# Kokua Steps vs The Universal Sandpit

The clearest difference is price: Kokua Steps at Free against The Universal Sandpit's $2.99. The Universal Sandpit's advantage is update cadence (every 2 weeks vs every 8 months) and iOS requirement (15.1 vs 18.0). On ads, in-app purchases and device support there is nothing between them.

Kokua Steps is free to download; The Universal Sandpit costs $2.99 up front. Neither carries in-app purchases, so what you see is what you pay.

Kokua Steps ships an update every 8 months, The Universal Sandpit every 2 weeks. The most recent releases landed on November 3, 2026 and October 31, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Kokua Steps | The Universal Sandpit |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | **Free** | $2.99 |
| Rating | **[5.0 (3 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/kokua-steps/id6450752938/reviews)** | — |
| Number of ratings | **3** | — |
| Positive reviews | 100.0% of reviews | — |
| In-app purchases | No | No |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | Every 8 months | **Every 2 weeks** |
| Monetization | Free | — |
| Size | 4 MB | 68 MB |
| Requires iOS | 18.0 | **15.1** |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad | **iPhone, iPad, iPod** |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Kokua Software LLC](https://appshunter.io/developer/355595499) | [Craig Smith](https://appshunter.io/developer/1891571917) |

## What reviewers say

### Kokua Steps

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/kokua-steps/id6450752938)

This app creates visual schedules to guide children through daily routines and reward them for completing tasks. It breaks down activities into manageable steps, making progress feel achievable and reducing arguments. It's particularly helpful for neuro-atypical children needing extra motivation.

**Highlights:** Visual schedules for daily routines, Task breakdown into sections and steps, Star-based reward system, Progress tracking (daily, weekly, monthly), Motivation for children, Helpful for neuro-atypical kids

**Features:** macOS Compatibility

**In-app purchases:** none


### The Universal Sandpit

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/the-universal-sandpit/id6761804059)

**Features:** macOS Compatibility

**In-app purchases:** none


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Kokua Steps free?

Kokua Steps is free to download, with no in-app purchases.

### Is The Universal Sandpit free?

The Universal Sandpit costs $2.99, with no in-app purchases.

### Do Kokua Steps or The Universal Sandpit have ads?

Neither Kokua Steps nor The Universal Sandpit shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, Kokua Steps or The Universal Sandpit?

Kokua Steps ships an update every 8 months, and The Universal Sandpit every 2 weeks. Most recently, Kokua Steps was updated on November 3, 2026 and The Universal Sandpit on October 31, 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.*