App review: Is ActivityTracker the simple fitness companion you need? - IOL

ActivityTracker is a highly rated, battery-friendly mobile app that seamlessly combines a classic pedometer with GPS tracking to monitor daily steps, calories, elevation, and outdoor workouts without requiring a smartwatch. Picture: Michael Sherman/IOL

Finding a fitness app that seamlessly tracks daily movement without overwhelming you with menus or requiring pricey smartwatch subscriptions can be a challenge.

At least that’s been the case for me.

Enter ActivityTracker, a hit app boasting a 4.8-star rating across 99,000 reviews on the App Store.

Designed for iOS and Android, it monitors your movement directly through your phone’s built-in sensors. After testing it for a month, here is how it holds up for tech-minded users.

ActivityTracker functions brilliantly in two distinct ways: as a classic, passive pedometer that counts daily steps with minimal battery impact, and as an active, GPS-based tracker for specific workouts like walks, runs, hikes, and bike rides.

Upon installation on an iPhone, it syncs with Apple Health to import historical activity data. Even if you have only used the app for a few weeks, it retroactively visualizes past performance. The app clearly displays total long-term progress—showing trends across 2025 and 2026. Comparing yearly totals like 370,000 steps over a partial three-month period in late 2025 against 880,000 steps in 2026 gives users an immediate visual indicator of whether their habits are improving.

The main dashboard strikes a solid balance between detailed metrics and clean visual design. The home screen features an intuitive bar chart breakdown of recent activity, making day-to-day comparisons effortless.

The main trade-off comes down to pocket space: passive tracking relies on having your device physically on you. However, by combining low-power background pedometer capabilities with live GPS tracking for dedicated outdoor sessions, ActivityTracker offers a clean, battery-friendly, and highly visual alternative to an expensive smartwatch.