Backstory vs ToWatch
Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.
Backstory
Explore the art and business of storytelling with in-depth interviews and full-length scripts. Discover innovative storytellers and gain insights into their creative processes. Access exclusive content through a digital subscription.
- In-depth interviews with storytellers
- Full-length scripts
- Coverage of storytelling art and business
- Digital subscription
- Bi-monthly issues
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See what's inside! Check out each issue's table of contents at www.backstory.net Get the Backstory on today's most innovative storytellers in the magazine dedicated to covering the art and the business of storytelling. Read a full length script or an in-depth interview with today's hottest storytellers in each issue. (Note: a wifi connection may be necessary in order to watch and read certain pieces) Start by downloading the FREE app. For a limited time you can read issue 01 for FREE. Get a 1-year digital subscription to Backstory for just $24.99! Issues publish every two months (bi-monthly). Backstory Magazine subscriptions available: - 1 year of Backstory Magazine bi-monthly issues (a new issue published every two months) is available for $24.99. -This fee is automatically renewed until canceled. -Payment will be charged to your iTunes Account at confirmation of purchase. - Your subscription automatically renews and charges your iTunes account $24.99 unless auto-renew is turned off at least 24 hours prior to the end of the current subscription period. -No cancellation of the current subscription is allowed during an active subscription period. -Subscriptions may be managed by the user and auto-renewal may be turned off by going to the user's Account Settings after purchase. -Any unused portion of a free trial period, if offered, will be forfeited when the user purchases a subscription to that publication, where applicable -You may see Backstory Magazine's Privacy Policy here: http://backstory.net/privacy -You may see Backstory Magazine's Terms of Use here: http://backstory.net/termsofuse
ToWatch
Easily create and manage lists of movies you want to watch or have already seen. This simple application helps you keep track of your film catalog.
- Create watchlists
- Track watched movies
- Simple interface
- Organize film catalog
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What movie would you like to watch next? Store lists of the movies you're planning to watch or the movies you have watched in this wonderfully simple App.
Screenshots
Verdict
The clearest difference is rating: ToWatch at 5.0 against Backstory's 4.4. ToWatch also leads on in-app purchases (none vs 10) and review sentiment (100% vs 87%). Backstory's advantage is update cadence (every 3 months vs every 21 months) and ratings volume (7 vs 1). On price, ads and device support there is nothing between them.
Scored on Price · Rating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings · Update frequency · Ads · In-app purchases · Monetization · Best chart rank · Devices · Requires iOS
Both are free to download. Backstory sells 10 in-app purchases, starting at $24.99 per year. ToWatch asks for nothing beyond the download.
ToWatch holds the better App Store score, 5.0 against 4.4. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Backstory has 7 ratings behind it against 1, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews point the same way: 87% of Backstory's written reviews are positive against 100% of ToWatch's.
Backstory ships an update every 3 months, ToWatch every 21 months. The most recent releases landed on October 23, 2026 and October 21, 2026 respectively.
| Parameter | Backstory | ToWatch |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | 4.4 (7 ratings) | 5.0 (1 ratings) — better |
| Positive reviews | 86.5% of reviews | 100.0% of reviews — better |
| Number of ratings | 7 — better | 1 |
| Update frequency | Every 3 months — better | Every 21 months |
| Ads | No | No |
| In-app purchases | Yes | No — better |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | Free — better |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod — better | iPhone, iPad |
| Requires iOS | 15.0 — better | 18.0 |
| Further details — not scored | ||
| Size | 26 MB | 17 MB |
| Age rating | 17+ | 4+ |
| Developer | Unlikely Films, Inc. | Stepan Rumyantsev |
Customer experience
Backstory
ToWatch
Bugs and requests
Backstory
Reported bugs
5 issues- Download stalls and server connection errors
- App cannot connect to server
- Text pixelated on non-Retina displays
- Issues with Retina display support (older reviews)
- Large file sizes impacting storage
Requested features
3 requests- Issue synopses
- Retina display optimization (addressed in later reviews)
- Background downloading
ToWatch
Not enough reviews yet to summarise bugs or requests.
In-app purchases
Backstory
- Annual Subscription$24.991 Year
- Issue 2$4.99
- Backstory Issue 3$4.99
- Backstory Issue 4$4.99
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- Issue 5$4.99
- Issue 6$4.99
- Issue 7$4.99
- Issue 9$4.99
- Issue 12$4.99
- Backstory Issue 21$4.99
ToWatch
No in-app purchases









