Comparison

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.

Head to head
About

Backlog by Time Engine

Features
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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.

About

Dopamine

Features
Read full description

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 โ€ข Type a task, a thought, or a worry โ€” it all lands in one place โ€ข Ask Au to break a big goal into clear steps, or split a list into separate tasks โ€ข Double tap to complete, swipe to turn a task into a thought (or back) โ€ข Two clean tabs: To do and Done โ€” your wins, archived LESS OVERWHELM โ€ข Overwhelm Mode hides the scary count and shows just your top 3 โ€ข Gentle reminders that never guilt-trip you FOCUS TOOLS โ€ข Pomodoro focus timer with a Live Activity on your Lock Screen โ€” start your break with one tap โ€ข Breathing exercises (4-7-8, Box, 5-5) with soft haptics โ€ข Body Doubling โ€” Au keeps you company while you work YOURS, EVERYWHERE โ€ข Beautiful themes and Liquid Glass design โ€ข Available in 27 languages โ€ข 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

Backlog by Time Engine4 screens
Dopamine4 screens

Verdict

The call

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

CostPrice ยท In-app purchases ยท Ads ยท Monetization

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.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

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.

Scorecard2 real differences ยท 4 level
Backlog by Time Engine versus Dopamine: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterBacklog by Time EngineDopamine
PriceFreeFree
Update frequencyEvery 3 weeks โ€” betterEvery 5 weeks
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesNo โ€” betterYes
DevicesiPhoneiPhone
Requires iOS16.4 โ€” better18.0
Further details โ€” not scored
Size3 MB13 MB
Age rating4+4+
Developer100-8 StudioKsenia Shubova

In-app purchases

None

Backlog by Time Engine

No in-app purchases

2 purchases

Dopamine

Subscriptions2
  • Dopamine Monthly$4.991 Month
  • Dopamine Yearly7 Days trial$39.991 Year

Questions

Is Backlog by Time Engine free?
Backlog by Time Engine is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Is Dopamine free?
Dopamine is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Do Backlog by Time Engine or Dopamine have ads?
Neither Backlog by Time Engine nor Dopamine shows ads.
Which is updated more often, Backlog by Time Engine or Dopamine?
Backlog by Time Engine ships an update every 3 weeks, and Dopamine every 5 weeks. Most recently, Backlog by Time Engine was updated on September 19, 2026 and Dopamine on August 28, 2026.

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