I spent 90 days testing Macadam, walking over 1.48 million steps (that’s 16,500 steps daily) to see if this Pokemon GO-style app actually pays. The marketing promises rewards for walking. The reality? I earned $4.95 in 3 months – barely enough for a cheap latte.
Spoiler: Unless you enjoy gamified walking as entertainment, this app won’t make you money. But if you’re curious about the mechanics, keep reading for the brutal math. See how 5 other walking apps compared here.
Table of Contents
- What is Macadam?
- How Does Macadam Work?
- My 90-Day Test: The Setup
- The Brutal Math: What I Actually Earned
- Levels and the “Loyalty Trap”
- The Jackpot Illusion
- Real Effort vs. Real Reward
- Is Macadam Worth Your Time?
- FAQ
What is Macadam?
Macadam is a location-based “move-to-earn” app that works similarly to Pokemon GO. Instead of catching Pokemon, you “hunt” for virtual rewards by walking to specific points on a map. The app promises to pay you for walking, but – as you’ll see from my test – the economics don’t quite work out.
Unlike simple step-counter apps like Sweatcoin, Macadam gamifies the experience with a “Metaverse” map and interactive challenges. While most pedometer apps just run in the background, Macadam functions more like a mobile game. You can explore your local area to find virtual “checkpoints” or spin a Metaverse Wheel at specific real-world locations to boost your earnings.
How Does Macadam Work?
Before you start planning what to buy with your walking rewards, you need to understand that Macadam isn’t a passive “set it and forget it” app. It requires daily interaction and a bit of strategy to ensure your effort actually turns into cash.
Getting Started
- Download & Install: The app is available for free on both the Google Play Store and the Apple App Store.
- Create an Account: Sign up using your email, Google, or Apple ID. Pro Tip: Use the referral code 4DR7PP during registration to snag an easy starting bonus (usually around 1,000 coins) right out of the gate.
- Enable Permissions: You must grant the app access to your motion and fitness data. Macadam syncs with Google Fit or Apple Health to pull your step count without draining your battery with constant GPS tracking.
- The “Validation” Rule: This is the most critical step. Your steps do not convert to coins automatically. You must open the app and tap the “Validate my steps” button every day before midnight. If you forget, those steps (and potential coins) vanish forever.
How You Earn Coins
The app operates on a virtual currency system (Coins). There are three main ways to fill your digital wallet:
1. Daily Step Tracking This is your bread and butter. For every 2,500 steps you take, you can claim a reward (roughly 25 coins). There is typically a daily cap of 20,000 steps (yielding around 200 coins), so while walking is the foundation, it’s a slow burn on its own.
2. Walking to Map Points This is the “Pokemon GO” element. Open the in-app map to find nearby “Metaverse” locations. When you physically reach these spots, you can spin the Metaverse Wheel. This is often the fastest way to boost your earnings, as a single spin can award significantly more coins than thousands of steps.
3. Watching Ads & Offer Walls If you’re sitting on the couch but still want to earn, you can watch short video ads (usually earning 10 coins per clip). For bigger jumps, the “Offer Wall” allows you to earn thousands of coins by playing partner mobile games or completing consumer surveys.
How Payouts Work
Once you’ve built up a balance, you can head to the “Spend” section to redeem your hard-earned coins.
Supported Regions: Macadam is widely available across Europe (including Poland, France, and the UK), North America, and Australia.
Minimum Withdrawal Threshold: The standard minimum for a cash payout is 15,000 coins, which currently converts to $5.
Payment Methods: Unlike many “scammy” apps that only offer obscure coupons, Macadam offers real SEPA Bank Transfers and PayPal payouts. You can also opt for gift cards (Amazon, Zalando) or donate your earnings to environmental causes like tree planting.
My 90-Day Test: The Setup
To test Macadam properly, I ran a controlled 90-day experiment:
My Daily Routine:
- 16,500 steps average per day (tracked via Apple Watch)
- Watched ads daily (as many as the app allowed)
- Walked to map points when convenient
- Never missed a daily check-in
- Ran Macadam alongside 5 other apps (Sweatcoin, Walkify, NoomVibe, PaidToGo, Stepler)
Equipment:
- Apple Watch Series 7 for step tracking
- iPhone 13 pro for running the app
- Google Fit / Apple Health for data sync
Goal:
Answer one simple question: Can Macadam generate meaningful income just by walking?
