# PackLight for Backpacking vs Backpacking List

The clearest difference is update cadence: Backpacking List at every 9 days against PackLight for Backpacking's every 2 months. PackLight for Backpacking's advantage is ratings volume (991 vs 34) and rating (4.8 vs 4.6). On price, review sentiment, ads and in-app purchases there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. PackLight for Backpacking sells 1 one-off in-app purchase and Backpacking List sells 3 in-app purchases, starting at $3.99 per month. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

PackLight for Backpacking holds the better App Store score, 4.8 against 4.6. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: PackLight for Backpacking has 991 ratings behind it against 34, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews complicate that: 95% of PackLight for Backpacking's written reviews are positive against 100% of Backpacking List's, so the app with the better star average is not the one people write more warmly about.

PackLight for Backpacking ships an update every 2 months, Backpacking List every 9 days. The most recent releases landed on October 14, 2026 and October 8, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | PackLight for Backpacking | Backpacking List |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | **[4.8 (991 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/packlight-for-backpacking/id1054845207/reviews)** | [4.6 (34 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/backpacking-list-checklist/id6744121777/reviews) |
| Number of ratings | **991** | 34 |
| Positive reviews | 95.2% of reviews | **100.0% of reviews** |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | Every 2 months | **Every 9 days** |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | Freemium |
| Size | 4 MB | 9 MB |
| Requires iOS | **17.0** | 17.6 |
| Devices | iPhone | iPhone |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Mark Oliveira](https://appshunter.io/developer/1054845206) | [Daniel Lubbers](https://appshunter.io/developer/1759415354) |

## 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


### Backpacking List

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/backpacking-list-checklist/id6744121777)

This app helps organize outdoor adventure gear with smart checklists and reminders. It allows cataloging items, tracking food and supplies, and calculating pack weight. Share or export your lists for any trip.

**Highlights:** Essential gear warnings, Customizable packing reminders, Detailed gear cataloging, Food and supply tracking, Automatic weight calculation, Shareable and exportable lists

**Features:** macOS Compatibility

**In-app purchases (3)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Monthly Premium | $3.99 | per month |
| Yearly Premium | $14.99 | per year |
| Lifetime Access | $49.99 | one-time |


## Frequently asked questions

### Is PackLight for Backpacking free?

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

### Is Backpacking List free?

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

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

PackLight for Backpacking is rated higher. PackLight for Backpacking averages 4.8 out of 5 from 991 ratings, while Backpacking List averages 4.6 from 34 ratings.

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

Neither PackLight for Backpacking nor Backpacking List shows ads.

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

PackLight for Backpacking ships an update every 2 months, and Backpacking List every 9 days. Most recently, PackLight for Backpacking was updated on October 14, 2026 and Backpacking List on October 8, 2026.

---

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