# Backbone vs Jooni

The clearest difference is rating: Backbone at 4.8 against Jooni's 4.0. Backbone also leads on ratings volume (103K vs 5) and chart position (#77 vs unranked). Jooni's advantage is monetization model (free vs free with in-app purchases) and update cadence (every 9 days vs every 3 weeks). On price, review sentiment, ads and in-app purchases there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. Backbone sells 9 in-app purchases, starting at $3.99 per month and Jooni sells 5 in-app purchases, starting at $1.99 per month. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

Backbone holds the better App Store score, 4.8 against 4.0. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Backbone has 103K ratings behind it against 5, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews point the same way: 51% of Backbone's written reviews are positive against 50% of Jooni's.

Backbone ships an update every 3 weeks, Jooni every 9 days. The most recent releases landed on November 4, 2026 and November 3, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Backbone | Jooni |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | **[4.8 (103K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/backbone-next-level-play/id1449660663/reviews)** | [4.0 (5 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/jooni-bonsai-tracking/id1537602737/reviews) |
| Number of ratings | **103K** | 5 |
| Positive reviews | **51.3% of reviews** | 50.0% of reviews |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | Every 3 weeks | **Every 9 days** |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | **Free** |
| Best chart rank | **#77** | — |
| Size | 422 MB | 32 MB |
| Requires iOS | 17.0 | **15.0** |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad | **iPhone, iPad, iPod** |
| Age rating | 12+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Backbone Labs, Inc. (US)](https://appshunter.io/developer/1449660662) | [EDUARDO FERREIRA](https://appshunter.io/developer/1537602739) |

## What reviewers say

### Backbone

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

**Currently charting:** #77 Top Grossing · Social Networking, #124 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 (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


### Jooni

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/jooni-bonsai-tracking/id1537602737)

Track your bonsai's growth and care with photo logs and event scheduling. Explore a community gallery for inspiration and connect with other enthusiasts.

**Highlights:** Log bonsai interventions with photos, Schedule future care events, Browse community gallery for inspiration, Connect with other bonsai enthusiasts, Track bonsai growth over time

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

**In-app purchases (5)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Jooni Pro Monthly | $1.99 | per month |
| Jooni Pro Weekly | $2.99 | per 7 days |
| Jooni Pro Yearly | $19.99 | per year |
| Jooni Pro Yearly Offer | $24.99 | per year |
| Jooni Pro Yearly | $49.99 | per year |


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Backbone free?

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

### Is Jooni free?

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

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

Backbone is rated higher. Backbone averages 4.8 out of 5 from 103K ratings, while Jooni averages 4.0 from 5 ratings.

### Do Backbone or Jooni have ads?

Neither Backbone nor Jooni shows ads.

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

Backbone ships an update every 3 weeks, and Jooni every 9 days. Most recently, Backbone was updated on November 4, 2026 and Jooni on November 3, 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.*