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Apps that pay you to lose weight, compared.

There are two kinds. With most, you put your own money on a goal and can lose it. CalCut is a subscription calorie tracker with a monthly prize: A$1,000 every month to whoever's the most consistent. Most points for hitting your two daily rules wins. Terms.

We make CalCut, so read this with that in mind. Details of other apps come from their own websites and App Store listings, checked 5 November 2026. They can change, so check before you pay. Sources.

The four apps at a glance.

HealthyWage

You bet on your own weight-loss goal.

What you pay
A wager you choose, one-off or monthly. Its Australian calculator runs A$5 to A$995 a month.
What you have to do
Reach your weight goal, at least 10% of your weight, in 6 to 18 months. Weigh-ins are checked by video.
What you can win
A prize based on your bet, advertised at up to $10,000.
If you miss
You lose your deposit. A partial result wins nothing.
Food tracker
None listed in its App Store features.

DietBet

You pledge money to join a weight-loss game.

What you pay
A pledge to join a game. Its listing offers a full refund if you cancel in the first 7 days.
What you have to do
Hit your weight-loss goal and weigh in regularly.
What you can win
Your pledge back, plus more.
If you miss
Its listing only says winners get their pledge back. Check the game's rules before you join.
Food tracker
None listed in its App Store description.

StepBet

You bet on hitting step targets. It's about steps, not weight.

What you pay
A bet into the game's pot. Its listing offers a full refund if you cancel in the first week.
What you have to do
Hit your personal step goals every week of the game.
What you can win
A split of the pot with the other winners.
If you miss
Its listing only says winners split the pot. Check the game's rules before you join.
Food tracker
None listed in its App Store description.

CalCut

You subscribe to a calorie tracker and compete on consistency.

What you pay
A monthly or annual subscription. The annual plan has a 7-day free trial; monthly has none. No entry fee for the prize. Prices.
What you have to do
Stay in your calorie target and hit your step goal each day.
What you can win
A$1,000. One prize a month, to the member with the most points. An exact tie splits it.
If you miss
No deposit to lose, and no prize unless you finish on top, however well you do.
Food tracker
Yes. Scan a barcode, take a photo, or describe your meal.

The differences that matter.

What you risk. On HealthyWage's weight-loss bet, missing your goal costs you your deposit. On CalCut, you pay for the tracker whether you win or not, and nothing extra rides on the result.

Who you're up against. HealthyWage's individual bet depends on reaching your own goal. On CalCut, one member wins each month, so you can do everything right and still not win.

What gets scored. HealthyWage and DietBet are built around weight goals, and StepBet around steps. CalCut scores your calorie target and step goal each day. Weight lost never scores.

How long you wait. A HealthyWage bet runs 6 to 18 months. The CalCut Monthly runs every calendar month.

Compare one on one: CalCut vs HealthyWage · CalCut vs Easy Diet Diary · Weight loss competitions in Australia

Does money help people stick at it?

Some research says yes, in the short term. In a 2008 trial published in JAMA, 57 US adults aimed to lose 16 lb (about 7 kg) in 16 weeks. 52.6% of the lottery group and 47.4% of the deposit group reached it, against 10.5% of the group with monthly weigh-ins only.

The limits matter. It was a small study. About seven months in, after the incentives had ended, the difference between the groups was no longer statistically significant, and the authors said longer-term incentives should be evaluated. It tested lotteries and deposits, not a leaderboard, and it didn't test CalCut or any app on this page.

Source: Volpp KG, John LK, Troxel AB, Norton L, Fassbender J, Loewenstein G. Financial Incentive-Based Approaches for Weight Loss: A Randomized Trial. JAMA. 2008;300(22):2631-2637.

Which one suits you?

A bet app, if you

  • Have a specific weight goal and want cash riding on it
  • Are comfortable that you could lose what you put in
  • Want a possible prize above A$1,000 (HealthyWage)
  • Care about steps rather than weight (StepBet)

CalCut, if you

  • Want a calorie and step tracker you'll use every day
  • Would rather not have money riding on a weigh-in
  • Like a monthly competition, knowing only one member wins
  • Have an iPhone. CalCut is iPhone only

The CalCut Monthly

A$1,000 every month to whoever's the most consistent. Most points for hitting your two daily rules wins. Weight lost never scores. How it works · Full terms

Not open if you're pregnant or breastfeeding, or are living with or have a history of an eating disorder. You're still welcome to use the app. If you're under medical supervision or take medication that affects weight, appetite or activity, ask your doctor before entering.

Quick answers.

Is there an app that pays you to lose weight?
Yes, several pay cash, but none is a sure thing. On a bet app you have to meet its goal, and you can lose what you put in. On CalCut, one member wins each month, based on daily consistency rather than kilos lost.
Is CalCut a bet or a lucky draw?
Neither. There's no stake and no draw. You need an active CalCut subscription, there's no entry fee for the Monthly, and the member with the most points wins. An exact tie splits the prize.
Do I have to lose weight to win on CalCut?
No. Points are for hitting your daily calorie and step goals. Weight lost never scores.
Is CalCut on Android?
No. CalCut is iPhone only.

Sources

All checked 5 November 2026.

Try CalCut.

7-day free trial on the annual plan. Monthly has no trial. Manage or cancel in your Apple subscription settings.

Download on the App Store

5.0 on the Australian App Store · 32 ratings