Comparison

Steps Unlock vs Purl

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

Head to head
About

Steps Unlock

This app locks your social media and other distracting applications until you meet your daily step goals. It offers features like work mode for uninterrupted focus and a free time mode for guilt-free breaks, helping you build healthier phone habits.

Highlights
  • Walk to unlock apps
  • Work mode for focus
  • Free time mode with countdown
  • Dynamic Island and Lock Screen widgets
  • Activity heatmap and progress tracking
  • Wall of Shame for usage insights
Features
Read full description

You spent more than 5 hours on Instagram, Facebook or any social media apps yesterday. You told yourself "just 5 minutes." Steps Unlock fixes this — not with willpower, not with guilt, but with a system: your apps stay locked until you walk your daily steps. Walk to unlock your apps. Lock social media until you hit your daily steps. No steps. No scroll. No excuses. HOW IT WORKS 1. STEPS-TO-UNLOCK Your locked apps stay locked until you hit your goal. The moment you do, everything opens automatically. 2. WORK MODE Going into a meeting? Set work hours and your apps unlock automatically — no interruptions, no manual taps. The only app with this feature. 3. FREE TIME MODE New to the habit? Earn short guilt-free breaks with a countdown timer. Stay motivated without burning out. 4. DYNAMIC ISLAND + LOCK SCREEN WIDGET Your step progress lives on your Dynamic Island and Lock Screen. No need to open the app — less phone time by design. 5. ACTIVITY HEATMAP See your habit build over time. Weekly and monthly progress calendar, intensity heatmap, goal hit rate, and daily averages. 6. WALL OF SHAME See exactly how many times you reached for social media before hitting your steps. Brutally honest. Surprisingly motivating. PERFECT FOR? → Anyone who spends too much time scrolling → Office workers who want focus without willpower → People who've tried screen time limits and failed → Anyone building a daily walking habit THE DIFFERENCE - Screen time limits feel like a cage. Earning your apps feels like a reward. - When you block an app you feel restricted — and eventually override it. - When you EARN an app, you actually want to walk to get it. - That's why it works when nothing else has. WORKS WITH ALL YOUR APPS TikTok, Instagram, YouTube, Facebook, Twitter/X, Snapchat, Reddit — lock any app until your steps are done. Steps Unlock doesn't remind you. It requires you. Download free and walk your way to a healthier relationship with your phone ________________________________________________ Terms of Use: https://sites.google.com/view/trailbyte-terms-conditions/trang-ch%E1%BB%A7 Feedback: https://trailbyteapp.web.app/ or send to the email: willtrailbyte@gmail.com

About

Purl

Mark your PDF cross-stitch patterns directly on your device, track your progress with visual aids, and plan your projects. Features include a fabric calculator, skein estimator, and a stash manager with barcode scanning. It also offers row and round counters for knitting and crochet.

Highlights
  • PDF chart marking
  • Stitch progress tracking
  • Fabric and skein calculator
  • Stash management with barcode scanner
  • Row and round counter
  • Project planning and scheduling
Features
Read full description

Mark your cross-stitch chart right on your iPhone and never lose your place again. Purl opens your PDF pattern, reads its thread key and lets you mark stitches as you go: tap one stitch, swipe across a row or box-select a whole area. Your marks are saved to your account, so they are still there on your iPad or after you reinstall. MADE FOR PDF CHARTS • Import a PDF from Files or a link, or scan a paper pattern • Purl reads the thread key for you: DMC, Anchor and more • Find a symbol: every stitch of one color lights up • Full stitches, backstitch, French knots and fractionals • Apple Pencil support, and the screen stays awake while you stitch SEE HOW FAR YOU HAVE COME • Stitches left for every thread, sorted the way you like • A stitch calendar, an optional timer and an estimated finish date • Projects in progress, paused, finished or planned, with start and finish dates • Progress photos with the date and percentage PLAN BEFORE YOU START • Fabric calculator: design size and cut size for any count • Skein estimate for every thread • Your DMC and Anchor stash with a barcode scanner, and a shopping list for what is missing KNITTING AND CROCHET TOO • Row counter for knitting, round counter for crochet • Pieces and parts, imported from your PDF pattern YOUR WORK IS BACKED UP Sign in with Apple or Google and your projects, marks and PDFs are backed up to your Purl account. ONE PRICE Try everything free for 14 days. Then one purchase unlocks Purl for good. No subscription. Works in English, Turkish, German, French, Spanish, Italian, Portuguese, Dutch, Swedish, Polish, Russian and Japanese. Terms of Use (EULA): https://www.apple.com/legal/internet-services/itunes/dev/stdeula/ Privacy Policy: https://qubillc.com/purl/privacy

Screenshots

Steps Unlock3 screens
Purl4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is ads: Purl at none against Steps Unlock's shown. Purl also leads on update cadence (every 2 days vs every 3 weeks) and iOS requirement (16.0 vs 18.0). Steps Unlock's advantage is monetization model (free with in-app purchases vs paid). 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. Steps Unlock sells 5 in-app purchases, starting at $5.99 per 7 days and Purl sells 1 one-off in-app purchase. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Steps Unlock ships an update every 3 weeks, Purl every 2 days. The most recent releases landed on October 31, 2026 and November 10, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard4 real differences · 6 level
Steps Unlock versus Purl: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterSteps UnlockPurl
PriceFreeFree
Rating5.0 (1 ratings) — better—
Positive reviews—0.0% of reviews
Number of ratings1 — better—
Update frequencyEvery 3 weeksEvery 2 days — better
AdsYesNo — better
In-app purchasesYesYes
MonetizationFree with in-app purchases — betterPaid
DevicesiPhoneiPhone, iPad — better
Requires iOS18.016.0 — better
Further details — not scored
Size33 MB121 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperVu VanKADIR KARAKAS

In-app purchases

5 purchases

Steps Unlock

Subscriptions5
  • Weekly Access with 7-day trial7 Days trial$5.997 Days
  • Weekly Premium3 Days trial$7.997 Days
  • Yearly Access$8.991 Month
Show 2 more
  • Yearly Access with 7-day trial7 Days trial$31.991 Year
  • Yearly Access3 Days trial$39.991 Year
1 purchases

Purl

One-time1
  • Purl Lifetime$9.99

Questions

Is Steps Unlock free?
Steps Unlock is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Is Purl free?
Purl is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Do Steps Unlock or Purl have ads?
Steps Unlock shows ads; Purl does not.
Which is updated more often, Steps Unlock or Purl?
Steps Unlock ships an update every 3 weeks, and Purl every 2 days. Most recently, Steps Unlock was updated on October 31, 2026 and Purl on November 10, 2026.

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