Comparison

Steps vs StepTower

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

Head to head
About

Steps

This app helps you track your daily steps and workouts with precise counting and goal setting. It offers features to block distracting apps, compete globally, and visualize your progress with detailed charts and insights. Personalize your experience with custom themes and widgets.

Highlights
  • Precise step counting via HealthKit
  • Customizable daily step goals
  • App blocking for focus
  • Global step leaderboard
  • 23+ workout types with live tracking
  • Interactive charts and visualizations
  • Yearly insights and personal records
Features
Read full description

Steps is your complete fitness companion that turns every step into progress. Track steps, compete on the global leaderboard, block distracting apps until you hit your goal, and visualize your journey with beautiful charts and widgets. AS SEEN AT WWDC 2026 Steps is featured in "Appreciation," the music video starring Erick the Architect, shown during Apple's WWDC 2026. STEP TRACKING & GOALS - Precise step counting powered by Apple HealthKit - Customizable daily step goals with visual progress - Streak tracking with rest days — never lose progress unfairly - Goal achievement notifications and celebrations AI COACH — CHAT WITH YOUR WORKOUTS - Ask anything about your workouts and get personalized AI feedback - Runs fully on device — your health data never leaves your iPhone - Smart suggestions to help you train better and recover smarter APP LOCK — STAY FOCUSED - Block distracting apps until you reach your daily step goal - Powered by Screen Time — apps auto-unlock when you hit your target - The perfect motivation to get moving every day STEPBOARD — GLOBAL LEADERBOARD - Compete with walkers worldwide on the daily step leaderboard - See your rank update in real-time as you walk - Join or leave anytime — your choice 23+ WORKOUT TYPES - Running, Walking, Cycling, Swimming, Hiking, HIIT, Yoga, and more - Live tracking with real-time pace, distance, heart rate, and elevation - Interactive route maps with GPS and GPX export - 3D Route Playback — replay any run or ride as a cinematic 3D flyover - Share workouts with customizable snapshot styles BEAUTIFUL VISUALIZATIONS - Hourly, weekly, and monthly interactive charts - Calendar heatmaps to explore your activity history - 8 color themes to personalize your experience - Weather-integrated home dashboard YEARLY INSIGHTS & RECORDS - Year-end recap with personal bests and milestones - 8 personal records: fastest pace, longest distance, most calories, and more - Creative formats: yearly receipts, passport stamps - Workout breakdown by type APPLE WATCH & WIDGETS - Native Watch app with real-time step tracking - 3 watch complications for instant step counts - 8 home screen widgets: steps, charts, calendar, streak, workouts - Live Activity during active workouts PERSONALIZATION - Multiple custom app icons - Light, dark, and system appearance modes - Metric, imperial, or nautical units - Configurable daily reminders PRIVACY FIRST - Health data stays on your device - No ads, no selling your data - Transparent privacy controls Steps Pro unlocks the full experience with a free trial: widgets, Watch app, route maps, 3D Route Playback, AI Coach, advanced analytics, App Lock, yearly insights, and all color themes. # Contact and Support Website: https://getsteps.app Terms of Use: https://getsteps.app/terms Privacy Policy: https://getsteps.app/privacy

About

StepTower

This app encourages physical activity by locking distracting applications behind a step-based unlocking system. Users place apps on different tower floors, with higher floors requiring more steps to access. Reaching daily step goals frees up all apps for the day.

Highlights
  • Lock distracting apps with steps
  • Place apps on tower floors
  • Unlock floors with 1,000 steps
  • Sync steps with Apple Health
  • Daily goal completion
  • 15-minute pause breaks
  • Home Screen widget
Read full description

Turn your steps into a tower. Every floor you reach unlocks the apps you placed there. Spending too much time on your phone? StepTower locks your most distracting apps behind real steps. Place each app on a floor of your tower. The higher the floor, the more steps it takes to unlock. Put casual apps on lower floors and your biggest distractions at the top. Every 1,000 steps unlocks the next floor and the apps on it. What you get: - Lock distracting apps until you walk - Place apps and categories on different tower floors - Unlock each floor with 1,000 steps - Unlock apps as soon as you reach their floor - Complete your daily goal to free everything for the day - Take a 15-minute pause when you need a quick break - Sync steps automatically with Apple Health - Build streaks - Add Home Screen widget for your tower and progress How it works: 1. Choose the apps you want to lock 2. Place them on StepTower floors 3. Walk 1,000 steps to reach the next floor 4. Apps unlock when their floor is reached 5. Reach the top to unlock everything for the rest of the day 6. Need a quick break? Use a 15-minute pause Built for privacy: No account needed. *All features described above require a subscription.* Terms of Service: https://steptower.app/terms Privacy Policy: https://steptower.app/privacy

Screenshots

Steps4 screens
StepTower4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is monetization model: Steps at freemium against StepTower's subscription. Steps also leads on rating (4.6 vs 4.2) and update cadence (every 10 days vs every 3 weeks). 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. Steps sells 8 in-app purchases, starting at $2.99 per month and StepTower sells 5 in-app purchases, starting at $4.99 per 7 days. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

Steps holds the better App Store score, 4.6 against 4.2. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 53 and 11 respectively.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Steps ships an update every 10 days, StepTower every 3 weeks. The most recent releases landed on November 5, 2026 and October 31, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard4 real differences · 6 level
Steps versus StepTower: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterStepsStepTower
PriceFreeFree
Rating4.6 (53 ratings) — better4.2 (11 ratings)
Positive reviews81.0% of reviews—
Number of ratings53 — better11
Update frequencyEvery 10 days — betterEvery 3 weeks
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesYesYes
MonetizationFreemium — betterSubscription
DevicesiPhone, Apple Watch — betteriPhone
Requires iOS17.017.0
Further details — not scored
Size56 MB66 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperHieu DinhAndreas Losing

Customer experience

Steps

All ratings51 ratings
Positive86.3%
Neutral7.8%
Negative5.9%
Written reviews21 reviews
Positive81.0%
Neutral4.8%
Negative14.3%

StepTower

All ratings11 ratings
Positive81.8%
Neutral0.0%
Negative18.2%

In-app purchases

8 purchases

Steps

Subscriptions6
  • Pro Monthly (1 Month)7 Days trial$2.991 Month
  • Pro Monthly (1 Month)$2.991 Month
  • Pro Monthly - Family (1 Month)$5.991 Month
Show 3 more
  • 1-Year Subscription (1 Year)$19.991 Year
  • 1-Year Subscription (1 Year)7 Days trial$19.991 Year
  • Pro Yearly - Family (1 Year)7 Days trial$39.991 Year
One-time2
  • Steps Pro Lifetime2 variants$39.99
  • Steps Pro Family - Lifetime2 variants$79.99
5 purchases

StepTower

Subscriptions5
  • Pro$4.997 Days
  • Pro$19.991 Year
  • Pro$24.991 Year
Show 2 more
  • Pro3 Days trial$29.991 Year
  • Pro3 Days trial$49.991 Year

Questions

Is Steps free?
Steps is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Is StepTower free?
StepTower is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Which has better reviews, Steps or StepTower?
Steps is rated higher. Steps averages 4.6 out of 5 from 53 ratings, while StepTower averages 4.2 from 11 ratings.
Do Steps or StepTower have ads?
Neither Steps nor StepTower shows ads.
Which is updated more often, Steps or StepTower?
Steps ships an update every 10 days, and StepTower every 3 weeks. Most recently, Steps was updated on November 5, 2026 and StepTower on October 31, 2026.

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