# JoinDispatch vs Backburn

The clearest difference is review sentiment: JoinDispatch at 60% against Backburn's 0%. JoinDispatch also leads on price (Free vs $0.99). Backburn's advantage is in-app purchases (none vs 3). On update cadence, ads, device support and iOS requirement there is nothing between them.

JoinDispatch is free to download; Backburn costs $0.99 up front. JoinDispatch sells 3 one-off in-app purchases. Backburn asks for nothing beyond the download.

JoinDispatch ships an update weekly, Backburn every 4 days. The most recent releases landed on September 29, 2026 and October 6, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | JoinDispatch | Backburn |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | **Free** | $0.99 |
| Rating | **[4.2 (898 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/joindispatch/id1161946025/reviews)** | — |
| Number of ratings | **898** | — |
| Positive reviews | **59.8% of reviews** | 0.0% of reviews |
| In-app purchases | Yes | **No** |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | Weekly | **Every 4 days** |
| Monetization | **Free with in-app purchases** | Paid |
| Size | 50 MB | 118 MB |
| Requires iOS | 17.0 | 17.0 |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad | iPhone, iPad |
| Age rating | 12+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Kyle McCullough](https://appshunter.io/developer/1161946024) | [Robert Corbin](https://appshunter.io/developer/1890247992) |

## What reviewers say

### JoinDispatch

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/joindispatch/id1161946025)

Experience the thrill of managing emergency dispatches in a text-based adventure. Make critical decisions, earn stars, and unlock new opportunities as a Citizen Responder. Navigate limited resources and even rewind time to correct mistakes.

**Highlights:** Achieve 5-Star rating, Earn skills and unlock opportunities, Resource management, Rewind time function, Choice-driven narrative, Simplified decisions

**Features:** macOS Compatibility

**In-app purchases (3)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Shift One - Remove Ads | Free | one-time |
| Shift Unlock | $3.99 | one-time |
| Season 1 Pass | $9.99 | one-time |

**What reviewers like**

- 🚀 Interesting story and gameplay
- 🤖 Unique text-based adventure concept
- 👍 Immersive atmosphere and mystery
- 💎 Compelling narrative and 4th wall breaks

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🔒 Paywall after initial tutorial
- 🐛 Bugs, glitches, and inconsistencies
- ⏱️ Short first episode/shift
- 🕰️ Long wait times for new content

**Reported bugs**

- Calls getting stuck on hold
- Skills disappearing or not working as expected
- Repeated resets of progress
- Unresponsive UI and black screens

**Requested features**

- More episodes/shifts to continue the story
- Ability to replay past calls/choices
- Clearer progression and skill system
- Offline mode or reduced battery drain


### Backburn

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/backburn-wildfire-strategy/id6792957422)

This offline strategy game lets you plan up to six turns ahead in wildfire scenarios. Compare different decisions, manage resources, and learn from your choices in a fictional environment. Rehearse before advancing to make every turn count.

**Highlights:** Plan six turns ahead, Compare strategy branches, Manage resources and crews, Offline gameplay, Thirty authored incidents, After-action reports

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

**In-app purchases:** none


## Frequently asked questions

### Is JoinDispatch free?

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

### Is Backburn free?

Backburn costs $0.99, with no in-app purchases.

### Do JoinDispatch or Backburn have ads?

Neither JoinDispatch nor Backburn shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, JoinDispatch or Backburn?

JoinDispatch ships an update weekly, and Backburn every 4 days. Most recently, JoinDispatch was updated on September 29, 2026 and Backburn on October 6, 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.*