Comparison

12 Steps vs Fourth Step Inventory

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

Head to head
About

12 Steps

Access essential 12-step literature, audio resources, and a supportive community for recovery. Track your sobriety, find meetings, and connect with others on their journey.

Highlights
  • Complete 12-step literature and audio
  • Daily reflections and prayers
  • Sobriety tracker with milestones
  • Live meeting finder (phone, Zoom)
  • Active sober community support
  • Speaker talks and podcasts
Features
Read full description

Carry essential resources and an active, supportive community wherever you go! Join the most active sober community on any app, and have every resource you could need in one place. Over 100,000+ individuals trust it to provide them with the support they need on their journey, one day at a time. Unlock the complete text and audio of foundational material, reflections for each day, resources to help you stay sober, and much more! Foundational Material - Immerse yourself in the content spread across 164 pages, including prayers, personal stories, and insights into the steps and traditions. - Includes the full Big Book text, 12 Steps and 12 Traditions (12 and 12), As Bill Sees it, Daily Reflections, Prayers, Living Sober, the Joe and Charlie Audio Tapes, and much more! - Easily navigate through pages and chapters with search and highlight features, ensuring a smooth reading experience. - Customize your reading with adjustable font sizes and Light and Dark Mode options for comfortable reading anytime, anywhere. - Have the cornerstone material always at hand, offering constant guidance and support in your journey towards sobriety and personal development. Podcasts and Audiobooks - Explore a variety of podcasts and audiobooks from individuals sharing their journey to recovery. - Discover new content contributed by community members or share your own story with others. - Listen to audio versions of foundational material, making it easier to absorb its wisdom wherever you are. Speaker Talks - Gain motivation and insights by listening to speaker talks from meetings worldwide. - Stay updated with new content added regularly, offering a continuous flow of inspiration. Tracker for Sobriety - Monitor your sobriety by recording your sobriety date and tracking your progress in days, weeks, months, and years. - Celebrate milestones with digital tokens, marking each step of your journey. - Embrace the practice of tracking and celebrating your sobriety, one day at a time. Meeting Finder - Connect with the community by attending live meetings at any time, accessible via phone, Zoom, and other services. - Access meetings directly from various sources, with real-time updates and options tailored to your preferences. - Filter meetings based on type, format, language, and accessibility. Community Support - Engage with an active, moderated community offering support, understanding, and camaraderie. - Connect with individuals sharing the common goal of staying sober, one day at a time. - Find strength and insight from daily reflections, shared stories, and lessons learned. - Enhance your journey and minimize the risk of relapse with the support of a like-minded community. - Share your story in a safe, supportive space with community guidelines. Objectionable content and abusive behavior are not tolerated: every member can report posts and block other users at any time. From foundational material to community support, this app is your companion on the path to sobriety. Join our community and experience the difference it can make. Download the app today and take the first step towards a brighter, sober future. Terms of Use: https://www.apple.com/legal/internet-services/itunes/dev/stdeula/

About

Fourth Step Inventory

Features
Read full description

Fourth Step Inventory is a private, structured journaling tool designed to help individuals reflect on resentments, personal patterns, and character defects through a card-based inventory process inspired by the Fourth Step of 12-step recovery programs. The app provides a calm, focused space to document resentments one at a time, examine affected areas of life, and explore personal responsibility without judgment. All entries are stored locally on your device, giving you full control over your data and privacy. Features • Create and manage Fourth Step inventory cards • Record who or what you are resentful at, and why • Identify affected life areas such as self-esteem, relationships, ambition, and security • Reflect on your role using common character defect categories • View recurring character defects across your inventory • Visualize patterns with a character defect cloud • Export your inventory as JSON or CSV for personal review or sharing • Print a visual summary of recurring character defects • No accounts, no tracking, no cloud storage Privacy First Fourth Step Inventory does not collect, transmit, or share your data. All information remains on your device unless you choose to export it. Intended Use This app is intended for personal reflection and self-inventory. It is not affiliated with Alcoholics Anonymous or any other recovery fellowship, and it does not provide medical, psychological, or professional advice. Many users choose to discuss their inventory work with a sponsor, counselor, or trusted advisor.

Screenshots

12 Steps4 screens
Fourth Step Inventory4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is in-app purchases: Fourth Step Inventory at none against 12 Steps's 10. Fourth Step Inventory also leads on ads (none vs shown). 12 Steps's advantage is update cadence (every 5 days vs every 4 months). On price, 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. 12 Steps sells 10 in-app purchases, starting at $1.99 per month. Fourth Step Inventory asks for nothing beyond the download.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

12 Steps ships an update every 5 days, Fourth Step Inventory every 4 months. The most recent releases landed on November 9, 2026 and October 31, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard3 real differences · 7 level
12 Steps versus Fourth Step Inventory: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
Parameter12 StepsFourth Step Inventory
PriceFreeFree
Rating4.8 (15K ratings) — better—
Positive reviews79.0% of reviews—
Number of ratings15K — better—
Update frequencyEvery 5 days — betterEvery 4 months
AdsYesNo — better
In-app purchasesYesNo — better
MonetizationFree with in-app purchases—
DevicesiPhone, iPad, iPod — betteriPhone, iPad
Requires iOS15.1 — better16.6
Further details — not scored
Size61 MB2 MB
Age rating17+4+
DeveloperProduct Growth LLCSTEVEN MARC GORLIN

Bugs and requests

12 Steps

Reported bugs

4 issues
  • Login/signup issues
  • Sobriety date calculator not working
  • Page formatting and scrolling problems
  • Frequent crashes and app instability

Requested features

5 requests
  • Add 12 Steps and 12 Traditions text
  • Implement bookmarking and highlighting
  • Introduce a dark mode option
  • Add daily meditations and reflections
  • Implement push notifications for reminders

Fourth Step Inventory

Not enough reviews yet to summarise bugs or requests.

In-app purchases

10 purchases

12 Steps

Subscriptions10
  • Monthly Subscription$1.991 Month
  • Monthly Subscription$2.991 Month
  • Monthly Subscription$3.991 Month
Show 7 more
  • One Year Ad-free3 Days trial$9.991 Year
  • Yearly Subscription$9.991 Year
  • Annual Subscription$9.991 Year
  • One Year Ad-free3 Days trial$14.991 Year
  • Yearly Subscription$19.991 Year
  • Yearly Subscription3 Days trial$19.991 Year
  • Yearly Subscription3 Days trial$29.991 Year
None

Fourth Step Inventory

No in-app purchases

Questions

Is 12 Steps free?
12 Steps is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Is Fourth Step Inventory free?
Fourth Step Inventory is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Do 12 Steps or Fourth Step Inventory have ads?
12 Steps shows ads; Fourth Step Inventory does not.
Which is updated more often, 12 Steps or Fourth Step Inventory?
12 Steps ships an update every 5 days, and Fourth Step Inventory every 4 months. Most recently, 12 Steps was updated on November 9, 2026 and Fourth Step Inventory on October 31, 2026.

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