# Backlog by Time Engine vs ArticleQ

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.

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.

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

## The numbers

| Metric | Backlog by Time Engine | ArticleQ |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | — | **[5.0 (1 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/articleq/id6756504210/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | — | **1** |
| In-app purchases | **No** | Yes |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | Every 3 weeks | Every 3 weeks |
| Monetization | — | Free |
| Size | 3 MB | 32 MB |
| Requires iOS | **16.4** | 18.0 |
| Devices | iPhone | **iPhone, iPad, Mac** |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [100-8 Studio](https://appshunter.io/developer/1436780503) | [Andrew Carlson](https://appshunter.io/developer/1787798578) |

## What reviewers say

### Backlog by Time Engine

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/backlog-by-time-engine/id6470202026)

**Features:** macOS Compatibility, Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases:** none


### ArticleQ

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/articleq/id6756504210)

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:** Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases (1)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| ArticleQ Premium | $4.99 | per month |


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