Comparison

Spire vs StepSwitch

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

Head to head
About

Spire

Features
Read full description

Spire turns every flight of stairs you climb into a daily streak and a landmark journey. Powered by HealthKit's flights climbed data, it shows today's progress, your current streak, and how close you are to your next landmark in a single screen. A Streak Freeze keeps you safe on bad days — so the habit survives real life. What you get • Automatic recording from HealthKit — no manual input, elevators don't count • Current streak, longest streak, and Streak Freeze for missed days • Landmark climbs — Mt. Fuji, Empire State, Everest and 15 other sets • Daily goal of 5, 10, 20 floors or any custom number • Home Screen widgets (small and medium) to keep the streak in sight • Stats: total floors, calendar, recent history, personal records How it works 1. Open the app and connect HealthKit 2. Pick a daily goal and a landmark set 3. Just take the stairs — Spire tracks the rest Premium (optional) A subscription unlocks an advanced stats suite — floor trend charts, weekly snapshots, consistency analysis, personal records — plus 3 Streak Freezes every month and app icon / widget color variants. Start with a 7-day free trial. Privacy HealthKit data stays on your device. Sync happens only through Apple's iCloud (CloudKit). Tracking ID usage follows your ATT choice. Subscription terms, privacy policy and terms of use are available in the in-app Settings, or via the links below. Terms of Use (EULA): https://spica-app.com/legal/spire/terms/ Privacy Policy: https://spica-app.com/legal/spire/privacy/

About

StepSwitch

Features
Read full description

StepSwitch is a timer built specifically for step-up (bench stepping) workouts. With a regular timer, it's easy to lose track of which foot you're stepping down with — and end up overusing one leg. StepSwitch reminds you to switch your leading foot at the interval you choose, with sound and vibration, so you keep your workout balanced without watching the screen. WHO IT'S FOR - Anyone doing step-up exercise at home - People who want easy, sustainable cardio for weight control and health - Anyone who wants to avoid favoring one leg - People who stay motivated by tracking their workouts FEATURES Step-up workout timer Set any duration from 1 to 60 minutes. The remaining time is displayed large and clear, with one-tap pause and resume. Even if you close the app or turn off the screen, switch reminders arrive as notifications. Foot-switch reminders Get notified by sound, vibration, and on-screen cues every time it's time to switch feet. The app even suggests starting with the opposite foot from your last session. Automatic calorie estimates Calories are estimated from your weight, step height, and intensity — see your effort in numbers. Records and stats that keep you going Every session is saved automatically, with room for notes. Check this month's workout count, total time, calories, and your current streak at a glance. Works alongside your music Play your favorite music or video app while you work out. NO ACCOUNT NEEDED — YOUR DATA STAYS ON YOUR DEVICE No sign-up required. All records and personal data (like body weight) are stored only on your device and never sent anywhere. Note: Calorie figures are estimates and may differ from actual energy expenditure. Start today's step workout with StepSwitch.

Screenshots

Spire4 screens
StepSwitch3 screens

Verdict

The call

Spire and StepSwitch are too close to call on the numbers: across 6 compared parameters — price, update cadence, ads and in-app purchases among them — neither pulls far enough ahead to decide it. What separates them is feature set and interface, not measurable difference.

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. Spire sells 5 in-app purchases, starting at $2.99 per month and StepSwitch sells 1 one-off in-app purchase. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Spire ships an update every 3 days, StepSwitch every 4 days. The most recent releases landed on October 10, 2026 and September 29, 2026 respectively.

ScorecardNo meaningful differences
Spire versus StepSwitch: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterSpireStepSwitch
PriceFreeFree
Update frequencyEvery 3 days — betterEvery 4 days
AdsYesYes
In-app purchasesYesYes
DevicesiPhoneiPhone, iPad — better
Requires iOS17.016.4 — better
Further details — not scored
Size17 MB50 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperNaoki MaedaYohei Kono

In-app purchases

5 purchases

Spire

Subscriptions2
  • Spire Premium Monthly7 Days trial$2.991 Month
  • Spire Premium Yearly7 Days trial$19.991 Year
One-time3
  • Freeze ×3$0.99
  • Freeze ×10$2.99
  • Freeze ×25$5.99
1 purchases

StepSwitch

One-time1
  • Premium Plan$1.99

Questions

Is Spire free?
Spire is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Is StepSwitch free?
StepSwitch is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Do Spire or StepSwitch have ads?
Both Spire and StepSwitch show ads.
Which is updated more often, Spire or StepSwitch?
Spire ships an update every 3 days, and StepSwitch every 4 days. Most recently, Spire was updated on October 10, 2026 and StepSwitch on September 29, 2026.

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