Every day I sit in my car on the way to and from work. What if this time wasn't just spent in traffic jams and singing along to 80s hits, but could actually be turned into hard cash? That's exactly what the app "„Pathearn„"Just driving a car and earning money at the same time. Sounds too good to be true, right? I tested it for you and I'm taking you along on my digital joyride.".
First steps: Download, installation and a look under the hood
So, off to the App Store – Pathearn It's available for both iOS and Android. The download is quick and the registration process is refreshingly simple. Enter your email address, confirm, and you're done. No lengthy verification processes or requests for unnecessary data. I like that. The app itself is simple and clearly designed, without any unnecessary frills. A large "Scan" button in the center leaves no doubt about what to do.
The basic principle of Pathearn The concept is simple: The app uses your smartphone's camera and GPS to collect anonymized geodata of your surroundings while you drive. Artificial intelligence (AI) in the background recognizes and classifies objects such as other vehicles, traffic signs, and available parking spaces. This data is then – so the app promises – used to develop products for optimizing traffic flow, parking management, and even reducing harmful emissions. As a reward for collecting this data, users receive points that can be converted into the cryptocurrency PTRN.
The practical test: Hold your phone to the window and off you go!
For my test, I clamped my phone into the holder on the windshield, launched the app, activated scan mode, and drove my daily commute. It's important that the app has a clear view of the road and that GPS is enabled. And then? Well, then you just drive. That's the beauty of it: Pathearn It runs completely passively in the background. No tapping, no swiping, no distraction from the road. You start the app and ideally forget about it again until you reach your destination.
The app allowed me to follow my points balance live as it slowly but steadily increased. Initially, I was genuinely surprised by how smoothly it all ran. Points were awarded for every recorded event – be it another car or a traffic sign. However, I quickly realized that the points earned depend heavily on traffic density. On a busy highway during rush hour, the virtual cash register rings much faster than on a nighttime drive on country roads.
More than just driving: Further earning opportunities
What Pathearn What makes it interesting is that it's not just about driving. The app also regularly offers special "missions" or campaigns. For example, there was a "Bring a Friend" promotion where you received bonus points if a referred friend scanned a certain number of traffic signs. This adds a gamified element to the app and motivates regular use. There's also mention of "gaming" as an additional revenue stream, suggesting that the developers have further plans to keep users engaged.
The final accounting: How do the points get added to the account?
Now to the most important question: What do I do with the points I've collected? This is where things get a little technical, as we delve into the world of cryptocurrencies. PTRN points can be exchanged for the cryptocurrency of the same name. For this, you'll need a "MetaMask Wallet," a digital wallet for cryptocurrencies. Setting it up might seem a bit daunting for crypto novices at first, but there are numerous tutorials available online.
You need to connect your wallet to the Polygon network and add the PTRN token. Then you can request a withdrawal in the Pathearn app. In my test, this worked surprisingly well. The transfer of the PTRN tokens to my wallet took place within a day. From there, you could exchange them for euros or another currency on a crypto exchange like Coinstore, which is mentioned in some user reviews.
The number of tokens you actually receive depends on the distance traveled and the frequency of the trip. For example, on my commute: the trips were rewarded quite well for the first few days. After a week, however, I received very few tokens for the same route. This makes sense, as the database now "knows" the street signs in that area. The more unfamiliar terrain you travel, the higher the reward. A trip from Bern to Europa-Park and back earned me approximately 161 TP4T in PTRN tokens. And in the two months I've been conducting this test, I've accumulated a total of almost 1001 TP4T in token value.
Advantages, disadvantages and my personal conclusion
After a few weeks of testing, I have gained a good overview of the advantages and disadvantages of Pathearn.
The advantages:
- Passive income: You don't have to change your habits. If you're already on the road a lot, you can simply let the app run in the background.
- For free: The app is completely free, so there is no barrier to entry.
- Meaningful purpose: The idea of improving traffic and urban planning by collecting data is a nice side effect.
- Easy to use: The app is very user-friendly and intuitively designed.
The disadvantages:
- Fluctuating incomes: Earnings are not always consistent and seem to decrease somewhat over time, as other users have also reported. You definitely won't get rich here.
- Battery consumption: Constant use of GPS and camera naturally drains the battery. A charging port in the car is essential.
- Crypto knowledge required: A basic understanding of cryptocurrencies and wallets is necessary for withdrawals.
- Technical problems: Some users have reported login problems or difficulties with point tracking. However, the app ran mostly smoothly for me.
My conclusion: Pathearn Pathearn is an exciting app for anyone who spends a lot of time in the car and is enthusiastic about new technologies. It's a simple way to make your daily commute a little more productive. However, you should approach it with realistic expectations. Pathearn won't make anyone rich overnight. It's more of a small, techy gadget that can earn you a few euros on the side in the form of cryptocurrency. If you don't mind the minimal setup effort and are curious about the "earn while you drive" concept, you should definitely give the app a try. Personally, I'll continue using it on my daily commutes for now – it can't hurt, after all.