Comparison

PackLight for Backpacking vs Backpacker Spender

Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.

Head to head
About

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.

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
Read full description

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.

About

Backpacker Spender

Features
Read full description

Your trip, with the books balanced, even with no signal. Backpacker Spender is the travel expense app for people who actually travel: backpackers, couples, exchange students and groups of friends. Log a spend in seconds, in any currency, and see right away how much budget is left. SPLIT THE BILL WITHOUT A SPREADSHEET • Split evenly, by amount or by percentage • Automatic settle up: who owes what to whom, in the fewest transfers possible • A statement per person, showing the reason for every cent • Track each payment: pending, sent, paid WORKS OFFLINE, IN ANY CURRENCY • Log a spend in the middle of nowhere and it syncs itself once you are back online • 154 currencies, converted automatically in totals and reports • Built in currency converter, with a rate you can override • Daily budget, average spend and a forecast to the end of the trip PHOTOGRAPH THE RECEIPT. THE APP FILLS IT IN. • Artificial intelligence reads the amount, description and date off the receipt • Attach the photo and never argue about what that dinner actually cost SEE WHERE THE MONEY WENT • Spend by category, trends and a projection of where the trip will land • Per category budgets that warn you before you blow them • A trip map with each spend where it happened, plus the route you travelled • CSV and PDF export, because some people really do love a spreadsheet EVEN BEFORE YOU LEAVE HOME • A packing checklist with 117 items in 7 categories and reminders 15, 7 and 3 days before you fly • Savings jars with goals, to put money aside for the next trip • Pre trip costs like flights, insurance and bookings, kept out of your daily average • Sub trips: one country per tab, inside the same journey MADE FOR Backpacking, study abroad, honeymoons, family trips, road trips, digital nomads and work travel. PLANS The Backpacker plan is free and covers the essentials: trips, expenses, per category budgets, the currency converter, the map and the split calculation, with a cap on active trips and no automatic sync between devices. Explorer and Nomad unlock automatic sync, AI powered receipt scanning, advanced statistics, PDF reports, high accuracy GPS and more trips, savings jars and travel companions. Monthly or yearly subscription with automatic renewal. Cancel any time, straight from the store. Question, bug or idea? backpackerspender.moggydigital.com.br Terms of Use (EULA): https://backpackerspender.moggydigital.com.br/termos/ Privacy Policy: https://backpackerspender.moggydigital.com.br/privacidade/

Screenshots

PackLight for Backpacking4 screens
Backpacker Spender4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is update cadence: Backpacker Spender at every 3 days against PackLight for Backpacking's every 2 months. Backpacker Spender also leads on iOS requirement (15.5 vs 17.0). On price, ads, in-app purchases and device support 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

CostPrice · In-app purchases · Ads · Monetization

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

UpkeepUpdate frequency

PackLight for Backpacking ships an update every 2 months, Backpacker Spender every 3 days. The most recent releases landed on October 14, 2026 and October 8, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard2 real differences · 8 level
PackLight for Backpacking versus Backpacker Spender: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterPackLight for BackpackingBackpacker Spender
PriceFreeFree
Rating4.8 (991 ratings) — better—
Positive reviews95.2% of reviews—
Number of ratings991 — better—
Update frequencyEvery 2 monthsEvery 3 days — better
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesYesYes
MonetizationFree with in-app purchases—
DevicesiPhoneiPhone, iPod — better
Requires iOS17.015.5 — better
Further details — not scored
Size4 MB122 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperMark OliveiraGabriel Oliveira Santos

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

Backpacker Spender

Not enough reviews yet to summarise bugs or requests.

In-app purchases

1 purchases

PackLight for Backpacking

One-time1
  • Supporter Edition$19.99
4 purchases

Backpacker Spender

Subscriptions4
  • Explorer Monthly$1.991 Month
  • Nomad Mensal$3.991 Month
  • Explorer Anual$11.991 Year
Show 1 more
  • Nomad Anual$22.991 Year

Questions

Is PackLight for Backpacking free?
PackLight for Backpacking is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Is Backpacker Spender free?
Backpacker Spender is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Do PackLight for Backpacking or Backpacker Spender have ads?
Neither PackLight for Backpacking nor Backpacker Spender shows ads.
Which is updated more often, PackLight for Backpacking or Backpacker Spender?
PackLight for Backpacking ships an update every 2 months, and Backpacker Spender every 3 days. Most recently, PackLight for Backpacking was updated on October 14, 2026 and Backpacker Spender on October 8, 2026.

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