# Steps vs Start

The clearest difference is update cadence: Steps at fortnightly against Start's every 10 months. Steps also leads on ratings volume (136K vs 1). Start's advantage is rating (5.0 vs 4.8) and iOS requirement (15.0 vs 17.0). On price, ads, in-app purchases and monetization model there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. Steps sells 1 one-off in-app purchase and Start sells 2 in-app purchases, starting at $4.99 per month. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

Start holds the better App Store score, 5.0 against 4.8. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Steps has 136K ratings behind it against 1, so its average is the more settled of the two.

Steps ships an update fortnightly, Start every 10 months. The most recent releases landed on November 9, 2026 and October 30, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Steps | Start |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [4.8 (136K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/steps-activity-tracker/id708359518/reviews) | **[5.0 (1 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/start-running-and-walking-t/id6741888736/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | **136K** | 1 |
| Positive reviews | 67.8% of reviews | — |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Ads | Yes | Yes |
| Update frequency | **Fortnightly** | Every 10 months |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | Free with in-app purchases |
| Size | 58 MB | 28 MB |
| Requires iOS | 17.0 | **15.0** |
| Devices | iPhone, Apple Watch | **iPhone, iPad, iPod** |
| Age rating | 4+ | +4 |
| Developer | [Year of Code, LLC](https://appshunter.io/developer/315297566) | [kota tada](https://appshunter.io/developer/1658942612) |

## What reviewers say

### Steps

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/steps-activity-tracker/id708359518)

This app tracks your daily walking distance and step count with a simple, visually engaging interface. Set personal goals and monitor your progress with changing colors, while also recording workouts and syncing with Apple Health.

**Highlights:** Step and distance tracking, Goal setting with visual progress, Calorie tracking, Workout recording with GPS, Apple Health integration, Widgets for iPhone and Apple Watch, Siri and Shortcuts support

**Features:** Apple Watch app

**In-app purchases (1)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Pro Upgrade | $3.99 | one-time |

**What reviewers like**

- 👍 Works as written
- 👍 Helps with fitness goals
- 👍 Responsive customer service
- 👍 Useful and convenient
- 👍 Accurate tracking

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 Inaccurate step counting
- 🐛 Syncing issues with Apple Watch
- 🐛 Deleting or reducing steps
- 🔋 High battery consumption
- 🐛 Glitches and bugs

**Reported bugs**

- Steps not recording properly
- App crashing or freezing
- Incorrect step counts
- Syncing issues with Apple Health

**Requested features**

- Add ability to manually enter steps
- Improve step counting accuracy
- Enhance syncing with Apple Watch
- Add more customization options
- Improve history and data visualization


### Start

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/start-running-and-walking-t/id6741888736)

This fitness tool uses GPS to map your running and walking routes, recording distance, time, pace, speed, and calories burned. Review your workout history to stay motivated and monitor progress towards your health goals. It's designed for all fitness levels.

**Highlights:** GPS route mapping, Distance and pace tracking, Calorie burn calculation, Workout history log, Progress monitoring, Supports running and walking

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

**In-app purchases (2)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Ad-free for 1 month | $4.99 | per month |
| Ad-free for 1 year | $29.99 | per year |


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Steps free?

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

### Is Start free?

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

### Which has better reviews, Steps or Start?

Start is rated higher. Steps averages 4.8 out of 5 from 136K ratings, while Start averages 5.0 from 1 ratings.

### Do Steps or Start have ads?

Both Steps and Start show ads.

### Which is updated more often, Steps or Start?

Steps ships an update fortnightly, and Start every 10 months. Most recently, Steps was updated on November 9, 2026 and Start on October 30, 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.*