Backlog by Time Engine vs Dopamine
Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side โ with what reviewers say about each.
Backlog by Time Engine
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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.
Dopamine
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Dopamine is a brain dump that thinks like you do. If your head is a noisy pile of tasks, half-thoughts and worries, Dopamine gives it a home. Type anything โ it becomes a card you can act on, keep as a thought, or let go. No rigid lists, no streaks to break, no shame. Built for ADHD brains, gentle enough for anyone. A softer way to ease procrastination and burnout โ without pushing yourself harder. MEET AU, YOUR CALM AI COMPANION Au reads the room. It celebrates a big day, sits with you on the hard tasks, and never nags or asks endless questions. Pick the tone that fits you: Soft, Calm, Strict, or Playful. JUST DUMP IT โข Type a task, a thought, or a worry โ it all lands in one place โข Ask Au to break a big goal into clear steps, or split a list into separate tasks โข Double tap to complete, swipe to turn a task into a thought (or back) โข Two clean tabs: To do and Done โ your wins, archived LESS OVERWHELM โข Overwhelm Mode hides the scary count and shows just your top 3 โข Gentle reminders that never guilt-trip you FOCUS TOOLS โข Pomodoro focus timer with a Live Activity on your Lock Screen โ start your break with one tap โข Breathing exercises (4-7-8, Box, 5-5) with soft haptics โข Body Doubling โ Au keeps you company while you work YOURS, EVERYWHERE โข Beautiful themes and Liquid Glass design โข Available in 27 languages โข Tasks and thoughts live on your device; only messages to Au are processed on our server Dopamine Premium unlocks multiple chats, all focus tools, photo and video notes, and premium themes โ with a free trial to start. Your brain deserves a calmer place to think. Terms of Use (EULA): https://www.apple.com/legal/internet-services/itunes/dev/stdeula/
Screenshots
Verdict
The clearest difference is in-app purchases: Backlog by Time Engine at none against Dopamine's 2. Backlog by Time Engine also leads on iOS requirement (16.4 vs 18.0). On price, update cadence, ads and device support there is nothing between them.
Scored on Price ยท Rating ยท Positive reviews ยท Number of ratings ยท Update frequency ยท Ads ยท In-app purchases ยท Monetization ยท Best chart rank ยท Devices ยท Requires iOS
Both are free to download. Dopamine sells 2 in-app purchases, starting at $4.99 per month. Backlog by Time Engine asks for nothing beyond the download.
Backlog by Time Engine ships an update every 3 weeks, Dopamine every 5 weeks. The most recent releases landed on September 19, 2026 and August 28, 2026 respectively.
| Parameter | Backlog by Time Engine | Dopamine |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Free | Free |
| Update frequency | Every 3 weeks โ better | Every 5 weeks |
| Ads | No | No |
| In-app purchases | No โ better | Yes |
| Devices | iPhone | iPhone |
| Requires iOS | 16.4 โ better | 18.0 |
| Further details โ not scored | ||
| Size | 3 MB | 13 MB |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | 100-8 Studio | Ksenia Shubova |
In-app purchases
Backlog by Time Engine
No in-app purchases
Dopamine
- Dopamine Monthly$4.991 Month
- Dopamine Yearly7 Days trial$39.991 Year





