Close Your Rings While You Type.
An ankle-worn step tracker built for treadmill desks. Counts every step your watch misses — and syncs to Apple Health automatically.
No payment now • 50 units available
Built for treadmill desks
Wrist trackers miss steps when your hands are on a keyboard. StepSprite sits on your shoe/ankle and tracks the motion that matters.
Wrist wearable
Typing → 0 steps
StepSprite
Ankle motion → steps counted
Development kit • ~5 min assembly (plug in battery, snap case shut)
This is Batch 1 — expect some beta behavior and direct support from the maker.
The problem
Your Apple Watch thinks you're sitting. Typing = 0 steps. Your rings stay open even after walking 5km.
The solution
Ankle-Based Accuracy
Optimized for the low-impact shuffle of desk walking.
Native OS Integration
Writes directly to HealthKit (iOS).
Privacy First
No accounts. No cloud. Your data stays on your phone.
Cross-Platform Hardware
Switching phones? No problem. The StepSprite Dev Kit supports both ecosystems out of the box.
Before & After
Without StepSprite
0 steps
With StepSprite
4,127 steps
Why I Built This
I bought a walking pad to stay active while working from home. First session: 45 minutes, maybe 4,000 steps. My fitness tracker said: 0.
Wrist-based trackers rely on arm swing. When you're typing, your arms don't move — so the steps don't count.
I looked at alternatives. Foot sensors exist (Polar, Stryd), but they're built for runners — optimized for fast cadence, pace tracking, and performance metrics. They require accounts and sync through proprietary clouds. I just wanted my steps to count.
So I built StepSprite: an ankle tracker with firmware tuned for the slow, steady pace of desk walking, paired with an iOS app that writes directly to Apple Health. No account. No cloud. Just steps.
I've been wearing it daily for six weeks. It just works.
— Rob, Sofia
A Dev Kit That Feels Like a Finished Product
Most development kits require you to write code. StepSprite is different. We have done the heavy lifting so you can start walking in minutes.
1. The Firmware is Pre-Installed
You don't need a compiler. You don't need to know what a "bootloader" is.
- ✓ Ready to Pair: Every StepSprite board comes pre-flashed with our custom, battery-optimized firmware.
- ✓ Smart Algorithms: We’ve already tuned the sensitivity to detect desk-walking (slow, steady pace) while filtering out jitter.
- ✓ Open Source: Want to hack it? The code is on GitHub. Don't care? Just turn it on.
2. The App: Premium & Private
We didn't just build a "debug tool." We built a native companion app that feels right at home on your iPhone.
- ✓ Native Design: Dark mode, clean charts, and a UI that respects the Apple aesthetic.
- ✓ Zero Ads: No banners, no pop-ups, no "Upgrade to Pro."
- ✓ HealthKit Bridge: The app handles the complex logic of merging your data into Apple Health so your rings close automatically.
3. How It Works (3 Steps)
- 1 Assemble: Snap the board into the case and plug in the battery (1 minute).
- 2 Pair: Open the StepSprite app and tap "Connect."
- 3 Walk: Put it on your shoe. That’s it.
How StepSprite Compares
A quick reality check vs the usual alternatives.
| StepSprite | Phone in Sock | Wrist Watch | Polar Stride | Stryd | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Accurate at desk-walking speed | ✅ Yes | ✅ Yes | ❌ No | ⚠️ Optimized for running | ⚠️ Optimized for running |
| Comfortable to wear | ✅ Yes | ❌ No | ✅ Yes | ✅ Yes | ✅ Yes |
| Direct HealthKit sync | ✅ Native | ⚠️ Depends on app | ✅ Yes | ⚠️ Via Polar Flow | ⚠️ Via Stryd app |
| No account required | ✅ Yes | ❌ Usually not | ⚠️ Varies | ❌ Polar account | ❌ Stryd account |
| No cloud sync | ✅ Local only | ❌ Data farming | ⚠️ Varies | ❌ Polar Flow cloud | ❌ Stryd cloud |
| Open source | ✅ Yes | — | ❌ No | ❌ No | ❌ No |
| Price | €79 | Free (dignity cost) | €200–800 | €70 | €229–329 |
Polar and Stryd are excellent products — for runners. StepSprite is built specifically for desk walking.
Looking for running metrics?
If you're training for races and want pace, power, or stride analysis, check out Stryd or Polar Stride Sensor. They're excellent for runners.
