If you searched for a PitPat walking pad, you have probably seen the name on a DeerRun box or in an Amazon listing title. PitPat does not make walking pads. It is a fitness app that treadmill makers can build into their machines, so the pad comes from one company and the software from another. That split matters when something goes wrong: a belt or motor problem is the pad maker's job, while a login, subscription or race problem is PitPat's.
We wrote this guide from PitPat's own website (pitpatfitness.com), its Apple App Store and Google Play listings, and DeerRun's product pages, all read on September 24, 2026. We have not run the app on a walking pad ourselves, so we report what those sources say and list the things we could not confirm at the end. If you are still choosing a pad, our best walking pads guide compares the main options by spec.
What is PitPat?
PitPat is published by JOYFIT INC., which lists an address at 10611 Harwin Dr, Suite 406, Houston, TX 77036, a support email (support@pitpat.fitness) and a US phone line (+1 888-625-8777) on its about page. The company calls PitPat "the world's leading online tournament platform" and says it combines "competitive running with home fitness equipment". It also claims more than 400,000 members in more than 100 countries. Those are the company's own figures and we could not check them.
The App Store subtitle is "Run with your friends", and the Google Play listing showed more than 100,000 downloads and a last update of August 5, 2026. One naming trap: pitpat.com is a different business. It is a British company that makes GPS and activity trackers for dogs, and it has nothing to do with treadmills. The treadmill app lives at pitpatfitness.com.
Which walking pads use PitPat?
The brand we could confirm is DeerRun. DeerRun lists PitPat as the app for the Z10 and the Q2 Urban, and DeerRun's pages say a free PitPat membership is included with its pads. PitPat's own website links to deerruntreadmill.com under a "Sales Office" heading, so the two companies are clearly connected, although neither site explains the exact relationship. You can read more about the pads themselves in our DeerRun walking pad round-up and our DeerRun Z10 review.
PitPat has a "hardware integration" page aimed at equipment makers, which suggests other brands can use the app, but the page had no content when we checked and we found no published list of partner brands. If a walking pad listing says "works with PitPat", treat that as the seller's claim and confirm it with the brand before you buy for the app alone. Also note that the older DeerRun Q1 Mini, which used PitPat, appears to be discontinued: DeerRun's old Q1 Mini page now sells the Q2 Urban, so we no longer recommend it.
The app is optional on the DeerRun pads we checked. DeerRun's Z10 page describes "Remote & Bluetooth Control", so you can start, stop and change speed with the remote and never open PitPat.
What the PitPat app does
These are the features PitPat describes on its website, App Store listing, Google Play listing and FAQ:
- Virtual races: the App Store lists "online marathon, 1VS1 dual match, ranking match" and themed matches, and Google Play adds multiplayer races and milestone achievement matches.
- Virtual tracks: Google Play describes running scenes such as beach, forest and town settings, with a character you can customize.
- Training courses: the App Store mentions "Free training courses", and PitPat's site describes training plans for different sports and difficulty levels.
- Workout reports: PitPat's FAQ says reports show "running time, calories burning, fat burning, miles, steps and average pace". It also says a run shorter than one minute will not create a report, and that a network drop during a workout can stop the report from generating.
- Heart rate tracking: listed on the App Store, although the listing does not say which heart rate devices work.
- Social features: profiles, following, clubs, likes and comments, plus real-time "bullet screen" and voice chat during races.
Calorie and "fat burning" numbers in any treadmill app are estimates from speed, time and your profile, not measurements, so use them to compare one day with another rather than as exact figures.
Cash rewards and race rules
PitPat's Google Play description says: "You will get monetary rewards when participating in every game in Pit Pat, and as you get stronger and win more, your rewards will increase." It adds that "technical means, strict competition requirements, and a designated treadmill" keep races fair. PitPat's FAQ says bonuses are "expected to arrive in 6 hours after the game", and its treadmill page describes an "anti-cheat system".
We could not find published details on how much the rewards are worth, how they are paid out, whether any entry fee or subscription is required to earn them, or which US states they are available in. The App Store listing carries an 18+ age rating. Read the in-app terms before you enter any event that involves money, and do not buy a particular pad only because an app promises rewards.
Does PitPat cost money?
The app is free to download. The App Store lists in-app purchases named PitPat Monthly, PitPat Quarterly, PitPat Yearly, Special Yearly PitPat and a monthly AI subscription. We do not print app prices because they change and differ by country, so check the "In-App Purchases" section of the store listing on your phone.
DeerRun says a free PitPat membership comes with its pads. We could not confirm how long that membership lasts, which features it covers, or what a paid plan adds compared with the free tier. PitPat's own pages do not publish a free versus paid feature list.
A safety point for desk walkers: the app can change your speed
PitPat's treadmill page says: "When the race starts on PitPat, the treadmill will accelerate or stop automatically based on your race." In other words, during a race the app, not you, may control the belt. That is by design, but it is not what you want while you are typing or on a call.
- Do not start a race while you are working at your desk. Use races only when your full attention is on walking.
- Keep the remote within reach and learn where the stop button is before your first session.
- Clip on the safety key or magnet if your pad has one.
- If the belt ever changes speed when no race or program is running, stop using the pad and contact the maker. Unexpected speed changes were the main hazard in the CPSC's 2026 Sperax walking pad warning, so report any such event at SaferProducts.gov as well.
For everyday setup and safe speeds, see how to use a walking pad.
Privacy and data
PitPat's Google Play data safety section says the app collects personal info, health and fitness data, and photos and videos, and that it "may share" health and fitness data and photos and videos with third parties. It says data is encrypted in transit and that you can request deletion. The App Store privacy label lists identifiers and a device ID linked to you. If that level of sharing bothers you, you can skip the app and run the pad from the remote, or limit what you add to your profile.
How to connect a walking pad to PitPat
- Install PitPat from the App Store or Google Play. Check that the developer is JOYFIT INC (Joyfit Inc. on Google Play) so you do not install a lookalike.
- Plug in and switch on the walking pad, and turn on Bluetooth on your phone.
- Create an account and open the main screen. PitPat's FAQ says to tap the treadmill logo in the upper right area of the screen.
- Wait for the treadmill logo to turn green, which PitPat says means the connection worked.
- Keep your phone connected to the internet during the session, because PitPat says the treadmill must be connected to the internet and PitPat for data to record.
- Walk for at least one minute so a report is created.
If the pad will not pair, restart both the pad and the phone, make sure no other app is connected to the pad, and then contact support. PitPat support is at support@pitpat.fitness, and DeerRun lists support@deerruntreadmill.com and +1 888 589 0777. If the problem is the remote rather than the app, our walking pad remote troubleshooting guide covers batteries, pairing and resets.
What we could not confirm
- Whether PitPat syncs with Apple Health, Google Fit or Strava. Neither PitPat's website nor its store descriptions list any of these, so we cannot say it does.
- Whether PitPat works with Zwift or Kinomap, or with walking pads from brands that have no partnership with PitPat.
- A full list of brands that ship pads with PitPat.
- What the free DeerRun membership includes and how long it lasts.
- Reward amounts, payout methods and eligibility rules for cash races.
Should PitPat affect which walking pad you buy?
For most people, no. The app is an extra, while the pad's belt length, weight limit, motor, warranty and support decide whether you will still use it in a year. Choose the pad first and treat the app as a bonus. If you do want a strong app, compare ecosystems: UREVO pads use the UREVO app, WalkingPad uses KS Fit, and Merach says its app syncs with Apple Health and Google Fit. Our UREVO and Merach round-ups cover those brands, and our budget walking pad guide shows where DeerRun sits against other low-cost pads.