# NextStep vs Ascend

The clearest difference is in-app purchases: NextStep at none against Ascend's 2. NextStep also leads on device support (6 vs 2). Ascend's advantage is update cadence (every 3 days vs every 3 weeks). On price, rating, ratings volume and ads there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. Ascend sells 2 in-app purchases, starting at $4.99 per month. NextStep asks for nothing beyond the download.

On the App Store both sit at effectively the same score — 5.0 for NextStep against 5.0 for Ascend. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 1 and 2 respectively.

NextStep ships an update every 3 weeks, Ascend every 3 days. The most recent releases landed on November 4, 2026 and November 5, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | NextStep | Ascend |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [5.0 (1 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/nextstep-milestone-manager/id6740143456/reviews) | [5.0 (2 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/ascend-habit-tracker/id6749784595/reviews) |
| Number of ratings | 1 | **2** |
| Positive reviews | — | 100.0% of reviews |
| In-app purchases | **No** | Yes |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | Every 3 weeks | **Every 3 days** |
| Monetization | **Free** | Freemium |
| Size | 13 MB | 17 MB |
| Requires iOS | **18.0** | 18.4 |
| Devices | **iPhone, iPad, Mac, Apple TV, Apple Watch, Vision Pro** | iPhone, iPad |
| Age rating | 4+ | 12+ |
| Developer | [Baptiste DAJON](https://appshunter.io/developer/499283836) | [Tanner Bennett](https://appshunter.io/developer/1830944792) |

## What reviewers say

### 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


### Ascend

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/ascend-habit-tracker/id6749784595)

Build lasting habits and achieve your goals with this straightforward and motivating tracker. It offers unlimited habit creation, custom reminders, and visual progress tracking to help you stay consistent. Focus on your journey without distractions or unnecessary data collection.

**Highlights:** Unlimited habit creation, Customizable reminders, Visual progress tracking, Daily goal support, Flexible scheduling, Skip days without penalty, Simple, distraction-free design

**Features:** macOS Compatibility

**In-app purchases (2)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Monthly | $4.99 | per month |
| Yearly | $19.99 | per year |


## Frequently asked questions

### Is NextStep free?

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

### Is Ascend free?

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

### Which has better reviews, NextStep or Ascend?

NextStep and Ascend are both rated 5.0 out of 5 on the App Store, from 1 and 2 ratings respectively.

### Do NextStep or Ascend have ads?

Neither NextStep nor Ascend shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, NextStep or Ascend?

NextStep ships an update every 3 weeks, and Ascend every 3 days. Most recently, NextStep was updated on November 4, 2026 and Ascend on November 5, 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.*