Coming Soon to iOS

Modig

The fitness goal accountability app.

Commit a dollar amount to your fitness goal. Hit it and your commitment stays yours; miss it and your commitment goes to charity.*

Move it or lose it.

*A 5% service fee applies to goals you hit. We make nothing on the goals you miss — we succeed when you do. Missed amounts are collected by Modig, which donates an equal amount — net of payment-processing fees and taxes — across its supported charities. You can opt out of up to two; Modig directs the rest.

How it works

Four steps.
Real results.

Set a goal, commit a dollar amount, move — and Apple Health keeps score honestly.

01
Set a Goal

Choose your challenge — workouts per week, daily steps, active minutes. Pick the timeframe and make it official.

02
Commit an Amount

Choose how much money to put behind your goal. You're only charged based on whether you follow through.

03
Get Moving

Apple Health tracks your activity automatically. No manual logging. No workarounds. Just honest data.

04
Hit It or Lose It

Hit your goal and your commitment stays yours. Miss days, and only their share of your commitment is donated to charity.*

*A 5% service fee applies to goals you hit. We make nothing on the goals you miss — we succeed when you do. Missed amounts are collected by Modig, which donates an equal amount — net of payment-processing fees and taxes — across its supported charities. You can opt out of up to two; Modig directs the rest.

Challenge modes

Two ways
to commit.

Put your own money behind a personal goal, or stay accountable alongside friends in a shared challenge.

Solo Challenge

Your goal.
Your money.

Set a personal fitness goal and commit a dollar amount to it. Hit your goal and your commitment stays yours; miss days and their share is donated to charity.* The ultimate self-accountability tool.

Pool Challenge

Stay accountable,
together.

Take on a shared fitness challenge with friends, with everyone putting in the same amount to stay committed. Track progress side by side through Apple Health and keep each other moving.

*A 5% service fee applies to goals you hit. We make nothing on the goals you miss — we succeed when you do. Missed amounts are collected by Modig, which donates an equal amount — net of payment-processing fees and taxes — across its supported charities. You can opt out of up to two; Modig directs the rest.

3×
More likely to hit goals with stakes
100%
Verified by Apple Health
Features

Built to keep
you honest.

Apple Health

Activity verified automatically — steps, workouts, active calories burned, distance run... No manual entries, no cheating.

Real Stakes

Put real money behind your fitness goals. Miss them, and the missed amount is donated to charity — accountability you can actually feel.

Charity Donations

Missed-goal money funds Modig's supported charities — a vetted list spanning humanitarian aid, children's health, the environment, and animal welfare (see the full list in the app). Modig directs the giving, and you can opt out of up to two charities you'd rather not fund.

Shared Progress

In group challenges, see how everyone's tracking against the goal in real time — friendly visibility that keeps the whole group moving.

Progress Tracking

See exactly where you stand daily. Streak tracking, completion rates, and a clear countdown to your deadline.

Social Challenges

Commit to a personal goal with your own stake, or take on a shared challenge alongside friends. Fitness is better with real accountability.

From the blog

Accountability.
Results.

Practical advice and motivation for people who take their fitness goals seriously.

Accountability

Why Most Fitness Goals Fail by February

The resolution rush is real — and so is the dropout rate. Here's the science behind why goals fade, and what actually makes them stick.

Read more →
Psychology

The Power of Putting Money on the Line

Loss aversion is one of the strongest forces in human psychology. Here's how putting real stakes on your goals can completely change your follow-through.

Read more →
Training Tips

How to Set a Fitness Goal You'll Actually Hit

Vague goals are broken goals. Learn how to set specific, measurable fitness targets that push you without setting you up to fail.

Read more →
Community

Why Working Out With Stakes Changes Everything

Friendly competition and social pressure aren't just motivating — they're scientifically proven to drive better fitness outcomes. Here's why.

Read more →
Ready?

Put something
on the line.

Set your first goal, put something on the line, and find out what you're capable of when it counts.

Legal

Privacy
Policy

Last updated: July 2026

1. Introduction

Modig ("we," "us," or "our") operates the Modig mobile application. This Privacy Policy explains how we collect, use, and protect your personal information when you use our app. By using Modig, you agree to the collection and use of information as described in this policy.

