A Steppin alternative for iPhone, free vs paid
Steppin costs nothing and needs no account. Schlep costs $9.99 a month or $29.99 a year and has no free version. If price decides it, use Steppin.
What they have in common
Both apps lock the apps you pick through Apple's Screen Time system, and both unlock them with steps. Their default rate is the same: 1,000 steps earn 10 minutes on your locked apps, which is 100 steps for 1 minute. Both say your step count stays on your iPhone. Schlep sends it only if you send a diagnostic report yourself.
Steppin and Schlep side by side
| App | How it unlocks | Price |
|---|---|---|
| SteppinBoston Venture Studio. 156 ratings. | 100 steps for 1 minute of screen time by default, and you can change the goal. | Free. Its website says there is no paid tier. |
| SchlepRK Labs, LLC. 3 ratings. | 1,000 steps for 10 minutes on your locked apps by default. Easier gives 15, Strict gives 5. | $9.99 a month or $29.99 a year |
What Schlep does
At the default rate, the two apps give the same time for the same steps. Schlep's settings:
- Three set rates: Easier (15 minutes on your locked apps per 1,000 steps), Recommended (10) and Strict (5).
- Easy mode starts each day with 30 free minutes. Hard mode starts at zero and lets you borrow 10 minutes from tomorrow, once a day.
- You spend minutes 10 at a time, from the locked app's lock screen or from the Home tab.
- The lock screen has no Ignore Limit button. It asks for steps.
What Steppin has that Schlep does not
- A price of zero, with no subscription.
- An Android version. Its website says Steppin is live on Android. Schlep is for iPhone only, on iOS 17 or later.
- More ratings: 156 on the US App Store against Schlep's 3.
Which one to pick
Pick Steppin if you want the free option, an Android version or a rate you can customize. Steppin's website says you can override any lock instantly. Pick Schlep if you want a lock you can't skip from the lock screen: it has no Ignore Limit button and asks for steps. Our comparison of walk to unlock apps for iPhone lists the other apps, and how Schlep locks your apps until you walk explains the lock.
Questions
- Is Steppin really free?
- Its App Store listing showed no in-app purchases on October 15, 2026, and steppin.net says there is no paid tier, no subscription and no trial that expires.
- Is Schlep free like Steppin?
- No. Schlep costs $9.99 a month or $29.99 a year, billed by Apple. There is no free version.
- Do Steppin and Schlep use the same rate?
- By default, yes: 100 steps for 1 minute of screen time, which is 1,000 steps for 10 minutes. Steppin lets you change the goal. Schlep offers Easier at 15 minutes per 1,000 steps and Strict at 5.
- Does Steppin work on Android?
- Its website says it does. Schlep is iPhone only, on iOS 17 or later.