# A Step Ahead Challenge vs Stepets

The clearest difference is in-app purchases: A Step Ahead Challenge at none against Stepets's 7. A Step Ahead Challenge also leads on ads (none vs shown) and ratings volume (7K vs 262). Stepets's advantage is update cadence (weekly vs every 5 weeks) and review sentiment (67% vs 55%). On price, monetization model and device support there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. Stepets sells 7 one-off in-app purchases. A Step Ahead Challenge asks for nothing beyond the download.

A Step Ahead Challenge holds the better App Store score, 4.8 against 4.6. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: A Step Ahead Challenge has 7K ratings behind it against 262, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews complicate that: 55% of A Step Ahead Challenge's written reviews are positive against 67% of Stepets's, so the app with the better star average is not the one people write more warmly about.

A Step Ahead Challenge ships an update every 5 weeks, Stepets weekly. The most recent releases landed on October 19, 2026 and October 21, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | A Step Ahead Challenge | Stepets |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | **[4.8 (7K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/a-step-ahead-challenge/id1254196799/reviews)** | [4.6 (262 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/stepets-walking-pet-simulator/id1532881399/reviews) |
| Number of ratings | **7K** | 262 |
| Positive reviews | 55.2% of reviews | **66.7% of reviews** |
| In-app purchases | **No** | Yes |
| Ads | **No** | Yes |
| Update frequency | Every 5 weeks | **Weekly** |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | Free with in-app purchases |
| Size | 238 MB | 504 MB |
| Requires iOS | 15.0 | **12.0** |
| Devices | iPhone, iPod | **iPhone, iPad, iPod** |
| Age rating | 12+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [FIX Health](https://appshunter.io/developer/1245743306) | [Platonic Games](https://appshunter.io/developer/980909625) |

## What reviewers say

### A Step Ahead Challenge

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/a-step-ahead-challenge/id1254196799)

Embark on a virtual walking adventure where your real-world steps power your survival against zombies, robots, and aliens. Complete missions, upgrade your character, and join teams to conquer challenges in a post-apocalyptic world. New adventures are released regularly.

**Highlights:** Sync steps from fitness trackers, Form teams and get active, Use steps to complete missions, Use exercise to battle enemies, Track progress on maps and leaderboards, Regular content expansions

**In-app purchases:** none

**What reviewers like**

- 🤝 Great team building
- 🏃‍♀️ Motivates exercise
- 🕹️ Fun and engaging game
- 🔍 Competitive aspect
- 🔔 Helpful notifications

**What reviewers complain about**

- ⏱️ Slow load times
- 🤕 Unfair team size disadvantage
- 🤔 Lack of direction/instructions
- 💰 Expensive per challenge
- 🔍 Difficulty selecting players

**Reported bugs**

- Syncing issues with fitness trackers
- App crashes after updates
- Steps not registering properly

**Requested features**

- Add countdown timer
- Improve team management features
- Introduce more challenge types
- Provide post-mission recap
- Allow skipping tutorial


### Stepets

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/stepets-walking-pet-simulator/id1532881399)

Collect and care for virtual pets by walking in the real world. Customize your island, play mini-games, and watch your pets evolve. Achieve fitness goals while enjoying a charming, kawaii-themed adventure.

**Highlights:** Collect and care for baby pets, Customize virtual island with furniture, Play mini-games with pets, In-game rewards for daily goals, Pets evolve and grow, Health tracking and fitness goals

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

**In-app purchases (7)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| 5 gems! | $2.99 | one-time |
| 10 gems! | $4.99 | one-time |
| Vip Member! | $4.99 | one-time |
| 20 gems! | $9.99 | one-time |
| Vip Member! | $9.99 | one-time |
| 50 gems! | $19.99 | one-time |
| 150 gems! | $49.99 | one-time |

**What reviewers like**

- 💕 Cute and adorable pets
- 🚀 Motivating to walk
- 👍 Smooth gameplay and execution
- 🎨 Fun decoration options

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🔍 Steps not tracking properly
- 💰 Excessive use of ads and premium currency
- 🕰️ Slow progression and long wait times
- 🔒 Lack of sync with external fitness apps

**Reported bugs**

- Steps not registering correctly
- Negative gem/coin balances
- Ads not providing expected rewards

**Requested features**

- Ability to move and interact with pets
- More mini-games and activities
- Improved step tracking and integration with fitness apps
- Reduced reliance on premium currency


## Frequently asked questions

### Is A Step Ahead Challenge free?

A Step Ahead Challenge is free to download, with no in-app purchases.

### Is Stepets free?

Stepets is free to download, with in-app purchases available.

### Which has better reviews, A Step Ahead Challenge or Stepets?

A Step Ahead Challenge is rated higher. A Step Ahead Challenge averages 4.8 out of 5 from 7K ratings, while Stepets averages 4.6 from 262 ratings.

### Do A Step Ahead Challenge or Stepets have ads?

Stepets shows ads; A Step Ahead Challenge does not.

### Which is updated more often, A Step Ahead Challenge or Stepets?

A Step Ahead Challenge ships an update every 5 weeks, and Stepets weekly. Most recently, A Step Ahead Challenge was updated on October 19, 2026 and Stepets on October 21, 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.*