DietBet Alternatives in 2026: 5 Apps Compared on Cost and Payouts

The closest DietBet alternative is HealthyWage, which also puts money on weight loss but pays a fixed prize for a bigger goal over several months. StepBet keeps DietBet's group pot and swaps the scale for a step tracker. Forfeit, Beeminder and stickK drop the pot altogether: you set a goal, and you only pay when you miss it.

Key Takeaways

• HealthyWage is the closest DietBet alternative for weight loss: you bet on losing at least 10% of your weight and win a fixed prize instead of a share of a pot.
• StepBet comes from the same original maker as DietBet and runs the same kind of group pot, with a step tracker in place of the scale.
• Forfeit, Beeminder and stickK charge you when you miss a goal and pay nothing when you hit it.
• DietBet keeps 10% to 25% of the pot, while HealthyWage, Forfeit and Beeminder make money in other ways, so compare the whole cost before you switch.
• DietBet's own strengths are referee-checked weigh-ins, safety limits on how much you can lose and a refund window in its four-week games.

DietBet asks you to lose a set share of your body weight (4% in four weeks in its Kickstarter game), proves it with photo weigh-ins and keeps 10% to 25% of the pot depending on the bet size, per its FAQ. Each option below changes the goal, the proof or where the money ends up.

DietBet alternatives at a glance

What DietBet does well

Before you leave, weigh what you would give up. DietBet has human referees check every weigh-in photo, which makes games feel fair. It blocks anyone with a BMI under 18.5 and caps how much you can lose, so nobody wins by crash dieting. A Kickstarter bet is refundable for seven days after the start. It had 4.8 stars from about 21,000 App Store ratings and 4.9 from about 14,200 Google Play reviews in October 2026.

The common complaints are the fee, which shrinks winnings when many people win, and the weigh-in routine. Some reviewers on the App Store say the two-photo weigh-in with a code word is a hassle and that the membership screens feel pushy. Cash-outs under $50 also carry a $5 handling fee, per DietBet's terms.

HealthyWage

HealthyWage turns a bigger weight goal into a fixed prize. You choose a goal of at least 10% of your body weight, a timeframe and a bet, and its calculator shows the prize, which is locked once you start. The site says the average bettor pays about $60 a month for nine months and the average prize is about $1,203, with offers up to $10,000. You weigh in by app or video at the start and weigh out in the last two weeks.

What it does well: you see the prize before you commit, you can pay in monthly installments, and you can lose the weight any healthy way you like.

Its limits: the rules allow no refunds or cancellations outside documented medical cases, and installments keep being charged after you fall behind. Missing the goal by any amount means no prize. Paper checks cost $7, and PayPal's fee of 2.9% plus $0.30 applies unless HealthyWage covers it. The minimum bet is not listed on their site as of October 2026.

StepBet

StepBet was built by WayBetter, the same company that built DietBet, and it runs the same kind of group game with steps. Most games cost $40 for six weeks. It sets personal Active and Power step targets from your tracker history, and you need to hit them on a set number of days each week.

What it does well: the first week is a warm-up where nobody is knocked out, you can quit with a full refund until day 7, and it reads Apple Health, Fitbit, Garmin and Google Health Connect. The App Store showed 4.8 stars from about 23,000 ratings.

Its limits: StepBet keeps 15% of the pot in standard games, pays out to PayPal only, and its points expire after 12 months without activity. Some reviewers say profits are small and tracker sync problems cost them a game.

Forfeit

Forfeit is a solo penalty app. You set a habit, a deadline and an amount, then prove it with a photo, a timelapse, a GPS check-in or an Apple Health threshold such as 10,000 steps. Miss it and your card is charged. A person reviews appeals, within 12 hours according to the site.

What it does well: it covers almost any habit and had 4.8 stars from 364 App Store ratings.

Its limits: you can lose money but never win any, and the site says forfeited money is, for now, kept by Forfeit. Paid tiers on the App Store run from $3.99 a week to $99.99 a year.

Beeminder

Beeminder draws a line through any goal you can measure and charges you when your data falls below it. You can type numbers in by hand or sync them from Fitbit, Garmin, Oura or Apple Health. Each miss moves the pledge up a ladder: $5, $10, $30, $90 and onward, up to a cap you set.

What it does well: it is built for years of use, with about a week of safety buffer by default and clear graphs of your progress.

Its limits: every charge goes to Beeminder, and its FAQ calls that the business model. The free plan covers three goals; paid plans cost $8, $16 or $81 a month. Some users on its forum say the settings take time to learn.

stickK

stickK was founded in 2007 by Yale economists. You write a commitment contract for any goal, pick a referee and decide whether to put money on it. Guides cite a minimum of $5 per reporting period. If you fail, the money goes to a friend, one of more than 20 US charities on its list, or an "anti-charity" whose cause you oppose.

What it does well: it is free for individuals, it works for any goal, and the anti-charity option is a strong push. stickK's co-founder has said 78% of users with money and a referee reach their goals, against 35% with neither (a company claim reported by Wikipedia).

Its limits: progress is self-reported, so it relies on your honesty and your referee. It had 2.6 stars from 26 App Store ratings, and some reviewers on JustUseApp report unexpected charges and login trouble. Whether stickK takes a fee from forfeited stakes is not listed on their site as of October 2026.

Who each one suits

• HealthyWage: you want to lose 10% or more and like seeing a fixed prize in advance.
• StepBet: you want a group pot like DietBet's, built on steps rather than weight.
• Forfeit: you want a strict penalty for a daily habit, with proof checked for you.
• Beeminder: you track numbers for months or years and want the stakes to climb.
• stickK: you want a free commitment with a friend as referee and money going to a cause.

This is Steppa's blog, so one note on our own app. If you would rather put money on walking than on the scale, Steppa runs step challenges on iPhone: you pay a stake, hit one daily step goal every day, and the people who finish split the whole pool. For most players a service fee of $0.50 plus 4% of the stake is shown before you pay. Paid play is for adults where available under its Terms.

If weight is the goal, our guide to walking for weight loss covers how many steps tend to help, and the comparison hub lists every app we have compared.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the best alternative to DietBet?

For weight loss, HealthyWage is the nearest match. You bet that you will lose at least 10% of your body weight over months, and its calculator shows a fixed prize before you start. If you would rather put money on daily activity, StepBet runs the same group pot as DietBet with step targets. If you only want a penalty for slipping, Forfeit, Beeminder and stickK charge you when you miss and pay nothing when you succeed.

Is HealthyWage better than DietBet?

It suits a different goal. DietBet's Kickstarter game asks for 4% of your weight in four weeks, and winners split the pot after a 10% to 25% fee. HealthyWage asks for at least 10% over a timeframe you choose and pays a fixed prize, which its site says averages about $1,203. HealthyWage allows no refunds outside documented medical cases, while DietBet refunds a Kickstarter bet within seven days of the start.

Is there a free app like DietBet?

Some of the alternatives cost nothing to use, but none of them pays you a pot without a bet. stickK is free for individuals and lets you set a commitment with no money at all, or with a stake that goes to a friend or a charity if you fail. Beeminder is free for three goals but charges a pledge each time you fall off your line. Forfeit is a free download with paid tiers.

Are there DietBet alternatives that use steps instead of weight?

Yes. StepBet uses your step tracker, sets weekly targets from your history and splits the pot among people who hit them, keeping 15% in standard games. HealthyWage also lists step challenges in its app, where everyone who meets a personal step goal splits the pot. Forfeit and Beeminder can both read steps from Apple Health and charge you when you fall short of a daily target.