# Maelstrom vs Small Start

The clearest difference is in-app purchases: Maelstrom at none against Small Start's 3. Small Start's advantage is update cadence (fortnightly vs every 8 months). On price, ads, device support and iOS requirement there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. Small Start sells 3 in-app purchases, starting at $3.99 per month. Maelstrom asks for nothing beyond the download.

Maelstrom ships an update every 8 months, Small Start fortnightly. The most recent releases landed on October 9, 2026 and October 24, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Maelstrom | Small Start |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| In-app purchases | **No** | Yes |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | Every 8 months | **Fortnightly** |
| Size | 32 MB | 46 MB |
| Requires iOS | 15.1 | **15.0** |
| Devices | iPhone, iPod | **iPhone, iPod, Apple Watch** |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Richard Helm](https://appshunter.io/developer/1763890605) | [Ali Firat Unver](https://appshunter.io/developer/1736911616) |

## What reviewers say

### Maelstrom

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

**Features:** macOS Compatibility

**In-app purchases:** none


### Small Start

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/small-start-adhd-routines/id6793559538)

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

**In-app purchases (3)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Monthly | $3.99 | per month |
| Yearly | $19.99 | per year |
| Lifetime | $29.99 | one-time |


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Maelstrom free?

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

### Is Small Start free?

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

### Do Maelstrom or Small Start have ads?

Neither Maelstrom nor Small Start shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, Maelstrom or Small Start?

Maelstrom ships an update every 8 months, and Small Start fortnightly. Most recently, Maelstrom was updated on October 9, 2026 and Small Start on October 24, 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.*