# PackLight for Backpacking vs Packing List

The clearest difference is review sentiment: PackLight for Backpacking at 95% against Packing List's 33%. PackLight for Backpacking also leads on rating (4.8 vs 4.2) and ratings volume (1K vs 6). Packing List's advantage is update cadence (every 3 weeks vs every 2 months). On price, ads, in-app purchases and monetization model there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. PackLight for Backpacking sells 1 one-off in-app purchase and Packing List sells 4 in-app purchases, starting at $1.99 per 7 days. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

PackLight for Backpacking holds the better App Store score, 4.8 against 4.2. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: PackLight for Backpacking has 1K ratings behind it against 6, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews point the same way: 95% of PackLight for Backpacking's written reviews are positive against 33% of Packing List's.

PackLight for Backpacking ships an update every 2 months, Packing List every 3 weeks. The most recent releases landed on October 29, 2026 and October 30, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | PackLight for Backpacking | Packing List |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | **[4.8 (1K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/packlight-for-backpacking/id1054845207/reviews)** | [4.2 (6 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/packing-list-trip-organizer/id1589485873/reviews) |
| Number of ratings | **1K** | 6 |
| Positive reviews | **95.2% of reviews** | 33.3% of reviews |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | Every 2 months | **Every 3 weeks** |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | Free with in-app purchases |
| Size | 4 MB | 27 MB |
| Requires iOS | 17.0 | 17.0 |
| Devices | iPhone | **iPhone, iPad** |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Mark Oliveira](https://appshunter.io/developer/1054845206) | [Robert Pinl](https://appshunter.io/developer/1822248219) |

## What reviewers say

### PackLight for Backpacking

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/packlight-for-backpacking/id1054845207)

This app helps backpackers create lightweight packing lists by organizing gear, tracking weights, and visualizing their impact. It allows users to build custom lists, share them, and even import from other services. An optional supporter edition unlocks advanced features for a one-time purchase.

**Highlights:** Organize gear by name, weight, and category, Build weight-aware packing lists, Visualize pack weight impact, Packing checklist functionality, Share packing lists via link or CSV, Import lists from LighterPack, Offline access to data

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

**In-app purchases (1)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Supporter Edition | $19.99 | one-time |

**What reviewers like**

- 🚀 Easy to use
- 👍 Helpful for planning and organizing gear
- 👍 Useful for tracking gear weights
- 👍 Great for creating custom packing lists
- 👍 Simple and intuitive interface

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🔍 Lack of custom categories
- 🔍 No ability to add notes or details to gear items
- 🔍 No option to track purchase price or date
- 🔍 Inability to easily share lists with others
- 🔍 No cloud sync or backup functionality

**Reported bugs**

- Occasional issues with alphabetical sorting of lists
- Reported bug with displaying the correct list when selected

**Requested features**

- Add ability to track purchase price and date for gear items
- Implement custom category creation
- Include option to add notes and details to gear items
- Implement cloud sync and backup functionality
- Add sharing capabilities to easily collaborate with others


### Packing List

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/packing-list-trip-organizer/id1589485873)

Create efficient, lightweight packing lists for any trip. Track luggage weight in real-time and organize essentials with an intuitive interface. Sync lists across devices via iCloud and export them as PDF or CSV.

**Highlights:** Create custom packing lists, Real-time luggage weight tracking, Intuitive item organization, iCloud sync across devices, Export lists to PDF/CSV, Tailored lists for different trip types

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

**In-app purchases (4)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Weekly | $1.99 | per 7 days |
| Yearly | $12.99 | per year |
| Yearly | $12.99 | per year |
| Lifetime | $24.99 | one-time |


## Frequently asked questions

### Is PackLight for Backpacking free?

PackLight for Backpacking is free to download, with in-app purchases available.

### Is Packing List free?

Packing List is free to download, with in-app purchases available.

### Which has better reviews, PackLight for Backpacking or Packing List?

PackLight for Backpacking is rated higher. PackLight for Backpacking averages 4.8 out of 5 from 1K ratings, while Packing List averages 4.2 from 6 ratings.

### Do PackLight for Backpacking or Packing List have ads?

Neither PackLight for Backpacking nor Packing List shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, PackLight for Backpacking or Packing List?

PackLight for Backpacking ships an update every 2 months, and Packing List every 3 weeks. Most recently, PackLight for Backpacking was updated on October 29, 2026 and Packing List on October 30, 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.*