Comparison

Backstage vs IMDbPro

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

Head to head
About

Backstage

Discover acting jobs and auditions worldwide for TV, film, and more. Browse thousands of curated casting calls, apply to unlimited roles, and build your career in the performing arts. A free download with optional subscription for advanced features.

Highlights
  • Browse global casting calls
  • Apply to unlimited roles
  • Create saved searches
  • Upload media
  • Build talent profile
  • Find acting jobs
Features
Currently charting
Read full description

For over 60 years, Backstage has served as one of the most trusted resources in the entertainment industry for casting projects, finding jobs, and building careers in the performing arts. Whether you’re just getting started or you’re a seasoned veteran, the Backstage app is the perfect resource for finding and applying to casting calls from all over the world - anytime, from anywhere! Browse thousands of curated casting calls from TV shows, movies, independent productions, music videos, voiceover gigs, modeling jobs, and more right at your fingertips. With unlimited applications and media uploads, the Backstage app makes finding your next audition easier and better than ever. Create saved searches tailored to your specifications to be the first to know about (and apply to!) the kinds of jobs you want most. The Backstage app is free to download, allowing all users to search and browse available casting calls. Upgrade to a subscription to unlock unlimited applications and build a professional talent profile that will wow casting directors. Happy auditioning! If you choose to purchase a subscription to Backstage, your payment will be charged to your Apple account at confirmation of purchase. Your subscription will automatically renew each month or year 24-hours before the end of the current period unless auto-renew is turned off. Auto-renew may be turned off at any time from your Apple account settings. Prices for subscriptions are in U.S. dollars, and may vary in countries other than the U.S. and are subject to change without notice. Any unused portion of a free trial period, if offered, will be forfeited when you purchase a subscription. No cancellation of the current subscription is allowed during the active subscription period. If you don’t choose to purchase a Backstage subscription, you can continue to use the Backstage app for free. This app includes subscription options, including via optional in-app purchases. If you don’t choose to purchase a Backstage subscription, you can continue to use the Backstage app for free to manage your profile and view job listings, messages, and other resources; however, a subscription is required to utilize some aspects of the service. Terms of Service: https://www.backstage.com/terms-of-service/ Privacy policy: https://www.backstage.com/privacy-policy/

About

IMDbPro

This app provides entertainment industry professionals with a comprehensive database of contacts and project information. Manage your professional profile, discover opportunities, and stay updated on industry news and trends. It's a trusted network for decision-makers in film and television.

Highlights
  • Comprehensive contact database
  • Project tracking tools
  • Professional profile management
  • Industry insights and rankings
  • Real-time notifications
  • Talent demographics
Features
Read full description

IMDbPro - Leading network and tools for entertainment professionals Essential for entertainment industry professionals, IMDbPro provides unparalleled access to the most comprehensive database of entertainment contacts and projects. Actors, filmmakers, agents, managers, and casting directors can manage their professional profiles, find representation, and stand out to potential employers. With detailed profiles of actors, directors, writers, producers, and crew members at your fingertips, you can effortlessly track film and TV projects from development through production and stay updated on industry moves. IMDbPro offers exclusive industry insights, including STARmeter rankings, talent demographics, and project tracking tools used by leading agencies and studios. Real-time notifications ensure you never miss an opportunity, keeping you informed about new productions, casting announcements, and industry news relevant to your career. Join the professional network trusted by entertainment decision-makers worldwide. IMDbPro is great alternative to rentrak, comscore, backstage, and studio system (studiosystem). By using this app, you agree to IMDbPro's Conditions of Use (https://www.imdb.com/conditions?ref_=ft_cou), Privacy Notice (https://www.imdb.com/privacy), and the IMDbPro Subscriber Agreement (https://pro.imdb.com/subagreement). IMDb owns and operates IMDbPro, Box Office Mojo (boxofficemojo.com), and Withoutabox. IMDb is a subsidiary of Amazon (amazon.com). We continuously enhance the IMDbPro app and value your input in shaping future versions. Share your feedback at: https://imdb.co1.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_bey1r9HOuHzs3cN

