# PackLight for Backpacking vs Survival Assistant

The clearest difference is price: PackLight for Backpacking at Free against Survival Assistant's $4.99. PackLight for Backpacking also leads on ads (none vs shown) and update cadence (every 2 months vs every 7 months). Survival Assistant's advantage is device support (3 vs 1) and iOS requirement (15.6 vs 17.0). On in-app purchases there is nothing between them.

PackLight for Backpacking is free to download; Survival Assistant costs $4.99 up front. PackLight for Backpacking sells 1 one-off in-app purchase and Survival Assistant sells 1 one-off in-app purchase. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

PackLight for Backpacking ships an update every 2 months, Survival Assistant every 7 months. The most recent releases landed on October 26, 2026 and September 30, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | PackLight for Backpacking | Survival Assistant |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | **Free** | $4.99 |
| Rating | **[4.8 (1K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/packlight-for-backpacking/id1054845207/reviews)** | — |
| Number of ratings | **1K** | — |
| Positive reviews | 95.2% of reviews | — |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Ads | **No** | Yes |
| Update frequency | **Every 2 months** | Every 7 months |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | **Ad-supported** |
| Size | 4 MB | 116 MB |
| Requires iOS | 17.0 | **15.6** |
| Devices | iPhone | **iPhone, iPad, iPod** |
| Age rating | 4+ | 17+ |
| Developer | [Mark Oliveira](https://appshunter.io/developer/1054845206) | [Jakub Kumoch](https://appshunter.io/developer/1662596657) |

## 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


### Survival Assistant

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/survival-assistant-offline/id6505061099)

This app provides essential tools and guides for outdoor adventures, including offline maps, GPS tracking, a compass, barometer, altimeter, and survival techniques. It ensures preparedness for hiking, camping, and wilderness survival, even without an internet connection.

**Highlights:** Offline tactical maps with GPS recorder, Precision compass with digital bearing, Barometer and altimeter for weather and elevation, Interactive survival guides, 100% offline functionality, GPX file import/export

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

**In-app purchases (1)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Premium Version | $4.99 | one-time |


## Frequently asked questions

### Is PackLight for Backpacking free?

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

### Is Survival Assistant free?

Survival Assistant costs $4.99, and also offers in-app purchases.

### Do PackLight for Backpacking or Survival Assistant have ads?

Survival Assistant shows ads; PackLight for Backpacking does not.

### Which is updated more often, PackLight for Backpacking or Survival Assistant?

PackLight for Backpacking ships an update every 2 months, and Survival Assistant every 7 months. Most recently, PackLight for Backpacking was updated on October 26, 2026 and Survival Assistant on September 30, 2026.

---

*Compared by [AppsHunter](https://appshunter.io/) from daily US App Store data. Review summaries are generated from verbatim App Store reviews.*