Comparison

Calm Steps vs Kids Visual Timer

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

Head to head
About

Calm Steps

This app helps children aged 4-12, including neurodiverse kids, understand and manage their emotions. It offers tools for emotional regulation, behavioral support, and routine building, with personalized insights for caregivers.

Highlights
  • Emotion check-ins with personalized strategies
  • Guided regulation activities
  • Daily and weekly emotion tracking
  • Behavior management strategies
  • Pre-built routines with interactive runner
  • Caregiver coaching and support
  • Calming games for regulation
Features
Read full description

In a world full of big feelings, Calm Steps empowers children ages 4–12 – including neurodiverse kids with ADHD, autism, sensory needs, and beyond – to name, understand, and navigate their emotions one simple, confident step at a time. Calm Steps is a comprehensive emotional regulation and behavioral support app designed specifically for neurodiverse children and their caregivers. We combine evidence-based tools, AI-powered insights, and personalized strategies to help families (whether a child has ADHD, is autistic, sensory-sensitive, or simply experiences intense emotions) turn everyday challenges into moments of growth, connection, and calm. With a privacy-first, kid-friendly design and no ads or unnecessary tracking, Calm Steps gives parents and children the understanding and support they need – exactly when they need it. Emotional Wellness • 7 Emotion Check-Ins with personalized strategies for each emotional state • Guided Regulation Activities tailored to help manage difficult feelings • Daily emotion tracking to identify patterns and triggers Weekly Summaries analyzing emotional patterns, routine success, and behavior trends • Monthly Summaries providing deep insights and personalized recommendations • Progress Dashboard connecting your actions to child outcomes Common Behaviors Guide • Comprehensive library of challenging behaviors with expert strategies • Learn what to do before, during, and after behavioral events • Track behavior patterns over time with intelligent logging Routines & Structure • Pre-built routines for common daily activities with step-by-step guidance • Interactive routine runner with progress tracking and celebrations • Difficulty ratings to track progress and identify challenges Caregiver Coach • Co-Regulation Skills Training to help dysregulated children return to calm • Behavior Interpretation Guide to understand needs, not defiance • Quick Action Playbooks for immediate support in high-stress situations • Sensory Strategy Coaching with personalized sensory profile builder • Communication & Language Support for low-pressure interactions • Executive Function Coaching with visual tools and strategies • Log your actions and see which strategies work best for your child The Sensory Profile is a comprehensive assessment tool that helps caregivers understand and document a child's unique sensory processing patterns. It creates a personalized toolkit by capturing preferences, triggers, and regulation strategies across five progressive steps. Game Steps • 6 calming games, including Bubble Pop, Shape Sorter, Star Catcher, Emotion Match, Tic Tac Toe, and Simon Says • Games designed specifically for regulation, learning, and fun **Our Mission** To empower neurodiverse children and their caregivers with intelligent, evidence-based tools and strategies for emotional regulation. We believe behavior is communication, and every child deserves to feel safe, understood, and supported as they take calm, confident steps toward well-being. **What Makes Calm Steps Different** Insights that learn from your family's unique patterns Comprehensive support for both children and caregivers Evidence-based strategies grounded in neurodiversity-affirming practices Real-time progress tracking and personalized recommendations Tools that grow with your family's needs Terms of Use (EULA): https://www.apple.com/legal/internet-services/itunes/dev/stdeula/

About

Kids Visual Timer

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TickTod helps kids see time, move through routines, and feel proud when a timer is done. Built for parents, caregivers, and families, TickTod turns countdowns into visual moments kids can watch and understand. Use it for bedtime, getting ready, brushing teeth, cleanup, homework, reading, screen time, quiet time, and the everyday transitions that need a clear finish line. Visual timers for home routines Start colorful countdowns quickly, save favorite routine presets, or switch to stopwatch mode when counting up works better. Progress that feels motivating Completed timers can become stars, streaks, badges, and goals, giving kids a small win to come back to. Personal for each child Create child profiles with their own colors, avatars, rewards, and progress so each timer feels familiar. Made to fit your family Choose themes, backgrounds, sounds, app icons, and timer animations. Use reduced-motion and sensory-friendly options when your family needs a calmer timer. Parent-friendly by design Protect parent settings with app lock options. Core family setup, profiles, timer history, rewards, and settings stay on your device, and optional analytics can be turned off in Privacy settings. Download TickTod and make the next routine easier to see, start, and celebrate. Privacy Policy: https://ticktod.app/privacy Terms of Use: https://ticktod.app/terms Apple Standard EULA: https://www.apple.com/legal/internet-services/itunes/dev/stdeula/

Screenshots

Calm Steps4 screens
Kids Visual Timer4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is iOS requirement: Calm Steps at 15.1 against Kids Visual Timer's 18.0. On price, update cadence, ads and in-app purchases 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. Calm Steps sells 1 in-app purchase, starting at $0.99 per month and Kids Visual Timer sells 4 in-app purchases, starting at $0.99 per 7 days. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Calm Steps ships an update every 8 days, Kids Visual Timer every 10 days. The most recent releases landed on October 1, 2026 and October 10, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard1 real difference · 8 level
Calm Steps versus Kids Visual Timer: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterCalm StepsKids Visual Timer
PriceFreeFree
Rating5.0 (2 ratings) — better—
Number of ratings2 — better—
Update frequencyEvery 8 days — betterEvery 10 days
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesYesYes
MonetizationFree with in-app purchases—
DevicesiPhone, iPad, iPod — betteriPhone, iPad
Requires iOS15.1 — better18.0
Further details — not scored
Size40 MB148 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperTom FortierJorge Avila

In-app purchases

1 purchases

Calm Steps

Subscriptions1
  • Calm Steps$0.991 Month
4 purchases

Kids Visual Timer

Subscriptions3
  • Tick Tod Premium Weekly$0.997 Days
  • Tick Tod Premium Monthly$2.991 Month
  • Tick Tod Premium Annual7 Days trial$12.991 Year
One-time1
  • Tick Tod Premium Lifetime$29.99

Questions

Is Calm Steps free?
Calm Steps is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Is Kids Visual Timer free?
Kids Visual Timer is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Do Calm Steps or Kids Visual Timer have ads?
Neither Calm Steps nor Kids Visual Timer shows ads.
Which is updated more often, Calm Steps or Kids Visual Timer?
Calm Steps ships an update every 8 days, and Kids Visual Timer every 10 days. Most recently, Calm Steps was updated on October 1, 2026 and Kids Visual Timer on October 10, 2026.

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