Comparison

StepMax vs Step Challenge

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

Head to head
About

StepMax

This app transforms walking into a game with achievements, companions, and leaderboards. It tracks steps, calories, and distance, motivating users to build healthy habits and compete globally. Offers detailed statistics and optional GPS mapping for walks.

Highlights
  • Gamified step counting
  • Collect and evolve companions
  • Global leaderboards
  • Daily achievements and badges
  • Calorie and distance tracking
  • GPS walk mapping (VIP)
  • Home and Lock Screen widgets
Features
Read full description

A step counter that actually makes you want to walk. StepMax counts your steps, tracks calories and distance, and turns every walk into a game with companions, badges, achievements and leaderboards. STAY MOTIVATED → 172 achievements across 9 categories → Daily badges that climb from Starter to Mythic → Daily streaks that build real walking habits → Endless levels to climb → 30+ companions to collect and evolve → A weekly recap of how your week went → Set a daily step goal and crush it COMPETE WORLDWIDE → Daily, weekly, monthly and all-time leaderboards → Rank among friends, your country, your continent or the whole world → 1v1 step challenges with friends → Invite friends to earn VIP time and exclusive companions STEP TRACKING → Automatic step counting with your iPhone's motion sensor – no GPS needed, easy on the battery → Brings in your walking history from Apple Health → Calories, distance in km or miles, and CO₂ saved → Walk timer with time, pace and steps for every walk → Measure your real step length with GPS → Home Screen widgets with your companion, streak and hourly steps, plus Lock Screen widgets DETAILED STATISTICS → Hourly, weekly, monthly, yearly and custom range charts → Tap any bar to see the exact steps → Personal records and your full step history → Custom goals for any period MAP YOUR WALKS (VIP) → Record every walk with GPS and see your route on the map → Follow your walk live on the Lock Screen and in the Dynamic Island → Share your route as a picture STEPMAX VIP → Walk map with GPS routes and the live Lock Screen tracker → No ads → Permanent 2x XP → Exclusive VIP companions Monthly or yearly subscription. It renews automatically; cancel anytime in your Apple Account settings. YOUR DATA, YOUR WAY → No account needed to get started → Sign in with Apple to back up and compete with friends → Back up to iCloud or your StepMax account, so you never lose your progress → Step counting works offline ALSO → Dark and light mode → Available in 8 languages: English, Slovak, Czech, Polish, German, Spanish, French and Portuguese Whether you want a simple pedometer, a daily activity tracker or a walking game with companions and achievements, StepMax has you covered. Download now and start walking. Terms of Use (EULA): https://www.apple.com/legal/internet-services/itunes/dev/stdeula/ Privacy Policy: https://cinderhound.com/privacy/stepmax

About

Step Challenge

Features
Read full description

Set a step or distance goal for a whole week or a whole month, and always know how much is still missing. Most step counters tell how much already achieved. StepMaxxer tells you how much is still needed. KNOW TODAY'S NUMBER The app always tells you how many steps you still need today to keep your goal in reach. Fall behind and the number goes up, get ahead and it drops. No guessing, no math in your head. CREATE YOUR CHALLENGE Pick steps or distance, pick a week or a month, set your target. Change it whenever you want. WIDGETS FOR HOME SCREEN AND LOCK SCREEN Your progress and what is left, right where you already look. Updated in the background, so most days you never have to open the app. LEADERBOARD Your strongest days, weeks and months, ranked. The only person on that list is you, and beating yourself is the whole point. Reads steps and walking and running distance from Apple Health, read only. ----- Terms of use: https://www.apple.com/legal/internet-services/itunes/dev/stdeula/

Screenshots

StepMax4 screens
Step Challenge4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is in-app purchases: Step Challenge at none against StepMax's 2. Step Challenge also leads on ads (none vs shown). StepMax's advantage is update cadence (weekly vs every 2 months). On price, device support and iOS requirement 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. StepMax sells 2 in-app purchases, starting at $5.49 per month. Step Challenge asks for nothing beyond the download.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

StepMax ships an update weekly, Step Challenge every 2 months. The most recent releases landed on November 9, 2026 and November 10, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard3 real differences · 6 level
StepMax versus Step Challenge: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterStepMaxStep Challenge
PriceFreeFree
Rating5.0 (4 ratings) — better—
Number of ratings4 — better—
Update frequencyWeekly — betterEvery 2 months
AdsYesNo — better
In-app purchasesYesNo — better
MonetizationFree with in-app purchases—
DevicesiPhoneiPhone
Requires iOS26.226.0 — better
Further details — not scored
Size71 MB10 MB
Age rating12+4+
DeveloperIvan MlynekBENJAMIN WAIBEL

In-app purchases

2 purchases

StepMax

Subscriptions2
  • StepMax VIP$5.491 Month
  • StepMax VIP7 Days trial$24.991 Year
None

Step Challenge

No in-app purchases

Questions

Is StepMax free?
StepMax is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Is Step Challenge free?
Step Challenge is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Do StepMax or Step Challenge have ads?
StepMax shows ads; Step Challenge does not.
Which is updated more often, StepMax or Step Challenge?
StepMax ships an update weekly, and Step Challenge every 2 months. Most recently, StepMax was updated on November 9, 2026 and Step Challenge on November 10, 2026.

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