WeightsApp vs stickK: which one actually gets you to the gym?

Both apps run on the same idea: you will work harder when your own money is on the line. The difference is what happens to that money, and how each app decides whether you kept your word.

Short version: stickK is a general-purpose commitment tool built by behavioral economists. It works for any goal, from quitting smoking to finishing a thesis. WeightsApp Discipline does one thing: workouts, verified with photo proof, with a deposit that comes back when you finish.

The comparison

	WeightsApp Discipline	stickK
Built for	Workouts only	Any goal
Your stake	Refundable deposit you choose	Stakes you choose, charged only if you fail
If you succeed	Full deposit refunded automatically	You are never charged
If you fail	You forfeit the deposit	Money goes to a friend, a charity stickK selects, an anti-charity, or stickK itself
Verification	Photo proof after each workout, reviewed	Self-report, optionally confirmed by a referee you pick
Upfront cost	$2.99 flat fee per challenge	Free to create a contract
Schedule	You pick workouts per week and challenge length	You define your own goal and timeline
With friends	Squad mode, up to 6 people, shared leaderboard	Supporters get email updates

The biggest difference: who checks your work

stickK runs on self-reporting. You file a report saying you succeeded or failed. You can appoint a referee, a person you choose, who can overturn your reports. That works if your referee is strict. It does not work if your referee is your mom.

WeightsApp Discipline requires a photo after every workout, uploaded the same day, and proof is reviewed before it counts. There is no version of the challenge where you grade your own homework.

If you have ever quietly marked a habit "done" when it wasn't, you already know which model you need.

The money difference

On stickK, failed stakes leave forever. They go to a recipient you picked when you started, including the famous anti-charity option, an organization you oppose. It is a powerful motivator and a genuinely clever idea. But there is no refund moment, no payday for succeeding. Success just means you were never charged.

WeightsApp flips that. Your deposit goes in at the start and comes back in full when you finish. The $2.99 fee covers card processing and nothing else. Finishing has a moment: the money lands back in your account.

Which should you choose?

Choose stickK if your goal is not fitness, or if the anti-charity threat motivates you more than getting your own money back. It is free to try and the commitment-contract model has real research behind it; the company was founded by Yale economists who studied exactly this.

Choose WeightsApp Discipline if the goal is specifically to stop skipping workouts. Photo proof closes the self-reporting loophole, the refund gives you a finish line worth reaching, and squad mode adds the one thing stickK doesn't have: friends watching a live leaderboard.

Start a Discipline challenge

FAQ

Does stickK cost money? Creating a contract is free. Your card is only charged if you report failure on a contract with stakes.

Do I get my stickK stakes back if I succeed? You are never charged for successful reports, but there is no deposit and no refund. Forfeited money never comes back.

How is WeightsApp's proof reviewed? You upload a photo after each scheduled workout. It stays pending until review, then counts toward your streak and completion.

Can I do either one with friends? WeightsApp has squad mode: up to 6 people, shared stakes, live leaderboard. stickK has supporters who receive progress emails and referees who verify reports.