Comparison

Esilbe vs Step & Star

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

Head to head
About

Esilbe

Features
Read full description

Picture cards make "what's next" easy to see. When kids can see it, they can do it themselves. "I did it!" feels good — and that good feeling is what makes them want to try again tomorrow. Esilbe is a picture-card schedule app that helps families ride that positive cycle together. Built on the visual schedule and structured-teaching ideas used in early-intervention settings, it turns everyday routines into a string of small "I did it!" moments. [What you can do] ■ Build the day with friendly picture cards Pick from 80+ built-in cards to put together morning, afternoon, and evening routines in seconds. Analog clock cards make "what time" easy to share, too. ■ Tap to mark each step done Each step lines up as a picture card. Tap when it's done — that's it. Simple enough for a parent and child to work through it side by side. ■ Confetti for finishing the whole day Clear every card and the screen fills with confetti and cheers. "You did it!" — the app celebrates with you. ■ A whole week, color-coded The weekly board color-codes each day so "what are we doing tomorrow?" feels exciting, not uncertain. Knowing what comes next helps kids feel safe. ■ Make cards from your own photos Snap your child's actual toothbrush, the shoes they love, the snack they always ask for — and turn them into cards. Routines built from "Hey, I know that one!" land very differently from generic clip art. ■ Calm, kid-friendly design Soft sage-green palette, rounded shapes, and reduced visual noise help kids focus on the task in front of them. Dark mode keeps things gentle around bedtime, too. ■ Streaks that grow with them A daily streak counter and monthly calendar make their effort visible. "We did it yesterday, we did it today" — something every family can smile about together. ■ Plus the basics - Keep-screen-on for uninterrupted routines - Card orientation: portrait or landscape - History log of completed days - Data stored on-device — works fully offline [Made for families who want to] - Add visual support for a child who finds words alone hard to follow - Try picture-card communication at home in a low-pressure way - Make morning prep, therapy sessions, or the school commute feel a little lighter - Cheer "you did it!" together as a family Esilbe brings the "build a sense of what comes next" and "structure the day" ideas from early-intervention practice into your kitchen and your couch, in a form anyone can pick up. Let's celebrate the small wins, together. [About usage] Core features are free. Some features are available with the optional "Esilbe Plus" subscription, offered in two plans (Monthly / Annual). A 30-day free trial is included with both. [Auto-renewable subscription disclosure] Esilbe Plus is available in two plans: - Monthly plan Title: Esilbe Plus (Monthly) Length: 1 month (auto-renewing) / 30-day free trial Price: 480 JPY per month (or the local-currency equivalent shown at the time of purchase) - Annual plan Title: Esilbe Plus (Annual) Length: 1 year (auto-renewing) / 30-day free trial Price: 4,800 JPY per year (or the local-currency equivalent shown at the time of purchase) — about 400 JPY/month, ~17% off the monthly rate - Payment will be charged to your Apple ID account at the confirmation of purchase. - Subscription automatically renews unless auto-renew is turned off at least 24 hours before the end of the current period. - Your account will be charged for renewal within 24 hours prior to the end of the current period. - You can manage your subscription and turn off auto-renewal at any time in your Account Settings after purchase. - Any unused portion of a free trial period is forfeited when you start a paid subscription. Terms of Use: https://esilbe.com/terms Privacy Policy: https://esilbe.com/privacy

About

Step & Star

This app helps create visual schedules for children and adults with predictable routines. It uses "First, Then" picture cards to guide users through tasks, offering audio prompts and celebrations upon completion. It's designed to build independence and reduce anxiety through clear, step-by-step guidance.

Highlights
  • First-Then visual schedule creation
  • Step-by-step auto-advancing cards
  • Built-in symbol library and custom photos
  • Text-to-speech and custom voice recording
  • Optional countdown timers
  • Celebrations for task completion
  • Multiple user profiles
  • Offline functionality
Features
Read full description

Step & Star turns everyday routines into simple "First, Then" picture cards — show what to do now, and the good thing that comes next. Step & Star is for kids and adults who do their best when they can see what comes next — and for the parents, teachers, and therapists who cheer them on. Predictable routines bring calm, confidence, and a lot more "I did it!" moments — whether it's one child at home or a whole classroom. Setting up a board takes seconds. Then they see one big, friendly card at a time — tap to hear it read aloud, finish the step, and watch it advance with a little celebration. WHY FAMILIES AND CLASSROOMS LOVE IT Predictable routines ease anxiety Builds independence and confidence Works at home, school, and in therapy FEATURES First-Then boards that auto-advance step by step Cards from a built-in symbol library, your own photos, or safe web image search Every card reads aloud, or record your own voice Optional countdown timers with a gentle chime Celebrations when a reward or the finish is reached Multiple profiles to keep each child or student separate Caregiver PIN lock so the board can be handed over safely Works offline, with data stored privately on your device FREE AND PREMIUM Free to use with one profile, multiple boards, the symbol library, photos, text-to-speech, timers, and celebrations. Premium unlocks unlimited profiles and boards, safe web image search, and custom voice recordings, available monthly, yearly, or as a one-time Lifetime purchase. Made with care for the people who need it most. Step & Star Premium is available as an auto-renewable subscription or a one-time purchase: Monthly — $3.99 per month Yearly — $19.99 per year (includes a 7-day free trial) Lifetime — $49.99, one-time purchase Payment is charged to your Apple ID at confirmation of purchase. Subscriptions automatically renew unless canceled at least 24 hours before the end of the current period, and your account is charged for renewal within 24 hours prior to the end of the period. You can manage or cancel anytime in your device's App Store account settings. Privacy Policy: https://myday-support.com/step-%26-star-privacy Terms of Use (EULA): https://www.apple.com/legal/internet-services/itunes/dev/stdeula/

Screenshots

Esilbe4 screens
Step & Star4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is update cadence: Esilbe at every 3 days against Step & Star's monthly. On price, ads, 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. Esilbe sells 2 in-app purchases, starting at $2.99 per month and Step & Star sells 3 in-app purchases, starting at $3.99 per month. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Esilbe ships an update every 3 days, Step & Star monthly. The most recent releases landed on October 12, 2026 and September 30, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard1 real difference · 8 level
Esilbe versus Step & Star: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterEsilbeStep & Star
PriceFreeFree
Rating—5.0 (1 ratings) — better
Number of ratings—1 — better
Update frequencyEvery 3 days — betterMonthly
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesYesYes
Monetization—Freemium
DevicesiPhone, iPad, iPodiPhone, iPad, iPod
Requires iOS15.0 — better15.1
Further details — not scored
Size44 MB27 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperShintaro KatafuchiEmily Smith

In-app purchases

2 purchases

Esilbe

Subscriptions2
  • Esilbe Plus1 Month trial$2.991 Month
  • Esilbe Plus1 Month trial$29.991 Year
3 purchases

Step & Star

Subscriptions2
  • Premium Monthly$3.991 Month
  • Premium Yearly$19.991 Year
One-time1
  • Premium Lifetime$49.99

Questions

Is Esilbe free?
Esilbe is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Is Step & Star free?
Step & Star is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Do Esilbe or Step & Star have ads?
Neither Esilbe nor Step & Star shows ads.
Which is updated more often, Esilbe or Step & Star?
Esilbe ships an update every 3 days, and Step & Star monthly. Most recently, Esilbe was updated on October 12, 2026 and Step & Star on September 30, 2026.

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