# Backbone vs Inside Hope

The clearest difference is in-app purchases: Inside Hope at none against Backbone's 10. Backbone's advantage is update cadence (every 3 weeks vs every 4 months) and ratings volume (103K vs 2). On price, rating, ads and device support there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. Backbone sells 9 in-app purchases, starting at $3.99 per month. Inside Hope asks for nothing beyond the download.

Inside Hope holds the better App Store score, 5.0 against 4.8. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Backbone has 103K ratings behind it against 2, so its average is the more settled of the two.

Backbone ships an update every 3 weeks, Inside Hope every 4 months. The most recent releases landed on November 13, 2026 and November 8, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Backbone | Inside Hope |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [4.8 (103K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/backbone-next-level-play/id1449660663/reviews) | **[5.0 (2 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/inside-hope/id6478231950/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | **103K** | 2 |
| Positive reviews | 51.3% of reviews | — |
| In-app purchases | Yes | **No** |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | **Every 3 weeks** | Every 4 months |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | **Free** |
| Best chart rank | **#64** | — |
| Size | 424 MB | 153 MB |
| Requires iOS | **17.0** | 17.6 |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad | iPhone, iPad |
| Age rating | +12 | 4+ |
| Developer | [Backbone Labs, Inc. (US)](https://appshunter.io/developer/1449660662) | [City of Hope](https://appshunter.io/developer/602832448) |

## What reviewers say

### Backbone

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

**Currently charting:** #64 Top Grossing · Social Networking, #123 Top Free · Social Networking (US App Store)

Transform your iPhone or iPad into a powerful gaming console. Stream and play games from various services, record and share epic gameplay clips, and connect with friends for seamless multiplayer experiences. Features automatic highlight detection and in-app voice chat.

**Highlights:** Turns iPhone/iPad into a gaming device, Supports PS Remote Play, Xbox Game Pass, Apple Arcade, Record, edit, and share gameplay clips, Automatic highlight detection, Rich Presence for friend notifications, In-app voice chat

**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


### Inside Hope

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/inside-hope/id6478231950)

Connect with others and stay informed on relevant news and information. Share photos, stories, and feedback easily while on the go.

**Highlights:** Stay updated on relevant news, Post photos and stories, Share feedback, Connect with others, Share information on-the-go

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

**In-app purchases:** none


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Backbone free?

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

### Is Inside Hope free?

Inside Hope is free to download, with no in-app purchases.

### Which has better reviews, Backbone or Inside Hope?

Inside Hope is rated higher. Backbone averages 4.8 out of 5 from 103K ratings, while Inside Hope averages 5.0 from 2 ratings.

### Do Backbone or Inside Hope have ads?

Neither Backbone nor Inside Hope shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, Backbone or Inside Hope?

Backbone ships an update every 3 weeks, and Inside Hope every 4 months. Most recently, Backbone was updated on November 13, 2026 and Inside Hope on November 8, 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.*