Is there a step counter without ads or tracking?
Short answer: Yes. PrivateSteps shows no ads and runs no analytics. It has no internet access of its own, so it cannot send anything about you anywhere. It counts steps with your phone's built-in sensor and keeps every number on the phone itself.
Why ads and tracking go together
Free apps often pay their way with advertising, and advertising works better when it knows who you are and what you do. That can mean your walking habits, your location and your device details being shared.
A step counter should not need any of that.
For many of us, walking is quiet time. An advert in the middle of checking your count, or a notice nudging you toward a partner offer, gets in the way of that.
What no tracking means here
- No ads, banners or pop-ups
- No analytics watching how you use the app
- No sharing with other companies
- No leaderboard, feed or friends list
The app has no internet access of its own, so it is not able to phone home even if it wanted to.
PrivateSteps records and draws your numbers. It does not judge them, interpret them or tell you what to do about them.
Hiding the count on the lock screen is one tap, in case you prefer others not to see it.
How the app pays its way
PrivateSteps is free to start, with a subscription handled by the store. That is the only online step, and it happens in the store, not in the app. See the store listing for current pricing.
Checking for yourself
You do not have to take our word for it. Turn on airplane mode and use the app for a day. Everything works the same. You can also read our privacy page, and see how the app works offline.
If you ever want to leave, export your data and erase everything with one button.
Nothing here is hidden behind a login, so there is nothing to sign out of and nothing to switch off.
What you see on the screen is simply your own steps.
Keep your steps on your phone
Free to start. See the store listing for current pricing.
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Questions
Does a free step counter have to show ads?
Not necessarily. PrivateSteps is free to start and shows no ads. The store handles any subscription.
Does PrivateSteps track my location?
Only if you choose Track a walk, which measures GPS distance on the phone. Nothing from it is uploaded.
Can I see what data the app holds?
Yes. You can export daily totals or hour-by-hour detail as a CSV file and open it yourself.
PrivateSteps records and draws your own numbers. It does not diagnose, interpret or give medical advice. Talk to your own doctor or care team about your health.