Comparison

Maelstrom vs NextStep

Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side โ€” with what reviewers say about each.

Head to head
About

Maelstrom

Features
Read full description

Maelstrom helps you stick to your routines and habits. Create routines by breaking them down into individual tasks with a duration. When you start a routine, the app will guide you through it one task at a time with a timer. When the time is up, it will alert you to move on to the next task to make sure you complete the routine. Additional features include: - Individual task schedules (e.g. "Journal every Sunday") - Minimum time for positive habits (e.g. "Read for at least 5 minutes") If this sounds helpful, give it a try. The app is free without subscriptions, ads or tracking. It is a personal project with no commercial intention.

About

NextStep

Features
Read full description

Keep your next step in view. NextStep helps you move through everyday routines on iPhone and Apple Watch. Break getting ready, packing your bag or winding down into clear steps, then follow one step at a time with your finish-by time in view. YOU DECIDE WHEN A STEP IS DONE Set an estimate for each step and tap Done when you finish. Reaching zero never moves you on automatically. Pause, add step time, skip a step or end a routine when your plans change. Pausing or adding step time keeps your chosen deadline fixed, so you can see the effect on your plan. MAKE A ROUTINE YOUR OWN Create routines with up to 30 steps, optional steps, short notes and a finish-by time. Start from a sample or build your own. Reorder, duplicate and archive routines. Set optional recurring reminders separately from your finish-by time; a reminder never starts a routine for you. USE YOUR PHONE OR YOUR WATCH Start and follow a routine on either device. Saved routines can run on Apple Watch while disconnected from iPhone. When paired devices connect, they exchange routine and session updates. Each run stays with the device that started it, and the other device shows its saved progress. A QUICK LOOK WHEN YOU NEED IT Widgets and Watch complications offer a glance at your saved routine or current progress. Optional iPhone Live Activities show routines started on iPhone. Alerts depend on permission, Focus and system delivery; open NextStep to act on a step. LEARN FROM YOUR OWN ROUTINES Review completed and ended routines. After enough qualifying sessions, local duration suggestions can help you adjust future estimates. You choose which changes to apply. START FREE Save two non-archived routines and start them as often as you like. Free includes routine editing, reminders, essential widgets, the most recent seven days of history, local estimate suggestions and data export/import. Try a 45-second demo without creating a history entry. OPTIONAL NEXTSTEP PRO Pro adds more saved routines, full retained history views, detailed planned-versus-actual time comparisons and additional authored routine programs. Preview every program for free. Choose a monthly or annual auto-renewing subscription, or a one-time lifetime purchase. Prices and billing periods appear before purchase. If Pro ends, all your existing routines remain available to view, edit and run. Your retained data stays exportable. NextStep never presents a paywall during an active routine. YOUR ROUTINES STAY YOURS No NextStep account, advertising or external AI service. Routines and history are stored on your devices. Export files when you choose to share or back up your data. Apple handles purchases with your Apple Account. Subscriptions renew automatically until cancelled in Apple Account settings. Lifetime does not cancel an existing subscription; manage that subscription separately. Privacy: https://mubaraklabs.com/privacy/nextstep/ Terms: https://mubaraklabs.com/terms/nextstep/ License: https://www.apple.com/legal/internet-services/itunes/dev/stdeula/

Screenshots

Maelstrom3 screens
NextStep4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is in-app purchases: Maelstrom at none against NextStep's 3. Maelstrom also leads on iOS requirement (15.1 vs 17.0). On price, ads and device support there is nothing between them.

Scored on Price ยท Rating ยท Positive reviews ยท Number of ratings ยท Update frequency ยท Ads ยท In-app purchases ยท Monetization ยท Best chart rank ยท Devices ยท Requires iOS

CostPrice ยท In-app purchases ยท Ads ยท Monetization

Both are free to download. NextStep sells 3 in-app purchases, starting at $4.99 per month. Maelstrom asks for nothing beyond the download.

Scorecard2 real differences ยท 4 level
Maelstrom versus NextStep: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterMaelstromNextStep
PriceFreeFree
Update frequencyEvery 8 monthsโ€”
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesNo โ€” betterYes
DevicesiPhone, iPodiPhone, Apple Watch
Requires iOS15.1 โ€” better17.0
Further details โ€” not scored
Size32 MB9 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperRichard HelmMubarak Almahmeed

In-app purchases

None

Maelstrom

No in-app purchases

3 purchases

NextStep

Subscriptions2
  • Pro Monthly$4.991 Month
  • Pro Annual$29.991 Year
One-time1
  • Pro Lifetime$79.99

Questions

Is Maelstrom free?
Maelstrom is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Is NextStep free?
NextStep is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Do Maelstrom or NextStep have ads?
Neither Maelstrom nor NextStep shows ads.

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