First Step vs Pointers
Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side β with what reviewers say about each.
First Step
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An electronic developmental scale focuses on identifying the aspect that represents apparent delay in the condition, specifying it by measuring against the natural development of children from the age of 1 to 18, encompassing psychological, cognitive, motor, and functional development, followed by speech and language development in the condition, as well as any developmental or sensory disorders (motor, visual, auditory). This is achieved through the response of the parent or caregiver to diverse questions on the application, according to the chronological age of the individual, enabling us to determine the extent of development in the aforementioned aspects or the degree of delay compared to the normal growth and acquisition rate. The application provides an indicator of a delay in one or more of these aspects. The scale includes 360 questions distributed across 5 skills: 1. Communication Skills 2. Academic and Functional Skills 3. Functional Skills 4. Social Skills 5. Motor Skills Estimated time for the application: 30 minutes Languages: Arabic, English, Russian The methodology was tested and translated by the Ural Federal University (the Russian Federation).
Pointers
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The Pointer School App is a unified communication platform that encourages active engagements between the school and parents. - Stay up to date with the latest news, events and announcements from school in one unified app. - Receive personalised messages that wonβt leave you confused. - Rest assured that all info shared by us, you, or other parents are safe and secure. - Streamlined communication with absence reporting, approvals, and emergency updates. - Messages will be sent with clickable buttons, allowing you to easily reply, approve, and more, even when your hands are full! - Send direct messages to teachers, share files and voice messages, and translate text into your native language with just one tap, all from the app. - Track your childβs achievements through our house points system that will keep your child motivated.
Screenshots
Verdict
The clearest difference is iOS requirement: First Step at 12.0 against Pointers's 15.0. On price, update cadence, ads and in-app purchases there is nothing between them.
Scored on Price Β· Rating Β· Positive reviews Β· Number of ratings Β· Update frequency Β· Ads Β· In-app purchases Β· Monetization Β· Best chart rank Β· Devices Β· Requires iOS
Both are free to download. Neither carries in-app purchases, so what you see is what you pay.
First Step ships an update weekly, Pointers every 10 days. The most recent releases landed on October 8, 2026 and October 6, 2026 respectively.
| Parameter | First Step | Pointers |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Free | Free |
| Update frequency | Weekly β better | Every 10 days |
| Ads | No | No |
| In-app purchases | No | No |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod | iPhone, iPad, iPod |
| Requires iOS | 12.0 β better | 15.0 |
| Further details β not scored | ||
| Size | 75 MB | 199 MB |
| Age rating | 17+ | 4+ |
| Developer | Zayed Higher Organization for People of Determination | Schoolvoice LTD |
In-app purchases
First Step
No in-app purchases
Pointers
No in-app purchases
Questions
Is First Step free?
Is Pointers free?
Do First Step or Pointers have ads?
Which is updated more often, First Step or Pointers?
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