# DietBet vs HealthyWage: Which Weight Loss Bet Should You Pick?

> DietBet and HealthyWage compared on goals, game length, fees, refunds, weigh-ins and payouts, so you can choose the right weight loss bet for you.

Source: https://playsteppa.com/blog/dietbet-vs-healthywage/
Published: 2026-10-20
Author: The Steppa Team, Steppa (https://playsteppa.com)

## Key Takeaways

- DietBet runs shorter group games, such as 4% of your body weight in four weeks; HealthyWage asks for at least 10% over a timeframe you choose.
- DietBet winners split a pot after a 10% to 25% fee, while HealthyWage pays a fixed prize from its calculator, with offers up to $10,000.
- HealthyWage says the average bettor pays about $60 a month for nine months; DietBet bets start at $10.
- DietBet refunds a Kickstarter bet within seven days, while HealthyWage allows no refunds outside documented medical cases.
- Both check weight with photos or video at the start and end, and both pay winners by PayPal.

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Pick DietBet for a shorter, smaller weight goal in a group, and HealthyWage for a bigger goal over months with a fixed prize. DietBet's Kickstarter asks you to lose 4% of your body weight in four weeks, and winners split a pot. HealthyWage asks for at least 10%, and if you make it you get the prize its calculator offered when you signed up.

The other big difference is how much you commit. DietBet bets start at $10 and a Kickstarter can be refunded within seven days. HealthyWage says its average bettor pays about $60 a month for nine months, and refunds are only possible for documented medical cases.

## DietBet vs HealthyWage at a glance

| | DietBet | HealthyWage |
| --- | --- | --- |
| What you aim for | Lose 4% in 4 weeks (Kickstarter) or 10% over 6 months (Transformer) | Lose at least 10% over a timeframe you choose |
| What you can win | A share of the pot after the fee | A fixed prize from the calculator, offers up to $10,000 |
| What it costs | Bets from $10 | Bet you choose; average about $60 a month for 9 months |
| What the company keeps | 10% to 25% of the pot | No pot; prize fixed up front |
| Refunds | Kickstarter within 7 days; Transformer until day 14 | None, except documented medical cases |
| How weight is checked | Two-photo weigh-ins, human referees | In-app weigh-in or video, start and end |
| Payouts | Points worth $1, to PayPal | PayPal or check |
| App Store rating (Oct 2026) | 4.8 from about 21,000 ratings | 4.8 from about 18,000 ratings |

## How each one works

DietBet runs group games with a shared pot. A Kickstarter lasts four weeks and asks you to lose 4% of your body weight. A Transformer asks for 10% over six monthly rounds, each with its own target and payout. A Maintainer asks you to stay within 3% of your weight. You can join late, until day 14.

HealthyWage's main product, the HealthyWager, is a bet on yourself. You pick a goal of at least 10%, a timeframe and a bet size, and its calculator offers a prize that is locked once you start. You can pay up front or in monthly installments. It also runs team challenges, where teams of five compete for $18,000 in prizes, and step challenges, where everyone who meets a personal step goal splits a pot.

## What it costs and what you get

On DietBet, everyone's bets form the pot, and the company keeps 10% to 25% of it depending on bet size. Players who lose pay no extra fee. Your winnings depend on how many others win: more winners means a smaller share. An optional annual membership costs $49.99 on the App Store.

On HealthyWage, your prize is set before you start and does not change with other players. Its site says the average prize is about $1,203, and the App Store listing cites an average payout of $1,386. The catch is the all-or-nothing rule: miss the goal by any amount and you win nothing, and installments keep being charged. "Buy more time" adds six months and six installments with the same goal and prize. The minimum bet is not listed on their site as of October 2026.

## How progress is checked

DietBet asks for two photos at each weigh-in, one of you on the scale and one of the readout, with a code word for that weigh-in. Human referees check every one, and bets over $100 need a video. Players with a BMI under 18.5 cannot join.

