WalkingAllTrailsBest for Walking outdoors
Finds walks and trails near you, with maps that work without reception.
Freemium · free versionView app
Pacer
Counts your steps from your pocket, without a wearable or a subscription to start.
- Best for
- Walking outdoors, Getting active, Over 50s
- Focus
- Walking, Habit Building, Outdoor Wellness
- Cost
- Freemium · free version
- Runs on
- iPhone, Android, Apple Watch
- Made by
- Pacer Health, Inc
The Oria take
The easiest first step for somebody who wants to move more and does not want a project. It counts what you were going to do anyway, the free version is genuinely usable, and nothing about it assumes you are training. The group challenges are the part that keeps people going.
What is Pacer?
A step counter that uses the phone you already carry, with walking groups, challenges and GPS route recording alongside. It suits people who want to walk more and see it add up, rather than people training for anything in particular.
What it offers
- Counts steps from the phone in your pocket or bag
- Walking groups and challenges with friends or strangers
- GPS recording for walks, with routes and maps
- Syncs with Apple Health and Apple Watch
What we like
- No wearable needed, and no subscription to get started
- Works the same whether your friends are on iPhone or Android
- Simple enough to hand to someone who dislikes apps
Things to consider
- Phone-based step counts are approximate, not a measurement
- The free version pushes Premium fairly often
What it costs
Freemium · free version.
Step counting, groups and challenges work without paying. Pacer Premium adds plans and deeper statistics; check the price in the app store, as it is not published as an Australian figure on their site.
Pricing last checked September 2026. Apps change their plans, so check before you subscribe.
Questions people ask
Do I need a smartwatch for Pacer?
No. It counts steps using the phone's own sensors, whether the phone is in your hand, pocket or bag. It will also sync with an Apple Watch if you have one.
Is Pacer free?
Yes, for step counting, groups and challenges. A Premium subscription adds guided plans and more detailed statistics.
Does it drain the battery?
Ordinary step counting uses the phone's low-power motion sensor rather than GPS. Recording a walk with GPS uses considerably more.
Take it offline
Prefer practising with other people?
An app is a good companion between sessions. These are the places in Perth doing the same thing in a room.
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