# NextStep vs Thought Tracker CBT

The clearest difference is in-app purchases: NextStep at none against Thought Tracker CBT's 8. Thought Tracker CBT's advantage is iOS requirement (15.0 vs 17.0). On price, rating, ratings volume and update cadence there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. Thought Tracker CBT sells 8 one-off in-app purchases. NextStep asks for nothing beyond the download.

On the App Store both sit at effectively the same score — 5.0 for NextStep against 5.0 for Thought Tracker CBT. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 2 and 1 respectively.

Both ship on a similar rhythm, roughly fortnightly. The most recent releases landed on September 30, 2026 and September 17, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | NextStep | Thought Tracker CBT |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [5.0 (2 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/nextstep-goals-tracker/id6754955377/reviews) | [5.0 (1 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/thought-tracker-cbt/id6776892863/reviews) |
| Number of ratings | **2** | 1 |
| Positive reviews | — | 100.0% of reviews |
| In-app purchases | **No** | Yes |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | Fortnightly | Fortnightly |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | Free with in-app purchases |
| Size | 4 MB | 44 MB |
| Requires iOS | 17.0 | **15.0** |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad | **iPhone, iPad, iPod** |
| Age rating | 12+ | 12+ |
| Developer | [Huy La](https://appshunter.io/developer/1849767356) | [Lobster Claw Software LLC](https://appshunter.io/developer/991777684) |

## What reviewers say

### NextStep

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/nextstep-goals-tracker/id6754955377)

This app helps you break down large aspirations into manageable steps and track your progress visually. It offers smart organization, key metrics, and a goal health dashboard to keep you motivated. Premium features provide advanced analytics and data export.

**Highlights:** Milestone planning, Smart organization with custom categories, Visual progress charts, Key metrics tracking, Goal health dashboard, Advanced search and filtering, Data export (Premium)

**Features:** macOS Compatibility

**In-app purchases:** none


### Thought Tracker CBT

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/thought-tracker-cbt/id6776892863)

This app guides you through structured reflection to understand and reframe stressful thoughts, fostering healthier self-talk. It helps identify emotional patterns and build balanced perspectives for managing anxiety, worry, and overwhelm.

**Highlights:** Guided thought records, Quick emotional check-ins, Reality checks for predictions, Insights into emotional patterns, Private, local-first journaling, Gentle reflection reminders

**Features:** macOS Compatibility, Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases (8)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Anxiety Toolkit | $4.99 | one-time |
| Relationships Pack | $4.99 | one-time |
| Self-Compassion Pack | $4.99 | one-time |
| Reality Testing Toolkit | $4.99 | one-time |
| Brave Steps Pack | $4.99 | one-time |
| Thought Tracker Plus | $9.99 | one-time |
| All Guided Packs Bundle | $19.99 | one-time |
| Unlock Everything | $24.99 | one-time |


## Frequently asked questions

### Is NextStep free?

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

### Is Thought Tracker CBT free?

Thought Tracker CBT is free to download, with in-app purchases available.

### Which has better reviews, NextStep or Thought Tracker CBT?

NextStep and Thought Tracker CBT are both rated 5.0 out of 5 on the App Store, from 2 and 1 ratings respectively.

### Do NextStep or Thought Tracker CBT have ads?

Neither NextStep nor Thought Tracker CBT shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, NextStep or Thought Tracker CBT?

NextStep ships an update fortnightly, and Thought Tracker CBT fortnightly. Most recently, NextStep was updated on September 30, 2026 and Thought Tracker CBT on September 17, 2026.

---

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