You don’t necessarily need an activity tracker if you want to track your steps.

Best of all, many of these pedometer/step counter apps are free.

Check out some of the best available in the list below.

A step count shown on a smartphone.

mihailomilovanovic / Getty Images

Sleek, Simple and Automatic Step Counting: StepsApp Pedometer

Animations and customizable colors.

Access to history going months and years back.

Support for tracking wheelchair pushes.

Three screenshots of StepsApp Pedometer

Calories burned may not be accurate.

Main layout is very dark with no light version.

Get Motivated by Connecting With Your Friends: Stepz

High accuracy and battery efficiency.

Three screenshots of Stepz.

Unlock fun and creative achievements.

Ability to connect with friends.

iOS widget and other features require upgrade.

Three screenshots of Pacer Pedometer & Step Tracker.

All premium subscriptions are billed weekly.

Stepz is a pedometer app that balances basic functionality and offers extra fun.

Visually Pleasing With Powerful Features: Pacer Pedometer & Step Tracker

Beautiful and intuitive interface.

Three screenshots of Steps - Activity Tracker.

Access to photos, maps data, and activity tracking.

Ability to create plans and set daily goals.

Track more info like blood pressure and weight.

Three screenshots of Pedometer & Step Counter.

No customizable themes available.

Premium features require subscription upgrade.

Pacer is well-rated step counter app in the Health & Fitness category that combines breathtaking design with powerful features.

Three screenshots of Pedometer++

No need to push start or stop buttons.

Calendar history viewer with summaries and trends.

Seven colored themes to choose from.

Three screenshots of Runtastic Steps.

Not ideal if you want lots of customization and features.

Ads appear at the top of the app.

Calorie tracking is available with an upgrade to premium.

Three screenshots of Accupedo Pedometer

Best for Your Battery: Pedometer & Step Counter

Built for speed, simplicity and battery saving.

Adjusts for sensitivity to increase count accuracy.

Opportunity to earn badges for milestones achieved.

Need to tap start for it to begin counting steps.

Known to stop tracking sometimes if screen is locked.

Set Your Own Goals: Pedometer++

Runs in the background without impacting battery.

Extremely customizable themes and controls.

Opportunity to work toward achievements.

Steps seem to go missing sometimes.

Layout and design seem overly simplistic and dated.

Access to logging with free account.

Integrates with other Runtastic apps.

Pretty hard on battery life.

Very minimal selection of training plans.

With a premium membership, you’ll gain access to dedicated 10K and other walking and racing training plans.

Just the Basics Plus GPS Tracking: Accupedo Pedometer

Well-designed charts to easily spot trends.

GPS map integration to view routes and stats.

Motion sensor sensitivity adjustment setting.

Nice selection of color themes.

Not recommended to wear on loosely fitted clothes.

GPS tracking may quickly decrease battery life.