2. Information We Collect

Account Information: When you create an account via Sign in with Apple, we receive your name and email address. We also collect the username you choose during registration.

Health & Fitness Data: With your explicit permission, Modig accesses the following Apple Health data:

We read this data solely to verify your progress toward fitness challenges. We never write to or modify your Apple Health records. Health data is accessed in real time and is not stored on our servers beyond what is necessary to verify challenge completion.

Financial Information: We collect information necessary to process payments through Stripe, our payment processor. This includes your saved payment method for charging missed period stakes and Modig fees. We never store your full card number or sensitive financial data directly — all financial data is handled by Stripe.

Device Information: We collect your device token to send push notifications about your challenges and account activity.

Usage Data: We collect information about how you use the app, including challenge activity, completion rates, and app interactions, to improve our service.

Data Storage: Your account information, challenge data, and pool challenge activity are stored securely using Supabase, our database provider.

3. How We Use Your Information

We use the information we collect to:

4. How We Share Your Information

We do not sell your personal information. We share your information only in the following circumstances:

Stripe: We share payment-related information with Stripe to process the $1 activation fee and any missed-period charges. Stripe's privacy policy is available at stripe.com/privacy.

Apple HealthKit: Health data accessed through Apple HealthKit is used solely for verifying challenge progress and is never shared with third parties or used for advertising purposes, in accordance with Apple's HealthKit guidelines.

Pool Challenge Settlement: For Pool Challenges, Modig generates a settlement report showing who owes what to whom. This report is visible to all participants in the challenge. No financial data is shared beyond what participants have already agreed to by joining the challenge. Modig does not process or hold Pool Challenge funds — all payments happen directly between participants.

Supabase: Your account data, challenge records, and pool member activity are stored with Supabase. Supabase's privacy policy is available at supabase.com/privacy.

Legal Requirements: We may disclose your information if required by law or in response to valid legal requests.

5. Data Retention

We retain your account information for as long as your account is active. Health data is accessed in real time from Apple Health and is not stored on our servers beyond what is necessary to verify challenge completion. Financial transaction records are retained as required by law, typically 7 years.

6. Data Security

We implement industry-standard security measures to protect your information. All data transmission is encrypted using SSL/TLS. Financial data is handled exclusively by Stripe, which maintains PCI DSS compliance.

7. Your Rights and Choices

Health Data: You can revoke Modig's access to your Apple Health data at any time through Settings → Health → Data Access & Devices → Modig on your iPhone.

Push Notifications: You can manage notification preferences within the Modig app under Menu → Notification Settings, or through your iPhone's notification settings.

Account Deletion: You can request deletion of your account and associated data by contacting us at privacy@modigapp.com. Note that we may retain certain financial records as required by law.

8. Children's Privacy

Modig is not intended for users under the age of 18. We do not knowingly collect personal information from minors. If you believe a minor has provided us with personal information, please contact us and we will delete it promptly.

9. Apple HealthKit Specific Terms

In accordance with Apple's guidelines, Modig does not use Apple HealthKit data for advertising or similar services. Health data is used exclusively for the core functionality of verifying fitness challenge progress.

10. Changes to This Policy

We may update this Privacy Policy from time to time. We will notify you of significant changes through the app or by email. Your continued use of Modig after changes are posted constitutes acceptance of the updated policy.

11. Contact Us

If you have questions about this Privacy Policy or your data, please contact us at:

Modig
privacy@modigapp.com
modigapp.com/privacy

Legal

Terms of
Service

Last updated: July 2026

1. Acceptance of Terms

By downloading, installing, or using the Modig application ("App"), you agree to be bound by these Terms of Service ("Terms"). If you do not agree to these Terms, do not use the App. These Terms constitute a legally binding agreement between you and ThirtyEight Works LLC ("Modig," "we," "us," or "our").

2. Eligibility

You must be at least 18 years old to use Modig. By using the App, you represent and warrant that you are at least 18 years of age and have the legal capacity to enter into a binding agreement. Modig is not available to users who have been previously banned from the App or whose accounts have been terminated.

