Comparison

Pupstep vs StepHive

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

Head to head
About

Pupstep

This app motivates you to walk by letting you care for a virtual dog. Track your steps, dress your pup, and collect memories as you reach your daily goals. Your virtual companion stays with you on your iPhone and Apple Watch.

Highlights
  • Virtual dog companion
  • Step and distance tracking
  • Customizable dog outfits
  • Daily goal rewards and memories
  • Walk journal and postcard sharing
  • Home Screen and Watch face widgets
Features
Read full description

A little dog. A little reason to walk. Pupstep turns your everyday steps into time with a virtual companion. Start with a free Corgi, give them a name, and keep your pup nearby on your iPhone and Apple Watch. • Track your steps and walking distance with Apple Health. • Tap your pup for a hello and celebrate reaching your daily goal. • Dress your dog and collect a memory each day you reach your goal. • Keep a journal of your walks and share your favorite postcards. • See your dog and progress on your Home Screen, Lock Screen, Watch face or Smart Stack. On Apple Watch, check today’s activity and remaining goal at a glance. After the first sync, your Watch can read activity locally while your iPhone is away. Setup, outfit selection, purchases, memories and rewards stay on iPhone. Requires watchOS 26 or later. Each breed has its own daily goal. Missed goals can make your pup chubbier; reaching your goal helps them get back in shape. Your bond stays. French Bulldog, Jack Russell and extra accessories are optional one-time purchases. No subscriptions, ads or account. Your data stays on your devices. Sharing is your choice.

About

StepHive

Features
Read full description

StepHive turns your daily walk into something social, motivating, and a little bit joyful. Track your steps, map your routes, get friendly AI feedback on every walk, and stay connected with the friends who keep you moving — on your iPhone and Apple Watch. Whether you're chasing a step goal, getting back in shape, or simply love a good walk, StepHive helps you show up every day — together with your hive. WALK & TRACK • See today's steps, calories, weather, and weekly, monthly, and yearly progress at a glance • Map every walk with live GPS — distance, time, pace, elevation, and heart rate • Pause your walk to chat with a neighbor without hurting your time or pace • Follow your walk live on the Lock Screen and Dynamic Island • Snap geotagged photos along the way — they pin to your route map and save to your Photos • Walk a favorite route again and compare your time and pace ON YOUR WRIST • Check your step ring and start a walk right from your Apple Watch • Track a whole walk on the watch — route, distance, time, heart rate, and calories • Leave your phone at home; your walk syncs back to your iPhone when you're reunited SMART & PERSONAL • Get warm, personalized feedback on each walk — your pace, effort, and progress — with AI powered by Apple Intelligence, right on your iPhone and completely private • See how your walking pace compares for people your age • Track your weight over time with a simple trend chart WALK WITH FRIENDS • Add friends with a simple invite code • See yourself ranked alongside them on a friendly daily leaderboard • Cheer each other on with quick, personal messages • Watch friends' live walks on the map with Friends on the Move STAY MOTIVATED • Build a daily-goal streak and earn achievement badges — from your first walk to a full year — with a little confetti when you hit your goal • Gentle daily reminders to get your steps in — rotating, never naggy • Home Screen and Lock Screen widgets showing your steps and goal progress • Set your own step goal and personal goals MADE FOR WALKERS • A free Music tab — pick a favorite album, a playlist, or your most-played songs from a card and tap to play • Friendly guidance on pace and healthy walking by age • Fully available in English and Spanish WALK SAFER • Choose safety contacts and share your location with one tap if you ever need help • (StepHive is not a replacement for your phone's Emergency SOS) FREE TO WALK StepHive is free to download and use — steps, friends, leaderboard, streaks, music, AI walk analysis, weight tracking, the Apple Watch app, reminders, and widgets are all free. Unlock GPS route mapping — track and map your walks, see your pace, save your history, and add photo waypoints — with a single one-time purchase. YOUR DATA, YOUR CALL StepHive only reads the health data you allow, and never shares it without you. Location is used solely to map your walks while you're walking. AI walk analysis runs privately on your device. Lace up, invite a friend, and join the hive.

Screenshots

Pupstep4 screens
StepHive4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is iOS requirement: StepHive at 17.0 against Pupstep's 26.0. On price, update cadence, ads and in-app purchases 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. Pupstep sells 10 one-off in-app purchases and StepHive sells 1 one-off in-app purchase. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Pupstep ships an update every 2 weeks, StepHive fortnightly. The most recent releases landed on October 16, 2026 and October 7, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard1 real difference · 8 level
Pupstep versus StepHive: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterPupstepStepHive
PriceFreeFree
Rating5.0 (1 ratings) — better—
Number of ratings1 — better—
Update frequencyEvery 2 weeks — betterFortnightly
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesYesYes
MonetizationFree with in-app purchases—
DevicesiPhone, Apple WatchiPhone, Apple Watch
Requires iOS26.017.0 — better
Further details — not scored
Size84 MB19 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperPredrag SamardzicDavid Ramer

In-app purchases

10 purchases

Pupstep

One-time10
  • Blue Bandana$0.99
  • Sleepy Bandana$0.99
  • Cozy Scarf$0.99
Show 7 more
  • Party Hat$0.99
  • Gold Chain$0.99
  • Agility Bandana$0.99
  • Striped Sweater$0.99
  • Red Ball$0.99
  • Trail Harness$0.99
  • Jack Russell Pack$1.99
1 purchases

StepHive

One-time1
  • Unlock GPS Routes$2.99

Questions

Is Pupstep free?
Pupstep is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Is StepHive free?
StepHive is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Do Pupstep or StepHive have ads?
Neither Pupstep nor StepHive shows ads.
Which is updated more often, Pupstep or StepHive?
Pupstep ships an update every 2 weeks, and StepHive fortnightly. Most recently, Pupstep was updated on October 16, 2026 and StepHive on October 7, 2026.

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