Updated Jan 24, 2026

Step-by-Step Guide: Building a Fitbit Clone with Adalo

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Creating a fitness tracking app with features like activity monitoring, GPS routes, and social connectivity traditionally requires extensive mobile development expertise across multiple platforms. The challenge intensifies when you need to build for iOS, Android, and web simultaneously—typically demanding separate codebases, specialized developers, and months of development time before reaching users.

That's where Adalo comes in. Adalo is a no-code app builder for database-driven web apps and native iOS and Android apps—one version across all three platforms. AI-assisted building and streamlined publishing enable launch to the Apple App Store and Google Play in days rather than months.

Why Adalo Works for Building a Fitness Tracking App

Adalo is a no-code app builder for database-driven web apps and native iOS and Android apps—one version across all three platforms, published to the Apple App Store and Google Play. This makes it the perfect foundation for a Fitbit-style fitness tracker that needs to store workout data, sync across devices, and reach users wherever they are.

Publishing your fitness app to the official app stores unlocks critical capabilities like push notifications for workout reminders, step goal celebrations, and social challenges—features that keep users engaged and coming back daily. With Adalo handling the technical infrastructure, you can focus on designing the health and wellness experience your users deserve.

Building a fitness tracking app like Fitbit might seem daunting, but with Adalo's platform, you can create a professional health and wellness application without writing a single line of code. This guide shows how to implement activity tracking, GPS routes, social features, subscriptions, and analytics. You can even publish the same app to the web, native iOS, and native Android with Adalo, all without writing a line of code or rebuilding anything.

Why Build a Fitbit‑Style Fitness Tracker Without Code

Market Opportunity for Fitness Apps

The fitness segment continues to see strong demand as consumers adopt mobile health and wellness tools. For a sense of scale, review current “Fitness Apps” revenue and usage trends on Statista’s Fitness Apps segment (confirm geography and year when citing figures).

Benefits of No‑Code Development

No‑code development lowers the barrier to shipping cross‑platform apps by providing:

Speed: Visual assembly and reusable components accelerate iteration.
Built‑in infrastructure: Authentication, database/collections, hosting, and integrations built into the workflow.
Cross‑platform reach: Publish to iOS, Android, and the web from the same project via Adalo’s publishing features.
Cost control: Subscription pricing replaces large up‑front engineering investments.

Setting Up Your App Building Environment in Adalo

Creating Your First Project

Go to Adalo.com and create your account.
Click Create New App on your dashboard.
Choose Mobile App for the best tracking experience.
Pick portrait orientation and name your project (e.g., “FitTracker”).

Understanding the Adalo Interface

Left Sidebar: Components and screens.
Canvas: Visual layout of your app.
Right Panel: Properties/Actions for selected items.
Top Bar: Preview and publishing.
Bottom/Database: Collections, fields, and relationships.

For walkthroughs, see Adalo videos and tutorials.

Designing the Core Activity Tracking Features

Setting Up the Database Structure

Open Database and create core collections:

Activities

Activity Type (Text) — Running, Cycling, Walking, etc.
Start Time (Date & Time)
End Time (Date & Time)
Duration (Number) — seconds or minutes
Distance (Number) — km or miles
Average Pace/Speed (Number)
Calories (Number)
Route Data (Text or JSON for GPS points)
Title (Text), Notes (Multiline), Privacy (Text — Public/Followers/Private)

Locations (optional granular points)

Latitude (Number), Longitude (Number), Timestamp (Date & Time), Altitude (Number), Speed (Number)

Adding GPS and Maps

Install a maps/location component from the Adalo Marketplace.
Enable device location permissions in app settings.
If you display Google Maps tiles, obtain a key and configure usage per Google Maps requirements (maps display uses a key; device GPS requires user permission).
Show the user’s position, plot route points, and calculate distance between coordinates on save/interval.

Tips

Use periodic updates (e.g., every 5–10 seconds) to capture points during an activity.
Draw polyline routes from stored coordinates.
Smooth noisy GPS data by ignoring extreme deltas and using minimum distance thresholds.

Creating Activity Forms

Pre‑Activity: Activity selector, optional goals (distance/duration), route preview, Start with short countdown.
During Activity: Live map, distance/time/pace, Pause/Resume, Stop.
Post‑Activity: Summary stats, route map, share options, Save/Discard.