3. Account Registration

To use Modig, you must create an account using Sign in with Apple. You are responsible for maintaining the confidentiality of your account and for all activities that occur under your account. You agree to provide accurate and complete information during registration, including a unique username. You may not impersonate another person or use a username that is offensive or violates any third party's rights. We reserve the right to terminate accounts that violate these Terms.

4. Financial Terms

Solo Challenges: When you create a Solo Challenge, you authorize Modig to charge your saved payment method as follows:

By creating a Solo Challenge and authorizing charges, you acknowledge that:

Pool Challenges: When you participate in a Pool Challenge, you acknowledge and agree that:

Charitable Donations: Missed-period charges from Solo Challenges are collected as fees to Modig. Modig then donates an amount equal to those fees — net of payment-processing fees and any taxes Modig incurs on these funds — across its list of supported charities shown in the App. You acknowledge that:

Payment Processing: All payment processing is handled by Stripe. By using Modig, you agree to Stripe's Terms of Service available at stripe.com/legal. Modig never stores your full card number or sensitive financial data.

5. Apple Health Integration

Modig uses Apple HealthKit to verify your fitness activity. By connecting Apple Health, you authorize Modig to read the health data types listed in our Privacy Policy. You acknowledge that:

6. Grace Days

Grace days are provided as a buffer for missed sessions or Apple Health sync delays. Grace days are:

For X-days-per-week challenges, grace days are applied at the day level when there are no longer enough days remaining in the week to hit the weekly target. The application of grace days is final once applied.

7. Data Sync and Technical Limitations

Modig syncs your health data each time you open the app, and automatically overnight via background refresh. For Pool Challenges, leaderboard standings reflect each participant's most recently synced data. Modig is not responsible for differences in standings caused by participants not opening the app regularly. We strongly recommend opening the app daily to ensure your activity is counted accurately.

8. User Conduct

You agree not to:

9. Intellectual Property

All content, features, and functionality of the Modig App, including but not limited to the design, text, graphics, logos, and code, are the exclusive property of ThirtyEight Works LLC and are protected by copyright and other intellectual property laws. You may not reproduce, distribute, or create derivative works without our express written permission.

10. Disclaimer of Warranties

Modig is provided "as is" and "as available" without warranties of any kind, either express or implied. We do not warrant that:

11. Limitation of Liability

To the maximum extent permitted by law, Modig shall not be liable for any indirect, incidental, special, consequential, or punitive damages, including but not limited to loss of funds, loss of data, or loss of goodwill, arising out of or in connection with your use of the App. Our total liability to you for any claim arising out of or relating to these Terms shall not exceed the amount of fees paid by you to Modig in the 12 months preceding the claim. Modig is not liable for any failure by Pool Challenge participants to settle payments with one another.

12. Dispute Resolution

Any disputes arising out of or relating to these Terms or the App shall be resolved through binding arbitration in accordance with the rules of the American Arbitration Association. You waive your right to a jury trial or to participate in a class action lawsuit. This arbitration agreement does not apply to claims for injunctive relief or claims within the jurisdiction of small claims court.

13. Governing Law

These Terms shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of the State of Delaware, without regard to its conflict of law provisions.

14. Changes to Terms

We reserve the right to modify these Terms at any time. We will notify users of significant changes through the App or by email. Your continued use of the App after changes are posted constitutes acceptance of the updated Terms.

15. Termination

We reserve the right to suspend or terminate your account at any time for violation of these Terms, fraudulent activity, or any other reason at our discretion. Upon termination, any pending Solo Challenges will be resolved according to their terms and any amounts owed will be processed accordingly. The $1.00 activation fee and any already-processed charges are non-refundable upon termination.

16. Contact Us

If you have questions about these Terms, please contact us at:

Modig
legal@modigapp.com
modigapp.com/terms

← Back
Accountability May 2026 · 5 min read

Why Most Fitness Goals Fail by February

The resolution rush is real — and so is the dropout rate. Here's the science behind why goals fade, and what actually makes them stick.

Every January, gyms overflow. Smoothie blenders get dusted off. Running shoes get laced up for the first time in months. And then, somewhere around the third week of February, the crowds thin out. The blenders go back in the cupboard. The shoes go back under the bed.

