# PackLight for Backpacking vs Smart Packer

The clearest difference is update cadence: Smart Packer at weekly against PackLight for Backpacking's every 2 months. Smart Packer also leads on rating (5.0 vs 4.8). PackLight for Backpacking's advantage is ratings volume (991 vs 1). 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 Smart Packer sells 1 one-off in-app purchase. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

Smart Packer 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 1, 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 Smart Packer's.

PackLight for Backpacking ships an update every 2 months, Smart Packer weekly. The most recent releases landed on October 14, 2026 and September 29, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | PackLight for Backpacking | Smart Packer |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [4.8 (991 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/packlight-for-backpacking/id1054845207/reviews) | **[5.0 (1 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/smart-packer/id6759519035/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | **991** | 1 |
| Positive reviews | 95.2% of reviews | **100.0% of reviews** |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | Every 2 months | **Weekly** |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | Free with in-app purchases |
| Size | 4 MB | 5 MB |
| Requires iOS | **17.0** | 17.5 |
| Devices | iPhone | **iPhone, iPad** |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Mark Oliveira](https://appshunter.io/developer/1054845206) | [Wedgetail Creative Pty Ltd](https://appshunter.io/developer/1879244384) |

## 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


### Smart Packer

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/smart-packer/id6759519035)

Create reusable packing checklists, organize gear, and track pack weight for any trip. Avoid overpacking and ensure you never forget essentials again. Save your gear once and reuse it for future adventures.

**Highlights:** Reusable Gear Bank, Smart Packing Checklists, Weight Tracking, Built-In Templates, Packing Progress, CSV Import & Export, Offline First

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

**In-app purchases (1)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Smart Packer Pro | $3.99 | one-time |


## Frequently asked questions

### Is PackLight for Backpacking free?

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

### Is Smart Packer free?

Smart Packer is free to download, with in-app purchases available.

### Which has better reviews, PackLight for Backpacking or Smart Packer?

Smart Packer is rated higher. PackLight for Backpacking averages 4.8 out of 5 from 991 ratings, while Smart Packer averages 5.0 from 1 ratings.

### Do PackLight for Backpacking or Smart Packer have ads?

Neither PackLight for Backpacking nor Smart Packer shows ads.

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

PackLight for Backpacking ships an update every 2 months, and Smart Packer weekly. Most recently, PackLight for Backpacking was updated on October 14, 2026 and Smart Packer on September 29, 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.*