Comparison

HexStep vs Desire Path

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

Head to head
About

HexStep

This app uses your real-world movement to fill in a hexagonal map. Earn points for exploring new areas and level up as your map grows. Share your progress visually with friends.

Highlights
  • Background GPS tracking
  • Hexagonal map visualization
  • Progressive area completion
  • Tiered leveling system
  • Shareable map cards
  • Offline capability
Read full description

Every step you take paints the map. HexStep tracks where you go in the background and turns your real-world movement into a hexagonal map that grows with you. No check-ins, no photo tagging. Just move, and your map fills itself. HOW IT WORKS The world is divided into an H3 hexagonal grid. Walk, bike, or drive through a hex, and that cell stays on your map. • Background GPS with smart battery optimization • Drill down from countries → provinces → districts → neighborhoods • See completion percentages for Gangnam, Tokyo, New York, or anywhere in the world LEVEL UP Earn points for every new hex. Climb five tiers, one at a time. Wanderer → Regular → Local → Explorer → Human GPS SHARE YOUR MAP Create story-ready share cards of your hex map. Share them on Instagram, iMessage, or anywhere else. HEXSTEP PLUS (PREMIUM FEATURES) See how your map grew over time and where you keep coming back. • Replay how your map filled in and save it as a video • See when you first claimed each hex and how many days you’ve been there • Frequently visited hexes appear more vivid on the map • All future Plus features included One-time purchase, no subscription. PRIVACY Your location stays on your device and in your personal cloud. Works in every country. Offline-capable. Syncs across devices. Start exploring. Your map is waiting.

About

Desire Path

Read full description

Some of the best places don't have signs. It's built on a simple idea: the people who know a place best are the ones who live in it. Every gem here was added by someone who wanted to share a corner of their city rather than keep it to themselves. Find places worth the detour Browse a living map of hidden gems: nature spots, local-favorite stays, charming corners, and places with a story. Filter by what you're in the mood for and see what's near you. Discover by category Quiet nature escapes. Unmarked cafés and bars. Off-grid stays and unusual places to sleep. Spots with history most guidebooks skip. Each gem comes with the context that makes it worth the trip. Add your own Found somewhere you love? Add it to the map with a photo and a few words. Build a quiet reputation as someone who knows where to go. Follow people who know Find locals and travellers whose taste you trust, follow them, and let their discoveries shape where you go next. Save what catches your eye Keep a collection of the places you want to reach, and pick up where you left off when you travel Desire Path is for travellers, not for tourists. Terms of Use (EULA): https://www.apple.com/legal/internet-services/itunes/dev/stdeula/ Privacy Policy: https://desirepath.app/privacy

Screenshots

HexStep4 screens
Desire Path4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is in-app purchases: HexStep at none against Desire Path's 3. Desire Path's advantage is device support (3 vs 1) and iOS requirement (15.1 vs 18.0). On price, update cadence and ads 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. Desire Path sells 3 in-app purchases, starting at $3.99 per 7 days. HexStep asks for nothing beyond the download.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Both ship on a similar rhythm, roughly every 3 days. The most recent releases landed on October 1, 2026 and October 10, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard3 real differences · 7 level
HexStep versus Desire Path: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterHexStepDesire Path
PriceFreeFree
Rating4.3 (3 ratings) — better—
Positive reviews100.0% of reviews—
Number of ratings3 — better—
Update frequencyEvery 3 daysEvery 3 days
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesNo — betterYes
MonetizationFree—
DevicesiPhoneiPhone, iPad, iPod — better
Requires iOS18.015.1 — better
Further details — not scored
Size89 MB118 MB
Age rating4+12+
DeveloperJeong Won HuhPiotr Olszak

In-app purchases

None

HexStep

No in-app purchases

3 purchases

Desire Path

Subscriptions3
  • Desire Path Weekly$3.997 Days
  • Desire Path Monthly$8.991 Month
  • Desire Path Yearly$69.991 Year

Questions

Is HexStep free?
HexStep is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Is Desire Path free?
Desire Path is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Do HexStep or Desire Path have ads?
Neither HexStep nor Desire Path shows ads.
Which is updated more often, HexStep or Desire Path?
HexStep ships an update every 3 days, and Desire Path every 3 days. Most recently, HexStep was updated on October 1, 2026 and Desire Path on October 10, 2026.

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