# Maelstrom vs Rutin

The clearest difference is in-app purchases: Maelstrom at none against Rutin's 2. Maelstrom also leads on iOS requirement (15.1 vs 26.0). Rutin's advantage is update cadence (weekly vs every 8 months). On price, ads and device support there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. Rutin sells 2 in-app purchases, starting at $0.99 per 7 days. Maelstrom asks for nothing beyond the download.

Maelstrom ships an update every 8 months, Rutin weekly. The most recent releases landed on October 9, 2026 and October 25, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Maelstrom | Rutin |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| In-app purchases | **No** | Yes |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | Every 8 months | **Weekly** |
| Size | 32 MB | 17 MB |
| Requires iOS | **15.1** | 26.0 |
| Devices | iPhone, iPod | **iPhone, iPad, Apple Watch** |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Richard Helm](https://appshunter.io/developer/1763890605) | [Emilia Elgfors](https://appshunter.io/developer/6776548251) |

## What reviewers say

### Maelstrom

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/maelstrom-routine-builder/id6649161353)

**Features:** macOS Compatibility

**In-app purchases:** none


### Rutin

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/rutin-start-on-time/id6779336029)

**Features:** macOS Compatibility, Family Sharing, Apple Watch app, Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases (2)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Rutin Unlimited | $0.99 | per 7 days |
| Rutin Pro | $9.99 | one-time |


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Maelstrom free?

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

### Is Rutin free?

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

### Do Maelstrom or Rutin have ads?

Neither Maelstrom nor Rutin shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, Maelstrom or Rutin?

Maelstrom ships an update every 8 months, and Rutin weekly. Most recently, Maelstrom was updated on October 9, 2026 and Rutin on October 25, 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.*