Comparison

Listening vs Backpack

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

Head to head
About

Listening

This app converts written content like articles, papers, and PDFs into natural-sounding audio. It allows for customizable playback speeds and one-tap note-taking, making it ideal for learning on the go.

Highlights
  • Convert articles, papers, and PDFs to audio
  • Natural-sounding voices
  • One-click note-taking
  • Adjustable playback speed (0.5x to 4x)
  • Supports multiple file formats
  • Multitasking while listening
Features
Read full description

Listening transforms articles, research papers, books, and PDFs into high-quality, natural-sounding audio. Whether you’re a student, a professional, or simply love learning on the go, Listening offers a seamless way to consume written content effortlessly. Key Features: Versatile Content Conversion: Turn a wide range of text—whether it’s academic papers, business reports, articles, or eBooks—into audio, making it easy to listen wherever you are. Natural Voices: Enjoy human-like voices, even for complex or technical terms, that make listening more engaging and easier to follow. One-Click Note-Taking: Capture key ideas with just one tap while listening. Perfect for keeping track of important points during your commute or workout. Efficient Multitasking: Listen while you exercise, drive, or relax, freeing up time for other activities without missing out on important reading. Custom Listening Experience: Adjust playback speeds from 0.5x to 4x to suit your needs. Speed through easier content or slow down for detailed comprehension. Multi-Format Support: Convert PDFs, Word documents, articles, and more into audio, supporting a wide variety of formats. Who Is Listening For? Whether you’re a busy professional trying to stay on top of the latest reports, a student balancing a heavy reading load, or simply someone who enjoys audiobooks and podcasts, Listening makes it easy to turn written text into a hands-free, on-the-go experience. Pricing: Premium Plans: Unlock unlimited listening and enhanced features with flexible monthly or yearly subscriptions. Join thousands of users who are transforming the way they read and learn with Listening. [:mav: 5.1.2]

About

Backpack

Read full description

Backpack puts all your important documents in one place - passports, insurance, tickets, receipts, and more. It doesn’t just store them. Backpack surfaces what you need, exactly when you need it. No accounts. No cloud. No setup. Just add and go. Connect your email and Backpack finds documents for you - boarding passes, insurance policies, receipts, and more. Nothing is added without your approval. SMART FEATURES • Automatically organised - documents sorted into Travel, Insurance, Medical, Finance, Identity and more • Ask anything - get instant answers from your documents • Never miss an expiry - passports, visas, insurance and more • Find anything instantly - search naturally, no folders needed • Smart access - the right documents appear exactly when you need them SMART ACCESS Your documents surface automatically based on what’s happening in your life: • Near an airport? Your passport and boarding pass appear • Doctor’s appointment tomorrow? Your insurance is ready • Passport expiring soon? It moves to the top • Heading to the office? Contracts and tax documents surface • The more you use Backpack, the smarter it gets PRIVACY FIRST • Everything stays on your device • AI runs fully on-device • No accounts, no cloud storage, no tracking • Email access is read-only - credentials are never stored ADD DOCUMENTS IN SECONDS • Scan with your camera • Import from files or photos • Share from any app • Find documents directly from your email PRICING Backpack is free with up to 5 documents. Unlock unlimited documents with a one-time Backpack Pro purchase. BACKPACK PRO • Unlimited documents • Full AI summaries for every document • Automatic expiry reminders at 90, 30, and 7 days • Unlimited Ask Backpack questions • Get notified when new documents arrive in your inbox • Smart Access widget for your home screen • Create custom document categories • One-time purchase. No subscription

Screenshots

Listening4 screens
Backpack4 screens

Verdict

The call

Listening and Backpack are too close to call on the numbers: across 5 compared parameters — price, ads, in-app purchases and device support among them — neither pulls far enough ahead to decide it. What separates them is feature set and interface, not measurable difference.

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. Listening sells 10 in-app purchases, starting at $12.99 per month and Backpack sells 1 one-off in-app purchase. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

ScorecardNo meaningful differences
Listening versus Backpack: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterListeningBackpack
PriceFreeFree
Rating4.5 (1.5K ratings) — better—
Positive reviews28.9% of reviews—
Number of ratings1.5K — better—
Update frequencyEvery 8 days—
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesYesYes
MonetizationFree with in-app purchases—
DevicesiPhone, iPad, Apple Watch — betteriPhone, iPod
Requires iOS16.415.1 — better
Further details — not scored
Size128 MB44 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperThe Listening App Inc.USMAN ALI KHAN

Bugs and requests

Listening

Reported bugs

5 issues
  • Frequent app crashes
  • Inconsistent performance across PDFs
  • Login and password reset issues
  • Unexpected charges after cancellation
  • Inability to delete or manage uploaded files

Requested features

6 requests
  • Multiple voice options
  • Ability to edit and annotate text
  • Improved section detection and navigation
  • Offline mode for downloading content
  • Better integration with cloud storage
Show 1 more
  • More affordable pricing options

Backpack

Not enough reviews yet to summarise bugs or requests.

In-app purchases

10 purchases

Listening

Subscriptions10
  • Unlimited Listening, Monthly7 Days trial$12.991 Month
  • Unlimited Listening, Monthly14 Days trial$12.991 Month
  • Unlimited, Monthly$12.991 Month
Show 7 more
  • Unlimited Listening, Monthly3 Days trial$12.991 Month
  • Unlimited Listening, Monthly3 Days trial$14.991 Month
  • Unlimited Listening, Monthly14 Days trial$19.991 Month
  • Unlimited Listening, Monthly7 Days trial$19.991 Month
  • Unlimited, Yearly$39.001 Year
  • Unlimited Listening, Yearly7 Days trial$99.991 Year
  • Unlimited Listening, Yearly14 Days trial$139.991 Year
1 purchases

Backpack

One-time1
  • Backpack Pro$9.99

Questions

Is Listening free?
Listening is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Is Backpack free?
Backpack is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Do Listening or Backpack have ads?
Neither Listening nor Backpack shows ads.

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