It's not a willpower problem. It's a design problem.

The motivation trap

Most people set fitness goals when they're feeling highly motivated — after the holidays, after a health scare, after seeing a photo of themselves that they didn't love. Motivation is high, so the goal feels achievable. But motivation is also temporary. It spikes and it fades, usually within a few weeks.

The mistake is designing a goal that requires consistent high motivation to sustain. That's not how humans work. Real follow-through comes from systems, not feelings.

Vague goals are broken goals

"Get fit" is not a goal. "Lose weight" is not a goal. These are wishes. A goal has a specific outcome, a measurable metric, and a deadline. Without all three, there's no way to know if you're succeeding — and no clear moment where you've failed. That ambiguity is a trap.

Research consistently shows that specific, measurable goals outperform vague aspirations. "Work out four times a week for eight weeks" gives your brain something concrete to track. "Get in shape" does not.

The accountability gap

When a goal only exists in your head, the cost of abandoning it is zero. You don't have to tell anyone. You don't lose anything tangible. You just quietly stop. That's why accountability — to another person, to a group, or to something financial — is one of the most reliable predictors of follow-through.

Studies on commitment devices (a fancy term for putting something on the line) show that people who attach real consequences to their goals are significantly more likely to follow through. The cost of failure needs to feel real for the goal to feel urgent.

What actually works

The research points to a few reliable ingredients for goals that stick:

This is exactly the problem Modig was built to solve. Set a specific goal, stake real money on it, and let Apple Health track your progress automatically. The combination of financial stakes and objective tracking removes the two biggest excuses for quitting: it's too easy to walk away, and it's too easy to fudge the numbers.

Want to set a fitness goal that actually sticks? Modig is coming soon to iOS — put real stakes on your next goal and find out what you're capable of when walking away costs you something.

← Back
Psychology May 2026 · 5 min read

The Power of Putting Money on the Line

Loss aversion is one of the strongest forces in human psychology. Here's how putting real stakes on your goals can completely change your follow-through.

There's a well-established finding in behavioral economics: losing $100 feels roughly twice as bad as gaining $100 feels good. This asymmetry — called loss aversion — is one of the most robust and replicated results in all of psychology.

And it has powerful implications for anyone trying to stick to a fitness goal.

Why the fear of losing beats the hope of winning

Most fitness motivation is framed around gain: you'll look better, feel better, have more energy, live longer. These are real benefits. But they're also distant, abstract, and uncertain. Your brain has a hard time feeling the weight of a benefit that's months away.

Loss, on the other hand, feels immediate and concrete. The prospect of losing something you already have — money, status, a streak — activates a much more powerful motivational system. It's not comfortable, but it works.

The research on commitment devices

Economists call it a "commitment device" — a mechanism that binds your future self to the intentions of your present self. Classic examples include putting money in a savings account you can't easily access, or betting a friend that you'll finish a project by Friday.

A landmark study by economists Dean Karlan and John Romalis found that people who used financial commitment devices to support their goals were significantly more likely to achieve them than those who relied on willpower alone. The effect was strongest when the stakes were meaningful — not symbolic — amounts.

Another study, published in the Annals of Internal Medicine, found that participants who had financial stakes tied to weight-loss goals lost more than four times as much weight as the control group over the same period.

Making it work for you

The key is calibrating the stakes. Too low and the loss doesn't register. Too high and the anxiety becomes counterproductive. Research suggests the sweet spot is an amount that would genuinely sting to lose, but wouldn't cause real financial hardship.

Modig is built around exactly this principle. Stake a meaningful amount on your fitness goal, let Apple Health verify your activity automatically, and put real money on the line if you fall short. The combination makes the goal feel real in a way that a note on your phone never will.

Ready to put some skin in the game? Modig is coming soon to iOS. Be the first to know when it launches.

← Back
Training Tips May 2026 · 6 min read

How to Set a Fitness Goal You'll Actually Hit

Vague goals are broken goals. Learn how to set specific, measurable fitness targets that push you without setting you up to fail.

The most common mistake people make with fitness goals isn't lack of effort. It's poor goal design. A badly constructed goal sets you up to quit before you've really started.

Here's how to build one that works.

