Comparison

Backstory vs ToWatch

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

Head to head
About

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.

Highlights
  • In-depth interviews with storytellers
  • Full-length scripts
  • Coverage of storytelling art and business
  • Digital subscription
  • Bi-monthly issues
Features
Read full description

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

About

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.

Highlights
  • Create watchlists
  • Track watched movies
  • Simple interface
  • Organize film catalog
Features
Read full description

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

Backstory3 screens
ToWatch4 screens

Verdict

The call

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

CostPrice · In-app purchases · Ads · Monetization

Both are free to download. Backstory sells 10 in-app purchases, starting at $24.99 per year. ToWatch asks for nothing beyond the download.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

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.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

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.

Scorecard7 real differences · 3 level
Backstory versus ToWatch: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterBackstoryToWatch
PriceFreeFree
Rating4.4 (7 ratings)5.0 (1 ratings) — better
Positive reviews86.5% of reviews100.0% of reviews — better
Number of ratings7 — better1
Update frequencyEvery 3 months — betterEvery 21 months
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesYesNo — better
MonetizationFree with in-app purchasesFree — better
DevicesiPhone, iPad, iPod — betteriPhone, iPad
Requires iOS15.0 — better18.0
Further details — not scored
Size26 MB17 MB
Age rating17+4+
DeveloperUnlikely Films, Inc.Stepan Rumyantsev

Customer experience

Backstory

All ratings7 ratings
Positive85.7%
Neutral0.0%
Negative14.3%
Written reviews52 reviews
Positive86.5%
Neutral9.6%
Negative3.8%

ToWatch

All ratings1 ratings
Positive100.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative0.0%
Written reviews1 reviews
Positive100.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative0.0%

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

10 purchases

Backstory

Subscriptions1
  • Annual Subscription$24.991 Year
One-time9
  • Issue 2$4.99
  • Backstory Issue 3$4.99
  • Backstory Issue 4$4.99
Show 6 more
  • 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
None

ToWatch

No in-app purchases

Questions

Is Backstory free?
Backstory is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Is ToWatch free?
ToWatch is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Which has better reviews, Backstory or ToWatch?
ToWatch is rated higher. Backstory averages 4.4 out of 5 from 7 ratings, while ToWatch averages 5.0 from 1 ratings.
Do Backstory or ToWatch have ads?
Neither Backstory nor ToWatch shows ads.
Which is updated more often, Backstory or ToWatch?
Backstory ships an update every 3 months, and ToWatch every 21 months. Most recently, Backstory was updated on October 23, 2026 and ToWatch on October 21, 2026.

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