Implementing Timers

Store Start and End timestamps.
Compute Duration with a formula (End − Start).
For Pause/Resume, keep a running total of paused intervals and subtract from total elapsed time.

Building User Profiles and Social Features

User Authentication and Profile

Enhance the Users collection:

Profile Photo (Image), Bio (Multiline), Location (Text)
Preferred Units (Text) — Metric/Imperial
Totals (Distance, Activities) — Numbers
Join Date (Date & Time), Privacy Settings (Text)

Registration flow: email/password, profile completion, goals, privacy preferences, and push‑notification opt‑in.

Follow/Unfollow

Create a Relationships (or Follows) collection:

Follower → Users (Many‑to‑One)
Following → Users (Many‑to‑One)
Follow Date (Date & Time), Notifications (True/False)
Actions: toggle follow/unfollow, update counters, send in‑app/push notifications.

Creating Activity Analytics and Dashboards

Personal Stats

Weekly/Monthly totals, streak tracker, personal records, goal progress.
Comparative cards (this week vs last).

Charts

Install chart components from the marketplace.
Line charts for trend, bars for totals by type, pie for distribution, and heat maps for training consistency.

Implementing Challenges and Leaderboards

Challenges

Challenges collection: Name, Start/End Date, Type (Distance/Duration/Frequency), Target, Participants (Users).
Logic: Sum activities per user in the timeframe, sort by total, display ranks (use list index).

Badges and Achievements

Badges: Name, Icon, Description, Criteria Type/Value, Rarity.
Award after each activity save; notify users and display on profile.

Integrating External Services and APIs

Payments

Install Stripe integration via the Adalo Marketplace for web/Stripe‑eligible purchases.
For in‑app purchases on iOS/Android, use IAPHUB integration.
Create tiers (Free, Premium, Pro), add a paywall, and update user entitlements on success.

Google Fit (Android) and Health Platforms

Use External Collections to call Google Fit REST where appropriate.
Aggregate endpoint (POST): https://www.googleapis.com/fitness/v1/users/me/dataset:aggregate (requires request body per Google Fit REST reference).
OAuth scopes (use fully qualified URIs):
- https://www.googleapis.com/auth/fitness.activity.read
- https://www.googleapis.com/auth/fitness.body.read
- https://www.googleapis.com/auth/fitness.location.read
Google Fit doesn’t provide REST webhooks; for near real-time, use the Android Recording API on-device and/or schedule REST polling (e.g., 15–60 minutes) based on quota/battery needs.
For Apple Watch data on iOS, access flows through Apple HealthKit (native) or a third‑party aggregator with SDKs.

Automations

Connect external workflows with Zapier integration: export activities, send emails, or post achievements.

Optimizing for Mobile and Web

Mobile‑First UI

Use large touch targets (Apple recommends 44×44 points per Human Interface Guidelines).
Keep critical metrics readable during workouts.
Minimize nested components; paginate long lists.

Performance

Compress images and media, leverage conditional visibility, and cache frequently used data.
Test GPS and maps on multiple devices.
Preview with the Adalo mobile app and QR codes; then verify builds on physical devices.

Testing and Debugging

Desktop Preview: Validate flows, database writes, and formulas.
On‑Device: Check GPS accuracy, power usage, offline behavior, and notifications.
Add refresh actions and loading indicators; use optimistic UI patterns for snappy feedback.

Publishing to App Stores and the Web

App Store (iOS)

Enroll in the Apple Developer Program.
Prepare icons, 6.7‑inch and 5.5‑inch iPhone screenshots (and iPad if supported) per Apple’s guidelines.
Generate iOS builds with Adalo; submit via App Store Connect.
Most reviews complete in 24–48 hours, though some take longer.

Google Play (Android)

Register for the Google Play Console.
Provide assets including a feature graphic (1024×500) following store listing asset specs.
Use internal/closed/open testing tracks (internal supports up to 100 testers; no minimum) per testing track guidance.
Review times vary and can take up to 7 days or longer—see Google Play review timing.

Web (PWA)

Add a custom domain, enable SSL, configure SEO tags, and publish the web version via Adalo’s web publishing.

