# RoutinePals vs Step & Star

The clearest difference is in-app purchases: RoutinePals at none against Step & Star's 3. RoutinePals also leads on update cadence (every 4 days vs monthly). On price, ads, device support and iOS requirement there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. Step & Star sells 3 in-app purchases, starting at $3.99 per month. RoutinePals asks for nothing beyond the download.

RoutinePals ships an update every 4 days, Step & Star monthly. The most recent releases landed on September 26, 2026 and September 11, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | RoutinePals | Step & Star |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | — | **[5.0 (1 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/step-and-star/id6783173060/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | — | **1** |
| In-app purchases | **No** | Yes |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | **Every 4 days** | Monthly |
| Monetization | — | Freemium |
| Size | 17 MB | 27 MB |
| Requires iOS | **15.0** | 15.1 |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod | iPhone, iPad, iPod |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [John Shoufler](https://appshunter.io/developer/1895268424) | [Emily Smith](https://appshunter.io/developer/1835795554) |

## What reviewers say

### RoutinePals

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/routinepals/id6774841331)

**Features:** macOS Compatibility, Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases:** none


### Step & Star

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/step-and-star/id6783173060)

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:** macOS Compatibility, Family Sharing

**In-app purchases (3)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Premium Monthly | $3.99 | per month |
| Premium Yearly | $19.99 | per year |
| Premium Lifetime | $49.99 | one-time |


## Frequently asked questions

### Is RoutinePals free?

RoutinePals is free to download, with no in-app purchases.

### Is Step & Star free?

Step & Star is free to download, with in-app purchases available.

### Do RoutinePals or Step & Star have ads?

Neither RoutinePals nor Step & Star shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, RoutinePals or Step & Star?

RoutinePals ships an update every 4 days, and Step & Star monthly. Most recently, RoutinePals was updated on September 26, 2026 and Step & Star on September 11, 2026.

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*Compared by [AppsHunter](https://appshunter.io/) from daily US App Store data. Review summaries are generated from verbatim App Store reviews.*