# Backbone vs Collectibles.com

The clearest difference is review sentiment: Collectibles.com at 71% against Backbone's 51%. Backbone's advantage is rating (4.8 vs 4.6) and ratings volume (100K vs 9.9K). On price, update cadence, ads and in-app purchases there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. Backbone sells 14 in-app purchases, starting at $3.99 per month and Collectibles.com sells 15 in-app purchases, starting at $2.99 per month. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

Backbone holds the better App Store score, 4.8 against 4.6. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Backbone has 100K ratings behind it against 9.9K, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews complicate that: 51% of Backbone's written reviews are positive against 71% of Collectibles.com's, so the app with the better star average is not the one people write more warmly about.

Backbone ships an update every 3 weeks, Collectibles.com monthly. Both last shipped on September 24, 2026.

## The numbers

| Metric | Backbone | Collectibles.com |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | **[4.8 (100K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/backbone-next-level-play/id1449660663/reviews)** | [4.6 (9.9K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/collectiblescom-scan-plus-value/id1533404340/reviews) |
| Number of ratings | **100K** | 9.9K |
| Positive reviews | 51.0% of reviews | **70.9% of reviews** |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | **Every 3 weeks** | Monthly |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | Free with in-app purchases |
| Best chart rank | **#61** | — |
| Size | 422 MB | 102 MB |
| Requires iOS | 17.0 | **16.6** |
| Devices | **iPhone, iPad** | iPhone |
| Age rating | 12+ | 17+ |
| Developer | [Backbone Labs, Inc. (US)](https://appshunter.io/developer/1449660662) | [Collectbase Inc.](https://appshunter.io/developer/1571469582) |

## What reviewers say

### Backbone

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

**Currently charting:** #61 Top Grossing · Social Networking, #143 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


### Collectibles.com

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/collectiblescom-scan-plus-value/id1533404340)

Easily identify and value your collectibles using AI-powered scanning. Manage your entire collection, track market trends, and connect with a community of fellow enthusiasts. Discover new items and earn rewards for your contributions.

**Highlights:** AI-powered scanning and identification, Real-time valuation and market price tracking, Personalized collection profile, Comprehensive collection management, Market trend analysis, Community connection and discovery, Reward system for contributions

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

**In-app purchases (15)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Unlimited plan (1 month) | $2.99 | per month |
| Unlimited plan (1 month) | $3.99 | per month |
| Unlimited plan (1 month) | $4.99 | per month |
| Unlimited plan (1 month) | $7.99 | per month |
| Unlimited plan (1 month) | $8.99 | per month |
| Unlimited plan (1 month) | $9.99 | per month |
| Cardbase premium (1 month) | $24.99 | per month |
| Unlimited plan (1 year) | $24.99 | per year |
| Unlimited plan (1 year) | $29.99 | per year |
| Unlimited plan (1 year) | $39.99 | per year |
| Unlimited plan (1 year) | $49.99 | per year |
| Unlimited plan (1 year) | $59.99 | per year |
| Unlimited plan (1 year) | $79.99 | per year |
| Cardbase premium (1 year) | $249.99 | per year |
| Unlimited Plan - Lifetime | $99.99 | one-time |

**What reviewers like**

- 👍 Easy to use
- 🚀 Helpful for tracking collection
- 💡 Great for finding card values
- 🤖 Accurate card recognition

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 Buggy login and account issues
- 🔍 Inaccurate card pricing and data
- 🔒 Difficult to cancel subscription
- ⏱️ Slow performance and loading times

**Reported bugs**

- Cards not recognized or added properly
- Frequent app crashes and freezes
- Incorrect card details and pricing
- Login and account management issues

**Requested features**

- Bulk delete and editing options
- Ability to share/export collection
- More comprehensive card database
- Improved scanning and recognition


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Backbone free?

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

### Is Collectibles.com free?

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

### Which has better reviews, Backbone or Collectibles.com?

Backbone is rated higher. Backbone averages 4.8 out of 5 from 100K ratings, while Collectibles.com averages 4.6 from 9.9K ratings.

### Do Backbone or Collectibles.com have ads?

Neither Backbone nor Collectibles.com shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, Backbone or Collectibles.com?

Backbone ships an update every 3 weeks, and Collectibles.com monthly. Most recently, Backbone was updated on September 24, 2026 and Collectibles.com on September 24, 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.*