# Superlocal vs Backbone

The clearest difference is rating: Backbone at 4.8 against Superlocal's 4.2. Backbone also leads on review sentiment (51% vs 24%) and ratings volume (103K vs 3.1K). Superlocal's advantage is update cadence (every 6 days vs every 3 weeks). On price, ads, in-app purchases and monetization model there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. Superlocal sells 9 in-app purchases, starting at $2.49 per 7 days and Backbone sells 9 in-app purchases, starting at $3.99 per month. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

Backbone holds the better App Store score, 4.8 against 4.2. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Backbone has 103K ratings behind it against 3.1K, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews point the same way: 24% of Superlocal's written reviews are positive against 51% of Backbone's.

Superlocal ships an update every 6 days, Backbone every 3 weeks. The most recent releases landed on November 6, 2026 and November 10, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Superlocal | Backbone |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [4.2 (3.1K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/superlocal-explore-places-map/id1290608456/reviews) | **[4.8 (103K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/backbone-next-level-play/id1449660663/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | 3.1K | **103K** |
| Positive reviews | 24.3% of reviews | **51.3% of reviews** |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | **Every 6 days** | Every 3 weeks |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | Free with in-app purchases |
| Best chart rank | — | **#61** |
| Size | 284 MB | 424 MB |
| Requires iOS | 17.5 | **17.0** |
| Devices | iPhone | **iPhone, iPad** |
| Age rating | 4+ | +12 |
| Developer | [Super Computer, Inc](https://appshunter.io/developer/1231915599) | [Backbone Labs, Inc. (US)](https://appshunter.io/developer/1449660662) |

## What reviewers say

### Superlocal

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/superlocal-explore-places-map/id1290608456)

Discover new places with AI-powered recommendations and gamified exploration. Automatically log your visits to create a personalized travel diary and connect with friends. Track your progress and earn achievements as you explore your world.

**Highlights:** AI-powered place discovery, Fog of World gamification, GPS diary and check-in tracker, Personalized recommendations, Community rankings and achievements, Friend tracking and connection

**Features:** Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases (9)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Weekly Stickers | $2.49 | per 7 days |
| Monthly Stickers | $5.99 | per month |
| Bonus Premium Stickers | $5.99 | per month |
| Superboost+ (Monthly) | $7.99 | per month |
| Verizon FREE Year of Stickers | $9.99 | per month |
| Superboost+ (Monthly) | $9.99 | per month |
| Superboost+ | $29.99 | per year |
| Superboost+ | $29.99 | per year |
| Superboost+ | $39.99 | per year |

**What reviewers like**

- 🚀 Tracking location and exploring the world
- 🌟 Fun and engaging concept
- 👍 Ability to compete with friends
- 💡 Innovative use of location data
- 🎨 Creative way to visualize travel history

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 Inconsistent location tracking
- 🔍 Difficulty zooming out to see full map
- 💰 Aggressive monetization and paywalls
- 🔋 High battery consumption
- 🤖 Buggy and glitchy performance

**Reported bugs**

- Progress and data frequently reset
- Locations not accurately tracked
- Crashes and freezes when using certain features
- Subscription issues and inability to cancel

**Requested features**

- Ability to import past travel data
- Offline mode for location tracking
- Customizable map views and icons
- Social features like friend leaderboards
- Integration with other mapping/fitness apps


### Backbone

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/backbone-next-level-play/id1449660663)

**Currently charting:** #61 Top Grossing · Social Networking, #104 Top Free · Social Networking (US App Store)

Transform your iPhone or iPad into a powerful gaming console. Stream and play games from various services, record and share epic gameplay clips, and connect with friends for seamless multiplayer experiences. Features automatic highlight detection and in-app voice chat.

**Highlights:** Turns iPhone/iPad into a gaming device, Supports PS Remote Play, Xbox Game Pass, Apple Arcade, Record, edit, and share gameplay clips, Automatic highlight detection, Rich Presence for friend notifications, In-app voice chat

**Features:** Game Controller support

**In-app purchases (9)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Backbone+ | $3.99 | per month |
| Backbone+ | $3.99 | per month |
| Backbone+ | $29.99 | per year |
| Backbone+ | $39.99 | per year |
| Backbone+ | $39.99 | per year |
| Backbone+ | $39.99 | per year |
| Backbone+ | $39.99 | per year |
| Backbone+ | $39.99 | per year |
| Backbone+ | $49.99 | per year |

**What reviewers like**

- 🚀 Great gaming experience
- 👍 Seamless integration with app
- 🎮 Feels like a dedicated gaming device
- 💡 Turns phone into a portable console
- 🎨 Sleek and premium design

**What reviewers complain about**

- 💰 Expensive subscription
- 🔒 Locked features behind paywall
- 🔌 Requires removing phone case
- 🎮 Ergonomics not ideal for all games
- 🐛 Connectivity issues and bugs

**Reported bugs**

- Random disconnections during gameplay
- App crashes and freezes
- Issues with controller button mapping
- Incompatibility with certain games

**Requested features**

- Allow use without subscription
- Add more customization options
- Improve compatibility with various phone models
- Integrate with more cloud gaming services


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Superlocal free?

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

### Is Backbone free?

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

### Which has better reviews, Superlocal or Backbone?

Backbone is rated higher. Superlocal averages 4.2 out of 5 from 3.1K ratings, while Backbone averages 4.8 from 103K ratings.

### Do Superlocal or Backbone have ads?

Neither Superlocal nor Backbone shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, Superlocal or Backbone?

Superlocal ships an update every 6 days, and Backbone every 3 weeks. Most recently, Superlocal was updated on November 6, 2026 and Backbone on November 10, 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.*