# The Step vs Stepwise

The clearest difference is in-app purchases: Stepwise at none against The Step's 2. Stepwise also leads on update cadence (every 3 days vs weekly). The Step's advantage is iOS requirement (16.6 vs 26.0). On price, ads and device support there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. The Step sells 2 in-app purchases, starting at $2.99 per month. Stepwise asks for nothing beyond the download.

The Step ships an update weekly, Stepwise every 3 days. The most recent releases landed on October 28, 2026 and October 15, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | The Step | Stepwise |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| In-app purchases | Yes | **No** |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | Weekly | **Every 3 days** |
| Size | 13 MB | 50 MB |
| Requires iOS | **16.6** | 26.0 |
| Devices | iPhone, Apple Watch | **iPhone, iPad, Apple Watch** |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Daryl ASSOUAN](https://appshunter.io/developer/1790201635) | [璇 冯](https://appshunter.io/developer/1858747919) |

## What reviewers say

### The Step

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/the-step-goal-tracker-and-steps/id6740526779)

**In-app purchases (2)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| The Step Monthly | $2.99 | per month |
| The Step Pro Yearly | $19.99 | per year |


### Stepwise

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/stepwise-step-and-walk-tracker/id6802314877)

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

**In-app purchases:** none


## Frequently asked questions

### Is The Step free?

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

### Is Stepwise free?

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

### Do The Step or Stepwise have ads?

Neither The Step nor Stepwise shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, The Step or Stepwise?

The Step ships an update weekly, and Stepwise every 3 days. Most recently, The Step was updated on October 28, 2026 and Stepwise on October 15, 2026.

---

*Compared by [AppsHunter](https://appshunter.io/) from daily US App Store data. Review summaries are generated from verbatim App Store reviews.*