# Step & Star vs Visual Schedule

The clearest difference is update cadence: Visual Schedule at every 3 days against Step & Star's monthly. Step & Star's advantage is iOS requirement (15.1 vs 17.0). On price, ads, in-app purchases and device support there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. Step & Star sells 3 in-app purchases, starting at $3.99 per month and Visual Schedule sells 2 in-app purchases, starting at $3.99 per 7 days. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

Step & Star ships an update monthly, Visual Schedule every 3 days. The most recent releases landed on October 15, 2026 and October 14, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Step & Star | Visual Schedule |
| --- | --- | --- |
| 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 | Yes | Yes |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | Monthly | **Every 3 days** |
| Monetization | Freemium | — |
| Size | 27 MB | 7 MB |
| Requires iOS | **15.1** | 17.0 |
| Devices | **iPhone, iPad, iPod** | iPhone, iPad |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Emily Smith](https://appshunter.io/developer/1835795554) | [Smart Automation SRL](https://appshunter.io/developer/1822502270) |

## What reviewers say

### 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 |


### Visual Schedule

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/visual-schedule-pictocue/id6794799886)

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

**In-app purchases (2)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| PictoCue Premium Weekly | $3.99 | per 7 days |
| PictoCue Premium Yearly | $34.99 | per year |


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Step & Star free?

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

### Is Visual Schedule free?

Visual Schedule is free to download, with in-app purchases available.

### Do Step & Star or Visual Schedule have ads?

Neither Step & Star nor Visual Schedule shows ads.

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

Step & Star ships an update monthly, and Visual Schedule every 3 days. Most recently, Step & Star was updated on October 15, 2026 and Visual Schedule on October 14, 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.*