McDonald’s and WithU Collab Boosted Fitness App Sign-Ups 297%
Audio-based fitness app WithU says its promotion with McDonald’s has driven new users to its app and reveals that unlikely collaborations can spark interest in fitness
What happens if a fitness app and fast food giant McDonald’s team up? WithU, an audio-guided fitness app, has the answer—it drove new app sign-ups by 297%.
The audio-guided fitness app collaborated with McDonald’s to become a prize partner in the fast food chain’s Power Peel promotion (which ran from September 4, 2024, to October 15, 2024), where McDonald’s Monopoly players in the U.K. could win a three-month trial of the WithU fitness app.
The unique partnership paid off. In addition to driving sign-ups by nearly 300%, 95% of those who redeemed a WithU code continued to create an account. Most interestingly, the promotion has resonated with fitness newcomers, as WithU says beginner-level workouts accounted for over 83% of the workouts completed by new members who joined via the promotion.
“At WithU, we actively challenge the all-or-nothing approach to fitness often seen in the industry, and we always strive to do things a little differently,” WithU CMO and co-founder Kaleigh Scott said.
While Scott acknowledges that partnering with a fast food brand may seem unlikely for a fitness app, she suggests the results are a key indicator of an untapped market.
“The high conversion rate and surge in WithU sign-ups resulting from this promotion proves that there is a significant target customer segment that seek to prioritize their health and fitness whilst still enjoying life,” she added.
“This partnership with one of the U.K.’s largest and most well-loved consumer loyalty marketing campaigns presented us with a unique opportunity to increase exposure amongst a diverse and large customer base, some of which for the first time. It’s therefore particularly encouraging to see that this promotion has so successfully connected with a large beginner-level cohort of customers as we make positive strides towards our mission to empower the world to choose fitness.”
WithU offers both a free version and paid membership. The app features over 1,500 audio workouts.
Courtney Rehfeldt has worked in the broadcasting media industry since 2007 and has freelanced since 2012. Her work has been featured in Age of Awareness, Times Beacon Record, The New York Times, and she has an upcoming piece in Slate. She studied yoga & meditation under Beryl Bender Birch at The Hard & The Soft Yoga Institute. She enjoys hiking, being outdoors, and is an avid reader. Courtney has a BA in Media & Communications studies.