The Brutal Math: What I Actually Earned
After 90 days of consistent use, here’s what I earned:
📊 My Earnings Breakdown
| Timeframe | Steps | Earnings (USD) | Reality Check |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 Day | 16,500 | $0.055 | Less than a piece of gum |
| 30 Days | 495,000 | $1.65 | Half a Starbucks coffee |
| 90 Days | 1,485,000 | $4.95 | One cheap latte |
| 365 Days (projected) | 6,022,500 | $20.08 | Two movie tickets |
The harsh reality: I earned $0.055 per day – that’s 5.5 cents for walking over 16,000 steps and watching ads.
To put that in perspective:
- Minimum wage (1 hour): $7-15
- My “hourly rate” with Macadam: ~$0.50-1.00 (including time spent on app)
- Time to earn $5: 90 days of daily commitment
Conclusion: You’re better off picking up coins off the street.
Levels and the “Loyalty Trap”
Macadam uses a leveling system designed to keep you engaged: Bronze, Silver, and Gold. Higher levels supposedly reduce the cost of rewards.
💰 The Level System Breakdown
Macadam features 3 levels: Bronze, Silver, and Gold. Each level unlocks greater earning potential, but also requires more steps to reach. Let’s be honest – unless you’re running a marathon every single day, hitting 50k steps day after day just isn’t realistic.
Example table:
| Level | Withdrawal Cost | Coins Required | How to Reach | Estimated Time |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bronze | $5 | 15,000 coins | 1,875 ads | ~460 days |
| Silver | $5 | 13,500 coins | 1,685 ads | ~421 days |
| Gold | $5 | 10,000 coins | 1,250 ads | ~312 days |
The Problem:
We can watch a maximum of 4 ads per day, and each ad earns us 5 crowns. To reach Silver, we need to collect 3,000 crowns, and to reach Gold – 6,000, for a total of 9,000 crowns.
To reach Silver level just by watching ads, you’d need to watch 600 ads over 150 days. That’s:
- 4 ads every single day for nearly 150 days
- Savings: 1,500 coins (worth ~$0.50)
- Time invested: 150+ days of daily app opening
Is it worth it? Absolutely not. You’re committing 150 days for a 50-cent discount.
The Jackpot Illusion
One of Macadam’s most misleading features is the “Jackpot” for watching ads.
The Promise:
Win up to 100,000 coins by watching ads!
The Reality (My 90-Day Test):
- Ads watched: 360
- Highest win: 20 coins (worth ~$0.006)
- Average win: 5-10 coins
- Times I hit “jackpot”: 0
🎰 My Jackpot Results
| Ads Watched | Jackpot Wins (100k coins) | Highest Single Win | Average Win per Ad |
|---|---|---|---|
| 360 | 0 | 20 coins ($0.006) | ~8 coins ($0.002) |
The Psychology:
The flashing “JACKPOT!” animations and exciting sounds make you feel like you’re winning. But the math tells a different story:
- Promised max: 100,000 coins
- Actual max (my test): 20 coins
- Difference: 5,000x less than advertised
Don’t let the flashing lights fool you. You aren’t hitting the jackpot.
Real Effort vs. Real Reward
Beyond step tracking, Macadam encourages you to walk to specific points on the map to earn bonus coins.
My Experience:
I tested this feature multiple times during my 90 days. Here’s what I found:
Typical Scenario:
- Distance to reward point: 1.5 km (0.9 miles)
- Walking time: ~20-30 minutes
- Reward earned: 50-100 coins
- Cash value: $0.03-0.06
The Math:
- 30 minutes of walking = $0.04 earned
- Hourly rate: $0.08/hour
- vs. Minimum wage: $7-15/hour
It’s fun for the first ten minutes – until you realize you just walked for 3 hours to earn $0.04.
Is Macadam Worth Your Time?
After 90 days of testing, here’s my honest verdict:
✅ When Macadam MIGHT Be Worth It:
1. You’re already a heavy walker (15,000+ steps daily)
- If you walk this much anyway for health, Macadam adds a tiny bonus
- Think of it as $20/year pocket change, not income
2. You enjoy gamified apps
- If you liked Pokemon GO and want a similar experience while walking
- The map-based rewards can be entertaining (just don’t expect money)
3. You live in a reward-dense area
- If your city/neighborhood has many reward points close together
- Still won’t make meaningful money, but slightly less frustrating
❌ When Macadam Is NOT Worth It:
1. You’re looking for actual income
- $20/year is not income, it’s a rounding error
- You’d earn 300x more as a dog walker ($15-30 per 30-min walk)
2. You value your privacy
- Constant location tracking for 5.5 cents/day?
