# Hydration Journal vs Step Counter

The clearest difference is ads: Hydration Journal at none against Step Counter's shown. Hydration Journal also leads on iOS requirement (12.2 vs 18.0). Step Counter's advantage is ratings volume (4 vs 1). On price, rating, update cadence and in-app purchases there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. Hydration Journal sells 5 in-app purchases, starting at $0.49 per month and Step Counter sells 3 in-app purchases, starting at $0.99 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 — 5.0 for Hydration Journal against 5.0 for Step Counter. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 1 and 4 respectively.

Hydration Journal ships an update every 3 weeks, Step Counter every 9 days. The most recent releases landed on October 2, 2026 and October 7, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Hydration Journal | Step Counter |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [5.0 (1 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/hydration-journal/id1487806956/reviews) | [5.0 (4 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/step-counter-pedometer/id6792619183/reviews) |
| Number of ratings | 1 | **4** |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Ads | **No** | Yes |
| Update frequency | Every 3 weeks | **Every 9 days** |
| Monetization | Freemium | Freemium |
| Size | 48 MB | 85 MB |
| Requires iOS | **12.2** | 18.0 |
| Devices | **iPhone, iPod** | iPhone |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Implus Technology Limited](https://appshunter.io/developer/1487806745) | [Bhavnaben Rupareliya](https://appshunter.io/developer/1831970601) |

## What reviewers say

### Hydration Journal

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/hydration-journal/id1487806956)

This app helps you stay hydrated by sending timely reminders to drink water. It tracks your daily intake, allows for customizable cup sizes, and helps you establish a healthy hydration schedule to improve your overall well-being.

**Highlights:** Daily hydration reminders, Water intake tracking, Customizable cup sizes, Hydration schedule setup, Health benefits information

**Features:** macOS Compatibility

**In-app purchases (5)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Monthly Plan | $0.49 | per month |
| VIP 3 Months | $0.99 | per 3 months |
| VIP 1 Year | $1.49 | per year |
| Quarterly Plan | $19.99 | per 3 months |
| Yearly Plan | $71.99 | per year |


### Step Counter

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/step-counter-pedometer/id6792619183)

This app helps you track your daily steps and water intake to build healthy habits. It offers personalized goals, smart reminders, progress reports, and customizable themes. Widgets allow for quick logging and at-a-glance progress viewing.

**Highlights:** Automatic step tracking, Water intake logging, Smart water reminders, Home & Lock Screen widgets, Daily, weekly, monthly analytics, Streak tracking, Customizable themes

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

**In-app purchases (3)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Weekly   1 Week | $0.99 | per 7 days |
| Monthly   1 Month | $2.99 | per month |
| Yearly   1 Year | $9.99 | per year |


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Hydration Journal free?

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

### Is Step Counter free?

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

### Which has better reviews, Hydration Journal or Step Counter?

Hydration Journal and Step Counter are both rated 5.0 out of 5 on the App Store, from 1 and 4 ratings respectively.

### Do Hydration Journal or Step Counter have ads?

Step Counter shows ads; Hydration Journal does not.

### Which is updated more often, Hydration Journal or Step Counter?

Hydration Journal ships an update every 3 weeks, and Step Counter every 9 days. Most recently, Hydration Journal was updated on October 2, 2026 and Step Counter on October 7, 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.*