# CycleChem vs NextStep

The clearest difference is in-app purchases: NextStep at none against CycleChem's 1. NextStep also leads on update cadence (fortnightly vs every 6 months). CycleChem's advantage is ads (none vs shown). On price, device support and iOS requirement there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. CycleChem sells 1 one-off in-app purchase. NextStep asks for nothing beyond the download.

CycleChem ships an update every 6 months, NextStep fortnightly. The most recent releases landed on September 6, 2026 and June 10, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | CycleChem | NextStep |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | — | **[5.0 (4 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/nextstep-premed-tracker/id6747686105/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | — | **4** |
| Positive reviews | — | 100.0% of reviews |
| In-app purchases | Yes | **No** |
| Ads | **No** | Yes |
| Update frequency | Every 6 months | **Fortnightly** |
| Monetization | — | Ad-supported |
| Size | 8 MB | 73 MB |
| Requires iOS | 16.6 | **15.6** |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad | iPhone, iPod |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Eric ORDONNEAU](https://appshunter.io/developer/1465804393) | [Josh Hoffman](https://appshunter.io/developer/1822360954) |

## What reviewers say

### CycleChem

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/cyclechem/id1465804394)

**Features:** macOS Compatibility

**In-app purchases (1)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Unlock all games | $0.99 | one-time |


### NextStep

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/nextstep-premed-tracker/id6747686105)

This app helps pre-med students organize their academic and extracurricular activities. It allows users to log hours, track progress towards goals, and manage application milestones efficiently. Designed by former students, it aims to reduce stress in the med school application process.

**Highlights:** Experience logging for various activities, Hour tracking and statistical visualization, Customizable goals and reminders, Offline functionality, AI-powered insights (coming soon), Built by pre-med students

**Features:** macOS Compatibility

**In-app purchases:** none


## Frequently asked questions

### Is CycleChem free?

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

### Is NextStep free?

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

### Do CycleChem or NextStep have ads?

NextStep shows ads; CycleChem does not.

### Which is updated more often, CycleChem or NextStep?

CycleChem ships an update every 6 months, and NextStep fortnightly. Most recently, CycleChem was updated on September 6, 2026 and NextStep on June 10, 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.*