Comparison

Next Ascent vs Powder Project

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

Head to head
About

Next Ascent

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
Read full description

Next Ascent Guidebooks, rock climbing guidebook app is the most comprehensive rock climbing and bouldering app available. Real-time maps, GPS, and navigation guide you to crags all over the world. Hi-def topos, pictures, and the most detailed route descriptions available are what sets this app apart from the rest. Download complete guidebooks for the most popular climbing destinations. This rock climbing app will get you the most information you can find on local crags, bouldering areas, and climbing destinations. Expect to see arial drone topos, route and area history, first ascent information, and detailed descriptions of every route. End User License Agreement: https://www.apple.com/legal/internet-services/itunes/dev/stdeula/

About

Powder Project

Discover and navigate the best ski lines with detailed GPS route information, elevation profiles, and interactive features. Explore over 800 miles of backcountry and sidecountry trails, with new lines constantly added. Download trails for offline use and get insights from local experts.

Highlights
  • GPS route information
  • Elevation profiles
  • Interactive features
  • 800+ miles of ski lines
  • Offline trail downloads
  • High-resolution photos
  • Topographical trail maps
Features
Read full description

Powder Project is your comprehensive guide to the best ski lines, wherever you are. With the thoroughness of a printed map, we offer full GPS route info, elevation profiles, interactive features, photos, and more. Like a guidebook, we suggest the best featured ski lines to explore—either near your current location or in an area you search for. Local experts show you the highlights, challenging features, and insights you need to plan a great day in the snow. • Find over 800 miles of backcountry, sidecountry, and secret stashes. • New lines are constantly added to our incredibly detailed ski ascent and descent trail database. • Your exact location is shown on the trail. • Downloaded trails work offline for when you’re off the grid. (No cell reception required!) • Enjoy high-resolution photos and detailed topographical trail maps. • We’ll sync with your to-do list and check-ins on PowderProject.com. Continued use of GPS running in the background can dramatically decrease battery life.

Screenshots

Next Ascent4 screens
Powder Project4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is in-app purchases: Powder Project at none against Next Ascent's 36. Powder Project also leads on ads (none vs shown) and rating (4.3 vs 3.9). Next Ascent's advantage is review sentiment (50% vs 38%). On price, update cadence, device support and iOS requirement 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. Next Ascent sells 36 in-app purchases, starting at $9.99 per month. Powder Project asks for nothing beyond the download.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

Powder Project holds the better App Store score, 4.3 against 3.9. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Powder Project has 50 ratings behind it against 7, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews complicate that: 50% of Next Ascent's written reviews are positive against 38% of Powder Project's, so the app with the better star average is not the one people write more warmly about.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Next Ascent ships an update every 2 months, Powder Project every 5 weeks. The most recent releases landed on September 3, 2026 and September 23, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard6 real differences · 4 level
Next Ascent versus Powder Project: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterNext AscentPowder Project
PriceFreeFree
Rating3.9 (7 ratings)4.3 (50 ratings) — better
Positive reviews50.0% of reviews — better37.5% of reviews
Number of ratings750 — better
Update frequencyEvery 2 monthsEvery 5 weeks — better
AdsYesNo — better
In-app purchasesYesNo — better
MonetizationFree with in-app purchasesFree — better
DevicesiPhone, iPad, iPod — betteriPhone, iPad
Requires iOS15.1 — better16.0
Further details — not scored
Size64 MB85 MB
Age rating12+4+
DeveloperNext Ascent, LLCAdventure Projects Inc.

Customer experience

Next Ascent

All ratings7 ratings
Positive71.4%
Neutral0.0%
Negative28.6%
Written reviews14 reviews
Positive50.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative50.0%

Powder Project

All ratings50 ratings
Positive78.0%
Neutral12.0%
Negative10.0%
Written reviews16 reviews
Positive37.5%
Neutral25.0%
Negative37.5%

In-app purchases

36 purchases

Next Ascent

Subscriptions2
  • Next Ascent Pro Monthly$9.991 Month
  • Next Ascent Pro Annual$59.991 Year
One-time34
  • Free Traxx GuideFree
  • Free Eliot Creek GuideFree
  • Larch Mt Bouldering$3.99
Show 31 more
  • Climbing & Bouldering Montdale$5.99
  • Allentown Bouldering Guide$5.99
  • Whiskey Springs Bouldering$5.99
  • Chickies Rock Routes Guide$5.99
  • Mid Valley Guidebook$5.99
  • French's Dome Guide$6.99
  • Mountainside Park Bouldering$6.99
  • Forest City Bouldering Guide$6.99
  • Allamuchy Climbing Guidebook$6.99
  • Lost City & Boulder Mt, OR$7.99
  • Ozone Guidebook$9.99
  • Gunks: Near Trapps$9.99
  • Northern NJ Bouldering$9.99
  • Allamuchy Guidebook$9.99
  • The Garden Bouldering Guide$9.99
  • Allentown Bouldering Guidebook$9.99
  • Broughton Bluff Climbing Guide$9.99
  • Route 26 Crags Guidebook$9.99
  • Lost Lake Bouldering Guidebook$9.99
  • Pocono Bouldering Guide$12.99
  • Peter's Kill Climbing Guide$12.99
  • Mocanaqua Climbing Guidebook$12.99
  • Boxcar Rocks$12.99
  • Mocanaqua Bouldering Guidebook$12.99
  • Carver Bouldering Guidebook$12.99
  • Smith Rock Climbing Guide$14.99
  • Safe Harbor Climbing Guidebook$14.99
  • Sourland & Somerset$14.99
  • Swan Falls Bouldering Guide$14.99
  • Sugarloaf Climbing Guidebook$17.99
  • Eldorado Canyon Climbing Guide$17.99
None

Powder Project

No in-app purchases

Questions

Is Next Ascent free?
Next Ascent is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Is Powder Project free?
Powder Project is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Which has better reviews, Next Ascent or Powder Project?
Powder Project is rated higher. Next Ascent averages 3.9 out of 5 from 7 ratings, while Powder Project averages 4.3 from 50 ratings.
Do Next Ascent or Powder Project have ads?
Next Ascent shows ads; Powder Project does not.
Which is updated more often, Next Ascent or Powder Project?
Next Ascent ships an update every 2 months, and Powder Project every 5 weeks. Most recently, Next Ascent was updated on September 3, 2026 and Powder Project on September 23, 2026.

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