Comparison

Fish Steps vs Zen Timer

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

Head to head
About

Fish Steps

This app transforms your daily walks into a virtual aquarium experience. Your steps fill a virtual tank, keeping your fish alive and thriving. Reach your step goals to unlock new fish and decorations, encouraging an active lifestyle.

Highlights
  • Real-time step tracking
  • Virtual aquarium simulation
  • Unlockable fish and decorations
  • Daily streaks and achievements
  • Home screen widget
Features
Read full description

Your steps keep your fish tank filled. Fish Steps turns your daily walk into a living aquarium. Every step you take fills your tank with water. Stop moving, and it slowly drains. Let it run dry, and your fish don't make it. Set a daily step goal, watch your tank thrive when you hit it, and unlock new fish and decorations as you rack up miles. From tiny guppies to a great white shark — the more you walk, the more you unlock. Features — Real-time step tracking via Apple Health — Tank drains when you fall behind, fills when you walk — Unlockable fish and decorations — Daily streaks and achievements — Home screen widget

About

Zen Timer

Features
Read full description

Zen Timer is a simple meditation timer with no ads, no popups, and nothing extra on the screen. Set your time, sit, and let the singing bowl tell you when you're done. Spin the zen circle to set your duration. The bowl chimes three times to begin your session, the way sittings open in traditional Zen practice, and one chime ends it. Meditations are logged with a calendar heatmap and a daily streak, so you can watch your practice build over time. If you'd rather have just the timer, logging can be switched off entirely. HOW IT WORKS • Spin the wheel to set your time • A short preparation countdown lets you settle • Three bowl strikes open the meditation, one closes it • Your session is saved to the heatmap automatically Whether your practice is shamatha, zazen, vipassana, breathwork, or a simple daily mindfulness habit, this minimalist meditation timer stays out of the way and keeps the time. Zen Timer is free, and supported by the donations of generous meditators

Screenshots

Fish Steps4 screens
Zen Timer4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is in-app purchases: Zen Timer at none against Fish Steps's 10. Zen Timer also leads on ads (none vs shown) and iOS requirement (13.0 vs 17.6). Fish Steps's advantage is update cadence (daily vs every 3 weeks). On price 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. Fish Steps sells 10 one-off in-app purchases. Zen Timer asks for nothing beyond the download.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Fish Steps ships an update daily, Zen Timer every 3 weeks. The most recent releases landed on October 24, 2026 and October 31, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard4 real differences · 6 level
Fish Steps versus Zen Timer: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterFish StepsZen Timer
PriceFreeFree
Rating5.0 (5 ratings) — better—
Positive reviews100.0% of reviews—
Number of ratings5 — better—
Update frequencyDaily — betterEvery 3 weeks
AdsYesNo — better
In-app purchasesYesNo — better
MonetizationFree with in-app purchases—
DevicesiPhoneiPhone, iPod — better
Requires iOS17.613.0 — better
Further details — not scored
Size54 MB59 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperHENRY DONALDSON CHIPMANMarcus Otterstad

In-app purchases

10 purchases

Fish Steps

One-time10
  • Jellyfish Jungle$0.99
  • Reef Hunters$0.99
  • Tropics Bundle$0.99
Show 7 more
  • Aquarium Favorites$0.99
  • Arctic Wonders$0.99
  • Deep Sea Wonders$0.99
  • Salmon Box$0.99
  • River Wonders$0.99
  • Predator Pack$0.99
  • Empty Tank Refill$0.99
None

Zen Timer

No in-app purchases

Questions

Is Fish Steps free?
Fish Steps is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Is Zen Timer free?
Zen Timer is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Do Fish Steps or Zen Timer have ads?
Fish Steps shows ads; Zen Timer does not.
Which is updated more often, Fish Steps or Zen Timer?
Fish Steps ships an update daily, and Zen Timer every 3 weeks. Most recently, Fish Steps was updated on October 24, 2026 and Zen Timer on October 31, 2026.

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