Screenshots

Backstage4 screens
IMDbPro4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is in-app purchases: IMDbPro at none against Backstage's 8. IMDbPro also leads on iOS requirement (17.0 vs 26.0). Backstage's advantage is review sentiment (34% vs 20%) and chart position (#32 vs unranked). On price, rating, update cadence and ads 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. Backstage sells 7 in-app purchases, starting at $24.99 per month. IMDbPro asks for nothing beyond the download.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

On the App Store both sit at effectively the same score — 4.7 for Backstage against 4.6 for IMDbPro. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Backstage has 19K ratings behind it against 2.7K, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews are what separate them: 34% of Backstage's written reviews are positive against 20% of IMDbPro's.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Backstage ships an update weekly, IMDbPro every 9 days. The most recent releases landed on September 24, 2026 and September 20, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard6 real differences · 5 level
Backstage versus IMDbPro: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterBackstageIMDbPro
PriceFreeFree
Rating4.7 (19K ratings) — better4.6 (2.7K ratings)
Positive reviews33.7% of reviews — better19.6% of reviews
Number of ratings19K — better2.7K
Update frequencyWeekly — betterEvery 9 days
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesYesNo — better
MonetizationFree with in-app purchases — betterSubscription
Best chart rank#32 — better—
DevicesiPhoneiPhone, iPad — better
Requires iOS26.017.0 — better
Further details — not scored
Size140 MB85 MB
Age rating12+17+
DeveloperBackstage LLCIMDb

Customer experience

Backstage

All ratings18,768 ratings
Positive93.4%
Neutral2.9%
Negative3.7%
Written reviews270 reviews
Positive33.7%
Neutral15.6%
Negative50.7%

IMDbPro

All ratings2,652 ratings
Positive90.7%
Neutral2.1%
Negative7.2%
Written reviews168 reviews
Positive19.6%
Neutral10.1%
Negative70.2%

User reviews

Backstage

From 19K App Store ratings

What we love

  • 🚀 Great platform for finding acting jobs
  • 👍 Easy to use interface
  • 💡 Helpful for building an acting resume
  • 🚀 Efficient way to search for and apply to roles

Room to improve

  • 🐛 Subscription issues and billing problems
  • 🔒 Lack of customer service and support
  • 🐛 Buggy app with crashing and loading issues
  • 💰 Expensive subscription fees

IMDbPro

From 2.7K App Store ratings

What we love

  • 🌟 Great app for industry professionals
  • 💡 Valuable industry information and news
  • 👍 Useful for tracking projects and careers

Room to improve

  • 🐛 App crashes or won't open
  • 🔍 Difficult to edit personal profile
  • 🤔 Lacking key features compared to website
  • 💰 Expensive subscription, hard to cancel

Bugs and requests

Backstage

Reported bugs

4 issues
  • App repeatedly logs users out
  • Inability to upload media/headshots
  • Casting calls not loading properly
  • Notification system not working as expected

Requested features

4 requests
  • Add ability to save specific job postings
  • Improve search filtering options
  • Integrate calendar download for audition dates
  • Provide more detailed job information in app

IMDbPro

Reported bugs

3 issues
  • App freezes on launch
  • Login issues, unable to sign in
  • Compatibility problems with new iOS versions

Requested features

4 requests
  • Add iPad support
  • Improve profile editing capabilities
  • Implement push notifications for updates
  • Streamline subscription management

In-app purchases

7 purchases

Backstage

Subscriptions7
  • Monthly Membership$24.991 Month
  • Monthly Membership1 Month trial$24.991 Month
  • 3-Month Membership3 Months trial$74.993 Months
Show 4 more
  • 3-Month Membership$74.993 Months
  • 6-Month Membership2 variants$99.996 Months
  • Annual Membership$199.991 Year
  • Annual Membership1 Year trial$199.991 Year
None

IMDbPro

No in-app purchases

Questions

Is Backstage free?
Backstage is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Is IMDbPro free?
IMDbPro is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Which has better reviews, Backstage or IMDbPro?
Backstage is rated higher. Backstage averages 4.7 out of 5 from 19K ratings, while IMDbPro averages 4.6 from 2.7K ratings.
Do Backstage or IMDbPro have ads?
Neither Backstage nor IMDbPro shows ads.
Which is updated more often, Backstage or IMDbPro?
Backstage ships an update weekly, and IMDbPro every 9 days. Most recently, Backstage was updated on September 24, 2026 and IMDbPro on September 20, 2026.

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