# Vertical vs SmartBoard Escalade

The clearest difference is in-app purchases: SmartBoard Escalade at none against Vertical's 11. SmartBoard Escalade also leads on update cadence (every 2 months vs every 10 months). Vertical's advantage is review sentiment (53% vs 29%). On price, ads, device support and iOS requirement there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. Vertical sells 11 in-app purchases, starting at $19.99 per year. SmartBoard Escalade asks for nothing beyond the download.

Vertical ships an update every 10 months, SmartBoard Escalade every 2 months. The most recent releases landed on October 16, 2026 and October 3, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Vertical | SmartBoard Escalade |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | **[3.8 (4 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/vertical/id431631593/reviews)** | — |
| Number of ratings | **4** | — |
| Positive reviews | **53.3% of reviews** | 28.6% of reviews |
| In-app purchases | Yes | **No** |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | Every 10 months | **Every 2 months** |
| Monetization | Subscription | **Free** |
| Size | 34 MB | 30 MB |
| Requires iOS | 15.6 | **15.0** |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod | iPhone, iPad, iPod |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Niveales Medias](https://appshunter.io/developer/426095996) | [Science for Climbing](https://appshunter.io/developer/1606698013) |

## What reviewers say

### Vertical

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/vertical/id431631593)

This app is a digital magazine dedicated to high mountain sports, featuring climbing, mountaineering, and summit expeditions. It offers stunning imagery, compelling stories, international news, and expert advice on safety and equipment for beginners and advanced climbers alike.

**Highlights:** High mountain sports coverage, Climbing and mountaineering content, Expert advice and tips, International alpinism news, Topographical guides (topos), Stunning photography and stories

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

**In-app purchases (11)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Abonnement (1 an) | $19.99 | per year |
| Vertical GB 29 | $6.99 | one-time |
| Vertical GB 30 | $6.99 | one-time |
| Vertical GB 31 | $6.99 | one-time |
| Vertical GB 32 | $6.99 | one-time |
| Vertical GB 33 | $6.99 | one-time |
| Vertical GB 34 | $6.99 | one-time |
| Vertical GB 35 | $6.99 | one-time |
| Vertical GB 36 | $6.99 | one-time |
| Vertical GB 57 | $6.99 | one-time |
| Vertical - 82 | $6.99 | one-time |


### SmartBoard Escalade

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/smartboard-escalade/id1606698011)

This app provides a scientific approach to climbing training, offering physiological diagnostics and engaging exercises. Users can create custom training sessions and track progress via Bluetooth connectivity.

**Highlights:** Physiological diagnostics, Engaging climbing exercises, Customizable training sessions, Bluetooth data transmission, Scientific knowledge base

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

**In-app purchases:** none


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Vertical free?

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

### Is SmartBoard Escalade free?

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

### Do Vertical or SmartBoard Escalade have ads?

Neither Vertical nor SmartBoard Escalade shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, Vertical or SmartBoard Escalade?

Vertical ships an update every 10 months, and SmartBoard Escalade every 2 months. Most recently, Vertical was updated on October 16, 2026 and SmartBoard Escalade on October 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.*