Comparison

Visual Schedule Pro for ABA vs Step & Star

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

Head to head
About

Visual Schedule Pro for ABA

This app helps children with autism and developmental needs build independence and reduce anxiety through evidence-based visual schedules. It transforms daily routines into success stories with customizable activity sequences and progress tracking.

Highlights
  • Intuitive visual schedule builder
  • 44+ pre-loaded activities
  • Real-time progress tracking
  • Evidence-based ABA principles
  • Customizable for individual needs
  • Multi-user profiles
  • Cloud sync across devices
Features
Read full description

Build independence and reduce anxiety with evidence-based visual schedules designed for children with autism and developmental needs. Transform Daily Routines Into Success Stories Visual Schedule helps children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) navigate their day with confidence. Backed by over 28 evidence-based practices and proven effective in reducing behavior incidents by 20-40%, our app brings professional ABA therapy tools directly to your home and classroom. Key Features Intuitive Visual Schedules Create custom activity sequences with clear visual cues 44+ pre-loaded activities across self-care, life skills, and learning Easy drag-and-drop schedule builder Real-time progress tracking with completion indicators Evidence-Based Design Built on proven ABA therapy principles Implements First/Then methodology with 95% effectiveness rates Supports independence building and task completion Reduces transition anxiety and challenging behaviors Perfect For Multiple Settings Home use by parents and caregivers Professional use by therapists and educators Seamless clinic-to-home continuity Customizable for individual needs and preferences Progress Tracking Visual completion indicators Activity usage analytics Easy reset and modification options Track independence growth over time Who Benefits Parents & Caregivers: Extend your child's therapy progress at home with professional-grade tools that require no special training. ABA Therapists & BCBAs: Implement evidence-based visual supports with consistent data tracking and easy customization. Educators: Support students with autism in classroom settings with structured, predictable routines. Children with ASD: Experience reduced anxiety, increased independence, and successful task completion through clear visual guidance. Why Visual Schedules Work Research shows visual schedules achieve NAP scores of 0.95 (95% effectiveness) and improve task completion by up to 30%. Our app implements these proven strategies through: Clear visual representations of tasks and expectations Predictable sequences that reduce anxiety Immediate feedback through completion tracking Customizable difficulty levels and preferences Premium Features Unlimited custom activities with photo integration Advanced progress analytics and reporting Multi-user profiles for families and clinics Cloud sync across devices Professional consultation resources Getting Started Choose from 44+ pre-loaded activities or create custom ones Build personalized schedules for your child's routine Guide your child through each step with visual cues Celebrate progress as tasks are completed Track improvements and adjust as needed Download now and start building independence through the power of visual learning. Developed in partnership with ABA professionals and backed by extensive autism research. Visual Schedule is committed to supporting the autism community with evidence-based tools that work. SUBSCRIPTION REQUIRED FOR FULL ACCESS Premium features require subscription: Weekly ($4.99/week), Monthly ($49.99/month), or Lifetime ($299 one-time payment). Terms of Use: https://www.apple.com/legal/internet-services/itunes/dev/stdeula/

About

Step & Star

This app helps create visual schedules for children and adults with predictable routines. It uses "First, Then" picture cards to guide users through tasks, offering audio prompts and celebrations upon completion. It's designed to build independence and reduce anxiety through clear, step-by-step guidance.

Highlights
  • First-Then visual schedule creation
  • Step-by-step auto-advancing cards
  • Built-in symbol library and custom photos
  • Text-to-speech and custom voice recording
  • Optional countdown timers
  • Celebrations for task completion
  • Multiple user profiles
  • Offline functionality
Features
Read full description

