# Step Counter ⓒ vs Ascend

The clearest difference is ads: Ascend at none against Step Counter ⓒ's shown. Step Counter ⓒ's advantage is update cadence (fortnightly vs every 5 months) and ratings volume (4.2K vs 14). On price, review sentiment, in-app purchases and monetization model there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. Step Counter ⓒ sells 3 in-app purchases, starting at $2.99 per 7 days and Ascend sells 6 one-off in-app purchases. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

Step Counter ⓒ holds the better App Store score, 4.5 against 4.2. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Step Counter ⓒ has 4.2K ratings behind it against 14, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews complicate that: 73% of Step Counter ⓒ's written reviews are positive against 78% of Ascend's, so the app with the better star average is not the one people write more warmly about.

Step Counter ⓒ ships an update fortnightly, Ascend every 5 months. The most recent releases landed on November 2, 2026 and November 3, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Step Counter ⓒ | Ascend |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | **[4.5 (4.2K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/step-counter/id1455121270/reviews)** | [4.2 (14 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/ascend-floor-counter/id1493411512/reviews) |
| Number of ratings | **4.2K** | 14 |
| Positive reviews | 72.6% of reviews | **77.8% of reviews** |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Ads | Yes | **No** |
| Update frequency | **Fortnightly** | Every 5 months |
| Monetization | Freemium | Free with in-app purchases |
| Size | 116 MB | 7 MB |
| Requires iOS | **13.0** | 16.0 |
| Devices | **iPhone, iPod, Apple Watch** | iPhone |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Pretty View LLC](https://appshunter.io/developer/1258567367) | [Eddie Koranek](https://appshunter.io/developer/888930672) |

## What reviewers say

### Step Counter ⓒ

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/step-counter/id1455121270)

This app helps you monitor daily activity, including steps, distance, and calories burned. It also tracks water intake and allows you to set fitness goals. Health Kit integration provides accurate data, and a premium version offers advanced features and an ad-free experience.

**Highlights:** Step counting, Walking/running distance tracking, Calorie burn monitoring, Water intake tracking with reminders, Fitness goal setting, Health Kit integration, Dark mode support

**Features:** macOS Compatibility, Apple Watch app, Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases (3)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Weekly Subscription | $2.99 | per 7 days |
| Monthly Subscription | $8.99 | per month |
| Yearly subscription | $49.99 | per year |

**What reviewers like**

- 👍 Easy to use
- 💪 Helps stay motivated
- 🤝 Tracks progress well
- 🤩 Great app overall

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 Inconsistent step tracking
- 🤷‍♀️ Confusing setup process
- 💰 Paid features required
- 🚫 Doesn't work on iPad

**Reported bugs**

- App crashes on launch
- Weight/height input issues
- Inaccurate calorie tracking

**Requested features**

- Customizable step goals
- Real-time step tracking
- Better water intake tracking
- Workout duration tracking


### Ascend

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/ascend-floor-counter/id1493411512)

This app visually tracks your daily stair climbing by using your Apple Health data. Set goals, monitor your progress with dynamic charts, and earn achievements for your efforts. It offers personalized themes to customize your experience.

**Highlights:** Integrates with Apple Health, Dynamic tracking charts and graphs, Daily, weekly, monthly, and lifetime tracking, Personal record tracking, Real-life equivalent achievements, Personalized themes and icons

**In-app purchases (6)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Small Tip | $0.99 | one-time |
| Feature Unlock | $1.99 | one-time |
| Coffee sized tip | $2.99 | one-time |
| Feature Unlock | $2.99 | one-time |
| Feature Unlock | $3.99 | one-time |
| Lunch sized tip | $4.99 | one-time |


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Step Counter ⓒ free?

Step Counter ⓒ is free to download, with in-app purchases available.

### Is Ascend free?

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

### Which has better reviews, Step Counter ⓒ or Ascend?

Step Counter ⓒ is rated higher. Step Counter ⓒ averages 4.5 out of 5 from 4.2K ratings, while Ascend averages 4.2 from 14 ratings.

### Do Step Counter ⓒ or Ascend have ads?

Step Counter ⓒ shows ads; Ascend does not.

### Which is updated more often, Step Counter ⓒ or Ascend?

Step Counter ⓒ ships an update fortnightly, and Ascend every 5 months. Most recently, Step Counter ⓒ was updated on November 2, 2026 and Ascend on November 3, 2026.

---

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