Comparison

Lookahead+ vs XC Master

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

Head to head
About

Lookahead+

Features
Read full description

Lookahead, Elevate Your Solving. Experience the most refined Rubik's Cube timer on iOS. Built with a stunning, customizable interface that adapts to your style, Lookahead offers precision timing, detailed statistics, and a silky-smooth user experience. Now also equipped with an Algorithms trainer, build on your algorithms and get your best times today. Whether you're a speedcuber or a casual solver, enjoy a distraction-free environment designed to help you focus on your next personal best. Features: Professional Scrambles · Advanced Statistics · Beautiful Themes · Haptic Feedback · Many more to come to your friendly neighborhood speedcubing app.

About

XC Master

This app connects to smart cubes to analyze and improve your solving skills. It offers AI-driven insights, targeted drills for specific stages, and real-time battles against other cubers. Practice algorithms with instant feedback and track your progress.

Highlights
  • AI solve analysis
  • Smart cube connectivity
  • Real-time cubing battles
  • Stage-specific drills
  • Algorithm library and practice
  • Progress tracking
Features
Read full description

XC Master · Pro 3x3 Cube AI Trainer Connect a smart cube and every turn is recorded, broken down, and analyzed. AI reads each of your solves, stage drills target your weak spots, algorithms get drilled case by case, and you can race cubers on other brands of smart cube in real time — on speed or on move count. Completely free · No ads · No push notifications — just focused practice. [Smart Practice] Works with Bluetooth smart cubes from all major brands. Automatic timing with a per-stage split of time and moves for Cross, F2L, OLL, and PLL, slice-move (M / E / S) recognition, and a rating for every solve. Give the cube a quick back-and-forth twist to start the next solve. No need to solve it first — XC Master works out the moves from wherever your cube is to the next scramble. [AI Solve Insight] A full AI analysis of your actual solve, stage by stage: it finds wasted moves, likely slips, and F2L pair choices, then coaches you with concrete things to practice. Tap "Try again" to load the same scramble right away. Practice becomes more than a number on the timer. [Live Battles Across Brands] Smart cubes from different brands compete in the same room, and your opponent's 3D cube turns live with every move they make. • Race by time or by moves: fastest hands win, or fewest moves win • Handicaps in seconds or moves: stronger players give a head start, so every match stays close • Free, Ao5, or Bo3 format, chosen when you create the room • Join by QR code or room code, and watch as a spectator when the room is full [Smart Stage Practice] Drill Cross, XC, F2L, and CF separately — each attempt ends as soon as that stage is done: • Cross can be measured against the best solution, within a tolerance you choose • XC only counts as a true XCross — solving the cross first and then the pair doesn't qualify • F2L scrambles start with the cross already solved, so you go straight to the pairs • Practice on any of the six colors, with move- or time-based goals you set [Algorithm Library & Practice] F2L, OLL, PLL, WV, ZBLS and ZBLL libraries with case diagrams and step-by-step 3D demos. Each case offers standard and community-shared solutions — set your go-to and it syncs to your account, or submit your own. Practice on your smart cube with instant feedback: Perfect, Not your alg, Wasted moves, or Likely slip, plus move count and TPS. In no-scramble mode, follow the virtual cube on screen; turn on Continuous to roll straight into the next case. [Favorites & Review] Organize favorites into your own folders, select several to start a Timed, Smart, or Lookahead review, and load any saved or past scramble into any practice mode. Smart Practice also gathers your recent slowest and least efficient solves for focused drilling, judging progress by why each one was picked. [Classic Practice] No smart cube needed: full solving on all six colors (fewest-move Cross, plus XC / XXC / 3XC / 4XC averaging 7 / 9 / 11 / 13 moves), each solution with AI analysis and a 3D demo; plus lookahead practice, real WCA competition scrambles, and step-based Cross training. Records and favorites sync across devices.

Screenshots

Lookahead+4 screens
XC Master4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is update cadence: XC Master at every 4 days against Lookahead+'s every 2 weeks. XC Master also leads on device support (3 vs 1) and iOS requirement (15.0 vs 18.0). On price, 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. Neither carries in-app purchases, so what you see is what you pay.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Lookahead+ ships an update every 2 weeks, XC Master every 4 days. Both last shipped on October 31, 2026.

Scorecard3 real differences · 6 level
Lookahead+ versus XC Master: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterLookahead+XC Master
PriceFreeFree
Rating—5.0 (5 ratings) — better
Number of ratings—5 — better
Update frequencyEvery 2 weeksEvery 4 days — better
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesNoNo
Monetization—Free
DevicesiPhoneiPhone, iPad, iPod — better
Requires iOS18.015.0 — better
Further details — not scored
Size4 MB27 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperVedant MistryXingxiaolv Technology

In-app purchases

None

Lookahead+

No in-app purchases

None

XC Master

No in-app purchases

Questions

Is Lookahead+ free?
Lookahead+ is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Is XC Master free?
XC Master is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Do Lookahead+ or XC Master have ads?
Neither Lookahead+ nor XC Master shows ads.
Which is updated more often, Lookahead+ or XC Master?
Lookahead+ ships an update every 2 weeks, and XC Master every 4 days. Most recently, Lookahead+ was updated on October 31, 2026 and XC Master on October 31, 2026.

Other comparisons