StepSprite is different. It's purpose-built for desk walking — accurate step counting at slow speeds, direct HealthKit sync, no accounts required.
Under the Hood (Open Hardware)
StepSprite is based on the Seeed Studio XIAO nRF52840 Sense. It arrives with a 3D-printed case and requires minimal assembly (snap-fit). Hackable, flashable, and repairable.
Specs
- MCU
- Nordic nRF52840
- Battery
- LiPo (≈ 1 week)
- Charging
- USB-C
- Connectivity
- Bluetooth LE
Early Bird Dev Kit - €79
Everything you need to solve the "0 Steps" problem.
Shipping to Continental EU only
- ✅ StepSprite Board (Pre-flashed with v1.0 Firmware)
- ✅ LiPo Battery (Rechargeable)
- ✅ 3D Printed Case (SLA Resin, Snap-fit)
- ✅ Velcro Strap (Fits any shoe/ankle)
- ✅ iOS App (Free download) • Android Q2 2026
- ✅ Charging Cable (USB-C)
Pre-order Your Dev Kit
Fill out this form to reserve your StepSprite. We'll email you with payment details and shipping confirmation.
What happens after you reserve?
- 1 Confirmation email — You'll hear from me within 24 hours with your spot number.
- 2 Batch 1 closes — Once we hit 50 reservations (or the cutoff date), I finalize production.
- 3 Payment link — When units are ready to ship, you'll receive a Stripe payment link for €79.
- 4 Shipping — Kits ship within 5 business days of payment via DPD/Speedy.
No payment is collected now. You only pay when StepSprite is ready to ship.
Estimated ship date: March 2026 — I'll keep you posted via email.
FAQ
Is this a finished consumer product? +
No — StepSprite is sold as a development kit for educational/R&D use. Expect minor assembly and a builder-friendly experience.
How does it sync to health apps? +
StepSprite writes steps into Apple Health on iOS, and Health Connect on Android. The device is ankle/shoe mounted to keep step detection accurate while you type.
Do I need an account? +
No accounts. No cloud. Your data stays on your phone.
Where do you ship? +
Continental EU only for this initial batch. Orders ship from Sofia, Bulgaria via ground courier (DPD/Speedy). Delivery typically takes 5–7 business days to Western Europe.
What if I don't like it? +
As an EU consumer, you have a 14-day right of withdrawal. If the kit is unopened/unassembled, you get a full refund. If you've assembled it, a partial refund may apply depending on condition. You cover return shipping.
How long does shipping take? +
Orders ship within 1–3 business days. Since the kit includes a LiPo battery, we use ground shipping only — expect 5–7 business days to most of Western Europe.
Do I need to solder anything? +
No soldering required. Assembly is tool-free: plug the battery connector into the board, place it in the 3D-printed case, and snap the lid shut. Takes about 5 minutes.
Who is behind StepSprite? +
StepSprite is built by Rob at Worbee EOOD, a small company in Sofia, Bulgaria. This is a solo project — I designed the hardware, wrote the firmware, and built the iOS app.
Why is this a "dev kit" and not a finished product? +
Selling a finished consumer electronics product in the EU requires extensive certification (CE, radio compliance, battery directives, etc.). I'm running this first batch as a dev kit to validate demand before investing in full certification. You get a fully functional product — just with "some assembly required" (5 minutes, no tools).
What if I have problems? +
Email me directly at hello@stepsprite.com. I respond personally to every message, usually within 24 hours. Since this is Batch 1, I'm especially keen to hear feedback and fix any issues quickly.
Will there be an Android version? +
Yes — Android support is planned for Q2 2026. The hardware works with both platforms; only the app is iOS-first for now.
Why not just use a Polar Stride Sensor or Stryd? +
Polar (€70) and Stryd (€229+) are great products — for runners. They're optimized for running cadence (160+ steps per minute), pace tracking, and performance metrics like stride length and running power.
Desk walking is different: slower pace (60–100 SPM), minimal arm movement, hours of continuous use. StepSprite's firmware is tuned specifically for this.
Both Polar and Stryd also require their own apps and cloud accounts. StepSprite writes directly to Apple Health — no account, no cloud, no ecosystem lock-in.
TL;DR: If you're training for a marathon, get Stryd. If you want your walking pad steps to count, get StepSprite.