I downloaded a pedometer app to stay healthy for free after retiring. A month later, my phone bill had nearly doubled. This is my cautionary tale about reward-point apps in Japan.

I decided to start walking

A few months after leaving work, I had plenty of time on my hands — but I noticed I was moving far less than before. I wanted to stay healthy without spending money, and the simplest answer seemed obvious: just walk more.

So I searched for step-counting apps for my smartphone, and was amazed at how many there were. What surprised me even more was that many of them reward you with points just for walking.

Earning points just by walking?

I thought: if I install several apps at once, I can earn points multiple times for the same steps. So I downloaded three step-count reward apps, including Torima and MoneyWalk.

I wasn't quite sure how earning points from walking worked, but as someone between jobs, the idea of building both health and savings at the same time sounded perfect. I started using them right away.

Trips to Hello Work, the bank, the dermatologist, small shopping errands — I walked everywhere I could. Watching my step count and points rise together made walking genuinely fun.

Mum joined in too

My mother, who lives with us, saw how much I was enjoying it and quickly downloaded the same apps. Before long, we were both enthusiastically walking our way to points. I was convinced we were building healthy habits and earning rewards at the same time.

Then the phone bill arrived

One month later, I checked our mobile phone statements — and nearly fell off my chair. The bill had almost doubled.

For over three years, the combined bill for my mother's phone and mine had stayed around ¥2,200. Then suddenly: ¥3,262 in March, and ¥4,361 in April. When I looked at the data usage details, I could see it had shot up sharply from the day I started using the apps.

The culprit: video ads

After some research online, I found the likely cause: the apps play short video advertisements each time they award points, and these videos consume a surprising amount of mobile data.

The points I had earned were a tiny fraction of the extra charges. What I had started as a way to save money had ended up costing me more.

A silver lining — at least for Mum

While it was a costly lesson for me, my mother found an unexpected bonus. Through one of the apps, she discovered a game called Tile Explorer, and she has been happily playing it ever since.

To be fair, for anyone on an unlimited data plan, these walking reward apps can be a fun way to earn a little extra. You can accumulate points through walking, downloading games, or signing up for services through the app, then exchange them for gift cards usable at convenience stores. For the right person, they're genuinely worthwhile.

In summary

If you want to try a step-count reward app, I'd strongly recommend checking your mobile data plan first. If you're on a limited-data plan like mine, the video ads can quietly eat through your allowance — and you may end up spending more than you earn.

"I tried to save money with a rewards app and somehow ended up paying more." It's funny in hindsight — but it wasn't so funny when the bill arrived.