# Backstory vs ToWatch

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.

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.

## The numbers

| Metric | Backstory | ToWatch |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [4.4 (7 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/backstory/id521967972/reviews) | **[5.0 (1 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/towatch/id1602130975/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | **7** | 1 |
| Positive reviews | 86.5% of reviews | **100.0% of reviews** |
| In-app purchases | Yes | **No** |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | **Every 3 months** | Every 21 months |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | **Free** |
| Size | 26 MB | 17 MB |
| Requires iOS | **15.0** | 18.0 |
| Devices | **iPhone, iPad, iPod** | iPhone, iPad |
| Age rating | 17+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Unlikely Films, Inc.](https://appshunter.io/developer/521967975) | [Stepan Rumyantsev](https://appshunter.io/developer/1559440396) |

## What reviewers say

### Backstory

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/backstory/id521967972)

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:** Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases (10)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Annual Subscription | $24.99 | per year |
| Issue 2 | $4.99 | one-time |
| Backstory Issue 3 | $4.99 | one-time |
| Backstory Issue 4 | $4.99 | one-time |
| Issue 5 | $4.99 | one-time |
| Issue 6 | $4.99 | one-time |
| Issue 7 | $4.99 | one-time |
| Issue 9 | $4.99 | one-time |
| Issue 12 | $4.99 | one-time |
| Backstory Issue 21 | $4.99 | one-time |

**What reviewers like**

- 👍 In-depth interviews with creatives
- 💡 Access to scripts is invaluable
- 👍 Great resource for filmmakers/writers
- 👍 High-quality content and journalism
- 👍 Well-written and informative articles

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 Download issues and server problems
- 🐛 Slow download speeds
- 🐛 Pixelated text on non-Retina displays
- 🐛 Large file sizes
- 🐛 Lack of background downloading

**Reported bugs**

- 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**

- Issue synopses
- Retina display optimization (addressed in later reviews)
- Background downloading


### ToWatch

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/towatch/id1602130975)

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:** macOS Compatibility

**In-app purchases:** none


## Frequently asked 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.

---

*Compared by [AppsHunter](https://appshunter.io/) from daily US App Store data. Review summaries are generated from verbatim App Store reviews.*