# Focus Stacks vs NextStep

The clearest difference is price: NextStep at Free against Focus Stacks's $4.99. NextStep also leads on device support (6 vs 2). Focus Stacks's advantage is update cadence (weekly vs every 3 weeks). On rating, ratings volume, ads and in-app purchases there is nothing between them.

NextStep is free to download; Focus Stacks costs $4.99 up front. Neither carries in-app purchases, so what you see is what you pay.

On the App Store both sit at effectively the same score — 5.0 for Focus Stacks against 5.0 for NextStep. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 1 and 1 respectively.

Focus Stacks ships an update weekly, NextStep every 3 weeks. Both last shipped on November 4, 2026.

## The numbers

| Metric | Focus Stacks | NextStep |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | $4.99 | **Free** |
| Rating | [5.0 (1 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/focus-stacks/id6478795096/reviews) | [5.0 (1 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/nextstep-milestone-manager/id6740143456/reviews) |
| Number of ratings | 1 | 1 |
| In-app purchases | No | No |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | **Weekly** | Every 3 weeks |
| Monetization | Paid | **Free** |
| Size | 1 MB | 13 MB |
| Requires iOS | **17.0** | 18.0 |
| Devices | iPhone, Vision Pro | **iPhone, iPad, Mac, Apple TV, Apple Watch, Vision Pro** |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Andrew Despres](https://appshunter.io/developer/1525630876) | [Baptiste DAJON](https://appshunter.io/developer/499283836) |

## What reviewers say

### Focus Stacks

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/focus-stacks/id6478795096)

Organize your tasks and ideas with a visually appealing, card-based system. Capture everything, customize with colors, add detailed notes, and sync across devices. Never let a task or idea slip away again.

**Highlights:** Capture every task easily, Customize lists with colors, Attach detailed notes to tasks, Automatic iCloud syncing, Card-based design

**Features:** macOS Compatibility

**In-app purchases:** none


### NextStep

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/nextstep-milestone-manager/id6740143456)

This app helps you track your progress towards personal and professional goals. Visualize your journey and stay focused on achievements with seamless device synchronization for convenience and security.

**Highlights:** Goal tracking, Milestone management, Progress visualization, Habit tracking, Cross-device synchronization, Achievement celebration

**Features:** Apple Watch app

**In-app purchases:** none


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Focus Stacks free?

Focus Stacks costs $4.99, with no in-app purchases.

### Is NextStep free?

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

### Which has better reviews, Focus Stacks or NextStep?

Focus Stacks and NextStep are both rated 5.0 out of 5 on the App Store, from 1 and 1 ratings respectively.

### Do Focus Stacks or NextStep have ads?

Neither Focus Stacks nor NextStep shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, Focus Stacks or NextStep?

Focus Stacks ships an update weekly, and NextStep every 3 weeks. Most recently, Focus Stacks was updated on November 4, 2026 and NextStep on November 4, 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.*