Start with a metric, not a feeling

"Get fitter" is a feeling. "Run 5km without stopping" is a metric. "Tone up" is a feeling. "Work out four times a week" is a metric. The moment you attach a number to your goal, it becomes trackable — and trackable goals are completable goals.

Good fitness metrics include: number of workouts per week, total active minutes per day, steps per day, distance run or cycled, active calories burned, or completion of a specific event (a 5K, a half marathon, a charity ride).

Make it challenging but not delusional

Goals that are too easy don't generate commitment. Goals that are too hard generate despair and dropout. The research sweet spot is a goal that you'd estimate you have about a 50-70% chance of hitting with real effort. It should require something from you. It shouldn't require a miracle.

If you currently work out once a week, committing to seven days a week is a setup for failure. Committing to three or four days is a genuine challenge. Start there. Win. Then raise the bar.

Set a clear timeframe

Open-ended goals die. "I'll get fit eventually" means never. A goal needs a deadline — ideally four to twelve weeks for fitness challenges, which is long enough to see real progress but short enough to maintain urgency throughout.

Shorter timeframes (two to four weeks) work well for habit-building goals. Longer timeframes (eight to twelve weeks) suit performance goals like preparing for a race or hitting a new personal best.

Use objective tracking

Self-reporting is the enemy of honest goal tracking. When you're tired, behind, or tempted to cut corners, self-reported data bends to match your desire to feel like you're succeeding. Objective tracking — from a wearable, an app, or a device — removes the wiggle room.

This is why Modig uses Apple Health data to verify challenge completion. Your workouts, steps, and active calories are recorded automatically. There's no way to fudge the numbers, which means there's no way to lie to yourself.

A simple framework

Before you commit to a goal, run it through these four questions:

If you can answer yes to all four, you have a real goal. Now all you need is a reason to follow through.

Modig is designed for exactly this kind of goal. Set a specific, measurable challenge, stake real money on it, and let Apple Health do the tracking. Coming soon to iOS.

← Back
Community May 2026 · 5 min read

Why Working Out With Stakes Changes Everything

Friendly competition and social pressure aren't just motivating — they're scientifically proven to drive better fitness outcomes. Here's why.

Working out alone is hard. Working out when someone else is watching — or when something is on the line — is a completely different experience.

It turns out, this isn't just a feeling. The research backs it up.

The social facilitation effect

Psychologists have known since the 1890s that people perform differently when others are present. The "social facilitation effect" shows that the presence of others — even as passive observers — increases arousal and effort on tasks we're reasonably competent at.

For fitness, this translates directly: people exercise harder, longer, and more consistently when they're doing it alongside or in competition with others. Group fitness classes, running clubs, and sports leagues all leverage this effect. So do leaderboards.

Competition sharpens effort

A study published in Preventive Medicine Reports found that people who exercised in a competitive group context worked out significantly more than those who exercised alone or in a purely cooperative group. The competitive element wasn't demoralizing — it was energizing.

The key is that the competition needs to feel fair and winnable. If the gap between participants is too large, the motivational effect collapses. Peer competition works best when everyone's in a similar bracket.

Accountability partnerships work

Beyond competition, simple accountability — just knowing that someone else is aware of your goal and expects you to follow through — has a measurable impact on follow-through rates. A study by the American Society of Training and Development found that people who committed to a goal with a specific accountability partner had a 65% success rate, compared to 10% for those who just decided to do something.

That's a dramatic difference — and it comes simply from having someone else in the loop.

Financial stakes amplify the effect

Add financial stakes to social accountability and you get an even stronger effect. The combination of not wanting to let others down and not wanting to lose real money creates a compound motivational force that's hard to overcome.

Modig's Pool Challenge mode is built on exactly this dynamic. Friends commit to a shared challenge together, each putting in the same amount, and everyone's progress is tracked objectively through Apple Health in real time — steps, active calories, miles. Knowing the group is watching, and that you've put something in alongside them, keeps you showing up.

It's not just about money. It's about showing up for the challenge because walking away means letting the group down.

Ready to commit? Modig's Pool Challenge mode lets you and your friends put real accountability behind a shared fitness goal. Coming soon to iOS.