Fitness for Every Body
The Best Step Tracker Apps in 2025 (Compared Honestly)
Not all step trackers are built the same. Some make walking fun, others provide deep analytics, and a few just keep it simple. Here's how Motion stacks up - and where other apps shine too.
What Makes a Great Step Tracker App?
A good step tracker does more than count. It should help you stay consistent, feel motivated, and make sense of your movement. But depending on your personality, the “best” might mean fun games, serious analytics, or plain simplicity.
Below we'll compare the most popular step tracking apps in 2025 and share what each does best. Spoiler: Motion focuses on making walking fun and social, but we'll also highlight great fits for athletes, data-lovers, and minimalists.
Motion - The Best Step Tracker App for Motivation
Motion turns your steps into progress across games, friendly competitions, and even your virtual pet.
- Why it's best for motivation: You don't just see a number - you flip Bingo tiles, move along seasonal quests, and earn rewards.
- Fair competition: Thanks to effort-based goals, walkers and runners can play together.
- Device support: Works with Apple Watch, Garmin, Fitbit, Samsung, or just your phone.
If you struggle to stay consistent, Motion is the step tracker that feels less like an app and more like a game you keep coming back to.
Apple Health - The Best Step Tracker for iPhone Users
Apple Health is the simplest option for iOS users. It quietly tracks steps in the background and integrates with nearly every health app.
- Pros: Free, already installed, integrates with Motion seamlessly.
- Cons: No motivation layer - just numbers.
Many Motion users let Apple Health track their steps, then sync into Motion to make those steps fun and social.
Google Fit - The Best Free Step Tracker for Android
Google Fit offers a clean pedometer experience with Heart Points and Move Minutes as its own scoring system.
- Pros: Free, integrates across Android devices, pairs with Wear OS watches.
- Cons: Limited social or gamified features.
Like Apple Health, it works well as the “data source” while Motion provides the fun layer on top.
Strava - Best Step Tracker for Runners & Cyclists
Strava is famous for GPS tracking and social kudos. It does track walking, but most features (segments, pace charts, training plans) are built for runners and cyclists.
- Pros: Great analytics, GPS maps, strong community.
- Cons for walkers: Pace comparisons feel discouraging, walking challenges are rare.
If you're training for a race or logging long runs, Strava is unmatched. If you're walking for fitness or weight loss, Motion celebrates steps in a way Strava doesn't. See our Strava for Walking page for more.
Fitbit - A Legacy Step Tracker with Hardware Ties
Fitbit popularized step goals before most phones had pedometers. Their trackers still count steps well, but Google has sunset many community features (like Get Fit Bingo).
- Pros: Solid hardware, decent step tracking, long history.
- Cons: Locked to Fitbit devices, fewer fun/social features than before.
Many former Fitbit users now play Fit Bingo on Motion to recreate what they lost.
Other Step Tracker Apps Worth Mentioning
- Charity Miles: Walk and earn money for charity. Steps and distance count equally.
- Pokemon GO: A playful option if you like augmented reality. Your steps hatch eggs and find creatures.
- Dedicated pedometer apps: Good if you just want a number, nothing else.
These can be fun additions, but most people eventually want a single app that combines tracking with motivation - exactly what Motion was built for.
Explore More Walking & Step Resources
Step Counter Games
From Bingo to seasonal quests, Motion makes step tracking feel like a game.
Motion for Walking
A central guide to walking with Motion - benefits, features, and links to all our step resources.
Exercise Accountability
Walking is easier with support. Motion creates exercise accountability through pods, challenges, and shared weekly goals.
Frequently asked questions
If you have anything else you want to ask, reach out to us.
What is the best step tracker app overall?
It depends on your goals. For fun and motivation, Motion is best. For simple free tracking, Apple Health or Google Fit. For advanced running analytics, Strava. For hardware integration, Fitbit.
Which step tracker works with Motion?
Motion works with Apple Health, Google Fit, Garmin, Fitbit, Samsung Health, and more. You can track with your watch or just your phone.
Do I need multiple apps?
Not really - Motion can stand alone. But many people let Apple Health or Google Fit collect raw steps, then use Motion for the fun/social side.
Which is best for beginners?
Motion. Its adaptive goals adjust to your activity, so even a few thousand steps a day feels rewarding and fair.
Which is best for pro athletes?
Strava. It's built for performance tracking and racing analytics. Motion complements it by making everyday movement fun.
Your Fitness Journey Starts Here
Download Motion free and discover why this is the fitness app you'll actually keep using. Your future self (and your Motmot) will thank you.
