Comparison

StepOpen vs Pushbuddy

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

Head to head
About

StepOpen

Features
Read full description

StepOpen is the "walk to unlock" app. Lock the apps that distract you (social, video, games) and unlock them once you reach today's step goal. The more you walk, the more of the time your phone was taking comes back to you. Instead of guilt or pressure, it turns moving your body into the "key" - a gentle digital detox habit. It's simple 1. Choose the apps you want to lock 2. Set the steps needed to unlock them (2,000 / 3,000 / 5,000 / 8,000) 3. Until you reach that count, the chosen apps stay locked 4. Walk, and they open automatically Free - Lock up to 2 apps - Unlock step by step as you walk - This week's records (achievements, streaks, charts) - Morning reminder / almost-there notifications - One temporary unlock per day (an escape hatch for when you really need it) StepOpen Pro - Lock unlimited apps - Custom step goals (add unlock targets that fit you) - Schedules / time-of-day rules - Detailed records & insights (month / year, trends) - Strict Mode (rules you can't relax for a set period, for when you're serious) Privacy first Your steps (Health) and your choice of locked apps are, as a rule, processed only on your device and never sent to an external server. We can't know your step details or which apps you locked. May walking become the most pleasant way to put some distance between you and your phone. ---------- StepOpen Pro (auto-renewable subscription) - Monthly plan: ¥600 / month - Yearly plan: ¥4,800 / year (about 33% off) - New users get a 7-day free trial - Payment is charged to your Apple Account at confirmation of purchase. - The subscription auto-renews unless auto-renew is turned off at least 24 hours before the end of the current period. You can manage or cancel anytime in your App Store account settings. If you cancel during the trial, you won't be charged. - Terms of Use: https://rai-prs.github.io/stepopen-web/terms.html - Privacy Policy: https://rai-prs.github.io/stepopen-web/privacy.html

About

Pushbuddy

This app helps you break free from time-wasting applications by requiring physical activity or focused work to regain access. It tracks your progress and provides insights into your usage patterns, all while keeping your data private.

Highlights
  • Block any app, category, or website
  • Earn access time through exercises (push-ups, squats, jumping jacks)
  • Earn access time through focused work
  • On-device pose detection for rep counting
  • Tracks time spent in locked apps
  • Privacy-focused with no account required
Features
Read full description

Pushbuddy blocks the apps that eat your day. To get them back, you do something real. Pick what you lose hours to. Pushbuddy shields it. The shield lifts only when you have earned minutes — and minutes come from push-ups, squats, jumping jacks, a walk, or focused work. HOW IT WORKS 1. Choose what to block — any app, any category, any website. 2. Earn minutes with a habit. Your camera counts the reps on device. 3. Spend them: 15, 30 or 60 minutes. The shield returns when time is up. WHAT A HABIT BUYS • 10 push-ups — 15 minutes • 15 squats — 15 minutes • 30 jumping jacks — 15 minutes • 1,000 steps — 10 minutes • 25 minutes of focus — 25 minutes, one to one. Work never buys more scrolling than it cost. • 240 minutes a day, hard cap. You cannot bank a whole day and defeat the point. Lock early and the unused minutes come back to you. Changing your mind is not punished. SEE WHERE YOUR TIME GOES • Time in locked apps, today by the hour and this week by the day — tap any bar for the exact time. • How often you reached for a locked app this month, and whether it is falling. • Every push-up, squat, step and focused minute you have put in. REPS ARE COUNTED, NOT CLAIMED On-device pose detection watches you move, so the phone has to actually see the work. No video is recorded, saved or uploaded. Steps come from your iPhone's own motion sensor. YOUR DATA STAYS YOURS No account, ever. Camera frames are processed live and never recorded or uploaded. Pushbuddy never learns which apps you picked. The only thing that leaves is anonymous usage counts — no advertising ID, no profile. PRICE Free for 7 days with everything unlocked. Then one payment, once. No subscription, nothing to cancel. Pushbuddy uses Screen Time permission to shield your apps, and hands them back on your terms.

Screenshots

StepOpen4 screens
Pushbuddy4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is update cadence: StepOpen at daily against Pushbuddy's every 4 days. 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. StepOpen sells 4 in-app purchases, starting at $1.99 per month and Pushbuddy sells 1 one-off in-app purchase. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

StepOpen ships an update daily, Pushbuddy every 4 days. The most recent releases landed on October 31, 2026 and November 8, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard1 real difference · 8 level
StepOpen versus Pushbuddy: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterStepOpenPushbuddy
PriceFreeFree
Rating—5.0 (3 ratings) — better
Number of ratings—3 — better
Update frequencyDaily — betterEvery 4 days
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesYesYes
Monetization—Free with in-app purchases
DevicesiPhone, Apple Watch — betteriPhone
Requires iOS17.0 — better18.0
Further details — not scored
Size7 MB8 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperTakumi ShiraiDhruwang Jariwala

In-app purchases

4 purchases

StepOpen

Subscriptions4
  • StepOpen Plus 月額$1.991 Month
  • StepOpen Pro 月額7 Days trial$3.991 Month
  • StepOpen Plus 年額$19.991 Year
Show 1 more
  • StepOpen Pro 年額7 Days trial$29.991 Year
1 purchases

Pushbuddy

One-time1
  • Pushbuddy Lifetime$9.99

Questions

Is StepOpen free?
StepOpen is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Is Pushbuddy free?
Pushbuddy is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Do StepOpen or Pushbuddy have ads?
Neither StepOpen nor Pushbuddy shows ads.
Which is updated more often, StepOpen or Pushbuddy?
StepOpen ships an update daily, and Pushbuddy every 4 days. Most recently, StepOpen was updated on October 31, 2026 and Pushbuddy on November 8, 2026.

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