# Backbone vs Open Gyms

The clearest difference is review sentiment: Open Gyms at 100% against Backbone's 51%. Open Gyms also leads on in-app purchases (none vs 16) and iOS requirement (14.0 vs 17.0). Backbone's advantage is rating (4.8 vs 4.0) and ratings volume (102K vs 4). On price, update cadence, ads and device support there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. Backbone sells 14 in-app purchases, starting at $3.99 per month. Open Gyms asks for nothing beyond the download.

Backbone holds the better App Store score, 4.8 against 4.0. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Backbone has 102K ratings behind it against 4, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews complicate that: 51% of Backbone's written reviews are positive against 100% of Open Gyms's, so the app with the better star average is not the one people write more warmly about.

Both ship on a similar rhythm, roughly every 3 weeks. Both last shipped on October 24, 2026.

## The numbers

| Metric | Backbone | Open Gyms |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | **[4.8 (102K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/backbone-next-level-play/id1449660663/reviews)** | [4.0 (4 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/open-gyms/id1590374768/reviews) |
| Number of ratings | **102K** | 4 |
| Positive reviews | 51.1% of reviews | **100.0% of reviews** |
| In-app purchases | Yes | **No** |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | Every 3 weeks | Every 3 weeks |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | **Free** |
| Best chart rank | **#66** | — |
| Size | 422 MB | 26 MB |
| Requires iOS | 17.0 | **14.0** |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad | **iPhone, iPad, iPod** |
| Age rating | 12+ | 12+ |
| Developer | [Backbone Labs, Inc. (US)](https://appshunter.io/developer/1449660662) | [Sneak Freak LLC](https://appshunter.io/developer/1033376582) |

## What reviewers say

### Backbone

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

**Currently charting:** #66 Top Grossing · Social Networking, #116 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


### Open Gyms

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/open-gyms/id1590374768)

Discover nearby basketball courts with open games. Connect with other players, add new courts, and see who's playing right now. Never miss a chance to play.

**Highlights:** Locate open gyms, Add new courts, Save favorite courts, Communicate with players, Check-in to show availability

**Features:** macOS Compatibility

**In-app purchases:** none


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Backbone free?

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

### Is Open Gyms free?

Open Gyms is free to download, with no in-app purchases.

### Which has better reviews, Backbone or Open Gyms?

Backbone is rated higher. Backbone averages 4.8 out of 5 from 102K ratings, while Open Gyms averages 4.0 from 4 ratings.

### Do Backbone or Open Gyms have ads?

Neither Backbone nor Open Gyms shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, Backbone or Open Gyms?

Backbone ships an update every 3 weeks, and Open Gyms every 3 weeks. Most recently, Backbone was updated on October 24, 2026 and Open Gyms on October 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.*