Comparison

Backlog by Time Engine vs Small Start

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

Small Start

Features
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An ADHD brain fights lists. That is exactly why routines are so hard to keep. Small Start shows you one step at a time. Not a checklist you have to re-read, not twelve boxes waiting to be ticked โ€” one step, one timer, one big Done button. When it's finished, the next one appears. WHY IT WORKS โ€ข One step on screen to focus on. The list is the problem, so it stays hidden. โ€ข Every step gets a timer, so time stops being invisible. โ€ข The timer runs on real clock time. Lock your phone, take a call, come back โ€” it never drifts. โ€ข Every step chimes when it ends, with Done and +1 minute right there โ€” the phone can stay on the shelf while you brush your teeth. โ€ข Skip and +1 minute are always there. A routine that can't bend gets abandoned. REMINDERS THAT DON'T BECOME WALLPAPER Most apps send the same notification forever until you switch them off. Small Start rotates through more than a dozen messages, so it never becomes background noise. And if you ignore three in a row, it doesn't nag harder โ€” it changes the subject and asks whether the time is wrong, then offers to move the reminder or turn it off. Your 7:00 alarm was never going to work if you're never awake at 7:00. IT STARTS WITHOUT YOU OPENING THE APP Opening an app is the same problem as starting a routine, so it doesn't insist. โ€ข A home-screen widget starts today's routine at step one, in one tap โ€ข The running step counts down on your Lock Screen and in the Dynamic Island โ€ข Apple Watch: start, finish a step or add a minute from your wrist โ€ข Ask Siri, or let a Shortcuts automation start it when your alarm goes off STREAKS THAT DON'T PUNISH YOU Missing today doesn't break your streak until the day is actually over, and a missed day is shown as a day, not a failure. A habit survives one of those. No red, no guilt, no "you've lost your progress". Half a routine counts as half, not as nothing: get through at least half the steps and the day still counts. And if you walk away mid-routine, the app offers to pick it back up where you left off. BUILT FOR PRIVACY No account. No sign-up. No email. No ads, ever. Your routines, steps and history stay on your phone โ€” never uploaded anywhere. Your data can also leave with you. One tap exports every routine, step and completion to a file you keep, so a new phone doesn't cost you your setup. WHAT YOU GET โ€ข Three ready-made routines to start in one tap โ€” Morning, Evening Wind-down, Getting Out the Door โ€” all editable โ€ข Unlimited routines and steps of your own โ€ข Step lengths from 30 seconds to 90 minutes, or the one-tap presets โ€ข Per-routine schedules, weekday-by-weekday โ€ข Streaks, completion rates, a calendar of your days, and the pattern of which weekdays actually work for you โ€ข Measured step lengths, so the plan matches how long it really takes โ€ข Export and import, so your routines and history are yours to keep โ€ข Light and dark themes TRY THE WHOLE THING FOR 14 DAYS Everything is unlocked for 14 days. No card, no account, nothing to cancel โ€” we never asked for a payment method, so we cannot charge you by accident. After that you decide, once. There's a pay-once option if you never want to think about a subscription again. Small Start is a timer and a routine keeper for adults living with ADHD. It isn't a medical device and doesn't diagnose or treat anything โ€” it's built by and for people who find starting hard. Small Start Premium is available as a yearly subscription ($19.99/year) or a monthly subscription ($3.99/month). A one-time Lifetime purchase ($29.99) is also available and never renews. Payment is charged to your Apple ID at confirmation of purchase. Subscriptions renew automatically unless auto-renew is turned off at least 24 hours before the end of the current period. Manage or cancel in your Apple ID account settings after purchase. Terms of Use: https://unverfirat.github.io/fireflysoftware/smallstart/terms.html Privacy Policy: https://unverfirat.github.io/fireflysoftware/smallstart/privacy.html

Screenshots

Backlog by Time Engine4 screens
Small Start4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is in-app purchases: Backlog by Time Engine at none against Small Start's 3. Small Start's advantage is update cadence (weekly vs every 3 weeks) and device support (3 vs 1). On price, ads and iOS requirement 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. Small Start sells 3 in-app purchases, starting at $3.99 per month. Backlog by Time Engine asks for nothing beyond the download.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Backlog by Time Engine ships an update every 3 weeks, Small Start weekly. The most recent releases landed on October 7, 2026 and October 8, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard3 real differences ยท 3 level
Backlog by Time Engine versus Small Start: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterBacklog by Time EngineSmall Start
PriceFreeFree
Update frequencyEvery 3 weeksWeekly โ€” better
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesNo โ€” betterYes
DevicesiPhoneiPhone, iPod, Apple Watch โ€” better
Requires iOS16.415.0 โ€” better
Further details โ€” not scored
Size3 MB46 MB
Age rating4+4+
Developer100-8 StudioAli Firat Unver

In-app purchases

None

Backlog by Time Engine

No in-app purchases

3 purchases

Small Start

Subscriptions2
  • Monthly$3.991 Month
  • Yearly$19.991 Year
One-time1
  • Lifetime$29.99

Questions

Is Backlog by Time Engine free?
Backlog by Time Engine is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Is Small Start free?
Small Start is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Do Backlog by Time Engine or Small Start have ads?
Neither Backlog by Time Engine nor Small Start shows ads.
Which is updated more often, Backlog by Time Engine or Small Start?
Backlog by Time Engine ships an update every 3 weeks, and Small Start weekly. Most recently, Backlog by Time Engine was updated on October 7, 2026 and Small Start on October 8, 2026.

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