# CocoonWeaver vs Backstory

The clearest difference is in-app purchases: Backstory at none against CocoonWeaver's 10. Backstory also leads on rating (5.0 vs 4.6) and iOS requirement (15.1 vs 17.0). CocoonWeaver's advantage is ratings volume (321 vs 1). On price, update cadence, ads and device support there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. CocoonWeaver sells 10 in-app purchases, starting at $6.99 per month. Backstory asks for nothing beyond the download.

Backstory holds the better App Store score, 5.0 against 4.6. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: CocoonWeaver has 321 ratings behind it against 1, so its average is the more settled of the two.

CocoonWeaver ships an update every 6 days, Backstory every 5 days. The most recent releases landed on November 6, 2026 and October 31, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | CocoonWeaver | Backstory |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [4.6 (321 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/cocoonweaver-audio-notes/id1464144628/reviews) | **[5.0 (1 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/backstory-every-year/id6783043279/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | **321** | 1 |
| Positive reviews | 80.7% of reviews | — |
| In-app purchases | Yes | **No** |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | Every 6 days | **Every 5 days** |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | **Free** |
| Size | 689 MB | 48 MB |
| Requires iOS | 17.0 | **15.1** |
| Devices | iPhone, Apple Watch | iPhone, iPod |
| Age rating | 12+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [The Origin](https://appshunter.io/developer/1464144627) | [GAURAV CHOUKSE](https://appshunter.io/developer/6783043281) |

## What reviewers say

### CocoonWeaver

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/cocoonweaver-audio-notes/id1464144628)

Capture fleeting thoughts, creative ideas, and important moments with this private, offline audio note-taking app. It offers instant voice recording, offline transcription, and secure local storage for a distraction-free journaling experience.

**Highlights:** Instant voice recording, Offline transcription, Private, local storage, Organize notes into 'cocoons', Voice and manual note-taking, Share entries as audio or text, Full-text search

**Features:** macOS Compatibility, Apple Watch app, Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases (10)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Monthly Benefactor | $6.99 | per month |
| CocoonWeaver Pro | $14.99 | per month |
| Annual Guardian | $62.99 | per year |
| Color pack Trimenta | $3.99 | one-time |
| Global Player | $4.99 | one-time |
| SubCocoons | $14.99 | one-time |
| Multiple Thoughts | $17.99 | one-time |
| CocoonGallery | $19.99 | one-time |
| Unlimited Notes | $89.99 | one-time |
| All Features | $109.99 | one-time |

**What reviewers like**

- 🚀 Excellent transcription accuracy
- 👍 Intuitive and visually appealing interface
- 🗂️ Helpful organization and categorization features
- 🎨 Customizable color schemes
- 💡 Useful for various purposes (journaling, note-taking, idea capture)

**What reviewers complain about**

- 💰 Perceived as too expensive for the features
- 🔒 Lack of cloud/cross-device sync and backup options
- 🐛 Occasional app crashes and issues with saving/loading notes
- 🔍 Limited search and filtering capabilities

**Reported bugs**

- Transcription errors and inconsistencies
- Inability to edit transcribed text
- Syncing issues between devices
- App crashes when trying to access certain features

**Requested features**

- Add support for more languages
- Implement a dark mode option
- Introduce a web/desktop app version
- Allow for more customization options (e.g., bubble sizes, fonts)
- Improve Apple Watch integration and functionality


### Backstory

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/backstory-every-year/id6783043279)

This app helps you privately journal life's recurring milestones and cherished memories. It sends gentle reminders for important dates and allows you to reflect on your journey. Share memories privately with loved ones and secure your data with encryption and biometric locks.

**Highlights:** Recurring milestone journaling, Gentle date reminders, Timeline and 'around this time' views, Private family sharing, Encrypted backups, Biometric lock security, Import from calendar

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

**In-app purchases:** none


## Frequently asked questions

### Is CocoonWeaver free?

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

### Is Backstory free?

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

### Which has better reviews, CocoonWeaver or Backstory?

Backstory is rated higher. CocoonWeaver averages 4.6 out of 5 from 321 ratings, while Backstory averages 5.0 from 1 ratings.

### Do CocoonWeaver or Backstory have ads?

Neither CocoonWeaver nor Backstory shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, CocoonWeaver or Backstory?

CocoonWeaver ships an update every 6 days, and Backstory every 5 days. Most recently, CocoonWeaver was updated on November 6, 2026 and Backstory on October 31, 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.*