# FORMAT Virtual vs Backyard Boston

The clearest difference is monetization model: Backyard Boston at free against FORMAT Virtual's free with in-app purchases. FORMAT Virtual's advantage is rating (5.0 vs 4.8). On price, review sentiment, ratings volume and update cadence there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. Neither carries in-app purchases, so what you see is what you pay.

FORMAT Virtual holds the better App Store score, 5.0 against 4.8. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 2 and 4 respectively. Written reviews split almost evenly too, at 100% and 100% positive.

FORMAT Virtual ships an update every 7 months, Backyard Boston every 10 months. The most recent releases landed on October 13, 2026 and September 22, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | FORMAT Virtual | Backyard Boston |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | **[5.0 (2 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/format-virtual/id1607862721/reviews)** | [4.8 (4 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/backyard-boston/id6740310250/reviews) |
| Number of ratings | 2 | **4** |
| Positive reviews | 100.0% of reviews | 100.0% of reviews |
| In-app purchases | No | No |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | **Every 7 months** | Every 10 months |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | **Free** |
| Size | 126 MB | 121 MB |
| Requires iOS | **15.1** | 16.4 |
| Devices | **iPhone, iPad, iPod** | iPhone, iPad |
| Age rating | 4+ | 17+ |
| Developer | [Format Fitness Corp](https://appshunter.io/developer/1586379427) | [Sutra Fitness, Inc.](https://appshunter.io/developer/914371834) |

## What reviewers say

### FORMAT Virtual

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/format-virtual/id1607862721)

Access a variety of fitness classes like Barre, HIIT, and Strength anytime, anywhere. Engage with live and on-demand sessions featuring 2-way video, leaderboards, and community chat. Track your progress and heart rate by connecting wearable devices.

**Highlights:** Livestream and on-demand classes, Barre, HIIT, and Strength workouts, 2-way video functionality, Leaderboard sweat points, Community chat, Wearable device integration for heart rate and calorie tracking

**Features:** Apple Wallet

**In-app purchases:** none


### Backyard Boston

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/backyard-boston/id6740310250)

This app connects users with a fitness community and instructors in Boston. It allows you to book classes, monitor your fitness journey, and engage with fellow members. The platform emphasizes a supportive environment where hard work and presence are valued.

**Highlights:** Book fitness classes, Track fitness progress, Connect with community, Fitness instructor-created, Boston-based community focus

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

**In-app purchases:** none


## Frequently asked questions

### Is FORMAT Virtual free?

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

### Is Backyard Boston free?

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

### Which has better reviews, FORMAT Virtual or Backyard Boston?

FORMAT Virtual is rated higher. FORMAT Virtual averages 5.0 out of 5 from 2 ratings, while Backyard Boston averages 4.8 from 4 ratings.

### Do FORMAT Virtual or Backyard Boston have ads?

Neither FORMAT Virtual nor Backyard Boston shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, FORMAT Virtual or Backyard Boston?

FORMAT Virtual ships an update every 7 months, and Backyard Boston every 10 months. Most recently, FORMAT Virtual was updated on October 13, 2026 and Backyard Boston on September 22, 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.*