# U vs Backflow Buddy

The clearest difference is price: U at Free against Backflow Buddy's $1.99. U also leads on ads (none vs shown). Backflow Buddy's advantage is update cadence (fortnightly vs every 10 months) and iOS requirement (12.0 vs 14.5). On in-app purchases and device support there is nothing between them.

U is free to download; Backflow Buddy costs $1.99 up front. Neither carries in-app purchases, so what you see is what you pay.

U ships an update every 10 months, Backflow Buddy fortnightly. The most recent releases landed on November 9, 2026 and November 8, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | U | Backflow Buddy |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | **Free** | $1.99 |
| Rating | — | **[3.7 (3 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/backflow-buddy/id6475203858/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | — | **3** |
| Positive reviews | — | 50.0% of reviews |
| In-app purchases | No | No |
| Ads | **No** | Yes |
| Update frequency | Every 10 months | **Fortnightly** |
| Monetization | — | Paid |
| Size | 47 MB | 258 MB |
| Requires iOS | 14.5 | **12.0** |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod | iPhone, iPad, iPod |
| Age rating | 4+ | 17+ |
| Developer | [The University of Michigan](https://appshunter.io/developer/380339599) | [Greg Phillips](https://appshunter.io/developer/1723623593) |

## What reviewers say

### U

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/u-m-surgery-education/id1488946294)

**Features:** macOS Compatibility

**In-app purchases:** none


### Backflow Buddy

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/backflow-buddy/id6475203858)

This app simulates backflow prevention devices and their testing procedures. It offers customizable water pressure simulations and quizzes to prepare users for certification exams.

**Highlights:** RPZ and Test Gauge simulation, Double Check and Test Gauge simulation, Customizable internal water pressure, Differential pressure gauge simulation, Quiz preparation with multiple lengths, Randomized industry-expert questions, Comprehensive quiz results

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

**In-app purchases:** none


## Frequently asked questions

### Is U free?

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

### Is Backflow Buddy free?

Backflow Buddy costs $1.99, with no in-app purchases.

### Do U or Backflow Buddy have ads?

Backflow Buddy shows ads; U does not.

### Which is updated more often, U or Backflow Buddy?

U ships an update every 10 months, and Backflow Buddy fortnightly. Most recently, U was updated on November 9, 2026 and Backflow Buddy 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.*