Marketing and Growth

Optimize titles/keywords, localize listings, and encourage reviews.
Run referral programs and seasonal challenges.
Share achievements to social channels via Zapier or custom actions.

Platform Limitations and Workarounds

Critical Constraints to Address

Performance

Large collections and lists‑within‑lists can slow screens; paginate and simplify nesting.
For very large datasets or heavy data transforms, consider an external backend.

Real‑Time Limitations

Adalo doesn’t provide native background GPS streaming or server‑side webhooks for Fit/HealthKit.
Use device APIs (Android Recording API) or third‑party aggregators for near real‑time; poll REST endpoints on a sensible interval.

Workaround Strategies

Use External Collections or an external backend for aggregation/heavy queries.
Optimize images and keep list sizes modest.
Split roles into separate apps (admin vs. consumer) to simplify screens.
Precompute metrics (weekly totals, PRs) on write to speed up reads.

Cost Breakdown and Resources

Adalo Subscription Costs

See current plans and limits on the Adalo pricing page.

Additional Service Costs

Apple Developer Program: $99/year
Google Play Console: one‑time registration
Google Maps usage: review Maps Platform pricing if you use Google Maps components
Stripe billing: review Stripe Pricing

Marketplace Components

Explore the Adalo Component Marketplace for maps, charts, payments, and more.

Additional Resources

Note: This Fitbit‑style clone covers activity tracking, GPS routes, analytics, challenges, and payments using Adalo’s features and integrations. For native background streaming, high‑frequency sensor data, or advanced wearable integrations, incorporate device APIs (Android Recording API, HealthKit via an aggregator) and/or an external backend. Scale performance by paginating lists, caching, and offloading heavy aggregation to External Collections or a dedicated backend.

FAQ

Question	Answer
Can I easily build a fitness tracking app without coding?	Yes, with Adalo's No Code App Builder, you can easily build a fitness tracking app without coding. Adalo provides visual assembly tools, reusable components, and built-in features like authentication, databases, and GPS/maps integrations that let you create activity tracking, user profiles, challenges, and analytics dashboards through a drag-and-drop interface.
Why choose Adalo over other App Builder solutions?	Adalo is a no-code app builder for database-driven web apps and native iOS and Android apps—one version across all three platforms. AI-assisted building and streamlined publishing enable launch to the Apple App Store and Google Play in days rather than months. This app store publishing capability is crucial because distribution and marketing are often the hardest parts of launching a new app or business—being in the official stores gives you access to millions of potential users and enables critical features like push notifications.
What's the fastest way to build and publish a fitness tracking app to the Apple App Store and Google Play Store?	Adalo is the fastest way to build and publish a fitness tracking app to the Apple App Store and Google Play. With No Code App Builder's drag-and-drop interface and AI-assisted building, you can go from idea to published app in days rather than months. Adalo handles the complex App Store submission process, so you can focus on your app's features and user experience instead of wrestling with certificates, provisioning profiles, and store guidelines.
Can I add GPS tracking and maps to my fitness app in Adalo?	Yes, you can add GPS tracking and maps by installing map/location components from the Adalo Marketplace. You'll enable device location permissions, configure map display, and store route coordinates to show users their position, plot workout routes, and calculate distances automatically.
How do I integrate payments and subscriptions into my fitness app?	Adalo supports payment integration through Stripe for web purchases and IAPHUB for native iOS and Android in-app purchases. You can create subscription tiers like Free, Premium, and Pro, add paywalls to premium features, and automatically update user entitlements when payments succeed.
Can I sync my fitness app with Google Fit or Apple Health?	You can integrate with Google Fit using Adalo's External Collections to call the Google Fit REST API for reading activity, body, and location data. For Apple HealthKit data on iOS, you'll need to use a third-party aggregator with SDKs, as HealthKit requires native access. Polling intervals of 15-60 minutes work well for near real-time data syncing.
What are the costs involved in building and publishing a fitness app with Adalo?	Your main costs include an Adalo subscription (see current plans on the pricing page), Apple Developer Program enrollment at $99/year, and a one-time Google Play Console registration fee. Additional costs may include Google Maps usage, Stripe payment processing fees, and optional marketplace components for charts, advanced maps, or other features.