using your phone. To not get written up, I could not charge it during my shift. I had the hope they would understand because it was such a small amount of steps. I got no consideration at all. They will not budge which is unfortunate. Not sure why they have referees “to make tough calls” it is more to show you the highlighted part of where you messed up and why you won’t be eligible to continue your game. I planned on buying a membership to participate in more games but I will go with another app.

by Violetrae1

I like StepBet ; it delivers exactly what it promises. But there were two things I wish I had paid attention to before diving in: 1) they take 15% of the pot right off the top, so 15% of the people in your game have to fail before you even make 1 cent. So in terms of actual money earned you’re looking at..not much at all. 2) if you do make any money, they don’t just put it back on your credit card. You have to have pal pal and if you don’t you have to request they mail you a check- for which there’s a fee that’s close if not more than what you made in the game!
So this really isn’t for people who respond to positive motivation (“if I workout I’ll make money!) but in actuality, it’s for people who respond to pain avoidance (“if I workout I won’t lose my 40$). It is effective if you’re in the latter category but not much if you’re in the former one.

by Thelasara

I joined my first this app 6 weeks ago and have really enjoyed using StepBet ! It’s easy to use and navigate, syncs well with my FitBit, and overall is visually appealing. The reason I didn’t give it 5 stars is because of an email they sent out a few days ago that I feel like had an unhealthy and potentially triggering message. The email subject line was “Earn That Extra Stuffing” and the message implied that food (specifically food during the holidays, a time of celebration) should be earned by participating in physical activity. It was off-putting after I had just enjoyed 6 weeks of using StepBet and successfully completing my first bet. I know not everyone shares the same opinion but I hope the developers understand how this mindset can be dangerous to those who have experienced disordered eating. I won’t detail my opinion on why this is harmful, just wanted to make the developers aware. I think the email (which was advertising the membership plan...totally fair and understandable) could have been effective without pairing the idea of earning food with it. Maybe something along the lines of motivation to move and be active during a time that we tend to do a lot of sitting and stay indoors a lot because of weather? After all, it seems like one of the overall themes of StepBet in general is motivation.

by Zdorova

In the middle of a game somehow I was logged out and when I tried to log back in StepBet suggested I log in through Facebook. I did this and suddenly my game was gone. I sent an email asking for help and the automatic response said they would get back to me in 3-5 days. Meanwhile if I miss a day I lose the competition. The email indicated if you lost your game it may be from a duplicate account, which is what happened, but all is suggests is logging out and then trying again, which doesn’t work. So meanwhile I will lose my game because they can’t respond. It would be very helpful if they would inform us of this issue as we first sign up. Hopefully they will at least refund me my original $40 that was used to sign up.

Update: they contacted me and were able to find the previous account. It would be really good though if in the log in page they built in a warning telling everyone to always log in with same account to avoid this issue

by Budgetbae

this app is a great motivation to get moving. When I really get into a funk with my workout routine, the possibility of losing $40 gets me off the couch more than anything. However, I’ve had this app for a little over a year and my step goals have gotten out of control. I live in NYC, so naturally I’m walking a lot without trying. I understand that the goals are calculated based on your step history, but it seems unfair that other people in the game will have a stretch goal of 9,000, while my stretch goal is 19,000, and we’re playing for the same reward. It takes me twice the amount of time to get those steps, and really hinders my opportunity to add strength training or more varied workouts into my routine.

So while I think this app is great, I’m going to have to stop using it until the system is changed. It would be great if there were set goals, such as everyone having to get 10k steps a day, or 15k steps a day like Spryfit. It would be more sustainable in the long term, because I know I’m not the only one struggling with their ever-increasing step goals. There are only so many hours in a day.

by Icyhot221

Like the WayBetter app, this app is a really fun concept and seems to have twofold method that make it work: 1.) Avoidance of loss: You worry if you lose, you will lose the ten or so bucks you invested into the game. 2.) Win: If you win, you gain money. I thought I would be one of the people who want to avoid the loss, but it doesn’t seem to be the motivating factor. It’s my competitive streak and the “winning” aspect that gets me going. It’s not a windfall, but the competitive aspect makes these games a lot of fun for me. My steps went up from an average of 2000 per day to over 9000 per day as tracked by my Apple Watch. Note that this data is heavily skewed in that I was more likely to wear my Apple Watch when competing in these games. However, I felt a difference in my energy levels when playing so it’s definitely a huge win for me!

by Kma711

I started using StepBet about 4 weeks ago. I was really impressed with it and will be honest that it motivated me to walk more than I ever have. I had joined as a monthly member was thinking I would become a yearly member. Then about 4 days ago all of my games and all I paid was wiped off my account.
I thought this was just a glitch and would be easily fixed. I sent in an email to costumer support and received the auto return saying they got it and were working on the issue. Since then nothing, except the auto emails telling me I was being kicked out of games because my steps weren’t syncing. Tried emailing support again, and not even the auto response.
I will continue to bug them but have little to no hope of getting a response.

by E-hutt

So, I was skeptical when I first saw this but the reviews (in app and outside resources) seemed positive...so I gave it a shot. It’s SO easy!! Make your goal for the day, sync your phone before bed, and there you go! I always check StepBet after I sync just to make sure it’s registered my steps and I’ve had no problems! So far, I’ve bet $90 and seen it all come back to me.

The best thing is the accountability. I was feeling lazy one day but I had already used up my “break day”. I was so tempted to fall into old habits and just relax but then I remember that I had $40 on the line... I wasn’t about to lose that! So I got up and pushed through the 5,000 steps I needed. Happy I did, too!

I think if you’re looking for something to hold you to your goals, this is a great app. It’s easy to understand and keeps you motivated. I’ve met my goals for six weeks now and I don’t feel like stopping yet! Especially because you can pre-plan some future bets!

Tl;dr - great app, easy to use, keeps you accountable!

by Love2Run330

Ok. I don’t write reviews. However, I am compelled to write one for this phenomenal app. StepBet has transformed me from sitting at a desk / travel 70 hours a week working to looking for every way possible to get my steps in every day! I LOVE it! I feel amazing and I’m losing weight. What more can I ask for?! It is incredibly motivating to bet against yourself. Jillian Michaels also has a great app that has a diet bet challenge that can be used with StepBet. Try it! What have you got to lose? Nothing but increased health and happiness! This really works! I love the motivational reminder nudges too. And when you reach your goal you feel rewarded. The community is extremely supportive and I find ideas for success every day reading fellow steppers posts. Did I say I love this? Lol

by Sue_Husky_Lover

Great little app that keeps you motivated. Become a member for 50 bucks and you won’t have the 15% admin fee pulled out of your winnings. Once you are a member you’ll want to play member only games and you can play up to three games at a time. You won’t get rich but you just may get shape! It’s really a lot of fun to watch your earnings build up. Very supportive community. There’s always someone from the community that posts a detailed winning chart showing how much we’ve won to date based on the number of people still in the game. I love it! Supports multiple devices. I use my Fitbit, no issues ever. You’re going to work out anyway you may as well get paid for it! Now get Steppin’ people!