# back number vs U

back number and U are too close to call on the numbers: across 8 compared parameters — price, review sentiment, update cadence and ads among them — neither pulls far enough ahead to decide it. What separates them is feature set and interface, not measurable difference.

Both are free to download. back number sells 2 in-app purchases, starting at $3.99 per month and U sells 3 in-app purchases, starting at $4.99 per month. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

back number ships an update every 6 weeks, U every 2 months. The most recent releases landed on October 24, 2026 and October 25, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | back number | U |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | — | **[3.3 (3 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/u-fret/id1483940246/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | — | **3** |
| Positive reviews | **21.2% of reviews** | 18.2% of reviews |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | **Every 6 weeks** | Every 2 months |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | Freemium |
| Size | 161 MB | 104 MB |
| Requires iOS | **15.0** | 15.6 |
| Devices | iPhone, iPod | **iPhone, iPad, iPod** |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Fanplus, Inc.](https://appshunter.io/developer/427785206) | [GLNET Co.,Ltd.](https://appshunter.io/developer/1449951736) |

## What reviewers say

### back number

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/back-number/id1304228982)

Access the latest news and exclusive content from a popular music artist. Enjoy member-only movies and blog posts, all within a dedicated fan community app.

**Highlights:** Latest artist information, Fan club exclusive movies, Member-only blog posts, Official app content

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

**In-app purchases (2)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| 「one room」月額会員 | $3.99 | per month |
| 「back number」 月額会員 | $6.00 | per month |


### U

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/u-fret/id1483940246)

Access a vast library of guitar, ukulele, and piano chords and sheet music for over 140,000 songs. Features include capo and auto-scroll functions, YouTube video integration, and offline playback with a premium subscription.

**Highlights:** Extensive song library, Chord and sheet music display, Capo and auto-scroll functions, YouTube video integration, Offline playback, Chord editing and creation

**In-app purchases (3)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| U-FRETプレミアム 月額プラン | $4.99 | per month |
| U-FRETプレミアム | $5.99 | per month |
| U-FRETプレミアム 年額プラン | $49.99 | per year |


## Frequently asked questions

### Is back number free?

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

### Is U free?

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

### Do back number or U have ads?

Neither back number nor U shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, back number or U?

back number ships an update every 6 weeks, and U every 2 months. Most recently, back number was updated on October 24, 2026 and U on October 25, 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.*