Comparison

StepSwitch vs Sync Stairs

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

Head to head
About

StepSwitch

Features
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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.

About

Sync Stairs

Track your stair climbing workouts with real-time metrics, detailed analytics, and personal best achievements. Integrates seamlessly with Apple Health and Apple Watch for comprehensive fitness tracking. Offers smart features like live activities and widgets to keep you motivated.

Highlights
  • Real-time climb tracking
  • Comprehensive workout analytics
  • Apple Watch support
  • Apple Health integration
  • Live Activity and widgets
  • Automatic personal best detection
Features
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Transform your STEPR workouts with Sync Stairs - the fitness companion built for stair climbing. Connect to your machine over Bluetooth and unlock live metrics, comprehensive analytics, and personal best achievements, on iPhone and on Apple Watch. REAL-TIME CLIMB TRACKING • Live metrics including floors, steps, steps per minute, speed level, elevation gain, calories, and heart rate • Metric tiles you can drag to reorder, with your layout remembered • Automatic personal best detection and celebration • Pause and resume, with a confirmation before a climb ends COMPREHENSIVE ANALYTICS • Climb history grouped by month, with medal badges on records • Best, total, and average for every metric, filtered by week, month, quarter, year, or all time • Streak tracking for consecutive days climbed • Charts for climbs over time, steps over time, any metric's trend with a trend line, and heart rate against step rate • Per-climb detail with full-resolution step, speed, and heart rate charts APPLE WATCH SUPPORT • Record a climb entirely from your wrist - the watch connects to the machine itself • The same metric grid as the phone, sized for the watch • Keeps the heart rate sensor on and the workout running once your wrist drops • Saves straight to Health, so a watch climb shows up on your iPhone • Works with your iPhone nearby or left in the locker HEALTH & FITNESS INTEGRATION • Every climb saves as a Stair Climbing workout in Health • Floors and steps written at full resolution, second by second • Reads heart rate, energy, and effort score back from Health for your climb • Closes your activity rings like any other workout • Health is the only store - no account, no cloud, nothing to sign into SMART FEATURES • Lock Screen and Dynamic Island Live Activity with your climb in progress • A 7x7 heat map widget of the last seven weeks • A Control Center button to start a climb • Start a climb with Siri, Shortcuts, or Spotlight • Share a climb summary as an image • Metric or Imperial units, defaulting to your region DESIGNED FOR STEPR • Bluetooth connection to your STEPR • Scans for your machine and connects when you start a climb - nothing to pair first COMPATIBILITY Sync Stairs has only been tested on the 2026 STEPR Pro Classic. Other STEPR models, and other stair climbers may work but are untested. If yours does not connect properly, get in touch through the feedback link in Settings and it can be looked at. SYNC STAIRS PRO The app is free to use, and every climb you record is yours to keep. Sync Stairs Pro is an optional subscription that unlocks unlimited workouts, the Apple Watch app and the full Insights screen - all charts, all statistics, and streaks. Whether you climb twice a week or every morning, Sync Stairs gives you the tools to track progress, chase records, and stay motivated. Start tracking your climbing today. Privacy Policy: https://www.rspoon3.com/sync-stairs/privacy Terms of Use: https://www.apple.com/legal/internet-services/itunes/dev/stdeula

Screenshots

StepSwitch3 screens
Sync Stairs4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is ads: Sync Stairs at none against StepSwitch's shown. StepSwitch's advantage is update cadence (every 4 days vs every 4 weeks) and iOS requirement (16.4 vs 26.0). On price, 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. StepSwitch sells 1 one-off in-app purchase and Sync Stairs sells 2 in-app purchases, starting at $4.99 per 7 days. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

StepSwitch ships an update every 4 days, Sync Stairs every 4 weeks. The most recent releases landed on October 28, 2026 and October 30, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard3 real differences · 7 level
StepSwitch versus Sync Stairs: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterStepSwitchSync Stairs
PriceFreeFree
Rating—5.0 (1 ratings) — better
Positive reviews—100.0% of reviews
Number of ratings—1 — better
Update frequencyEvery 4 days — betterEvery 4 weeks
AdsYesNo — better
In-app purchasesYesYes
Monetization—Freemium
DevicesiPhone, iPadiPhone, Apple Watch
Requires iOS16.4 — better26.0
Further details — not scored
Size50 MB38 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperYohei KonoRichard Witherspoon

In-app purchases

1 purchases

StepSwitch

One-time1
  • Premium Plan$1.99
2 purchases

Sync Stairs

Subscriptions2
  • Weekly Subscription$4.997 Days
  • Annual Subscription$29.991 Year

Questions

Is StepSwitch free?
StepSwitch is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Is Sync Stairs free?
Sync Stairs is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Do StepSwitch or Sync Stairs have ads?
StepSwitch shows ads; Sync Stairs does not.
Which is updated more often, StepSwitch or Sync Stairs?
StepSwitch ships an update every 4 days, and Sync Stairs every 4 weeks. Most recently, StepSwitch was updated on October 28, 2026 and Sync Stairs on October 30, 2026.

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