The National Steps Challenge is still one of Singapore's easiest health habits to start. Download Healthy 365, pair a tracker or supported app, move more, sync your data, and earn Healthpoints.
The part people misunderstand is the reward design. The current challenge is not built to pay you for endless walking. It rewards a basic step floor and then pushes you toward moderate-to-vigorous physical activity, better known as MVPA. That is the real health nudge.
| Action | Current reward signal | What it means |
|---|---|---|
| First 1,000 steps after joining | Bonus Healthpoints when available | Check the app for the current sign-up bonus |
| 5,000 steps in a day | 10 Healthpoints daily max for steps | Walking past 5,000 does not keep adding step points |
| 10 to 19 min MVPA | 10 Healthpoints | Intensity matters, not just step count |
| 20 to 29 min MVPA | 15 Healthpoints | The middle tier rewards a real workout block |
| 30+ min MVPA | 20 Healthpoints daily max for MVPA | Daily activity cap is usually 30 points with steps plus MVPA |
- Current reward signal
- Bonus Healthpoints when available
- What it means
- Check the app for the current sign-up bonus
- Current reward signal
- 10 Healthpoints daily max for steps
- What it means
- Walking past 5,000 does not keep adding step points
- Current reward signal
- 10 Healthpoints
- What it means
- Intensity matters, not just step count
- Current reward signal
- 15 Healthpoints
- What it means
- The middle tier rewards a real workout block
- Current reward signal
- 20 Healthpoints daily max for MVPA
- What it means
- Daily activity cap is usually 30 points with steps plus MVPA
What the National Steps Challenge is now
HPB says the National Steps Challenge is a physical activity initiative to encourage Singapore residents to move more every day. It used to feel like a seasonal step campaign. Since April 2022, HPB has refreshed it into a year-round programme, and since September 2023 eligible Healthy 365 users no longer need to separately register for the challenge.
That change matters. There is no old-style panic about missing a season. The app is the main layer now: track, sync, earn, redeem.
Who can participate
HPB materials say the National Steps Challenge is open to members of the public who reside in Singapore with a valid NRIC or FIN and are aged 17 or above, based on birth year. Users below 18 need parental consent.
Tracker collection has narrower criteria than participation. Singapore Citizens and PRs aged 17 and above may be eligible for a free HPB tracker if they have not collected one before, while foreigners may have different conditions such as Corporate Challenge participation. For tracker details, use our HPB fitness tracker guide.
The 5,000-step rule
The current reward structure gives 10 Healthpoints when you clock 5,000 or more steps in a day. That is the daily maximum for the steps category.
This is why “10,000 steps” is no longer the right rewards target. Walking 10,000 steps may still be healthy and useful, but the reward curve flattens after 5,000 steps. If your only goal is Healthpoints, the better strategy is 5,000 steps plus MVPA, not 15,000 gentle steps.
For a deeper look at the health side of step count, read our guide to what 10,000 steps really does.
MVPA is where the challenge is pointing
HPB changed the National Steps Challenge to align more closely with the Singapore Physical Activity Guidelines. Those guidelines recommend adults accumulate 150 to 300 minutes of moderate-intensity aerobic activity per week, plus muscle-strengthening activity at least two days a week.
The challenge reflects that. MVPA earns more than steps because it pushes heart rate and intensity. HPB materials describe MVPA as activity that brings your heart rate above 64% of your maximum heart rate, and the challenge requires at least 10 continuous minutes per session to clock MVPA duration.
That means a slow stroll can earn steps but no MVPA. A brisk walk, jog, cycling session, gym circuit or sport session is more likely to count if the tracker records enough heart-rate intensity.
What the points are worth
Healthpoints are useful, but they are not income. The standard HPB eVoucher conversion is 750 Healthpoints for S$5 or 1,500 Healthpoints for S$10, which works out to about 150 Healthpoints per S$1.
If you are aged 40 or above and eligible, the MediShield Life premium discount pilot is better. MOH says residents aged 40 and above can redeem MediShield Life premium discounts at 150 Healthpoints to S$2 under a three-year pilot from 18 September 2025. That is double the usual standard voucher value.
The catch: Healthpoints expire six months from the month they are earned. Set up redemption habits or auto-redemption so the points do not disappear.
The annual cap people miss
The HPB Rewards Programme FAQ says Lifestyle Category Healthpoints are subject to an annual maximum limit of 28,500 Healthpoints per calendar year, while Partners Programme Healthpoints have a separate 12,000-point cap. Lifestyle activities include steps, MVPA, sleep, healthier purchases, meal log entries, quizzes, workouts and surveys.
Most people will not hit that cap by casual walking. But if you are stacking every Healthy 365 activity, it matters. Once you hit the cap, extra completed lifestyle activities may still show in transactions but may not add more points.
A practical week that actually works
Do not make the challenge harder than it needs to be. For most readers, the simple target is:
- Hit 5,000 steps daily through commuting, errands and walking breaks.
- Add 10 to 30 minutes of brisk walking, jogging, cycling or gym work on most days.
- Aim for 150 minutes of MVPA per week over time.
- Sync your tracker regularly.
- Redeem points before expiry.
This is not a substitute for proper training if you have bigger goals. It is a public-health nudge that can help sedentary people move from nothing to something.
Common mistakes
The first mistake is chasing 10,000 steps for points. It can be good for health, but it does not keep increasing step rewards after the cap.
The second mistake is assuming any movement counts as MVPA. MVPA needs enough heart-rate intensity and enough continuous duration.
The third mistake is not syncing. HPB trackers can store only up to 7 days of data, so weekly syncing is the minimum.
The fourth mistake is hoarding Healthpoints. They expire.
FAQ
Do I still need to register separately for National Steps Challenge? HPB materials say eligible Healthy 365 users no longer need separate registration from 18 September 2023. Check the app if you previously withdrew or have an unusual account state.
How many Healthpoints do I get for 5,000 steps? Current HPB materials show 10 Healthpoints for 5,000 or more steps in a day, with 10 as the daily maximum for steps.
Does 10,000 steps earn more than 5,000 steps? Not for the current step reward tier. It may still be healthy, but the step reward cap is reached at 5,000 steps.
What is MVPA? Moderate-to-vigorous physical activity. In HPB's challenge materials, it requires enough heart-rate intensity and at least 10 continuous minutes per session.
What is the best way to redeem Healthpoints? For eligible residents aged 40 and above, the MediShield Life premium discount pilot has a better conversion rate than standard vouchers. Otherwise, use HPB eVouchers, SimplyGo or donations before expiry.
Sources
- HPB: National Steps Challenge refined around physical activity recommendations
- HPB National Steps Challenge FAQ via HealthHub content API
- Healthy 365 app FAQ
- HPB Rewards Programme FAQ
- MOH: MediShield Life premium discounts using Healthpoints
- HPB: Singapore Physical Activity Guidelines revised
- Turning steps into rewards in Singapore
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