Comparison

TreadSpan vs WalkingStar

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

Head to head
About

TreadSpan

This app simplifies tracking steps for treadmill desk users, automatically logging activity without manual session input. It provides detailed step metrics and syncs with Apple Health for organized fitness data.

Highlights
  • Automatic treadmill session logging
  • Distinguishes treadmill steps from other activity
  • Syncs with Apple Health
  • Open source with Github code available
  • Supports treadmills with app capabilities
Read full description

Treadmill desk users have different needs than treadmill users. Treadspan was built for the walking pad use case. Someone that wants to track their steps throughout the day without being a slave to an app to log each session. This app coupled with a $17 chip, you can buy off Amazon - your treadmill sessions will be automatically stored in memory and ready for sync whenever you choose—no need to log each session individually. This means you can focus on your work instead of logging each workout. Treadspan also provides detailed step metrics, distinguishing between treadmill activity and other sources, and syncs directly with Apple Health to keep your fitness data organized. Supports most treadmills that have app capabilities. Take control of your treadmill tracking with Treadspan—sync when you want, not after every session! Treadspan is open source and full source code is available on Github. The hope is this project will gain traction and other people will add firmware for other treadmills overtime.

About

WalkingStar

Features
Read full description

WalkingStar is a no-nonsense iPhone controller and tracker built specifically for KingSmith WalkingPad treadmills (R-series, P-series, and C-series with Bluetooth). It is an independent third-party app — not made or sold by KingSmith. Pair your pad once over Bluetooth, then walk. No third-party servers, no accounts, no tracking. FIVE WAYS TO CONTROL SPEED Pick the one that suits your walk: classic +/- buttons, a vertical edge slider, a circular dial, a virtual SF-to-LA route that accumulates over time, or an audio-first layout that puts the time-elapsed front and centre and surfaces the current Now Playing podcast or song. Switch anytime in Settings. WHAT YOU SEE AT A GLANCE A bright accent block shows your current speed, the active pace zone (Stroll, Walk, Brisk, Power), and a range track. A 2x2 stat grid keeps Time, Distance, Steps and Calories visible. A Live Activity carries the same numbers to the Lock Screen and Dynamic Island so you can glance at your phone without unlocking it. HISTORY THAT RESPECTS YOUR TIME Every session is saved locally to the History tab with a weekly summary card, a 7-bar mini chart, and per-day breakdowns. Tap any session to see the full detail and share a postcard image of the walk. BUILT FOR APPLE HEALTH Finished sessions write to Apple Health as walking workouts with steps, distance and calories. Permission is requested once and you stay in control — disable it any time in iOS Settings. DESIGNED FOR THE WAY YOU WALK - mph / km/h toggle that runs through every screen - Pace presets you can rename, reorder, and add to - Manual mode (you set the speed) or Auto mode (the pad follows your stepping position) - Auto-pause when you step off, with a smart resume that remembers your pre-pause speed - Dark-only theme tuned for OLED displays PRIVACY BY DESIGN WalkingStar talks to one device — your treadmill. No analytics. No telemetry. No accounts. Your walks live on your iPhone and (if you allow it) in Apple Health. That's the whole list. WHAT YOU'LL NEED A KingSmith WalkingPad treadmill with Bluetooth (most R-series, P-series, and C-series models). The pad is not made by WalkingStar — we're an independent third-party controller. OPEN-SOURCE HERITAGE WalkingStar is a Swift/SwiftUI port of the open-source WalkingPad web controller at github.com/CodeJawn/walkingpad. The Bluetooth protocol layer, the auto-pause/resume behaviour, and the cumulative-stat tracking logic were all derived from that original Python project, which is licensed under the GNU GPL v3. WalkingStar is not affiliated with, endorsed by, or sponsored by KingSmith. WalkingPad is a trademark of KingSmith Co., Ltd.

Screenshots

TreadSpan3 screens
WalkingStar1 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is update cadence: WalkingStar at every 9 days against TreadSpan's monthly. On price, ads, in-app purchases and device support there is nothing between them.

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

CostPrice · In-app purchases · Ads · Monetization

Both are free to download. Neither carries in-app purchases, so what you see is what you pay.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

TreadSpan ships an update monthly, WalkingStar every 9 days. The most recent releases landed on September 29, 2026 and September 28, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard1 real difference · 9 level
TreadSpan versus WalkingStar: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterTreadSpanWalkingStar
PriceFreeFree
Rating5.0 (1 ratings) — better—
Positive reviews100.0% of reviews—
Number of ratings1 — better—
Update frequencyMonthlyEvery 9 days — better
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesNoNo
MonetizationFree—
DevicesiPhone, iPad — betteriPhone
Requires iOS18.017.0 — better
Further details — not scored
Size3 MB1 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperBlake RobertsonDhruv Parpia

In-app purchases

None

TreadSpan

No in-app purchases

None

WalkingStar

No in-app purchases

Questions

Is TreadSpan free?
TreadSpan is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Is WalkingStar free?
WalkingStar is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Do TreadSpan or WalkingStar have ads?
Neither TreadSpan nor WalkingStar shows ads.
Which is updated more often, TreadSpan or WalkingStar?
TreadSpan ships an update monthly, and WalkingStar every 9 days. Most recently, TreadSpan was updated on September 29, 2026 and WalkingStar on September 28, 2026.

Other comparisons