Scoring Methods Explained
When creating a competition, you choose a scoring method that determines how participants earn points:
Ring Close Count. Points for closing each activity ring. If you're an Apple Watch user, this one feels natural — you earn points every time you close your Move, Exercise, or Stand ring. It rewards consistent daily activity and helps keep everyone accountable.
Percentage of Goals. Points based on goal completion percentage. Instead of raw numbers, this method looks at what percentage of your personal goals you've hit. This levels the playing field since everyone's goals are different — a beginner working toward 5,000 steps gets rewarded just as much as an athlete aiming for 15,000.
Raw Numbers. Points for every calorie, minute, and hour of activity. This is the straightforward approach — the more you move, the more points you get. Every active calorie burned, every exercise minute logged, and every stand hour counts toward your score.
Step Count. Points for every step taken. The classic competition. Who can walk the most steps? Simple, easy to understand, and every tracker measures it. Great for beginners and experienced users alike.
Workout-based. Points only during specific workout types. This method focuses on dedicated exercise sessions rather than all-day activity. Only activity logged during recognized workouts counts toward your score, rewarding intentional exercise.
Team Mode
Competitions can be run in two modes:
Individual — Everyone competes solo. This is the default. Each participant's score is their own, and the leaderboard ranks everyone individually.
Team Competition — Participants join teams and compete together. When creating a team competition, you choose 2, 3, or 4 teams. Each team's combined score determines the ranking, encouraging collaboration and group motivation.
Competition Duration
You have full flexibility over how long your competition lasts. When creating a competition, you set a Start Date and End Date using the date picker. You can also set a Repeat option to have the competition recur automatically.
Competition Lifecycle
Every competition goes through these stages:
Created — The competition exists, and friends can join, but it hasn't started yet. The creator can still edit settings during this phase.
Active — The start date has arrived. Activity is now being tracked, leaderboards are live, and scores update in real time.
Completed — The end date has passed. Final rankings are locked in, winners are announced, and achievements are awarded. If there's a prize pool, payouts are initiated.
Creating a Competition — Detailed Settings
When you create a competition, you walk through these steps:
Competition Info — Name your competition, set the start and end dates, choose whether it repeats, and toggle Private mode on if you want only invited friends to join.
Scoring Method & Team Mode — Pick how points are earned (Ring Close Count, Percentage of Goals, Raw Numbers, Step Count, or Workout Based). Optionally toggle on Team Mode and choose 2, 3, or 4 teams.
Prize Pool — Optionally add a real-money prize pool. Choose your funding type (I'll Fund It or Everyone Buys In), set the amount, and pick a payout structure. You can also skip this and add one later.
Invite Friends — Select friends to compete with, or skip and invite them after creation.
Review & Pay — Review all your settings. If you added a prize pool, confirm and pay. Otherwise, just confirm to launch your competition.
Joining a Competition
There are three ways to join:
Invite Link — Tap a link shared by a friend. The app opens directly to the competition.
Competition Code — In the Competitions tab, tap Join and enter the code.
In-App Invitation — Accept a notification from a friend who invited you.
You can join a competition after it has started, but only data from the time you join onward will count toward your score.
Leaving a Competition
If you need to leave a competition:
Open the competition from the Competitions tab.
Tap the more options menu (three dots) in the top right.
Select Leave Competition.
Confirm your choice.
Leaving a competition removes you from the leaderboard. This action cannot be undone — you would need a new invitation to rejoin.
Deleting a Competition
Only the competition creator can delete a competition:
Open the competition.
Tap the more options menu (three dots).
Select Delete Competition.
Confirm your choice.
Deleting a competition removes it for all participants. If a prize pool was funded, see the Prize Pools article for information on refunds.
Fair Play Across Different Trackers
One of MoveTogether's core promises is that everyone competes on a level playing field, regardless of which tracker they use. The app normalizes data across all supported devices so that differences in how trackers calculate metrics don't unfairly advantage or disadvantage anyone.
All scores are calculated on the server to ensure accuracy and prevent manipulation. If you notice a score that seems incorrect, reach out to our support team, and we'll investigate.