# Next Gear vs itel NOW

The clearest difference is rating: itel NOW at 4.1 against Next Gear's 2.6. itel NOW also leads on ratings volume (2K vs 367). Next Gear's advantage is review sentiment (43% vs 18%) and update cadence (every 3 weeks vs every 6 weeks). On price, ads, in-app purchases and monetization model there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. Neither carries in-app purchases, so what you see is what you pay.

itel NOW holds the better App Store score, 4.1 against 2.6. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: itel NOW has 2K ratings behind it against 367, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews complicate that: 43% of Next Gear's written reviews are positive against 18% of itel NOW's, so the app with the better star average is not the one people write more warmly about.

Next Gear ships an update every 3 weeks, itel NOW every 6 weeks. Both last shipped on November 1, 2026.

## The numbers

| Metric | Next Gear | itel NOW |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [2.6 (367 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/next-gear/id1065067286/reviews) | **[4.1 (2K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/itel-now/id1128202643/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | 367 | **2K** |
| Positive reviews | **42.6% of reviews** | 17.6% of reviews |
| In-app purchases | No | No |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | **Every 3 weeks** | Every 6 weeks |
| Monetization | Free | Free |
| Size | 274 MB | 149 MB |
| Requires iOS | **15.0** | 17.0 |
| Devices | **iPhone, iPad, iPod** | iPhone, iPad |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Next Gear Solutions LLC](https://appshunter.io/developer/379189617) | [ITEL Laboratories, Inc.](https://appshunter.io/developer/502491184) |

## What reviewers say

### Next Gear

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/next-gear/id1065067286)

Manage your property restoration business on the go with a comprehensive suite of tools. Streamline job management, track equipment, handle accounting, and improve customer communication. Gain insights with custom reporting to grow your business.

**Highlights:** Job Management, Equipment Tracking, CRM, Custom Reporting, Homeowner Communication, Job Costing, Estimates & Invoices

**Features:** Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases:** none

**What reviewers like**

- 👍 User-friendly app
- 🚀 Easy to access and utilize
- 💡 Great CRM features for restoration companies
- 🙌 Helpful and responsive support team

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 Frequent crashes and bugs
- 🔍 Poor photo management and upload functionality
- 🤔 Outdated and cluttered user interface
- 🔒 Constant password resets and login issues

**Reported bugs**

- App freezes when trying to upload multiple photos
- Notes and descriptions not displaying properly
- Inconsistent performance on different devices
- Sync issues causing data loss

**Requested features**

- Ability to edit and delete photos/notes
- Offline access and better connectivity
- Improved calendar and job scheduling features
- More customization options for users


### itel NOW

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/itel-now/id1128202643)

This app streamlines the process of submitting photos and measurements for lab analysis of flooring and building materials. It offers video guidance, progress feedback, and the ability to test materials directly within the app.

**Highlights:** Streamlined claims workflow, Video guidance for photo and measurement submission, Checklist and icons for photo review, Progress feedback on test submissions, Intuitive navigation, In-app material testing (carpet, wood, vinyl, siding, roofing), Option to send physical samples

**Features:** macOS Compatibility, Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases:** none


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Next Gear free?

Next Gear is free to download, with no in-app purchases.

### Is itel NOW free?

itel NOW is free to download, with no in-app purchases.

### Which has better reviews, Next Gear or itel NOW?

itel NOW is rated higher. Next Gear averages 2.6 out of 5 from 367 ratings, while itel NOW averages 4.1 from 2K ratings.

### Do Next Gear or itel NOW have ads?

Neither Next Gear nor itel NOW shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, Next Gear or itel NOW?

Next Gear ships an update every 3 weeks, and itel NOW every 6 weeks. Most recently, Next Gear was updated on November 1, 2026 and itel NOW on November 1, 2026.

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*Compared by [AppsHunter](https://appshunter.io/) from daily US App Store data. Review summaries are generated from verbatim App Store reviews.*