Guest post by Jamie Anderson An application that pays you for working out? Sounds too good to be true; and for Android users, it really is.  Pact, a San Francisco-based application, encourages you to challenge yourself to eat healthy, exercise or incorporate more vegetables in to your diet. Last week I decided to test out the workout app. To get started you choose the number of days you will exercise throughout the week and the amount you’ll be deducted if you miss one. I chose to commit to two days per week—the amount that I go to the gym anyway—with a penalty of $5 per day (the least daunting amount you’re allowed to choose). After you sign up, you receive two emails welcoming you to the app that make sure you understand the rules; all workouts must be at least 30 minutes in order to count, daily step counting for your pact must be a minimum of 10,000 steps, etc. Tuesday I went to the gym, told the app I was ready to start my workout when a message appeared that I had no internet connection. Drat. No biggie, I just planned to borrow my boyfriend’s phone equipped with a data plan and make up for it another day. Thursday I was back at the gym and things were looking better. The app asked me to change the GPS settings of the phone to give permission to use my location, so I check-marked the tiny box. The app was frozen like that for over an hour. I guess I’m not getting credit for this pact either. There is another option for us Android users and that is to use an existing exercise app, such as Fitbit or Jawbone Up, and allow Pact to share those results. Unfortunately each of the “Free” applications supported by Pact require you to buy an attachment to track your movement. With the end of the Pact week around the corner I was getting desperate, but not desperate enough to shell out the money for a motion-tracking device. I even tried to delete the app all-together—nope—“You are still responsible for your two pacts” followed by a message that the app will be deleted the day after your pact is over. Well played Pact. Well played. I turned to my sister who recommended the app to me. Surely she and her iPhone were having better luck. Since downloading the app last year, she has earned close to $30 all because of one very important factor. The iPhone contains a built in motion sensor. The apps that Android users need to buy attachments for, iPhone users do not. She even told me that although the Gym Check In and Partner App choices are the same, those using an iPhone also have a Motion Tracker option. As long as it’s 30 minutes of movement, she can anything from walk her dog to doing her favourite Jillian Michaels video in her living room. I hate to say it, but by Saturday I had given up tinkering. My weekend was filled with other things and I came to terms with losing my $10. Pact’s website raves, “Earn cash for living healthy, paid by for members who don’t,” so to everyone who doesn’t struggle with technology like I do, you’re welcome! Overall I’d say downloading Pact for iPhone is a great idea, you’ll use it all the time and make money for doing easy exercises. I’m sorry Android users, but I just don’t have the patience, looks like we’ll have to workout the old-fashioned way. For free. What experiences have you had with workout applications?