Designed to make walking more enjoyable, the Time to Walk feature is like having a successful person in your ear while you go about your daily walk. But, what is the Time to Walk feature exactly, and how do you get it?
What Is the Apple Fitness+ Time to Walk Feature?
In 2022, Apple launched the Apple Fitness+ Time to Walk Feature. With Time to Walk, Apple Fitness+ users have access to podcast-like 25 to 40-minute episodes of celebrities sharing personal stories, photos, and music recommendations.
If you’re an Apple Fitness+ subscriber, the most recent Time to Walk (or Time to Run) episodes will be downloaded to your Apple Watch. However, this will only work if your Apple Watch is charging while connected to the internet.
Unfortunately, like the rest of the Apple Fitness+ features, Time to Walk isn’t free for all users. However, there are ways wherein you can simulate a similar experience for free. You’ll find out how to do so in the sections below.
YouTube Playlists
If you’re feeling a little experimental, you can scour YouTube for interviews of your favorite celebrities and intertwine them with songs they mention or remind you of them. Alternatively, if you just feel like hearing someone’s voice, there are plenty of YouTube videos of celebrities reading books as well.
Although YouTube is free, you may have to invest in YouTube Premium if you want to avoid pesky ads from ruining your listening experience. Thankfully, YouTube Premium ($9.99/month) also offers free trials, so you can decide whether it’s worth investing in or not.
Download: YouTube Music for Android | iPhone (Free, subscription available)
Spotify Playlists
With Spotify, you can curate a combination of music and podcasts to recreate the Time to Walk feature, which is doable considering it hosts over 82 million tracks and four million podcast titles, according to the Spotify newsroom.
If you don’t have the budget, you can still enjoy Spotify’s growing obsession with podcasts, including podcasts by influential people like Michelle Obama, for free with its ad-supported tier. However, the ads can be quite annoying and distract you from getting into the zone. Thankfully, there are plenty of ways to save money on a Spotify Premium subscription.
With a paid subscription, you can benefit from better quality sound and on-demand offline listening. Although, it’s important to understand that many podcasts are also sponsored. With this, even if you do pay for a premium subscription, it doesn’t mean you will never have to hear an ad ever again.
Download: Spotify for Android | iPhone (Free, subscription available)
Headspace
If you’re not really into listening to music but simply enjoy the sound of a soothing voice, then you may prefer a meditation app instead. There are several free meditation apps, which you can use to clear your mind while having your walk.
With Headspace, you can enjoy the benefits of mindfulness and a positive mindset while moving. However, it’s best to make sure that you don’t listen to any meditations designed to put you to rest while you’re having a walk. Thankfully, Headspace has meditations specifically designed for movements like dance videos, cardio, stretches, and yoga.
Download: iPhone | Android (Free trial available, subscription required)
Google Podcasts
With a clean interface, Google Podcasts is a free podcast app with great playback controls. For example, you don’t just get the feature to increase the playback speed up to three times faster to help encourage you to walk faster, but you have the option to trim the silence.
In 2020, Google Podcasts became available for Android and iOS users with an updated interface. If you’re big on the Google smart home ecosystem, Google Podcasts can even begin playing your stuff from your phone while you’re on a walk and finish with your Nest speakers at home.
Download: Google Podcasts on iPhone | Android (Free)
Audible
If you’re looking for an almost endless list of listening content, Audible is known to have the world’s biggest selection of audiobook titles. Should you be looking to hear your favorite celebrity’s voice, Audible also has books read aloud by celebrities.
However, you can get a 30-day trial for free, which gives you one credit (or two credits for Prime members) that you can use to claim an audiobook for free and that you can listen to forever. Thankfully, there are also a lot of great Audible alternatives available for audiobook lovers.
Download: Audible (Subscription required, free trial available)
Get the Apple Fitness+ Time to Walk Experience for Free
If you’re just going to use Time to Walk, it may not make sense to invest in the whole Apple Fitness+ suite. After all, there are plenty of free options available where you could get a similar experience.
However, if you were going to invest in Apple Fitness+ anyway for its health recommendations and Apple Watch integrations, the new feature might be a nifty add-on that can definitely enhance your fitness journey. Alternatively, you may want to consider Apple Fitness+ alternatives that fit your needs and budget a little better.