- Your location data is worth far more than Macadam pays
3. You have limited phone battery
- GPS tracking drains 10-15% extra battery daily
- The electricity cost of charging often exceeds earnings
4. You miss days occasionally
- Miss one day = progress stalls
- The app punishes inconsistency severely
My Final Recommendation
If you’re only going to use ONE walking app, don’t choose Macadam.
Instead, try Walkify ($28.51/year, PayPal cashout, only 2 min/day) or accept that no walking app will generate meaningful income.
Better Alternative:
Want to actually monetize walking? Become a dog walker on Rover or Wag:
- Earn: $15-30 per 30-minute walk
- vs. Macadam: $0.05 per 30-minute walk
- That’s 300-600x more money for the same activity
FAQ
How much can you realistically earn with Macadam?
Based on my 90-day test with 16,500 steps daily and watching ads:
- Daily: $0.055 (~5.5 cents)
- Monthly: $1.65
- Yearly: $20.08
That’s assuming you never miss a day and hit 15,000+ steps consistently.
What is the minimum withdrawal amount?
The minimum withdrawal amount at the Bronze level is 15,000 coins. However, keep in mind that you can only withdraw during specific windows set by the app itself – Macadam announces the exact day and time for payouts 2-3 times a month, so you’ll need to cash out during one of these designated periods rather than whenever you like.
Does Macadam work on treadmills?
Short answer: Sometimes, but not reliably.
Macadam uses GPS verification in addition to step counting. Treadmill steps may register in your phone’s accelerometer, but the app often flags them as suspicious due to lack of location change.
My test: Indoor treadmill steps counted at about 60-70% rate compared to outdoor walking.
Is Macadam available in my country?
Macadam is available across most of the European Union, including France, Spain, Italy, Germany, Belgium, and others.
United Kingdom & Europe: Fully supported for bank payouts, though features like automatic cashback partners may vary by country.
International Regions: Available in select regions outside Europe, including Canada and parts of Oceania, such as Australia.
Can I use Macadam with other walking apps?
Yes, and that’s what I did. Since Macadam pulls data from Google Fit or Apple Health, you can run it alongside other apps (Sweatcoin, Walkify, etc.) and earn from all simultaneously.
Warning: Running multiple apps drains 10-15% extra battery daily.
How does Macadam compare to Sweatcoin?
Based on my 90-day test of both:
| App | 90-Day Earnings | Payment Method | Time Investment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Macadam | $4.95 | Bank transfer | 5-10 min/day |
| Sweatcoin | $3.24 | Gift cards only | 3-5 min/day |
Macadam pays slightly more but requires more active engagement (checking map, walking to points). Sweatcoin is more passive but pays less and only offers gift cards.
Neither is worth it if you’re looking for meaningful income.
Is my data safe with Macadam?
Short answer: No.
You are trading your real-time location data, movement patterns, and walking routes for 5.5 cents per day.
Your location data is worth $0.50-2.00 per day to data brokers. Macadam pays you $0.055/day and keeps the rest.
Privacy concerns:
- 24/7 GPS tracking
- Movement pattern analysis
- Potential data sharing with advertisers
Is it worth it? Only you can decide, but understand you’re trading far more than “just steps.”
Final Thoughts
Macadam is not a scam – it exists, it tracks steps, and it does pay out (eventually). But calling it an “income opportunity” is misleading at best.
The reality:
- $20/year for daily commitment
- Constant location tracking
- Battery drain
- Time investment far exceeds earnings
If you enjoy gamified walking and treat Macadam as entertainment (not income), it might be fun. But if you’re hoping to “get paid to walk,” you’ll be disappointed.
My recommendation: Skip it. Use your phone’s free step counter (Google Fit, Apple Health), set personal fitness goals, and don’t fall for the “get paid to walk” illusion.
The best reward for walking is a healthier body – not $0.055 per day.
Have you tried Macadam? Drop a comment below with your experience – I’d love to hear if your results matched mine!