Step & Star turns everyday routines into simple "First, Then" picture cards — show what to do now, and the good thing that comes next. Step & Star is for kids and adults who do their best when they can see what comes next — and for the parents, teachers, and therapists who cheer them on. Predictable routines bring calm, confidence, and a lot more "I did it!" moments — whether it's one child at home or a whole classroom. Setting up a board takes seconds. Then they see one big, friendly card at a time — tap to hear it read aloud, finish the step, and watch it advance with a little celebration. WHY FAMILIES AND CLASSROOMS LOVE IT Predictable routines ease anxiety Builds independence and confidence Works at home, school, and in therapy FEATURES First-Then boards that auto-advance step by step Cards from a built-in symbol library, your own photos, or safe web image search Every card reads aloud, or record your own voice Optional countdown timers with a gentle chime Celebrations when a reward or the finish is reached Multiple profiles to keep each child or student separate Caregiver PIN lock so the board can be handed over safely Works offline, with data stored privately on your device FREE AND PREMIUM Free to use with one profile, multiple boards, the symbol library, photos, text-to-speech, timers, and celebrations. Premium unlocks unlimited profiles and boards, safe web image search, and custom voice recordings, available monthly, yearly, or as a one-time Lifetime purchase. Made with care for the people who need it most. Step & Star Premium is available as an auto-renewable subscription or a one-time purchase: Monthly — $3.99 per month Yearly — $19.99 per year (includes a 7-day free trial) Lifetime — $49.99, one-time purchase Payment is charged to your Apple ID at confirmation of purchase. Subscriptions automatically renew unless canceled at least 24 hours before the end of the current period, and your account is charged for renewal within 24 hours prior to the end of the period. You can manage or cancel anytime in your device's App Store account settings. Privacy Policy: https://myday-support.com/step-%26-star-privacy Terms of Use (EULA): https://www.apple.com/legal/internet-services/itunes/dev/stdeula/

Screenshots

Visual Schedule Pro for ABA4 screens
Step & Star4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is monetization model: Step & Star at freemium against Visual Schedule Pro for ABA's subscription. Step & Star also leads on iOS requirement (15.1 vs 17.6). Visual Schedule Pro for ABA's advantage is update cadence (fortnightly vs monthly). On price, rating, ratings volume and ads 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. Visual Schedule Pro for ABA sells 3 in-app purchases, starting at $4.99 per 7 days and Step & Star sells 3 in-app purchases, starting at $3.99 per month. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

On the App Store both sit at effectively the same score — 5.0 for Visual Schedule Pro for ABA against 5.0 for Step & Star. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 1 and 1 respectively.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Visual Schedule Pro for ABA ships an update fortnightly, Step & Star monthly. The most recent releases landed on October 8, 2026 and September 30, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard3 real differences · 7 level
Visual Schedule Pro for ABA versus Step & Star: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterVisual Schedule Pro for ABAStep & Star
PriceFreeFree
Rating5.0 (1 ratings)5.0 (1 ratings)
Positive reviews100.0% of reviews—
Number of ratings11
Update frequencyFortnightly — betterMonthly
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesYesYes
MonetizationSubscriptionFreemium — better
DevicesiPhone, iPadiPhone, iPad, iPod — better
Requires iOS17.615.1 — better
Further details — not scored
Size31 MB27 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperAccretive Systems LLCEmily Smith

Customer experience

Visual Schedule Pro for ABA

All ratings1 ratings
Positive100.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative0.0%
Written reviews1 reviews
Positive100.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative0.0%

Step & Star

All ratings1 ratings
Positive100.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative0.0%

In-app purchases

3 purchases

Visual Schedule Pro for ABA

Subscriptions2
  • Weekly Unlimited Access$4.997 Days
  • Yearly Unlimited Access$99.991 Year
One-time1
  • Lifetime Unlimited Access$299.99
3 purchases

Step & Star

Subscriptions2
  • Premium Monthly$3.991 Month
  • Premium Yearly$19.991 Year
One-time1
  • Premium Lifetime$49.99

Questions

Is Visual Schedule Pro for ABA free?
Visual Schedule Pro for ABA is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Is Step & Star free?
Step & Star is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Which has better reviews, Visual Schedule Pro for ABA or Step & Star?
Visual Schedule Pro for ABA and Step & Star are both rated 5.0 out of 5 on the App Store, from 1 and 1 ratings respectively.
Do Visual Schedule Pro for ABA or Step & Star have ads?
Neither Visual Schedule Pro for ABA nor Step & Star shows ads.
Which is updated more often, Visual Schedule Pro for ABA or Step & Star?
Visual Schedule Pro for ABA ships an update fortnightly, and Step & Star monthly. Most recently, Visual Schedule Pro for ABA was updated on October 8, 2026 and Step & Star on September 30, 2026.

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