# Elements vs NextStep

The clearest difference is rating: Elements at 5.0 against NextStep's 4.2. Elements also leads on ads (none vs shown). NextStep's advantage is in-app purchases (none vs 1) and update cadence (fortnightly vs every 14 months). On price, device support and iOS requirement there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. Elements sells 1 one-off in-app purchase. NextStep asks for nothing beyond the download.

Elements holds the better App Store score, 5.0 against 4.2. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: NextStep has 5 ratings behind it against 1, so its average is the more settled of the two.

Elements ships an update every 14 months, NextStep fortnightly. The most recent releases landed on October 6, 2026 and October 23, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Elements | NextStep |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | **[5.0 (1 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/elements-flashcards-and-quiz/id6452471262/reviews)** | [4.2 (5 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/nextstep-premed-tracker/id6747686105/reviews) |
| Number of ratings | 1 | **5** |
| Positive reviews | — | 100.0% of reviews |
| In-app purchases | Yes | **No** |
| Ads | **No** | Yes |
| Update frequency | Every 14 months | **Fortnightly** |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | **Ad-supported** |
| Size | 15 MB | 73 MB |
| Requires iOS | 16.4 | **15.6** |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad | iPhone, iPod |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Brainoodle LLC](https://appshunter.io/developer/1694455083) | [Josh Hoffman](https://appshunter.io/developer/1822360954) |

## What reviewers say

### Elements

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/elements-flashcards-and-quiz/id6452471262)

Master the Periodic Table with interactive study guides, customizable flashcards, and comprehensive quizzes. Track your daily progress and explore in-depth element data. Designed for students in grades 5-12, it adapts to individual learning styles for effective exam preparation.

**Highlights:** Interactive study guides, Customizable flashcards, Comprehensive quizzes, Daily progress tracking, In-depth element data, Tailored learning experience

**Features:** macOS Compatibility

**In-app purchases (1)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Unlock All Content | $1.99 | one-time |


### NextStep

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/nextstep-premed-tracker/id6747686105)

This app helps pre-med students organize their academic and extracurricular activities. It allows users to log hours, track progress towards goals, and manage application milestones efficiently. Designed by former students, it aims to reduce stress in the med school application process.

**Highlights:** Experience logging for various activities, Hour tracking and statistical visualization, Customizable goals and reminders, Offline functionality, AI-powered insights (coming soon), Built by pre-med students

**Features:** macOS Compatibility

**In-app purchases:** none


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Elements free?

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

### Is NextStep free?

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

### Which has better reviews, Elements or NextStep?

Elements is rated higher. Elements averages 5.0 out of 5 from 1 ratings, while NextStep averages 4.2 from 5 ratings.

### Do Elements or NextStep have ads?

NextStep shows ads; Elements does not.

### Which is updated more often, Elements or NextStep?

Elements ships an update every 14 months, and NextStep fortnightly. Most recently, Elements was updated on October 6, 2026 and NextStep on October 23, 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.*