# rakkup vs Next Ascent

The clearest difference is rating: Next Ascent at 4.0 against rakkup's 2.2. rakkup's advantage is ads (none vs shown) and ratings volume (25 vs 8). On price, review sentiment, update cadence and in-app purchases there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. rakkup sells 10 one-off in-app purchases and Next Ascent sells 10 in-app purchases, starting at $9.99 per month. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

Next Ascent holds the better App Store score, 4.0 against 2.2. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 25 and 8 respectively. Written reviews complicate that: 54% of rakkup's written reviews are positive against 50% of Next Ascent's, so the app with the better star average is not the one people write more warmly about.

Both ship on a similar rhythm, roughly every 2 months. Both last shipped on November 1, 2026.

## The numbers

| Metric | rakkup | Next Ascent |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [2.2 (25 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/rakkup/id519148082/reviews) | **[4.0 (8 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/next-ascent/id893831661/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | **25** | 8 |
| Positive reviews | **53.9% of reviews** | 50.0% of reviews |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Ads | **No** | Yes |
| Update frequency | Every 2 months | Every 2 months |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | Free with in-app purchases |
| Size | 86 MB | 64 MB |
| Requires iOS | **13.0** | 15.1 |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod | iPhone, iPad, iPod |
| Age rating | 4+ | 12+ |
| Developer | [Outdoor Geeks, LLC](https://appshunter.io/developer/519148085) | [Next Ascent, LLC](https://appshunter.io/developer/893831664) |

## What reviewers say

### rakkup

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/rakkup/id519148082)

Access a vast library of climbing and backcountry skiing guidebooks on your mobile device, even without an internet connection. Navigate trails to your destination with turn-by-turn directions and detailed maps. Explore climbs and descents with rich visuals and discover new routes.

**Highlights:** Offline guidebook access, Turn-by-turn trail navigation, GPS-enabled route finding, Map and list browsing, Search and filter capabilities, Color photos and topo drawings

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

**In-app purchases (10)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Elizabeth Furnace | $2.99 | one-time |
| Long Branch and Guide Walls | $3.99 | one-time |
| Reed's Creek | $4.99 | one-time |
| Exit 38 Rock Climbs | $9.99 | one-time |
| Staunton State Park Climbing | $9.99 | one-time |
| Powerlinez | $11.99 | one-time |
| Teton Pass Descents | $14.99 | one-time |
| Red Rocks Climbs by SuperTopo | $19.99 | one-time |
| Potrero Chico | $19.99 | one-time |
| Backcountry Skiing California's Eastern Sierra | $19.99 | one-time |

**What reviewers like**

- 🗺️ GPS navigation to crags and trails
- 📸 High-quality photos with route overlays
- 🔍 Powerful filtering and search capabilities
- 📱 Offline functionality without internet
- ✍️ Curated content from professional authors

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 Frequent crashes and freezing
- 🧭 Unintuitive and confusing navigation UI
- 🔋 Requires background location services
- 📉 Inconsistent guidebook quality by author
- ❌ Missing major climbing areas and routes

**Reported bugs**

- App crashes on login
- App freezes when opening routes
- Crashes every 30 seconds to few minutes
- Splash screen appears repeatedly despite cached data
- Collapse/expand toggles stop working

**Requested features**

- Simplified and more intuitive UI redesign
- Gear and rack information for routes
- Pitch length specifications
- User ratings and comments system
- Personalization settings (filter preferences)


### Next Ascent

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/next-ascent/id893831661)

Discover climbing destinations worldwide with detailed maps, GPS navigation, and high-definition topos. Access comprehensive route descriptions, area history, and first ascent information for crags and bouldering spots. Download complete guidebooks for popular climbing areas.

**Highlights:** Real-time maps and GPS navigation, High-definition topos and pictures, Detailed route descriptions, Crag and bouldering area information, Downloadable guidebooks, Route and area history, First ascent information

**Features:** macOS Compatibility

**In-app purchases (10)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Next Ascent Pro Monthly | $9.99 | per month |
| Next Ascent Pro Annual | $59.99 | per year |
| FE Walter Guidebook | $9.99 | one-time |
| The Garden Bouldering Guide | $9.99 | one-time |
| Mocanaqua Climbing Guidebook | $12.99 | one-time |
| Mocanaqua Bouldering Guidebook | $12.99 | one-time |
| Carver Bouldering Guidebook | $12.99 | one-time |
| Smith Rock Climbing Guide | $14.99 | one-time |
| Swan Falls Bouldering Guide | $14.99 | one-time |
| Sugarloaf Climbing Guidebook | $17.99 | one-time |


## Frequently asked questions

### Is rakkup free?

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

### Is Next Ascent free?

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

### Which has better reviews, rakkup or Next Ascent?

Next Ascent is rated higher. rakkup averages 2.2 out of 5 from 25 ratings, while Next Ascent averages 4.0 from 8 ratings.

### Do rakkup or Next Ascent have ads?

Next Ascent shows ads; rakkup does not.

### Which is updated more often, rakkup or Next Ascent?

rakkup ships an update every 2 months, and Next Ascent every 2 months. Most recently, rakkup was updated on November 1, 2026 and Next Ascent on November 1, 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.*