Comparison

Ascend vs Sober Note

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

Head to head
About

Ascend

Compete in virtual races up real-world towers using a stair stepper. Track your progress, climb leaderboards, and claim 'First Ascents'. Offers guided routines and personal best tracking.

Highlights
  • Race real-world towers
  • Climb leaderboards
  • Claim 'First Ascents'
  • Track personal bests
  • Guided training routines
  • Heart rate monitoring integration
Features
Read full description

The stair stepper never had a way to compete. No race, no rankings, and no record that survives the session - just a number on a console that clears when you step off. Counting those steps has been its own problem, which is why most of them were never really counted at all. Ascend gives every climb a result. Pick a building, climb its real step count, and take your rank against everyone else who has climbed it. Motion sensors in compatible AirPods or Beats do the counting, on the machine, while you climb. Pick the Empire State Building and race its actual 1,576 steps. RACE REAL TOWERS Choose a landmark and attack its actual step count: the Empire State Building, Taipei 101, the Eiffel Tower, Burj Khalifa, and more. Motion sensors in compatible AirPods or Beats count your steps in real time. Every climber who has raced that tower lines up beside you, each running their best attempt. Watch your position move while you climb. CLIMB THE LEADERBOARDS Every tower keeps its own rankings. Compare finish times, cadence, and steps against real climbers. Reach the podium, then defend it. CLAIM FIRST ASCENTS Every new tower opens with one permanent prize: the First Ascent. The first finisher claims it forever, even after someone posts a faster time. Be ready when the next tower drops. BREAK YOUR OWN RECORDS Best Efforts turns the climbs you finish into a record book only you can break. Most steps, longest climb, strongest pace, and more, each tied back to the session that set it. See the work stack up instead of disappearing when the session ends. TRAIN BETWEEN RACES Guided routines build structured intervals and changing intensity into a stair session. Pair a Bluetooth chest strap for live heart rate and effort zones. Or start a Just Climb when you only want the work, with a step goal if you want one. Every finished session lands in the same history as your races. SHARE THE CLIMB Build a share card from the climb you just did and the result you posted. Ascend is built for people who take the stair stepper seriously. It is not a generic activity tracker and it is not a social feed. Every climb and every record in Ascend comes from a session you performed in Ascend. There is no manual entry and no importing from other apps. An auto-renewing subscription is required after onboarding. Available plans, billing terms, and any eligible trial are shown before purchase. Subscriptions can be managed through your Apple Account, and eligible purchases can be restored in Ascend. Every session in Ascend - a tower race, a Just Climb, or a guided routine - is counted by motion sensors in compatible AirPods or Beats, and needs a stair stepper to climb. Apple Health is optional and is used only to attach heart rate and active-energy calories recorded while you were climbing in Ascend. A Bluetooth heart-rate monitor is optional. Ascend is not a medical device and does not provide medical advice. Terms of Use: https://ascendstepper.com/terms Privacy Policy: https://ascendstepper.com/privacy

About

Sober Note

Features
Read full description

"I want to stop drinking, but I keep pouring another one." Sober Note is a simple sobriety tracker that turns every alcohol-free hour into visible progress. WHO IT'S FOR - You want to quit or cut down on drinking - You want to see how much money you save by not drinking - You need help getting through sudden cravings - You want your effort to be visible, day by day KEY FEATURES - Live sobriety timer Watch your alcohol-free streak grow in days, hours, minutes, and seconds. Your body's recovery stages (better sleep, stabilized blood sugar, liver recovery, and more) appear as time passes. - Money saved, in real time Enter your average daily spend on alcohol, and Sober Note shows how much you've saved since you stopped. Motivation you can count. - SOS mode for cravings When the urge hits, tap SOS. A guided breathing circle and a 5-minute timer help you ride out the wave — because cravings always pass. - Milestone badges From your first day to a full year: collect badges at 1, 3, 7, 14, 30, 60, 90, 180, and 365 days. - Stats that keep you honest Current streak, best record, total savings, and a 30-day savings chart. If you slip, just reset — your history stays in your stats, without judgment. PRICING Free to use. Premium (monthly or yearly subscription) unlocks unlimited history and detailed stats, and removes all ads. Subscriptions renew automatically unless canceled at least 24 hours before the period ends. Manage anytime in App Store settings. Note: Sober Note is a self-tracking aid, not a medical device. If you may have alcohol dependence or experience withdrawal symptoms, please consult a medical professional. Privacy Policy: https://nodence.jp/danshu-privacy Terms of Use (EULA): https://www.apple.com/legal/internet-services/itunes/dev/stdeula/

Screenshots

Ascend4 screens
Sober Note4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is ads: Ascend at none against Sober Note's shown. Ascend also leads on update cadence (every 4 days vs every 9 days). Sober Note's advantage is iOS requirement (17.0 vs 26.0). On price, 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. Ascend sells 2 in-app purchases, starting at $9.99 per month and Sober Note sells 2 in-app purchases, starting at $2.99 per month. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Ascend ships an update every 4 days, Sober Note every 9 days. Both last shipped on October 24, 2026.

Scorecard3 real differences · 7 level
Ascend versus Sober Note: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterAscendSober Note
PriceFreeFree
Rating5.0 (4 ratings) — better—
Positive reviews100.0% of reviews—
Number of ratings4 — better—
Update frequencyEvery 4 days — betterEvery 9 days
AdsNo — betterYes
In-app purchasesYesYes
MonetizationSubscription—
DevicesiPhoneiPhone, iPad — better
Requires iOS26.017.0 — better
Further details — not scored
Size120 MB6 MB
Age rating12+17+
DeveloperTyler Pavayshota hosono

In-app purchases

2 purchases

Ascend

Subscriptions2
  • Ascend Monthly$9.991 Month
  • Ascend Yearly7 Days trial$49.991 Year
2 purchases

Sober Note

Subscriptions2
  • プレミアム(月額)$2.991 Month
  • プレミアム(年額)$24.991 Year

Questions

Is Ascend free?
Ascend is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Is Sober Note free?
Sober Note is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Do Ascend or Sober Note have ads?
Sober Note shows ads; Ascend does not.
Which is updated more often, Ascend or Sober Note?
Ascend ships an update every 4 days, and Sober Note every 9 days. Most recently, Ascend was updated on October 24, 2026 and Sober Note on October 24, 2026.

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