# Des Moines Parent vs Brinley’s Big Backyard

The clearest difference is rating: Brinley’s Big Backyard at 4.9 against Des Moines Parent's 4.3. Brinley’s Big Backyard also leads on ads (none vs shown) and update cadence (every 3 months vs every 11 months). Des Moines Parent's advantage is iOS requirement (15.0 vs 17.0). On price, review sentiment, in-app purchases and device support there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. Neither carries in-app purchases, so what you see is what you pay.

Brinley’s Big Backyard holds the better App Store score, 4.9 against 4.3. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Brinley’s Big Backyard has 35 ratings behind it against 7, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews split almost evenly too, at 100% and 100% positive.

Des Moines Parent ships an update every 11 months, Brinley’s Big Backyard every 3 months. The most recent releases landed on October 24, 2026 and October 21, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Des Moines Parent | Brinley’s Big Backyard |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [4.3 (7 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/des-moines-parent/id1064424740/reviews) | **[4.9 (35 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/brinleys-big-backyard/id6739732329/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | 7 | **35** |
| Positive reviews | 100.0% of reviews | 100.0% of reviews |
| In-app purchases | No | No |
| Ads | Yes | **No** |
| Update frequency | Every 11 months | **Every 3 months** |
| Monetization | Ad-supported | **Free** |
| Size | 45 MB | 141 MB |
| Requires iOS | **15.0** | 17.0 |
| Devices | **iPhone, iPod** | iPhone |
| Age rating | 17+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Midwest Mom & Wife, LLC](https://appshunter.io/developer/1064424739) | [iTrust Ventures LLC](https://appshunter.io/developer/1317767149) |

## What reviewers say

### Des Moines Parent

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/des-moines-parent/id1064424740)

Discover local events, activities, and resources for families in Central Iowa. Stay informed about what's happening in your community to plan family outings and engage with local happenings.

**Highlights:** Local event listings, Activity updates, Family resource guide, Central Iowa focus

**Features:** macOS Compatibility

**In-app purchases:** none


### Brinley’s Big Backyard

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/brinleys-big-backyard/id6739732329)

Manage your pet's care with ease. Schedule appointments, receive real-time updates with photos, communicate directly with staff, and handle payments securely. Experience top-tier pet services conveniently through this app.

**Highlights:** Schedule appointments, Receive pet status updates, Get pet pictures, Chat with staff, Contactless payments, Pet care management

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

**In-app purchases:** none


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Des Moines Parent free?

Des Moines Parent is free to download, with no in-app purchases.

### Is Brinley’s Big Backyard free?

Brinley’s Big Backyard is free to download, with no in-app purchases.

### Which has better reviews, Des Moines Parent or Brinley’s Big Backyard?

Brinley’s Big Backyard is rated higher. Des Moines Parent averages 4.3 out of 5 from 7 ratings, while Brinley’s Big Backyard averages 4.9 from 35 ratings.

### Do Des Moines Parent or Brinley’s Big Backyard have ads?

Des Moines Parent shows ads; Brinley’s Big Backyard does not.

### Which is updated more often, Des Moines Parent or Brinley’s Big Backyard?

Des Moines Parent ships an update every 11 months, and Brinley’s Big Backyard every 3 months. Most recently, Des Moines Parent was updated on October 24, 2026 and Brinley’s Big Backyard on October 21, 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.*