Pipstep questions

Pipstep is a walking and running habit app for iPhone and Apple Watch: short guided lessons, easy to hard, starting with a five-minute walk. Here are short answers to what people ask before they install it. Something else? See Help or write to office@doderasoft.com.

Price and Plus

Is Pipstep free?

Yes. Every lesson on the path, from a five-minute walk to a half marathon, is free with no ads, and so are the voice coach, Apple Health, Habit school, the streak and the friends features. Pipstep Plus is an optional subscription.

What's in Pipstep Plus?

Plus adds unlimited Practice, Legendary lessons and Pip's Delivery Run, lessons you make yourself, streak repair and a weekly streak freeze, Your year with Pip, bonus themed courses, deeper stats, Plus outfits, a bonus friend quest and more voices for Pip. It is monthly, yearly, or yearly for a family of up to 6; prices vary by country and are shown in the app before you subscribe. Cancel any time in your Apple Account settings.

Devices

Do I need an Apple Watch?

No. Lessons run on iPhone too, with GPS, your AirPods and a Live Activity. With an Apple Watch you can leave the iPhone at home, and you also get taps on your wrist.

Does it work without my iPhone?

Yes, with an Apple Watch. A lesson starts, runs and finishes on the watch alone, and your progress syncs with your iPhone when they are close again.

Which iPhone and Apple Watch do I need?

An iPhone with iOS 26 or later. For lessons on your wrist, an Apple Watch with watchOS 26 or later.

Does it work offline?

Yes. A lesson starts, runs and finishes with no phone and no network. Signing in and the friends features need an internet connection.

Getting started

Can I start if I've never run?

Yes, that is who Pipstep starts with. The first section is walking only, beginning with a five-minute walk, and lessons grow slowly. You don't need to be fit: every target is set from your own pace and how you feel today.

I already run. Do I have to start from the beginning?

No. Pipstep can look at your Apple Health history to suggest where to start, and if you run more than a lesson asks, Pip offers a test to jump ahead.

Is it only for running, or also for walking?

Both. The whole first section is walking only, later lessons mix walking with short jogs, and Habit school has walk and listen lessons. You can also make your own lesson with only walks.

How is Pipstep different from a typical beginner running plan?

A typical couch-to-5K plan gives everyone the same run and walk times, week by week. Pipstep starts earlier, with a five-minute walk, sets every target from your own easy, steady and fast, lets a missed lesson simply wait for you, and keeps going past 5 km to 10 km and a half marathon. Pip coaches every step live in your ears.

During a lesson

Does it work with my music and AirPods?

Yes. Pip talks in your AirPods or other headphones and lowers your music only for a moment, pausing it just for important moments. On Apple Watch, connect the headphones to the watch; on iPhone without headphones, Pip can talk through the speaker.

Does it work on a treadmill?

Yes. Lessons work outside or on a treadmill, on Apple Watch and on iPhone.

What happens if I miss a day?

Nothing bad. A missed lesson simply waits for you, and campfires you earned keep your streak warm on rest days. A stop at a red light never counts against you either.

Health and privacy

Does it save to Apple Health?

Yes. Every lesson is saved as a workout with your route, heart rate and each step as an interval, and it counts for your Activity rings.

Does Pipstep share my workouts or data?

Your Apple Health data and your location stay on your devices; they are never sent to our servers or used for ads. An account is optional: if you sign in for friends, only lesson results like minutes, distance, stars and XP reach our server, and you choose whether friends see your lessons. Read the privacy policy.

Is it safe if I have a health condition?

Pipstep is a walking and running coach, not medical advice. If you have a heart or other long-term condition, are pregnant, or are coming back from an injury or operation, check with your doctor before you start. Settings → Health & safety → "Keep it extra gentle" stops Pip from ever asking you to speed up.

Everything else

Can I use it with friends?

Yes, if you want to. Sign in with Apple, Google or email (you must be 16 or older), then add friends with a friend code or an invite link to cheer each other's lessons, send a nudge, join a weekly league or a small group, or walk together from different places.

Do I need an account?

No. Lessons, Apple Health and everything else work without one. You only sign in for the friends features and a backup of your progress.

Is Pipstep available in my language?

Pipstep is in English only for now.

Is Pipstep accessible?

Yes. On iPhone it supports VoiceOver, Larger Text, Dark Interface, Sufficient Contrast and Reduced Motion; on Apple Watch, VoiceOver, Dark Interface and Reduced Motion. More about accessibility.