# Backbar vs BarShelf

Backbar and BarShelf both sit at 3.6 stars, but that hides the real split: 100% of BarShelf's written reviews are positive against 60% of Backbar's. BarShelf also leads on ads (none vs shown). Backbar's advantage is in-app purchases (none vs 3) and ratings volume (33 vs 6). On price, rating, update cadence and monetization model there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. BarShelf sells 3 in-app purchases, starting at $1.99 per 7 days. Backbar asks for nothing beyond the download.

On the App Store both sit at effectively the same score — 3.6 for Backbar against 3.5 for BarShelf. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Backbar has 33 ratings behind it against 6, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews are what separate them: 60% of Backbar's written reviews are positive against 100% of BarShelf's.

Backbar ships an update every 3 weeks, BarShelf every 2 weeks. The most recent releases landed on July 26, 2026 and September 19, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Backbar | BarShelf |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | **[3.6 (33 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/backbar/id1461796151/reviews)** | [3.5 (6 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/barshelf-whiskey-tracker/id6754469129/reviews) |
| Number of ratings | **33** | 6 |
| Positive reviews | 60.0% of reviews | **100.0% of reviews** |
| In-app purchases | **No** | Yes |
| Ads | Yes | **No** |
| Update frequency | Every 3 weeks | **Every 2 weeks** |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | Freemium |
| Size | 32 MB | 98 MB |
| Requires iOS | 15.1 | 15.1 |
| Devices | **iPhone, iPad, iPod** | iPhone, iPod |
| Age rating | 17+ | 17+ |
| Developer | [Backbar](https://appshunter.io/developer/1461796150) | [Define You](https://appshunter.io/developer/1831894928) |

## What reviewers say

### Backbar

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/backbar/id1461796151)

This application streamlines bar and restaurant management by simplifying inventory counting, vendor purchasing, and menu costing. It helps reduce costs and improve efficiency for beverage programs. Features include real-time syncing across devices, barcode scanning, and integration with over 1,300 beverage suppliers.

**Highlights:** Real-time inventory syncing, Barcode scanning for products, Streamlined vendor purchasing, Menu costing and pricing optimization, Digital invoice management, Staff education on beverages

**Features:** macOS Compatibility

**In-app purchases:** none


### BarShelf

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/barshelf-whiskey-tracker/id6754469129)

Catalog your home bar's bottles, track pours, and discover cocktail recipes based on what you own. Get AI-powered suggestions and insights into your drinking habits. Share your collection and tasting notes visually.

**Highlights:** Catalog bottles with details (ABV, volume, fill level), Track tasting notes and ratings, AI cocktail suggestions based on owned bottles, Log drinking moments and analyze taste patterns, Create shareable collection and review cards, Visualize your digital home bar shelf

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

**In-app purchases (3)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| BarShelf Pro Weekly | $1.99 | per 7 days |
| BarShelf Pro Monthly | $3.99 | per month |
| BarShelf Pro Annually | $39.99 | per year |


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Backbar free?

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

### Is BarShelf free?

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

### Which has better reviews, Backbar or BarShelf?

Backbar is rated higher. Backbar averages 3.6 out of 5 from 33 ratings, while BarShelf averages 3.5 from 6 ratings.

### Do Backbar or BarShelf have ads?

Backbar shows ads; BarShelf does not.

### Which is updated more often, Backbar or BarShelf?

Backbar ships an update every 3 weeks, and BarShelf every 2 weeks. Most recently, Backbar was updated on July 26, 2026 and BarShelf on September 19, 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.*