# Paths™ vs NEXT

The clearest difference is ads: Paths™ at none against NEXT's shown. Paths™ also leads on review sentiment (44% vs 24%) and ratings volume (722 vs 140). On price, rating, update cadence and in-app purchases there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. Paths™ sells 8 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.

On the App Store both sit at effectively the same score — 4.2 for Paths™ against 4.4 for NEXT. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Paths™ has 722 ratings behind it against 140, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews are what separate them: 44% of Paths™'s written reviews are positive against 24% of NEXT's.

Paths™ ships an update monthly, NEXT every 2 weeks. The most recent releases landed on November 6, 2026 and November 3, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Paths™ | NEXT |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [4.2 (722 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/paths-choices-you-make/id1467842360/reviews) | **[4.4 (140 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/next-interactive-story/id1574082927/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | **722** | 140 |
| Positive reviews | **44.4% of reviews** | 23.8% of reviews |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Ads | **No** | Yes |
| Update frequency | Monthly | **Every 2 weeks** |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | Freemium |
| Size | 156 MB | 95 MB |
| Requires iOS | **10.0** | 13.0 |
| Devices | iPhone, iPod | iPhone, iPod |
| Age rating | 12+ | 17+ |
| Developer | [Paths Game Ltd](https://appshunter.io/developer/1528918533) | [Shenzhen Smarter Mobi Technology Co.Ltd](https://appshunter.io/developer/1657169745) |

## What reviewers say

### Paths™

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/paths-choices-you-make/id1467842360)

Embark on an interactive story where your choices shape the narrative. Explore a dramatic island survival scenario with your classmates, uncovering mysteries and navigating relationships. Customize your character and find love as you decide your own path to survival and escape.

**Highlights:** Interactive storytelling, Character customization, Branching narrative paths, Romance and relationships, Island survival mystery

**Features:** macOS Compatibility

**In-app purchases (8)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| 2 Paths Keys | $2.99 | one-time |
| 20 Paths Gems | $3.99 | one-time |
| 5 Paths Keys | $7.99 | one-time |
| 60 Paths Gems | $8.99 | one-time |
| 100 Paths Gems | $14.99 | one-time |
| 10 Paths Keys | $14.99 | one-time |
| 20 Paths Keys | $27.99 | one-time |
| 250 Paths Gems | $39.99 | one-time |

**What reviewers like**

- 👍 Great stories
- 💯 Engaging and well-written
- 👌 Clean and pretty animation

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🕰️ Long wait times between chapters
- 💎 Expensive in-app purchases
- 🤦‍♀️ Lack of choice in romance options
- 🐛 Frequent crashes and glitches

**Reported bugs**

- Signing in causes loss of gems
- App not loading or kicking users out
- Forced choices not working as intended

**Requested features**

- More free keys and gems
- Shorter wait times between chapters
- Ability to choose own love interests
- More customization options
- Male protagonist options


### 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 Paths™ free?

Paths™ 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, Paths™ or NEXT?

NEXT is rated higher. Paths™ averages 4.2 out of 5 from 722 ratings, while NEXT averages 4.4 from 140 ratings.

### Do Paths™ or NEXT have ads?

NEXT shows ads; Paths™ does not.

### Which is updated more often, Paths™ or NEXT?

Paths™ ships an update monthly, and NEXT every 2 weeks. Most recently, Paths™ was updated on November 6, 2026 and NEXT on November 3, 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.*