Virtual journeys. Real choices.
Free walking challenges.Find your next adventure.
Zelus, The Conqueror and five alternatives: compare the cost, the rewards and the way you walk together.
Choose Zelus for free virtual routes with game-like progression. Earn XP, gain levels and collect virtual medals as you move. Prefer a physical medal delivered to your door? Compare The Conqueror or Pacer’s paid medal challenges.
Compare the seven apps
Make progress somewhere new.
Zelus app image. Distances shown are virtual challenge goals.
Which walking challenge app fits you?
Compare free access, paid extras and the experience you get. All seven have iPhone and Android apps.
On a small screen, scroll the table sideways to compare every column.
| App | What is free? | What costs extra? | Experience & friends |
|---|---|---|---|
| Our app ZelusFor game-like virtual journeys | Every virtual routeNo individual route packs to buy. See the store-description note. [1] | Optional Premium features and in-app purchases. Free routes do not mean every extra is free. | XP, levels, landmarks and virtual profile medals. Race friends on virtual routes; larger races are a Premium feature. |
| The ConquerorFor physical medal collecting | Download is free; standard challenge entry is paidCheck any promotion’s conditions separately. [2] | Buy challenge entry with a medal, or a digital-only entry without one. Prices vary by challenge and offer. | Virtual routes and physical finisher medals with medal entry. Teams combine distance; each person needs their own challenge entry. |
| PacerFor step contests or paid adventures | Group step challengesCreate a competition, invite friends and follow the leaderboard. [3] | Adventure Challenges through Premium or a paid registration. Premium participation does not include a physical medal. | Free step contests across both phones. Buy a medal challenge separately if a physical reward is your goal. |
| World WalkingFor solo exploration or shared group walks | Solo walks and joining a groupBasic includes step syncing. [4] | Plus for creating groups, more simultaneous walks and background syncing. | Virtual destinations and achievements. One Plus organiser can invite up to nine others to join free. Also available on the web. |
| Walk the DistanceFor famous hiking trails | A selection of trailsFree walks are listed in every category. [5] | Additional routes and Premium. The iOS listing offers route purchases as well as membership. | Trail progress, checkpoints, friends and leaderboards. Organised group and company plans have separate pricing. |
| StepUpFor straightforward step competition | Private groups and leaderboardsThe provider lists free challenges without a required subscription. [6] | Optional in-app purchase to remove advertising. | Daily, weekly and custom-date step competitions, group chat and achievements. A strong choice if the leaderboard is the main attraction. |
| StridekickFor structured group challenges | Public challenges for up to 10 peopleUp to seven days long, with five modes. [7] | Paid plans for private, longer or larger challenges. | Leaderboard, streak, target and virtual-race formats. Check privacy and duration limits before inviting your group. |
A free download, a free virtual journey and a free step leaderboard are different offers. This is a selected comparison of route and challenge apps, not every walking app or a market-share ranking. Offers and features can change; check the selected plan before paying.
The Zelus advantage
More reasons to take the next step.
For walkers who want a destination and a sense of progression.
Keep exploring without buying route packs
Zelus’s published policy makes all routes free to access and complete. That is a clear cost advantage over standard paid challenge entry when you want a digital journey rather than a physical medal.
Make everyday movement feel like a game
Maps, milestones, XP, levels and virtual medals give your walking a sense of progression. If a daily step total alone leaves you cold, this is the reason to try Zelus.
Choose the reward that motivates you
Zelus keeps your medals on your profile. Choose it for digital collecting and route progress; choose a medal-entry challenge from The Conqueror or Pacer if you specifically want a physical keepsake.
The direct comparison
Zelus vs The Conqueror
Is Zelus a free alternative to The Conqueror?
Yes, for walkers seeking virtual route progress and digital rewards. Zelus offers free route access; The Conqueror’s standard model charges for challenge entry, including its digital-only option. You are choosing between different reward models, not simply two prices for an identical product.
When is The Conqueror the better fit?
If you want a physical finisher medal or a particular licensed challenge, compare The Conqueror’s catalogue. It also supports team distance sharing. Zelus is the stronger fit for a budget-conscious walker who wants game-like virtual journeys without buying individual route entries.
Before you choose
Routes, rewards and group limits.
Open an app’s notes for the distinction that matters.
Zelus: free routes, optional extras
Route access is free, but optional purchases and Premium extras remain. Virtual medals are digital, not shipped. Race capacity can depend on the app version and subscription. Store descriptions currently differ; check the in-app offer for your platform.
The Conqueror: digital-only is still a paid entry
A digital-only purchase excludes the physical medal, apparel and associated donations. An upgrade to medal entry is available. Team members each need their own entry; the team then adds distances together. Check any limited promotion separately. Official sources.
Pacer: free step contests are different from adventures
Free group step challenges do not mean all Adventure Challenges are free. Premium provides digital adventure participation without a medal shipment. A paid medal-challenge registration includes that challenge’s digital experience and medal without requiring a separate Premium subscription. Official sources.
World Walking: free to join, paid to organise
Basic supports solo walks and joining a group. Plus adds group creation and background syncing. One Plus organiser can invite nine others. These are the current worldwalking.com plans; the former .org service has been replaced. Official sources.
Walk the Distance: check the trail you want
Free trails are available, with other routes and features offered through purchases or Premium. Trail checkpoints and public leaderboards suit virtual hikers. Check your chosen trail and tracking connection before buying. Official sources.
StepUp: a strong free option for step leaderboards
StepUp offers free private groups, chat and daily or weekly leaderboards. Its website also describes custom-date competitions and optional ad removal. Choose it when a simple group step contest matters more than collecting destination medals. Official source.
Stridekick: check privacy and challenge length
The free plan’s user-created challenges are public, limited to ten participants and seven days. Paid plans extend these limits and offer private challenges. Its virtual-race mode means it is not only a step leaderboard. Official sources.
Check the details
A comparison you can check.
Zelus publishes this guide and is included in it. These are our recommendations based on official product information, not independent awards or a hands-on test of every app. We checked the sources on 2 November 2026. Prices vary by country and offer, so we compare payment models rather than quote a universal price.
Zelus store-description note
Apple explicitly states that all routes are free. Google Play still describes Premium access to the full library. This guide follows the all-routes-free policy stated on Apple; check the current in-app offer on Android.
- Zelus: App Store description and version history; Google Play listing.
- The Conqueror: paid challenge entry; digital-only purchases; teams and entry requirements.
- Pacer: free group step challenges; subscription and medal registration.
- World Walking: Basic and Plus plans; features; service migration.
- Walk the Distance: free trails and phones; features and plans; iOS purchases.
- StepUp: free groups, competition features and ad removal.
- Stridekick: free and paid plans; free-plan limits.