Compare
How steps.org compares with DietBet, HealthyWage, stickK and Beeminder.
Some let you get paid to lose weight. Some charge you when you miss a goal. steps.org charges only to start again after you let a challenge run out. Every fact about the others links to their own site.
Paid when you win
DietBet and HealthyWage
You bet money up front, and winners share a pot or win a prize. DietBet · HealthyWage
Charged when you miss
stickK and Beeminder
You put money on a goal, and missing it costs you. stickK · Beeminder
Charged to start again
steps.org
Nothing up front. Let a challenge run out, and the next one costs more, with half going to carbon removal. steps.org
steps.org
How it works
- Your first challenge is free, with no card up front.
- Weigh in at least every 3 days, or the challenge ends unsuccessful.
- Each unsuccessful challenge adds $5 to your next start, up to $50. Each day you weigh in takes $1 off.
- Reach your target, and your next challenge is free again.
- Half of every payment goes to carbon removal through Stripe Climate.
- steps.org holds no bets and pays no prizes. Weigh-ins go on trust, in front of anyone you send your challenge's link.
The whole price, on the pricing page.
DietBet
How it works
- A Kickstarter lasts 4 weeks, with a bet of $35 on average, and aims at 4% of your body weight.dietbet.com/how-it-works
- When it ends, the pot, less DietBet's fee, is divided among the winners.dietbet.com/how-it-works
- DietBet's fee is 10 to 25% of the pot, depending on the size of the bet.dietbet.com/faq
- An official weigh-in is two photos, with a weigh-in word on paper, reviewed by a DietBet referee.dietbet.com/how-it-works
- A Transformer runs 6 months and aims at 10% of your body weight.dietbet.com/how-it-works
Read on dietbet.com on September 30, 2026.
When DietBet is the better choice
- You want to win money, and a crowd racing to the same finish keeps you going.
- You want a short round with an end date, like 4 weeks.
- You want every official weigh-in checked by someone else.
When steps.org fits
You want nothing at stake up front, and a reason to step on the scale every few days.
HealthyWage
How it works
- In a HealthyWager challenge you name your own goal and bet on it, to win up to $10,000.healthywage.com/how-it-works
- You pick a bet from $5 to $995 a month, and 6 to 18 months to reach your goal.healthywage.com/healthywager
- Its calculator shows a prize range that changes with the bet, the time and the goal.healthywage.com/healthywager
- Weigh-ins are short videos made at home, following on-screen instructions.healthywage.com/healthywager
- Your weight is verified twice: at the start and at the end.healthywage.com/faq/frequently-asked-questions
- In its Team Challenge, teams of 5 compete for a $10,000 top prize.healthywage.com/how-it-works
- In HealthyWage's own words, "people sometimes lose their weight loss bet".healthywage.com/healthywager
Read on healthywage.com on September 30, 2026.
When HealthyWage is the better choice
- You want a cash prize that grows with the goal, the time and the bet.
- You want months to reach a big goal, checked at the start and the end.
- You want to compete as a team, with people from work.
When steps.org fits
You want a check every few days to keep you on the scale, and nothing to bet.
stickK
How it works
- You make a commitment contract: a goal, a timeline and something at stake, money or your reputation.stickk.com/aboutus
- Money at stake is at least $5 for each reporting period.stickk.com/faq/stakes/Commitment+Contracts
- Miss, and the money goes to the recipient you chose: a person or an organization, a charity, or an "anti-charity" whose views you oppose.stickk.com/faq/charities/Commitment+Contracts
- A referee you pick, such as a friend or your spouse, is asked to confirm each report.stickk.com/faq/referees/Commitment+Contracts
- stickK is free to use.stickk.com/aboutus
Read on stickk.com on September 30, 2026.
When stickK is the better choice
- You want stakes on any goal you can name, weight among them.
- You want a friend to referee your reports.
- You want to pick where lost money goes, even a cause you oppose.
When steps.org fits
You want the stake to be your next start, and half of anything you pay going to carbon removal.
Beeminder
How it works
- You set a goal you can graph, and a bright red line shows where your data has to stay.beeminder.com/overview
- Cross the line, which Beeminder calls derailing, and you pay your pledge.beeminder.com/overview
- Pledges usually start at $5 and go up a step with each derailment: $5, $10, $30, $90 and on, up to a cap you set.help.beeminder.com/article/20-how-much-do-i-pledge-on-my-goals
- Joining is free with up to three active goals, and a card on file for future charges. A premium subscription adds features.help.beeminder.com/article/19-how-much-does-beeminder-cost
- It connects to services like Fitbit to report your data automatically.beeminder.com/overview
Read on beeminder.com on September 30, 2026.
When Beeminder is the better choice
- You want stakes on several goals at once, weight among them.
- You want your data to arrive on its own from a tracker like Fitbit.
- You want to set how high the stakes can climb, with a cap.
When steps.org fits
You want one goal, one clock, no card up front, and half of anything you pay going to carbon removal.
Names are used only to say which service is which. Each fact was read on the service's own site on the date shown. Prices and rules change, so check theirs before you sign up.