# BACtrack vs Ascendant NY

The clearest difference is rating: Ascendant NY at 5.0 against BACtrack's 4.2. Ascendant NY also leads on in-app purchases (none vs 1) and update cadence (every 6 days vs fortnightly). BACtrack's advantage is ratings volume (1.5K vs 1). On price, ads and device support there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. BACtrack sells 1 in-app purchase, starting at $39.99 per year. Ascendant NY asks for nothing beyond the download.

Ascendant NY holds the better App Store score, 5.0 against 4.2. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: BACtrack has 1.5K ratings behind it against 1, so its average is the more settled of the two.

BACtrack ships an update fortnightly, Ascendant NY every 6 days. The most recent releases landed on October 21, 2026 and October 11, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | BACtrack | Ascendant NY |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [4.2 (1.5K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/bactrack/id553347498/reviews) | **[5.0 (1 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/ascendant-ny/id6793589815/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | **1.5K** | 1 |
| Positive reviews | 26.9% of reviews | — |
| In-app purchases | Yes | **No** |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | Fortnightly | **Every 6 days** |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | **Free** |
| Size | 130 MB | 66 MB |
| Requires iOS | 17.6 | **15.1** |
| Devices | iPhone | **iPhone, iPod** |
| Age rating | 17+ | 17+ |
| Developer | [KHN Solutions Inc](https://appshunter.io/developer/553347501) | [Ocean Recovery East, LLC](https://appshunter.io/developer/1649391565) |

## What reviewers say

### BACtrack

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/bactrack/id553347498)

Turn your iPhone into a breathalyzer with this app. It connects wirelessly to compatible devices to estimate your Blood Alcohol Content (BAC) and provides safety information. Track your drinking habits and understand how alcohol affects your body to make informed decisions.

**Highlights:** Estimate Blood Alcohol Content (BAC), Connects wirelessly via Bluetooth, Displays BAC results on iPhone, Provides safety information on impairment, ZeroLine® estimates BAC return to 0.00%, Save BAC readings to track habits, Integrates with Apple Health

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

**In-app purchases (1)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| BACtrack+ | $39.99 | per year |

**What reviewers like**

- 💡 Helpful yardstick
- 🚀 Works as expected
- 👍 Great product

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 App crashes or doesn't work
- 🔋 Battery issues
- 🔒 Privacy concerns with required account
- 👎 App updates make it worse
- 👎 Inconsistent or inaccurate readings

**Reported bugs**

- App won't get past registration screen
- Firmware update issues
- Bluetooth connectivity problems
- App crashes or freezes

**Requested features**

- Bring back Apple Watch app
- More drink options
- Countdown timer for blowing
- Ability to add custom drinks
- Battery level indicator


### Ascendant NY

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/ascendant-ny/id6793589815)

Connect with fellow alumni from Ascendant New York in a private, secure community. Track your mood, celebrate recovery milestones, and easily reach your support team. This app fosters peer support and connection after treatment.

**Highlights:** Private alumni feed, Daily mood check-ins, Milestone tracking, Direct contact with support team, Invite-based membership, Account deletion

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

**In-app purchases:** none


## Frequently asked questions

### Is BACtrack free?

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

### Is Ascendant NY free?

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

### Which has better reviews, BACtrack or Ascendant NY?

Ascendant NY is rated higher. BACtrack averages 4.2 out of 5 from 1.5K ratings, while Ascendant NY averages 5.0 from 1 ratings.

### Do BACtrack or Ascendant NY have ads?

Neither BACtrack nor Ascendant NY shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, BACtrack or Ascendant NY?

BACtrack ships an update fortnightly, and Ascendant NY every 6 days. Most recently, BACtrack was updated on October 21, 2026 and Ascendant NY on October 11, 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.*