A walking app is designed to record data, in some cases, offer training programs and coaching. It also connects walkers of all levels, from beginner and intermediate to advanced. Most of the smartphones have GPS and sensors that allow you to track walking steps, distance, calories burned and more activities. To help measure your effort and activity gains, we have listed walking distance apps. They will show the step count, burned calories etc. with higher accuracy.
If you’ve got an iPhone or an Android-based smartphone and enjoy walking, downloading a relevant app could help you get the most from your outings. Each of our selection has a different feature to enhance your walks, from social functions that involve your friends to maps that encourage exploration.
Ready to get your walk on? Ahead, we rounded up the best apps for walking to get you in the zone.
1. MapMyWalk
MapMyWalk is a popular app to track walking distance. This app allows you to see the time spent walking, distance, pace, speed, elevation, and calories burned. When you finish, MapMyWalk allows you to upload and save your workout data and view it both on the app and on the MapMyWalk website. If you can persuade friends to get involved, MapMyWalk’s social feature lets you share routes and encouraging words. You can also load a saved route to use again, or select routes that other MapMyWalk users have done in your area.
This free app is compatible with Apple Watch, Samsung Gear, and Garmin—plus, it connects to most Bluetooth devices.
Devices: iPhone, Android, Windows
2. Fitbit
The Fitbit app is ideal for walkers of all levels. It tracks sleep and nutrition, providing a comprehensive wellness experience. The Fitbit app can be used to track your walking workouts with GPS as well as your daily steps using the motion sensor on your phone.
You don’t need to own a Fitbit to use the Fitbit app. This suitable-for-all-levels app is a go-to for those looking to track their daily steps. The app records basic stats like steps, distance, and calories burned, with voice cues available to go hands-free.
Following each workout, you can review your route, distance, time, pace, mile split times, calories burned, and steps. You can also challenge your friends with virtual adventure races, if you feel like a bit of friendly competition.
Devices: iPhone, Android, Windows
3. Walkmeter GPS
Walkmeter is a GPS-powered walking app geared toward fitness walkers. If you’ve been looking for a low-impact way to burn calories and get your heart pumping, this app is for you. Walkmeter stands out for its impressive features and maps, which are ideal for fitness walkers looking to improve speed and distance.
Walkmeter has plenty of fun features to try. You can view your walks on a calendar or by route. It links with Google Maps so you can see terrain maps, and it even automatically records the weather. Walkers can transfer maps into the app directly from an email or your web browser, while Race Compete mode lets you compare your own times and speeds along a frequently trodden route. The app includes maps, graphs, training plans, heart rate zones and interval splits, and can be paired with an Apple Watch for a more personalised workout. Walkmeter features voice-enabled controls via Siri for hands-free use. Walkmeter also offers training plans for 5k and 10k programs as well as half and full marathon plans.
Devices: iPhone, Android
4. Footpath Route Planner
Footpath allows you to easily map out routes. Simply trace a route with your finger, and Footpath will show all trails and roads that will allow you to complete your walk. It can measure the distance you’ll need to travel and the height you’ll be climbing. It allows you to save and share routes for a later walk, and can work offline too.
With the Footpath Route Planner walking app, you can plot walking routes with the app automatically snapping to roads and trails for you. Teens can use their fingers to map routes for walking, hiking, biking, and more. Each route includes a distance and elevation profile, which is handy for kids who set fitness goals.
Devices: iPhone, Android
5. Go Jauntly
Go Jauntly is a walking app that helps people discover over 700 walking routes throughout the UK. They have teamed up Transport for London to encourage city-dwellers to get walking. Information such as walking times to the nearest Tube station, Overground stations and Santander Cycles docking stations is available as well as directions for local walks and station accessibility. But it’s not just London-based: there are walks around the UK. As well as discovering existing routes, users can create their own, add their own photos, and share their creations with others.
Devices: iPhone, Android
6. Charity Miles
Charity Miles gives your walking a purpose (and your running and biking, too). Open up this free app (iOS or Google Play) and choose a charity. Start a workout, choosing walking, running, or cycling. For each completed mile, you'll have earned a donation for your chosen charity. The basic rate is 25 cents for walking and running miles and 10 cents for cycling miles, subject to a periodic cap. Walking earns money towards your favorite charity.
Devices: iPhone, Android
7. Nike Run Club
One of the most-downloaded walking apps, Nike Run Club is a free app that runners of all levels can appreciate. Don’t let the name deceive you: this app can be used for walking too. Alongside standard route, time and speed tracking, helpful feature Auto-Pause freezes data collection when you stop moving, so there’s no need to worry about having a sit-down if you need it.
You can listen to stories from accomplished athletes while you run to learn more about the sport and the people who love it. Pair the Nike Run Club app with your Spotify Premium or Apple Music account to add some tunes to the experience.
Devices: iPhone, Android
8. StepsApp Pedometer
Much simpler in design than the other best walking apps on this list, the StepsApp is exactly as it sounds: an app that tracks your steps. Anyone looking for a simple, to-the-point pedometer-style app will likely be happy with what it has to offer.
StepsApp gets right to the point and opens up to a page displaying your steps taken and your daily step goal. As this app is really only for tracking steps, there's little you can change. But you can customize your step length and the units used in the app.
Devices: iPhone, iPad, Android
9. ViewRanger
Turn your phone or tablet into a GPS unit with this app. You can access free Open Street Maps, or you pay to download Ordnance Survey maps - either as individual maps, or for the whole of the UK. Maps for other countries are available, too.
Use it to record routes as you go, and save waypoints. It will display location, altitude, and grid reference. You can plan routes on its website beforehand using a computer (easier with a larger screen) and then access them on your phone. There's also a BuddyBeacon function which allows you to share your position with others using the app, or see where they are. You can import and export routes too, if you want to share them with others. can
Devices: Android
10. World Walking
Devised by cardiac rehabilitation instructor Duncan Galbraith the World Walking app is a constant pedometer, recording the number of steps you take each day. Users pick legendary global routes, such as Route 66 in the United States or Peru’s Machu Picchu Inca Trail, and try to take enough steps to complete it. The app encourages social interaction too and lets walkers form virtual clubs, working together to meet distance targets.
Devices: iPhone, Android
11. Strava
Strava can be used to track more activities than you can shake a stick at, from cycling through to windsurfing, and of course, walking. With the help of GPS it can measure distance, time, elevation gain, calories and route. It's even possible to track your heart rate if you sync the app up with your heart rate monitor.
Not only can you create and share your own walking routes with friends, you can look at heatmaps to see popular routes in your local area. The app also acts as a social network, allowing you to connect with friends and family to share details and photos of your activities.
Devices: iPhone, Android
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