# Fictif vs NEXT

The clearest difference is review sentiment: Fictif at 61% against NEXT's 24%. Fictif also leads on ratings volume (1.1K vs 129). NEXT's advantage is rating (4.4 vs 4.1) and iOS requirement (13.0 vs 15.0). On price, update cadence, ads and in-app purchases there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. Fictif sells 11 one-off in-app purchases and NEXT sells 8 in-app purchases, starting at $4.99 per 7 days. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

NEXT holds the better App Store score, 4.4 against 4.1. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Fictif has 1.1K ratings behind it against 129, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews complicate that: 61% of Fictif's written reviews are positive against 24% of NEXT's, so the app with the better star average is not the one people write more warmly about.

Fictif ships an update every 3 weeks, NEXT every 2 weeks. The most recent releases landed on October 15, 2026 and October 13, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Fictif | NEXT |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [4.1 (1.1K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/fictif-interactive-romance/id1446520261/reviews) | **[4.4 (129 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/next-interactive-story/id1574082927/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | **1.1K** | 129 |
| Positive reviews | **60.8% of reviews** | 23.8% of reviews |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Ads | Yes | Yes |
| Update frequency | Every 3 weeks | **Every 2 weeks** |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | Freemium |
| Size | 143 MB | 95 MB |
| Requires iOS | 15.0 | **13.0** |
| Devices | **iPhone, iPad, iPod** | iPhone, iPod |
| Age rating | 12+ | 17+ |
| Developer | [Dorian](https://appshunter.io/developer/1439394609) | [Shenzhen Smarter Mobi Technology Co.Ltd](https://appshunter.io/developer/1657169745) |

## What reviewers say

### Fictif

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/fictif-interactive-romance/id1446520261)

Engage in interactive visual novels where your choices shape romantic storylines. Explore diverse genres, customize your character, and pursue multiple romance options. Experience unique art and immersive narratives.

**Highlights:** Interactive visual novels, Choose your own story, Inclusive character options, Multiple romance partners, Diverse genres and realities, Original artwork

**Features:** Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases (11)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Hourglass Bundle | $1.99 | one-time |
| Star Bundle 1 | $1.99 | one-time |
| Star Bundle 1+ | $1.99 | one-time |
| First Time Star Bundle 1+ | $1.99 | one-time |
| Stars and Hourglasses Bundle 1 | $2.99 | one-time |
| Star Bundle 2 | $4.99 | one-time |
| Star Bundle 2+ | $4.99 | one-time |
| First Time Star Bundle 2+ | $4.99 | one-time |
| Hourglass Bundle 2 | $4.99 | one-time |
| Star Bundle 3 | $9.99 | one-time |
| Star Bundle 4 | $19.99 | one-time |

**What reviewers like**

- 👍 Engaging stories
- 🎨 Beautiful art styles
- 🎶 Wonderful soundtracks
- 🌈 Inclusive character representation
- 💕 Compelling romance options

**What reviewers complain about**

- ⭐ Difficult to earn in-game currency (stars)
- ⏰ Slow release of new chapters/stories
- 🔁 Inability to replay specific chapters
- 🙄 Forced romantic choices
- 🤔 Inconsistent character gender representation

**Reported bugs**

- App freezing/crashing issues
- Ads not working properly
- Incorrect character pronouns used

**Requested features**

- Add more ways to earn stars (e.g. daily login bonuses, mini-games)
- Allow replaying of individual chapters
- Improve pacing and release schedule of new content
- Offer true character customization options
- Ensure consistent gender representation in stories


### NEXT

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/next-interactive-story/id1574082927)

Engage in interactive romantic stories where your choices shape the narrative and lead to different endings. Explore love, relationships, and dramatic twists with charming characters and captivating storylines.

**Highlights:** Interactive story choices, Branching narratives, Multiple story endings, Dating and relationship storylines, Character interaction, Ads-free content (premium)

**Features:** macOS Compatibility

**In-app purchases (8)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Weekly Subscription | $4.99 | per 7 days |
| Annual Subscription | $39.99 | per year |
| Currency: Small Pack | $1.99 | one-time |
| Currency: Small Pack | $4.99 | one-time |
| Currency: Medium Pack | $9.99 | one-time |
| Currency: Big Pack | $22.99 | one-time |
| Currency: Large Pack | $44.99 | one-time |
| Currency: Extra Large Pack | $99.99 | one-time |


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Fictif free?

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

### Is NEXT free?

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

### Which has better reviews, Fictif or NEXT?

NEXT is rated higher. Fictif averages 4.1 out of 5 from 1.1K ratings, while NEXT averages 4.4 from 129 ratings.

### Do Fictif or NEXT have ads?

Both Fictif and NEXT show ads.

### Which is updated more often, Fictif or NEXT?

Fictif ships an update every 3 weeks, and NEXT every 2 weeks. Most recently, Fictif was updated on October 15, 2026 and NEXT on October 13, 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.*