Comparison

Patterns vs AD Background

Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.

Head to head
About

Patterns

This app helps you build better habits and achieve your goals through personal analytics and visualization. Track routines, monitor progress with clear visuals, and stay motivated with streak counters to become the person you aspire to be.

Highlights
  • Habit tracking
  • Goal setting
  • Custom data tracking
  • Progress visualization
  • Streak counter
  • Flexible goal targets
Features
Read full description

Patterns is your personal analytics tool to build better habits and achieve your goals. "We are what we repeatedly do. Excellence, then, is not an act, but a habit." Join thousands of users who rely on Patterns to improve themselves by getting deep insights into the person you are -- and setting goals to become the person you want to be. Tracking health and fitness goals, keeping up good studying or practice habits, or even remembering special moments, Patterns can help record and keep track of your routines and behaviors. Why Patterns? Flexible Goals: Set specific targets like once a week, three times a month, or every day. Custom Data: Track metrics that matter to you for deeper insights. Progress Visuals: See your habits and achievements come to life with clear visuals. Streak Motivation: Keep your momentum going with a streak counter that counts each time you meet your goal. Actively developed with many new features coming soon. Let us know what you'd want to see! Start analysis today and make excellence your habit!

About

AD Background

This app helps Assistant Directors manage background actor numbers on set. It allows for easy logging, tracking of booked and present individuals, and vehicle information storage. Collaboration features are available for shared projects.

Highlights
  • Log background numbers for projects/days
  • Store vehicle details and driver info
  • Track needed, booked, and present BG
  • Manage call times for BG arrival
  • iCloud sync for projects
  • CloudKit collaboration for shared projects (Pro)
  • Share daily BG numbers
Features
Read full description

For Assistant Directors who want simplicity in viewing their Background numbers. AD Background is built by Assistant Directors, for Assistant Directors. A streamlined tool to help you view, track, and manage your Background numbers with ease. Whether you’re checking in BG or setting them, AD Background keeps you up to date with characters, vehicles and updated totals. No more need for carrying stacks of skins in your pocket that slowly deteriorate. Have all the updated numbers at your fingertips. Features: • Simple Formatting – Log BG for different Projects or Days with a few taps of your finger. • Vehicle Directory – Store Car Make, Model, Year, Color and Driver Info all in one place. Even call the driver from directly in the app. • All Numbers – Quickly see all the numbers of BG in one place. Such as how many are needed, how many casting booked and then how many actually showed up. • Call Time Management – See the order in which BG are arriving all on one screen. • iCloud Sync – Your Projects automatically sync between your devices. • CloudKit Collaboration (Pro) – Create shared projects so other ADs can collaborate with you in the cloud. • Share Days - Simply share daily Background numbers with other ADs who don't use the app by copying the day to your phones clipboard. • Scan Call Sheets - Scan your Call Sheet to use Apple Intelligence to import your BG info quickly, no more manually entering. • Designed for ADs – Simple, fast, and built to match real-world set needs. Whether you’re working on a short film or a full production, AD Background helps keep your crew connected, informed, and ready to roll. Take the stress out of background, so you can focus on setting. Subscriptions AD Background offers optional auto-renewing Pro subscriptions that unlock CloudKit sharing (creating collaborative shares): - Pro Monthly – $1.99 per month, with a 1-week free trial. - Pro Annually – $17.99 per year, with a 2-week free trial. Only the user who creates a CloudKit share needs Pro. Accepting and using a share is free. Subscription terms - Payment is charged to your Apple ID account at confirmation of purchase. - Subscriptions automatically renew unless you cancel at least 24 hours before the current period ends. - Your account is charged for renewal within 24 hours before the current period ends, at the price shown above. - Free trials automatically convert to a paid subscription unless cancelled before the trial ends. (Not all regions offered free trials) - You can manage or cancel your subscription at any time in your App Store account settings. - Prices may vary by region. Legal Terms & Conditions: https://byadsforads.wixsite.com/badfads/terms-and-conditions/ad-background-t-c Privacy Policy: https://byadsforads.wixsite.com/badfads/privacy-policy/ad-background-pp Apple Standard EULA: https://www.apple.com/legal/internet-services/itunes/dev/stdeula/

Screenshots

Patterns3 screens
AD Background4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is rating: AD Background at 5.0 against Patterns's 4.5. AD Background also leads on review sentiment (100% vs 77%) and update cadence (every 3 weeks vs every 6 weeks). Patterns's advantage is in-app purchases (none vs 2) and ratings volume (35 vs 4). On price, ads and device support there is nothing between them.

Scored on Price · Rating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings · Update frequency · Ads · In-app purchases · Monetization · Best chart rank · Devices · Requires iOS

CostPrice · In-app purchases · Ads · Monetization

Both are free to download. AD Background sells 2 in-app purchases, starting at $1.99 per month. Patterns asks for nothing beyond the download.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

AD Background holds the better App Store score, 5.0 against 4.5. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Patterns has 35 ratings behind it against 4, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews point the same way: 77% of Patterns's written reviews are positive against 100% of AD Background's.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Patterns ships an update every 6 weeks, AD Background every 3 weeks. The most recent releases landed on October 24, 2026 and October 26, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard7 real differences · 3 level
Patterns versus AD Background: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterPatternsAD Background
PriceFreeFree
Rating4.5 (35 ratings)5.0 (4 ratings) — better
Positive reviews77.3% of reviews100.0% of reviews — better
Number of ratings35 — better4
Update frequencyEvery 6 weeksEvery 3 weeks — better
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesNo — betterYes
MonetizationFree — betterFreemium
DevicesiPhone, iPadiPhone, iPad
Requires iOS17.0 — better26.0
Further details — not scored
Size7 MB6 MB
Age rating4+17+
DeveloperLimit Point SoftwareBy ADs, For ADs LLC

Customer experience

Patterns

All ratings34 ratings
Positive85.3%
Neutral8.8%
Negative5.9%
Written reviews22 reviews
Positive77.3%
Neutral13.6%
Negative9.1%

AD Background

All ratings4 ratings
Positive100.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative0.0%
Written reviews5 reviews
Positive100.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative0.0%

In-app purchases

None

Patterns

No in-app purchases

2 purchases

AD Background

Subscriptions2
  • Pro Monthly7 Days trial$1.991 Month
  • Pro Annually14 Days trial$17.991 Year

Questions

Is Patterns free?
Patterns is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Is AD Background free?
AD Background is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Which has better reviews, Patterns or AD Background?
AD Background is rated higher. Patterns averages 4.5 out of 5 from 35 ratings, while AD Background averages 5.0 from 4 ratings.
Do Patterns or AD Background have ads?
Neither Patterns nor AD Background shows ads.
Which is updated more often, Patterns or AD Background?
Patterns ships an update every 6 weeks, and AD Background every 3 weeks. Most recently, Patterns was updated on October 24, 2026 and AD Background on October 26, 2026.

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