Comparison

SmallStepper vs Cadence

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

Head to head
About

SmallStepper

Features
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SmallStepper – A Simple Task Manager, Habit Tracker, and ADHD-Friendly Planner Too many things to do? Not sure where to start, even after making a to-do list? SmallStepper helps you focus by showing you just one small step at a time. Break down goals, routines, and everyday tasks into manageable steps. Instead of seeing an overwhelming list, the home screen displays only the one thing to do right now. No complicated dashboard. No information overload. Just one clear next step. SmallStepper can be used as a simple task manager, daily planner, habit tracker, routine planner, and productivity tool for anyone who finds traditional to-do lists overwhelming. 【How It Works】 1. Create a goal. 2. Break it down into small, achievable steps. 3. Focus on the single step shown on the home screen. 4. Complete it and move on to the next step. For example, when the developer finds it difficult to get out of bed in the morning, they use small steps such as: “Move my hands and feet” “Roll out of bed” “Drink some water” Even a difficult task can feel more manageable when it is broken down into tiny steps. 【Features】 ・Focus on one task at a time ・Break large goals into small, manageable steps ・Create morning routines, evening routines, and daily habits ・Use repeating goals to build consistent habits ・Work toward shared goals together with others ・Sync your data across multiple devices, including iPhone, iPad, and Mac (Supporters only) ・Schedule reminders and task notifications ・Review completed tasks in your history ・Level up and unlock titles as you make progress ・Receive encouraging messages after completing a step ・Turn encouragement messages off in Settings ・Check your current step from an Apple Watch ・View your current task with a home screen widget ・Use Easy Japanese and multiple language options ・Simple and distraction-free interface 【Useful For】 ・ADHD-friendly planning ・Managing attention and distractibility ・Starting tasks when you feel overwhelmed ・Daily task management ・Habit tracking ・Morning and bedtime routines ・Studying and school assignments ・Work and productivity ・Tidying and household chores ・Remembering what to bring ・Breaking down large or stressful tasks SmallStepper was designed by a clinical psychologist with the aim of making task management easier for people who experience inattention, distractibility, executive function difficulties, or information overload. You do not have to complete everything at once. Focus on what you can do right now, take one small step, and create more moments of “I did it!” Terms of Use: https://www.apple.com/legal/internet-services/itunes/dev/stdeula/

About

Cadence

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Your day, drawn around your rhythm — not against it. Cadence is the planner built for the way your brain actually works. Instead of rigid to-do lists that mock you when the day falls apart, Cadence quietly rebalances your plan so slipped tasks find the next right moment. No guilt, no rebuilding from scratch, no starting over tomorrow. Built for people with ADHD, suspected ADHD, autism, AuDHD, and anyone whose days refuse to run on a 9-to-5 timeline. WHY CADENCE • DAY FLEX ENGINE — When you miss a task, Cadence moves it to the next best slot in your day. No manual dragging. Your plan flexes with you, not against you. • ENERGY-BASED SCHEDULING — Tell Cadence once when your mornings, afternoons, and evenings run hot. High-energy tasks land in high-energy windows. Low-energy tasks stay out of the way. • GENTLE RHYTHM, NOT ALARMS — No jarring notifications. No red overdue counters. Just quiet suggestions that meet you where you are. • EVERYTHING LIVES ON YOUR PHONE — No sign-in, no cloud sync, no account to forget. Your answers, your rhythm map, your plan — all stored locally on your device. Nothing shared. HOW IT WORKS 1. A 90-second onboarding shapes the app around YOU — your energy pattern, the kind of mind you're working with, the things that usually drain you. 2. We generate your first week — tasks placed on the windows where your brain tends to show up. 3. Miss one? Day Flex moves it. Finish one? The rhythm shifts a little. Every day, the plan is a little more yours. CADENCE PRO Start with the basics for free. Upgrade when you want the full rhythm engine. PRO UNLOCKS: • Day Flex auto-rebalance — the engine that moves slipped tasks • Energy-based scheduling — automatic high/low-energy placement • Rhythm analytics + journal — see your weeks, track what shifts • Gentle notification nudges — calibrated to your pattern, not a clock • Focus mode — quiet, distraction-free task execution SUBSCRIPTION INFORMATION • Cadence Pro Annual: $59.99/year with a 7-day free trial • Cadence Pro Monthly: $9.99/month (no trial) Payment charged to your Apple ID at purchase confirmation. Subscription auto-renews unless cancelled at least 24 hours before the current period ends. Manage or cancel anytime in Settings > Apple ID > Subscriptions. Any unused portion of a free trial is forfeited when you purchase a subscription. Privacy Policy: https://cadence-legal.vercel.app/privacy.html Terms of Use: https://www.apple.com/legal/internet-services/itunes/dev/stdeula/ Cadence isn't trying to fix you. It's trying to give you a day that fits. Quietly. Without the shame spiral. Without the blank Monday. Your rhythm is already in there. Cadence just listens.

Screenshots

SmallStepper4 screens
Cadence4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is iOS requirement: Cadence at 15.1 against SmallStepper's 18.2. 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. SmallStepper sells 2 in-app purchases, starting at $0.49 per month and Cadence sells 2 in-app purchases, starting at $9.99 per month. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

Scorecard1 real difference · 5 level
SmallStepper versus Cadence: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterSmallStepperCadence
PriceFreeFree
Update frequencyMonthly—
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesYesYes
DevicesiPhone, iPad, Apple Watch — betteriPhone, iPod
Requires iOS18.215.1 — better
Further details — not scored
Size54 MB52 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperMariko MoritaAdam Kaminski

In-app purchases

2 purchases

SmallStepper

Subscriptions1
  • SmallStepperマンスリーサポーター$0.491 Month
One-time1
  • ライフタイムサポーター$9.99
2 purchases

Cadence

Subscriptions2
  • Cadence Pro7 Days trial$9.991 Month
  • Cadence Pro Annual7 Days trial$59.991 Year

Questions

Is SmallStepper free?
SmallStepper is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Is Cadence free?
Cadence is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Do SmallStepper or Cadence have ads?
Neither SmallStepper nor Cadence shows ads.

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