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Shedams vs StepsClub
StepsClub puts its better features behind a monthly plan. On Shedams everything that gets you moving is free, and the money comes from the brands and organisers who want you moving.
StepsClub describes itself as “Plus plan”. Everything in the StepsClub column below is taken from their own published pages, last read on 2026-11-11. We quote no ratings or download figures, theirs or ours.
The five differences that actually decide it
| Shedams | StepsClub | |
|---|---|---|
| What a mover pays | Nothing. No trial, no card, nothing expiring. The optional subscription only removes advertising and adds deeper analytics. | A free tier, with a monthly Plus plan and a lifetime option above it, per their own published pricing. |
| Who funds it | Coaches, communities and brands, who pay per challenge and for sponsorship and placement. | The members who upgrade. |
| What counts | Walking, running, cycling and cardio, indoors or out. | Steps. |
| How your effort is judged | Against your own baseline, by age band and fitness level. A brisk walk can earn an A, and a beginner and a regular can both have a good day. | By the raw number. More steps is a better result, whoever you are and wherever you started. |
| What is at stake | A brand-funded or organiser-funded prize, or a donation to a cause, won on verified effort. | The challenge itself and the leaderboard. |
Pick StepsClub if
- You are happy to pay a few pounds a month and want the features that sit behind it.
- A step challenge is exactly the shape you want, with nothing else in it.
- You want a longer track record than Shedams can offer today.
Pick Shedams if
- You do not want to ask your group to pay for anything.
- Your people do more than walk.
- You want effort graded against each person rather than a single step total deciding the lot.
Not built for competitive athletes. Built for everyone else.
Questions
Four things people ask before switching
Is Shedams free, or is there a paid plan?
Free for everybody moving, with no trial and no card. There is one optional subscription, Shedams Ad-Free, which removes advertising and unlocks advanced workout analytics; nothing that gets you moving sits behind it. Full figures are on the pricing page.
How can Shedams be free if StepsClub charges?
Different payer. StepsClub is funded by members who upgrade; Shedams is funded by the coaches, communities and brands who run challenges, pay per challenge, sponsor prize pots and book placement. That is why the app can stay free for the people in it.
What do I give up by not paying?
Advertising, and the deeper analytics screens. Tracking, grading, puzzle tiles, quests, streaks, the habit plan, friends leaderboards and joining any challenge are all in the free app.
Can I run a challenge for my club without charging members?
Yes, and that is the normal case. A community or a coach pays per challenge and the members pay nothing. Anybody can also start a free challenge for themselves and up to fifteen friends.
Also worth reading: what Shedams costs, and Shedams vs StepUp, Shedams vs Sweatcoin, Shedams vs Strava, Shedams vs Nike Run Club.
It takes about ten minutes to find out.
Free to download, free to start. Pick a few people, set a target, and see who turns up.
Your data is yours. Organisers see participation, not your health record - and we never sell it.