StepsLinkFree walking app for iPhone: how to choose
The Health app on your iPhone already counts your steps, with no subscription. An extra app is only worth it if it brings you something more: a goal, widgets, a game with people you know. On the App Store, “free” means the download costs nothing; the “In-App Purchases” label next to the Get button tells you the rest. Here are five criteria to choose, valid for any app.
Pedometer, walking app, challenge app: three different things
Searches like “pedometer app”, “step counter” and “walking app” point to close needs, not identical ones.
| Type | What it does | Who it's for |
|---|---|---|
| Pedometer / step counter | Shows your step count and history | You just want to know where you stand |
| Walking app | Counter + goal, reminders, statistics | You want to set yourself a target |
| Challenge app | Counter + leaderboard, groups, game | You walk more when others can see it |
To understand how the iPhone counts steps and how reliable it is, read Counting your steps on iPhone instead. Here, the question is: do you need an extra app, and which one?
The 5 criteria to choose
1. Where do the steps come from?
An app that reads steps from Apple Health doesn't add a second counter competing with the first. You find the same total everywhere, including with an Apple Watch. It's the best way to avoid two different numbers on the same day.
2. Can you set your own goal?
The 10,000-step benchmark rests on little evidence (Paluch et al., 2022). Two meta-analyses published in The Lancet Public Health show that the benefits start well before:
- Paluch et al., 2022 (15 cohorts, 47,471 adults): the risk of death falls as steps increase, then levels off around 6,000 to 8,000 steps a day after age 60, and 8,000 to 10,000 before 60 (source).
- Ding et al., 2025 (57 studies): at 7,000 steps a day, the all-cause mortality risk is 47% lower than at 2,000 steps (source).
These are observed associations, not a promise for any one person. Mostly, remember that an adjustable goal lets you start where you are. To turn it into distance, use the steps to kilometers converter.
3. What makes you come back?
Apps fall into three approaches:
- Tracking only: plain, but nothing reminds you to open it.
- Rewards: points, vouchers, money. They can motivate, but the motivation then comes from the gain.
- A game with people you know: a small group, a leaderboard, messages. The drive comes from the people you know.
None is “the right one”. Ask yourself what worked for you in a past habit: the number, the gain, or the people who nudge you.
4. How is the app funded?
Before installing, open the App Store page and look at the “In-App Purchases” label, the list of purchases further down, and what the description says about ads or a subscription. A clear model beats a hidden one.
For us: StepsLink works with a Premium subscription, monthly or yearly, that unlocks the whole app. A trial may be offered to new subscribers: its length is shown before you subscribe.
5. What data does it ask for?
A walking app doesn't need everything. Check what it asks for (Health, location, notifications) and refuse what isn't useful. In the Health app, tap your profile, then Apps (Privacy section): pick the app and turn off what you no longer want to share, whenever you like (Apple help).
Check in 2 minutes
| Criterion | Where to look on the page | What to read there |
|---|---|---|
| Source of steps | Description | Explicit mention of Apple Health |
| Goal | Description and screenshots | A goal you can change |
| What brings you back | Description | Tracking only, rewards or group |
| Funding | Next to the Get button, then “Information” | “In-App Purchases”, list of subscriptions |
| Data | “App Privacy” | The data collected and how it's used |
Where StepsLink stands
StepsLink is our team's app: read this section with that in mind.
- Source of steps: Apple Health. Your goal becomes a line to cross each day, with a streak of successful days and statistics.
- A game with people you know: a group of up to 25 people, joined with a 6-character code. In the group, you see a leaderboard for the day and the week, the group total and a chat to cheer each other on.
- No rewards: we give out neither money nor exchangeable points. It's a deliberate choice: a game among people you know, not a hunt for prizes.
- Data: StepsLink reads your data in Apple Health with your permission and only writes your weight, your height and the water you log. No ads, no data resale. The global leaderboard is off by default.
- Funding: Premium subscription, see criterion 4.
- Other points: iOS widgets, adjustable reminders, French and English, iPhone only.
It's not for everyone. If you walk alone and only want a counter, the Health app is enough. If you want to earn money by walking, that's not our approach.
See StepsLink on the App Store
Frequently asked questions
Is there a truly free walking app on iPhone?
The Health app counts your steps with no subscription. For a third-party app, “free” refers to the download. Look at “In-App Purchases” next to the Get button before installing.
Do you need an app in addition to the Health app?
Not necessarily. It's useful for a closely tracked goal, widgets or a game with other people. If the step total is enough for you, the Health app does the job.
How many steps should you aim for each day?
Studies observe benefits well before 10,000 steps, from about 7,000 in adults (Ding et al., 2025). Set an achievable goal, then raise it gradually. If you have doubts about your health, ask your doctor.
Which app to walk with friends?
Look for an app that allows a closed group, lets you see everyone's steps and message each other. Check the maximum group size and whether it works with rewards.
Do you need an Apple Watch to count your steps?
No. The iPhone counts steps while it's on you. The watch helps if you often leave your phone aside; details in Counting your steps on iPhone.
Sources
- Ding D. et al., “Daily steps and health outcomes in adults: a systematic review and dose-response meta-analysis”, The Lancet Public Health, 2025: PubMed
- Paluch A. et al., “Daily steps and all-cause mortality: a meta-analysis of 15 international cohorts”, The Lancet Public Health, 2022: PubMed
- Apple, “Manage your Health data on your iPhone, iPad or Apple Watch”: support.apple.com