# Backbone vs Niantic Campfire

The clearest difference is rating: Backbone at 4.8 against Niantic Campfire's 3.1. Backbone also leads on review sentiment (51% vs 21%) and ratings volume (100K vs 1.4K). Niantic Campfire's advantage is in-app purchases (none vs 16) and iOS requirement (15.0 vs 17.0). On price, update cadence, ads and monetization model there is nothing between them.

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

Backbone holds the better App Store score, 4.8 against 3.1. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Backbone has 100K ratings behind it against 1.4K, 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 21% of Niantic Campfire's.

Both ship on a similar rhythm, roughly every 3 weeks. The most recent releases landed on September 26, 2026 and September 24, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Backbone | Niantic Campfire |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | **[4.8 (100K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/backbone-next-level-play/id1449660663/reviews)** | [3.1 (1.4K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/niantic-campfire/id1608615554/reviews) |
| Number of ratings | **100K** | 1.4K |
| Positive reviews | **51.0% of reviews** | 21.2% 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 with in-app purchases |
| Best chart rank | **#59** | #187 |
| Size | 422 MB | 53 MB |
| Requires iOS | 17.0 | **15.0** |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad | **iPhone, iPad, iPod** |
| Age rating | 12+ | 12+ |
| Developer | [Backbone Labs, Inc. (US)](https://appshunter.io/developer/1449660662) | [Scopely Explore, Inc.](https://appshunter.io/developer/1037205060) |

## What reviewers say

### Backbone

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

**Currently charting:** #59 Top Grossing · Social Networking, #112 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


### Niantic Campfire

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/niantic-campfire/id1608615554)

**Currently charting:** #187 Top Free · Social Networking (US App Store)

Discover and connect with nearby players for real-world gaming experiences. Plan activities, find communities, and communicate with friends to accomplish in-game quests and schedule gatherings.

**Highlights:** Discover real-time activities, Plan ahead with Campfire Map, Find game communities, Connect with new players, Direct and group messaging, Schedule group gatherings

**In-app purchases:** none

**What reviewers like**

- 🚀 Helpful for finding raids
- 🤝 Ability to connect with local players
- 📍 Accurate raid map
- 💬 Good for coordinating meetups

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 Buggy and glitchy
- 🤖 Lack of notifications
- 🕰️ Long wait times to find raid groups
- 🔒 Login and account issues
- 📱 Clunky and unintuitive UI

**Reported bugs**

- Unable to host or join raids
- Constantly asks to download Pokémon GO
- Notifications not working properly
- Crashes and freezes on login

**Requested features**

- Add pokestop locations to map
- Implement dark mode
- Allow filtering and searching for specific raids
- Improve group chat and messaging features
- Integrate with Pokémon GO more seamlessly


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Backbone free?

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

### Is Niantic Campfire free?

Niantic Campfire is free to download, with no in-app purchases.

### Which has better reviews, Backbone or Niantic Campfire?

Backbone is rated higher. Backbone averages 4.8 out of 5 from 100K ratings, while Niantic Campfire averages 3.1 from 1.4K ratings.

### Do Backbone or Niantic Campfire have ads?

Neither Backbone nor Niantic Campfire shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, Backbone or Niantic Campfire?

Backbone ships an update every 3 weeks, and Niantic Campfire every 3 weeks. Most recently, Backbone was updated on September 26, 2026 and Niantic Campfire on September 24, 2026.

### Which is more popular, Backbone or Niantic Campfire?

Backbone currently peaks at #59 in the App Store charts, and Niantic Campfire at #187. Chart position reflects recent download velocity rather than total install base.

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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.*