# AppLink vs Backbone

The clearest difference is review sentiment: AppLink at 100% against Backbone's 51%. AppLink also leads on iOS requirement (15.0 vs 17.0). Backbone's advantage is rating (4.8 vs 4.2) and ratings volume (101K vs 19). On price, update cadence, ads and in-app purchases there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. AppLink sells 1 one-off in-app purchase and Backbone sells 14 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 101K ratings behind it against 19, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews complicate that: 100% of AppLink's written reviews are positive against 51% of Backbone's, so the app with the better star average is not the one people write more warmly about.

AppLink ships an update every 4 weeks, Backbone every 3 weeks. The most recent releases landed on October 4, 2026 and October 14, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | AppLink | Backbone |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [4.2 (19 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/applink/id1361032933/reviews) | **[4.8 (101K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/backbone-next-level-play/id1449660663/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | 19 | **101K** |
| Positive reviews | **100.0% of reviews** | 51.1% of reviews |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | Every 4 weeks | **Every 3 weeks** |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | Free with in-app purchases |
| Best chart rank | — | **#70** |
| Size | 8 MB | 441 MB |
| Requires iOS | **15.0** | 17.0 |
| Devices | **iPhone, iPad, iPod** | iPhone, iPad |
| Age rating | 12+ | 12+ |
| Developer | [Alessandro Oliva](https://appshunter.io/developer/1107279804) | [Backbone Labs, Inc. (US)](https://appshunter.io/developer/1449660662) |

## What reviewers say

### AppLink

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/applink/id1361032933)

Organize and share your web links securely. Upload URLs, set privacy, and categorize them into custom folders with colors and icons. Discover public links shared by others and get notified when your content is liked.

**Highlights:** Secure URL uploads with content moderation, Adjustable link privacy (public/private), Customizable folders with colors and glyphs, Share links publicly or privately, Tagging for easy link discovery, Search and save liked links, Notifications for likes and engagement

**In-app purchases (1)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Premium Plan | $1.99 | one-time |


### Backbone

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

**Currently charting:** #70 Top Grossing · Social Networking, #117 Top Free · Social Networking (US App Store)

Transform your iPhone or iPad into a powerful gaming console. Play a wide range of games and services, record and share epic gameplay moments, and connect with friends for seamless multiplayer experiences. Discover and launch your favorite controller-supported games from a single app.

**Highlights:** Play any game or service supporting controllers, Record, edit, and share gameplay clips, Automatic highlight detection, Friend notifications and in-app voice chat, Centralized game launcher

**Features:** Game Controller support

**In-app purchases (14)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Backbone+ | $3.99 | per month |
| Backbone+ | $3.99 | per month |
| Backbone+ | $7.99 | per month |
| Backbone+ | $29.99 | per year |
| 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+ | $39.99 | per year |
| Backbone+ 4 | $39.99 | per year |
| Backbone+ | $49.99 | 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 AppLink free?

AppLink 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, AppLink or Backbone?

Backbone is rated higher. AppLink averages 4.2 out of 5 from 19 ratings, while Backbone averages 4.8 from 101K ratings.

### Do AppLink or Backbone have ads?

Neither AppLink nor Backbone shows ads.

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

AppLink ships an update every 4 weeks, and Backbone every 3 weeks. Most recently, AppLink was updated on October 4, 2026 and Backbone on October 14, 2026.

---

*Compared by [AppsHunter](https://appshunter.io/) from daily US App Store data. Review summaries are generated from verbatim App Store reviews.*