# Next Ascent vs RouteGoat

The clearest difference is review sentiment: RouteGoat at 100% against Next Ascent's 50%. RouteGoat also leads on rating (5.0 vs 4.0) and in-app purchases (none vs 10). Next Ascent's advantage is ratings volume (8 vs 2). On price, update cadence, ads and monetization model there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. Next Ascent sells 10 in-app purchases, starting at $9.99 per month. RouteGoat asks for nothing beyond the download.

RouteGoat holds the better App Store score, 5.0 against 4.0. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 8 and 2 respectively. Written reviews point the same way: 50% of Next Ascent's written reviews are positive against 100% of RouteGoat's.

Next Ascent ships an update every 2 months, RouteGoat monthly. The most recent releases landed on November 1, 2026 and November 4, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Next Ascent | RouteGoat |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [4.0 (8 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/next-ascent/id893831661/reviews) | **[5.0 (2 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/routegoat/id6742760209/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | **8** | 2 |
| Positive reviews | 50.0% of reviews | **100.0% of reviews** |
| In-app purchases | Yes | **No** |
| Ads | Yes | Yes |
| Update frequency | Every 2 months | **Monthly** |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | Free with in-app purchases |
| Size | 64 MB | 121 MB |
| Requires iOS | 15.1 | **13.0** |
| Devices | **iPhone, iPad, iPod** | iPhone, iPod |
| Age rating | 12+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Next Ascent, LLC](https://appshunter.io/developer/893831664) | [John Battle](https://appshunter.io/developer/1799823767) |

## What reviewers say

### Next Ascent

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/next-ascent/id893831661)

Discover climbing destinations worldwide with detailed maps, GPS navigation, and high-definition topos. Access comprehensive route descriptions, area history, and first ascent information for crags and bouldering spots. Download complete guidebooks for popular climbing areas.

**Highlights:** Real-time maps and GPS navigation, High-definition topos and pictures, Detailed route descriptions, Crag and bouldering area information, Downloadable guidebooks, Route and area history, First ascent information

**Features:** macOS Compatibility

**In-app purchases (10)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Next Ascent Pro Monthly | $9.99 | per month |
| Next Ascent Pro Annual | $59.99 | per year |
| FE Walter Guidebook | $9.99 | one-time |
| The Garden Bouldering Guide | $9.99 | one-time |
| Mocanaqua Climbing Guidebook | $12.99 | one-time |
| Mocanaqua Bouldering Guidebook | $12.99 | one-time |
| Carver Bouldering Guidebook | $12.99 | one-time |
| Smith Rock Climbing Guide | $14.99 | one-time |
| Swan Falls Bouldering Guide | $14.99 | one-time |
| Sugarloaf Climbing Guidebook | $17.99 | one-time |


### RouteGoat

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/routegoat/id6742760209)

Discover climbing routes efficiently with this app. It helps you find the best paths for your climbing adventures. Get ready to explore new routes faster.

**Highlights:** Find climbing routes, Route discovery, Climbing assistance, Quick route finding

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

**In-app purchases:** none


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Next Ascent free?

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

### Is RouteGoat free?

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

### Which has better reviews, Next Ascent or RouteGoat?

RouteGoat is rated higher. Next Ascent averages 4.0 out of 5 from 8 ratings, while RouteGoat averages 5.0 from 2 ratings.

### Do Next Ascent or RouteGoat have ads?

Both Next Ascent and RouteGoat show ads.

### Which is updated more often, Next Ascent or RouteGoat?

Next Ascent ships an update every 2 months, and RouteGoat monthly. Most recently, Next Ascent was updated on November 1, 2026 and RouteGoat on November 4, 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.*