HealthyWage checks your weight only at the start and the end. You can weigh in through the app in about 30 seconds or upload a short video, then weigh out in the last two weeks of the challenge. Its rules say referees usually confirm within one to two days, and an ending weight that implies more than 2% loss a week is adjusted upward.

## Getting paid

DietBet pays winnings as points worth $1 each. You cash out to PayPal in the same name as your account with government ID, cash-outs under $50 carry a $5 fee, and points expire a year after your last activity.

HealthyWage pays the prize by PayPal or check. A paper check costs $7, and PayPal's own fee of 2.9% plus $0.30 applies unless HealthyWage covers it. US winners with net winnings over $600 fill in a W-9.

## Who each one suits

- DietBet: you want a four-week goal, a lower starting bet and a refund window.
- HealthyWage: you have a large goal, want to see your prize up front, and are sure you can keep paying for months.
- Neither: you would rather reward daily movement than a number on the scale. Our guide to [walking for weight loss](/blog/walking-for-weight-loss/) covers that side.

For more options, see our lists of [DietBet alternatives](/blog/dietbet-alternatives/) and [HealthyWage alternatives](/blog/healthywage-alternatives/).

This is Steppa's blog, so one note on our own app. If you want a short game built on daily steps instead of weigh-ins, Steppa runs step challenges on iPhone: you pay a stake, hit one daily goal every day, and the finishers 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](https://legal.playsteppa.com/terms).

See every app we compare in the [comparison hub](/blog/steppa-alternatives-and-comparisons/).

## Frequently Asked Questions

**Is DietBet or HealthyWage better?**
DietBet suits a smaller, shorter goal: its Kickstarter asks you to lose 4% of your body weight in four weeks, and bets start at $10. HealthyWage suits a bigger goal of at least 10% over months, with a fixed prize you see before you start. If you are unsure you can keep going for nine months, DietBet's shorter games and refund window carry less risk.

**How much can you win on HealthyWage?**
HealthyWage's calculator offers a fixed prize based on your goal, timeframe and bet, with offers up to $10,000. Its how-it-works page says the average prize is about $1,203, and its App Store listing cites an average payout of $1,386. Miss the goal by any amount and you win nothing. Prizes over $600 require a W-9 form from US winners.

**Can you get a refund on DietBet or HealthyWage?**
DietBet's FAQ gives a full refund on a Kickstarter bet up to seven days after the game starts, and on a Transformer bet until day 14 of the first round. HealthyWage's rules have a strict no-refund, no-cancellation policy, with exceptions only for documented medical situations. Its installments keep being charged after you fall behind, though you can buy six more months with the same goal.

**What happens if you lose weight too fast on DietBet or HealthyWage?**
Both have limits. HealthyWage's rules say an ending weight that implies more than 2% loss per week is adjusted upward. DietBet sets maximum-loss limits in its games and can disqualify players who lose too much, such as 12% or more in a Kickstarter, with no refund. DietBet also blocks players with a BMI under 18.5.

## Sources

- [DietBet home page (game types), read October 2026](https://www.dietbet.com/)
- [DietBet FAQ (fees, refunds, weigh-ins), read October 2026](https://www.dietbet.com/faq)
- [DietBet Terms of Service (handling fees, disqualification), read October 2026](https://www.dietbet.com/terms)
- [DietBet on the App Store (rating, membership price), read October 2026](https://apps.apple.com/us/app/id532353287)
- [HealthyWage: How it works (average prize, installments), read October 2026](https://www.healthywage.com/weight-loss-bet/how-it-works/3/)
- [HealthyWager Challenge Rules (10% goal, refunds, payout fees, weight limits), read October 2026](https://www.healthywage.com/healthywager/rules/)
- [HealthyWage FAQ (team challenges, installments), read October 2026](https://www.healthywage.com/faq/frequently-asked-questions)
- [Weight Loss Bet by HealthyWage on the App Store (rating, average payout), read October 2026](https://apps.apple.com/us/app/id1001285466)
- [Steppa on the App Store, read October 2026](https://apps.apple.com/us/app/steppa-step-challenges/id6755126064)
- [Steppa Terms and Conditions](https://legal.playsteppa.com/terms)