Comparison

Common Sense Media vs Eighty Thousand Steps

Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.

Head to head
About

Common Sense Media

This app provides parents with unbiased reviews and ratings for movies, TV shows, games, apps, and more. It helps families discover safe and age-appropriate content for children by detailing mature themes and positive messages. Users can filter content by age, interests, and streaming services, and create custom watchlists.

Highlights
  • Content ratings for movies, TV, games, apps, books, podcasts
  • Details on mature and positive content elements
  • Community reviews from parents and kids
  • Filter content by age, interests, and streaming services
  • Customizable watch and read lists
  • Curated collections of media
Features
Read full description

We are the essential review guide for parents when it comes to what kids are into: movies, TV shows, games, apps, podcasts, and more. Designed for families seeking unbiased and trusted information to help guide them to find safe and smart content for their children. •See how much age-appropriate content and positive messages your kid will find across movies, TV shows, books, games, apps, and more. •Get firsthand insights and extra details from other parents and kids in our community reviews. •Browse our library and effortlessly find the perfect pick for family movie night, thanks to intuitive filters, such as the streaming services you have, your kid's age and interests, and your family's preferences. •Easily filter out movies and TV shows with content and messages that aren't appropriate for your kids or that isn't right for your family. •Explore hand-curated collections of the best movies, shows, and books based on category, genre, theme, topic, and more. •Create your own custom watch and read list and save movies, TV shows, and books for later. Independent and Nonprofit Common Sense is the nation's leading nonprofit organization working on behalf of kids and teens to make the digital world more safe, healthy, and equitable for them and for all families. Our unbiased ratings are created by expert reviewers and aren't influenced by the product's creators or by any of our funders, affiliates, or partners. Terms of service: https://www.commonsensemedia.org/about-us/our-mission/site-terms-use

About

Eighty Thousand Steps

This interactive audio experience uses your steps to power a captivating story. Uncover a family secret through an immersive, cinematic saga inspired by real-life migration. Enjoy a unique blend of exercise and storytelling.

Highlights
  • Step-powered narrative
  • Immersive surround-sound audio
  • Unlockable clues
  • Offline playback
  • Accessible without walking
  • In-app step counter
Read full description

Ready for an inspiring journey? Here’s the twist. You power this story—with your footsteps. Take a walk in someone else’s shoes. Uncover a long-buried secret. Welcome to a story like no other. Walk the dog, run an errand, stroll the park, take a coffee break around the block. You can even run or jog, hit the treadmill, step machine, or elliptical. Now listen. And be prepared: this will move you in every way. Body, mind, and heart. A cinematic saga for the ears. An intimate personal secret, dipped in folklore and magic. Eighty Thousand Steps is a unique, genre-bending interactive podcast about family and migration, inspired by the true story of journalist Crystal Chan’s search for what really happened to her grandmother as a refugee. Follow the clues beyond the headlines. How do you keep going, no matter where life takes you? From award-winning studios Stitch Media and CBC Arts: a show for those who walk their own path. A journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step. What step will you take today? HAPPY STEPPERS “It’s like a double whammy, getting my exercise in and listening to a story—2 for 1 value.” “Very fun and I enjoyed having something to walk to that added purpose to my movement.” “I have been enjoying the story while I do my daily walk. It’s so immersive and I love the interactive quality.” “This approach to storytelling feels so fresh and real and human.” “Really tugged at my heartstrings.” SPECIAL FEATURES Motivating Step Counter: In-app step counter shows your steps traveled as you uncover the mystery. Immersive Storytelling: Groundbreaking surround-sound audio with hand-illustrated scrolling art. Unlock clues after listening to each of the six episodes. Accessible and Adaptive: Completely free. Available offline. All transcripts available. Walk or run at any speed. Enable Accessibility Mode to enjoy without walking. Secure and Private: Will not save or store your health, motion or fitness data.

Screenshots

Common Sense Media4 screens
Eighty Thousand Steps4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is review sentiment: Eighty Thousand Steps at 100% against Common Sense Media's 60%. Eighty Thousand Steps also leads on in-app purchases (none vs 3) and ads (none vs shown). Common Sense Media's advantage is rating (4.8 vs 4.4) and ratings volume (8.7K vs 5). On price, update cadence and device support there is nothing between them.

Scored on Price · Rating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings · Update frequency · Ads · In-app purchases · Monetization · Best chart rank · Devices · Requires iOS

CostPrice · In-app purchases · Ads · Monetization

Both are free to download. Common Sense Media sells 3 in-app purchases, starting at $3.99 per month. Eighty Thousand Steps asks for nothing beyond the download.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

Common Sense Media holds the better App Store score, 4.8 against 4.4. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Common Sense Media has 8.7K ratings behind it against 5, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews complicate that: 60% of Common Sense Media's written reviews are positive against 100% of Eighty Thousand Steps's, so the app with the better star average is not the one people write more warmly about.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Both ship on a similar rhythm, roughly every 3 weeks. The most recent releases landed on October 16, 2026 and October 7, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard7 real differences · 3 level
Common Sense Media versus Eighty Thousand Steps: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterCommon Sense MediaEighty Thousand Steps
PriceFreeFree
Rating4.8 (8.7K ratings) — better4.4 (5 ratings)
Positive reviews59.7% of reviews100.0% of reviews — better
Number of ratings8.7K — better5
Update frequencyEvery 3 weeksEvery 3 weeks
AdsYesNo — better
In-app purchasesYesNo — better
MonetizationFree with in-app purchasesFree — better
DevicesiPhone, iPad, iPod — betteriPhone, iPod
Requires iOS15.012.4 — better
Further details — not scored
Size84 MB305 MB
Age rating17+4+
DeveloperCommon Sense MediaStitch Media

Customer experience

Common Sense Media

All ratings8,732 ratings
Positive95.7%
Neutral1.8%
Negative2.5%
Written reviews159 reviews
Positive59.7%
Neutral5.7%
Negative34.6%

Eighty Thousand Steps

All ratings5 ratings
Positive80.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative20.0%
Written reviews10 reviews
Positive100.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative0.0%

Bugs and requests

Common Sense Media

Reported bugs

3 issues
  • Constant log-out issues
  • Unreliable login functionality
  • Compatibility problems on older devices

Requested features

3 requests
  • Ability to mark content as already viewed
  • More customization options for user preferences
  • Improved search and recommendation algorithms

Eighty Thousand Steps

Not enough reviews yet to summarise bugs or requests.

In-app purchases

3 purchases

Common Sense Media

Subscriptions3
  • Monthly Plan$3.991 Month
  • Weekly Plan$9.997 Days
  • Yearly Plan$39.991 Year
None

Eighty Thousand Steps

No in-app purchases

Questions

Is Common Sense Media free?
Common Sense Media is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Is Eighty Thousand Steps free?
Eighty Thousand Steps is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Which has better reviews, Common Sense Media or Eighty Thousand Steps?
Common Sense Media is rated higher. Common Sense Media averages 4.8 out of 5 from 8.7K ratings, while Eighty Thousand Steps averages 4.4 from 5 ratings.
Do Common Sense Media or Eighty Thousand Steps have ads?
Common Sense Media shows ads; Eighty Thousand Steps does not.
Which is updated more often, Common Sense Media or Eighty Thousand Steps?
Common Sense Media ships an update every 3 weeks, and Eighty Thousand Steps every 3 weeks. Most recently, Common Sense Media was updated on October 16, 2026 and Eighty Thousand Steps on October 7, 2026.

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