Comparison

Backlog by Time Engine vs ArticleQ

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

Head to head
About

Backlog by Time Engine

Features
Read full description

Backlog is a time based todo list, add an backlog, add items and subitems to it, associate it with a time amount representing a how much it will take to be done with it. Backlog adds all your items time and show how much workload you have. Simply check and uncheck items, move them to prioritize them or delete them.

About

ArticleQ

Save articles from the web and enjoy them in a clean, distraction-free reader. Listen to articles on the go with high-quality text-to-speech. Organize your content with tags and custom lists, and benefit from AI-powered summaries and semantic search.

Highlights
  • Save articles from any source
  • Distraction-free reading experience
  • Text-to-speech narration
  • AI-powered summaries
  • Offline reading capabilities
  • iCloud synchronization
  • Organize with tags and custom lists
Features
Read full description

ArticleQ turns your feeds and saved articles into a calm, distraction‑free library you can read or listen to — the same way on iPhone, iPad, and Mac. Everything runs on your device. Parsing, summaries, search, and text‑to‑speech all happen locally — there's no account, and no outside service tracking what you read. The only data that leaves your device is your own private iCloud sync, which keeps your library in step across your Apple devices. Built exclusively for Apple platforms. Features • Subscribe to RSS feeds and save articles from anywhere • Distraction‑free reader with clean, readable text • Smart reading queue with flexible sorting • Listen to any article with built‑in text‑to‑speech • Read‑along highlighting and auto‑scroll that follow the narration • AI summaries — get the gist before you dive in • Semantic search — find articles by meaning, not just keywords • Hear any voice before you choose, with instant previews • iCloud sync across iPhone, iPad, and Mac • Offline reading • Full Dynamic Type, VoiceOver, and accessibility support • Premium Voices — natural‑sounding on‑device narration (Premium) • Playlists — queue articles and listen hands‑free, auto‑advancing from one to the next (Premium) Subscription ArticleQ Premium is an optional auto‑renewable subscription that unlocks Premium Voices and Playlists. Everything else is free. • Plan: ArticleQ Premium — 1 month • Price: $4.99 per month • Payment is charged to your Apple Account when you confirm the purchase. The subscription renews automatically for the same price and period unless you turn off auto‑renew at least 24 hours before the current period ends. Manage or cancel anytime in your Apple Account settings. Privacy Policy: https://www.asymmetric.enterprises/legal/privacy Terms of Use (EULA): https://www.apple.com/legal/internet-services/itunes/dev/stdeula/

Screenshots

Backlog by Time Engine4 screens
ArticleQ4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is in-app purchases: Backlog by Time Engine at none against ArticleQ's 1. Backlog by Time Engine also leads on iOS requirement (16.4 vs 18.0). ArticleQ's advantage is device support (3 vs 1). On price, update cadence and ads 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. ArticleQ sells 1 in-app purchase, starting at $4.99 per month. Backlog by Time Engine asks for nothing beyond the download.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Both ship on a similar rhythm, roughly every 3 weeks. The most recent releases landed on November 3, 2026 and October 30, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard3 real differences · 6 level
Backlog by Time Engine versus ArticleQ: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterBacklog by Time EngineArticleQ
PriceFreeFree
Rating—5.0 (1 ratings) — better
Number of ratings—1 — better
Update frequencyEvery 3 weeksEvery 3 weeks
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesNo — betterYes
Monetization—Free
DevicesiPhoneiPhone, iPad, Mac — better
Requires iOS16.4 — better18.0
Further details — not scored
Size3 MB32 MB
Age rating4+4+
Developer100-8 StudioAndrew Carlson

In-app purchases

None

Backlog by Time Engine

No in-app purchases

1 purchases

ArticleQ

Subscriptions1
  • ArticleQ Premium$4.991 Month

Questions

Is Backlog by Time Engine free?
Backlog by Time Engine is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Is ArticleQ free?
ArticleQ is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Do Backlog by Time Engine or ArticleQ have ads?
Neither Backlog by Time Engine nor ArticleQ shows ads.
Which is updated more often, Backlog by Time Engine or ArticleQ?
Backlog by Time Engine ships an update every 3 weeks, and ArticleQ every 3 weeks. Most recently, Backlog by Time Engine was updated on November 3, 2026 and ArticleQ on October 30, 2026.

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