PenguPace is a “walk-to-earn” mobile app created by Scrambly.
It tracks your daily steps and rewards you with points that can be redeemed for gift cards and other rewards. The app also includes game offers and other ways to make money online.
How it works
PenguPace is pretty simple:
- Download the app and create an account.
- Allow step tracking (through your phone’s fitness tracker).
- Walk as usual – to school, work, the store, or while exercising.
- Convert your steps into points inside the app. The more steps you take, the more points you earn.
- Complete bonus activities if you want higher earnings. These include mobile game offers, app downloads, financial offers, and referral bonuses. These typically pay much more than walking alone.
- Redeem points for rewards such as PayPal cash, gift cards, prepaid Visa cards, or bank transfers. Cash-outs start at around $1.
A realistic expectation is that the walking part earns only a small amount. Most users who earn meaningful rewards do so from the offers and games, while the step rewards are more of a bonus for being active.
If you’re considering it as a side hustle, I’d view it as a “get paid a little for steps” app rather than a serious income source.
How Much Can You Make
If you’re looking at just the walking rewards, the earning potential is quite low.
A realistic estimate based on user reports is:
- 5,000–10,000 steps per day: a few cents per day
- 10,000–15,000+ steps per day: perhaps $1–$3 per month from walking alone
- Very active users: maybe a few dollars per month if they consistently hit higher step milestones and maintain streaks.
Where PenguPace becomes more interesting is its GPT (get-paid-to) offers:
- Mobile games can pay anywhere from a few dollars to $50+ depending on the offer.
- Banking, fintech, and shopping offers can pay even more.
- Some users report earning $10+ within their first week, but most of that comes from offers rather than steps.
For comparison:
| Activity | Typical Earnings |
|---|---|
| Walking only | $1–$5/month |
| Casual offers + walking | $10–$50/month |
| Aggressive offer completion | $50–$200+/month |
The biggest advantage is the $1 minimum cashout, so you don’t have to wait months to redeem rewards.
For someone already using apps like Swagbucks, Freecash, or KashKick, I’d view PenguPace as a bonus app for steps with additional GPT offers, not as a standalone income source. The steps are the icing on the cake; the offers are where most of the money comes from.
Privacy Concerns With PenguPace
Like most walk-to-earn and GPT (get-paid-to) apps, PenguPace collects user data in exchange for providing rewards. According to its Google Play data safety disclosures, the app may collect:
- Location data
- Personal information
- Device identifiers
- Activity-related data (such as steps and app usage)
It also states that some data may be shared with third parties and that device identifiers may be shared with advertising partners. Data is encrypted in transit, and users can request deletion of their data.
What does this mean in practice?
The biggest privacy concern isn’t usually your step count—it’s the combination of:
- Location data
- Advertising IDs
- Device information
These can be used by advertising networks to build a profile of your interests and behavior. Advertising IDs are designed to track users across multiple apps and services.
How to reduce privacy risks
If you decide to use PenguPace:
- Only grant permissions that are necessary.
- Set location access to “While using the app” if possible.
- Periodically reset your phone’s advertising ID.
- Review the app’s permissions every few months.
- Request data deletion if you stop using the app.
My take
For a typical user, PenguPace doesn’t appear unusually invasive compared with many other free rewards apps. The tradeoff is the same as with apps like Swagbucks, Freecash, and similar GPT platforms: you’re exchanging some personal data and attention for rewards.
If you’re comfortable with that tradeoff, it’s probably fine. If you’re highly privacy-conscious, you’ll likely want to limit permissions or skip these types of apps altogether.
Is PenguPace Legit?
Yes, PenguPace is legitimate, meaning it is a real app that pays users and is not an obvious scam.
It was created by the team behind Scrambly, has hundreds of thousands of downloads, and many users report successfully cashing out rewards. The app offers payouts starting at just $1 through gift cards, PayPal, and other reward options.
That said, “legit” doesn’t necessarily mean “worth it.”
What I Like
- Low $1 cashout threshold.
- Walking rewards are passive once the app is set up.
- Multiple ways to earn, including games and offers.
- Some reviewers have shown payment proof and successful withdrawals.
Common Complaints
- Walking rewards alone are very small.
- Some users report step-tracking issues and syncing problems.
- Several users say the app pushes game offers and other tasks if you want meaningful earnings.
- A few users have reported technical problems redeeming rewards.
Verdict
If your question is “Will PenguPace actually pay me?”, the answer is yes.
If your question is “Can I make decent money just by walking?”, the answer is no. Most users will earn only a few cents per day from steps. The bigger rewards come from completing offers, playing games, or trying partner services.
I’d classify it as a legitimate “beer money” app—good for a few extra dollars here and there, but not a serious side hustle.
