PackLight for Backpacking vs PackApp USA
Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.
PackLight for Backpacking
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.
- 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
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Keep your pack weight down and never forget crucial gear with PackLight, the packing list app for backpackers. Get PackLight today and be confident that you have exactly what you need - and only what you need - on your next adventure. CORE FEATURES (100% free / no sign up / no ads) - Organize Your Gear -- Inventory your gear by name, weight, and category. - Build Packing Lists -- Use your gear to build weight-aware packing lists. - Keep Your Backpack Light -- Instantly see how your gear choices impact pack weight. - Packing Checklist -- Check off items as you pack to ensure nothing is forgotten. - Share Packing Lists -- Post your list on packlightapp.com and share a link or send a CSV of your list to anyone. - Visualize Weight Distribution -- Use the bar graph to compare gear categories. - Custom Categories -- Organize items your way with your own categories. - Import From LighterPack -- Don't start from scratch - import your LighterPack lists (unaffiliated). - Offline Access -- Access your data even off the grid. Works without internet. ADVANCED FEATURES (Supporter Edition) Supporter Edition is a one-time purchase that supports ongoing maintenance and improvements to PackLight and grants permanent access to these advanced features: - Kits for Quick Packing -- Create kits to group items that you normally pack together, like a first aid kit or cooking gear, so you can add them all to a list at once. - Unlimited Base Lists -- Create new packing lists based on any combination of your other lists and kits. - Inventory Search -- Quickly find gear in your inventory. ABOUT PACKLIGHT PackLight was originally built for my own use and published free on the App Store to share with other backpackers. All of the core features are still free and always will be and it's been great to see PackLight become a favorite for so many! Thank you! If you think PackLight has earned it, I'd really appreciate your honest rating and review. They help a lot and I read every last one. Got an idea for improvement? Email me any time with feedback or feature requests at packlightapp@gmail.com.
PackApp USA
This app helps outdoor enthusiasts plan and organize their gear for hiking, camping, and backpacking trips. It allows users to track pack weight, calorie estimates, and essential details for each item. Premium features offer advanced trip planning with weather forecasts and community-sourced gear.
- Unlimited gear item creation
- Pack weight and calorie tracking
- Trip planning with weather forecasts
- Community pre-made gear items
- Imperial or metric unit support
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Pack smarter. Hike lighter. Hunt harder. PackApp USA is the pack-planning tool built for backpackers and backcountry hunters. Build your loadout, see exactly where the weight lives, and walk into the field knowing your pack, your route, and your conditions. BUILD YOUR PACK • Create packs for any trip — day hikes to week-plus expeditions • Assign gear to real pack zones (top lid, main, exterior, worn) and see weight by zone • Weight heat map shows where your load actually sits • Calorie totals and calorie-per-ounce density for every food item • Consumable tracking — watch pack weight drop as you eat through it • Pack weight vs. body weight ratio with recommended load targets • Imperial or metric — your choice START FROM A REAL TEMPLATE Eleven ready-built packs with honest weights: Day Hike Essentials, Weekend Overnighter, 5-Day Backcountry, Week-Plus Expedition, September Archery Elk, Late-Season Rifle, Upland Bird, Waterfowl Morning, Winter Overnight, Backcountry Fishing, and Truck & Base Camp. Download one, swap in your gear, go. COMMUNITY GEAR DATABASE 1,200+ real items across 12 categories — shelters, optics, archery, dog gear, provisions and more — with verified weights and calories. Add gear to your pack in two taps instead of typing it in. PLAN THE TRIP, NOT JUST THE PACK • Trips with waypoints, dates, and travel method • Task lists so nothing gets left in the truck • Share a trip overview so someone knows where you're headed WEATHER FOR WHERE YOU'RE ACTUALLY GOING • Current conditions, 10-day forecast, sunrise/sunset, and severe weather alerts for your trip location — free • Air quality from Open-Meteo • PACKAPP PREMIUM adds the intelligence layer: Sky Score (a 0–100 conditions rating built from precip, wind, thunder, smoke, and fire danger), live SNOTEL snowpack depth from the nearest USDA station, and NIFC wildfire proximity within 100 miles SHARE THE LOAD Share packs with your hunting party. Owners control the roster, editors manage items, viewers stay read-only. Everyone sees the same list — no more group-text gear spreadsheets. PackApp Premium is an optional auto-renewing subscription. Free users get full pack building, 3 packs, trips, and core weather. Premium unlocks unlimited packs, the community database, Sky Score, SNOTEL, and wildfire tracking. Built in Idaho by people who pack out what they pack in. Terms of Use: https://www.apple.com/legal/internet-services/itunes/dev/stdeula/
Screenshots
Verdict
The clearest difference is ratings volume: PackLight for Backpacking at 991 against PackApp USA's 6. PackApp USA's advantage is rating (5.0 vs 4.8) and update cadence (every 3 weeks vs every 2 months). On price, review sentiment, ads and in-app purchases 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
Both are free to download. PackLight for Backpacking sells 1 one-off in-app purchase and PackApp USA sells 2 in-app purchases, starting at $0.99 per month. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.
PackApp USA holds the better App Store score, 5.0 against 4.8. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: PackLight for Backpacking has 991 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 100% of PackApp USA's.
PackLight for Backpacking ships an update every 2 months, PackApp USA every 3 weeks. The most recent releases landed on September 22, 2026 and July 23, 2026 respectively.
| Parameter | PackLight for Backpacking | PackApp USA |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | 4.8 (991 ratings) | 5.0 (6 ratings) — better |
| Positive reviews | 95.2% of reviews | 100.0% of reviews — better |
| Number of ratings | 991 — better | 6 |
| Update frequency | Every 2 months | Every 3 weeks — better |
| Ads | No | No |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | Freemium |
| Devices | iPhone | iPhone |
| Requires iOS | 17.0 — better | 18.0 |
| Further details — not scored | ||
| Size | 4 MB | 41 MB |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | Mark Oliveira | Nicholas Dumke |
Customer experience
PackLight for Backpacking
PackApp USA
Bugs and requests
PackLight for Backpacking
Reported bugs
2 issues- Occasional issues with alphabetical sorting of lists
- Reported bug with displaying the correct list when selected
Requested features
5 requests- 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
PackApp USA
Not enough reviews yet to summarise bugs or requests.
In-app purchases
PackLight for Backpacking
- Supporter Edition$19.99
PackApp USA
- Monthly Subscription$0.991 Month
- Yearly Subscription$9.991 Year
Questions
Is PackLight for Backpacking free?
Is PackApp USA free?
Which has better reviews, PackLight for Backpacking or PackApp USA?
Do PackLight for Backpacking or PackApp USA have ads?
Which is updated more often, PackLight for Backpacking or PackApp USA?
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