# OnTheStep vs Gemstone Lights

The clearest difference is monetization model: Gemstone Lights at free against OnTheStep's free with in-app purchases. Gemstone Lights also leads on ratings volume (4.5K vs 1) and update cadence (fortnightly vs every 6 weeks). OnTheStep's advantage is iOS requirement (12.0 vs 15.0). On price, rating, review sentiment and ads there is nothing between them.

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

On the App Store both sit at effectively the same score — 5.0 for OnTheStep against 4.9 for Gemstone Lights. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Gemstone Lights has 4.5K ratings behind it against 1, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews are what separate them: 92% of OnTheStep's written reviews are positive against 88% of Gemstone Lights's.

OnTheStep ships an update every 6 weeks, Gemstone Lights fortnightly. The most recent releases landed on October 17, 2026 and October 18, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | OnTheStep | Gemstone Lights |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | **[5.0 (1 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/onthestep/id1436665274/reviews)** | [4.9 (4.5K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/gemstone-lights/id1645610976/reviews) |
| Number of ratings | 1 | **4.5K** |
| Positive reviews | **91.7% of reviews** | 88.1% of reviews |
| In-app purchases | No | No |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | Every 6 weeks | **Fortnightly** |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | **Free** |
| Size | 72 MB | 107 MB |
| Requires iOS | **12.0** | 15.0 |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod | iPhone, iPad, iPod |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Buhle Mwanza](https://appshunter.io/developer/1436665273) | [Gemstone Lights](https://appshunter.io/developer/1253335696) |

## What reviewers say

### OnTheStep

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/onthestep/id1436665274)

Request on-demand snow removal and yard cleaning services with ease. This platform connects you with reliable professionals for home maintenance tasks, offering a simple interface and secure payment options. Track your service requests from acceptance to completion.

**Highlights:** On-demand service requests, Snow removal, Yard cleaning, Easy account setup, Secure in-app payments, Real-time request tracking, Multiple address support

**In-app purchases:** none


### Gemstone Lights

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/gemstone-lights/id1645610976)

Control your smart lights with an intuitive interface. Create custom patterns, set sunrise/sunset timers, and sync your settings to the cloud. Transform your home's ambiance effortlessly.

**Highlights:** Real-time pattern status, Sunrise/sunset timers, Offline timer support, Cloud syncing for folders and patterns, Intuitive interface, Customizable lighting patterns

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

**In-app purchases:** none

**What reviewers like**

- 🚀 Great app, even better than the first!
- 👍 Easier to use and more robust performance
- 👍 Extremely happy with my lights and the new features
- 👍 Fantastic!! Envy of the subdivision
- 👍 Absolutely best investment ever!

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 The app is really hard to use if you want to zone, support is terrible
- 🐛 This app is more awkward than the original and is missing key features, like dark mode
- 🐛 The sway pattern is not working the same way as it was with the original hub
- 🐛 Still missing folders and patterns, been out for a while and they still haven't been fixed

**Reported bugs**

- Missing folders and patterns
- Sway pattern not working the same as original hub

**Requested features**

- Dark mode option
- Fireworks folder and ISO folder to be complete
- Adjusting speed should not start over, and most flow settings should have no pause


## Frequently asked questions

### Is OnTheStep free?

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

### Is Gemstone Lights free?

Gemstone Lights is free to download, with no in-app purchases.

### Which has better reviews, OnTheStep or Gemstone Lights?

OnTheStep is rated higher. OnTheStep averages 5.0 out of 5 from 1 ratings, while Gemstone Lights averages 4.9 from 4.5K ratings.

### Do OnTheStep or Gemstone Lights have ads?

Neither OnTheStep nor Gemstone Lights shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, OnTheStep or Gemstone Lights?

OnTheStep ships an update every 6 weeks, and Gemstone Lights fortnightly. Most recently, OnTheStep was updated on October 17, 2026 and Gemstone Lights on October 18, 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.*