Stepdy vs StepUp
Both are built for competing on steps with friends. StepUp is entirely free, runs on Android too and supports very large groups; Stepdy has no ads, adds head-to-head races, water tracking and GPS walks, and keeps more groups and races for Pro.
| Stepdy | StepUp | |
|---|---|---|
| Price (US) | Free · Pro $3.99/mo or $29.99/yr, 7-day free trial | Free; optional "Support StepUp" purchases ($1–$25) and ad removal |
| Free plan | Steps, streaks, water, activities and rankings; 1 group of your own, 1 race at a time | Every feature is free |
| Compete with friends | Groups with a live board, challenges against other groups, head-to-head races, world and country rankings, a Feed | Friends leaderboards, private groups of up to 15,000 people, group chat, challenges, country and global ranking |
| Platforms | iPhone, Apple Watch | iPhone, Apple Watch, Android |
| Apple Watch app | Yes | Yes |
| Walks and runs on a map | Yes (full route on the detail screen with Pro) | No |
| Water tracking | Yes, with reminders | Not stated |
| Account | No sign-up | Sign-in needed to add friends |
| Ads and tracking | No ads, no tracking | Contains ads; tracking listed on its App Store label |
| App Store rating (US) | New in 2026 (few ratings yet) | 4.8 from 149,810 ratings |
| Best at | Competing in small groups with a forgiving streak, water and GPS walks in one app, without ads or sign-up | Free social leaderboards and very large group challenges across iPhone, Android and wearables |
Where StepUp is better
- Every feature is free (optional tips and ad removal)
- Runs on Android, with direct Fitbit, Garmin and Samsung sync
- Private groups of up to 15,000 people
- A long track record: 4.8 from 149,810 ratings in the US
Where Stepdy is better
- No ads (StepUp shows ads and lists tracking on its App Store label)
- Head-to-head step races with a deadline, on your Lock Screen
- GPS walks and runs on a map (StepUp doesn't use GPS)
- Challenges between two groups (StepUp has no group-against-group boards)
- Water tracking, and a streak with rest days
The short answer
Pick StepUp if your group is big, mixes iPhone and Android, or you want nothing behind a paywall. Pick Stepdy for an ad-free app with races, water and GPS walks.
Sources
- Stepdy: apps.apple.com
- StepUp: apps.apple.com, www.thestepupapp.com
Questions people ask
Is Stepdy better than StepUp?
Pick StepUp if your group is big, mixes iPhone and Android, or you want nothing behind a paywall. Pick Stepdy for an ad-free app with races, water and GPS walks.
How much does StepUp cost compared with Stepdy?
StepUp: Free; optional "Support StepUp" purchases ($1–$25) and ad removal. Stepdy: Free · Pro $3.99/mo or $29.99/yr, 7-day free trial (US prices, checked November 6, 2026).
Walk with the people you know.
Free on the App Store. No ads, no sign-up.
