# Bitball Baseball vs Backyard Baseball '97

The clearest difference is price: Bitball Baseball at Free against Backyard Baseball '97's $4.99. Bitball Baseball also leads on update cadence (every 4 days vs every 10 days) and iOS requirement (12.0 vs 16.6). Backyard Baseball '97's advantage is rating (4.0 vs 3.4) and in-app purchases (none vs 4). On ads and device support there is nothing between them.

Bitball Baseball is free to download; Backyard Baseball '97 costs $4.99 up front. Bitball Baseball sells 4 one-off in-app purchases. Backyard Baseball '97 asks for nothing beyond the download.

Backyard Baseball '97 holds the better App Store score, 4.0 against 3.4. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Backyard Baseball '97 has 1.5K ratings behind it against 221, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews point the same way: 49% of Bitball Baseball's written reviews are positive against 65% of Backyard Baseball '97's.

Bitball Baseball ships an update every 4 days, Backyard Baseball '97 every 10 days. The most recent releases landed on September 27, 2026 and September 26, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Bitball Baseball | Backyard Baseball '97 |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | **Free** | $4.99 |
| Rating | [3.4 (221 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/bitball-baseball/id6563151595/reviews) | **[4.0 (1.5K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/backyard-baseball-97/id6740349666/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | 221 | **1.5K** |
| Positive reviews | 49.1% of reviews | **65.3% of reviews** |
| In-app purchases | Yes | **No** |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | **Every 4 days** | Every 10 days |
| Monetization | **Free with in-app purchases** | Paid |
| Best chart rank | — | **#5** |
| Size | 232 MB | 326 MB |
| Requires iOS | **12.0** | 16.6 |
| Devices | iPhone, iPod | iPhone, iPad |
| Age rating | 12+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Matthew Steill](https://appshunter.io/developer/1724259346) | [Playground Productions LLC](https://appshunter.io/developer/1789636577) |

## What reviewers say

### Bitball Baseball

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/bitball-baseball/id6563151595)

Build a baseball dynasty by managing your squad, progressing players, and signing free agents. Improve your stadium and facilities to boost morale and set prices to satisfy fans and owners. Enjoy fast-paced gameplay with quick games to lead your team to victory.

**Highlights:** Roster management (rotation, bullpen, lineup), Player progression with XP or currency, Free agent signings and player re-signing, Stadium and facility improvements, Fast-paced gameplay (5-10 minute games), Custom team editor (premium feature)

**Features:** macOS Compatibility

**In-app purchases (4)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| 16,384(16K) Bytes | $0.99 | one-time |
| 32,768 (32K) Bytes | $1.99 | one-time |
| Premium | $2.99 | one-time |
| 65536 Bytes | $3.99 | one-time |

**What reviewers like**

- 👍 Simple and easy to learn gameplay
- 🚀 Charming retro-style graphics
- 💡 Customization options for teams and players

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 Frequent bugs and crashes
- 🐛 Inconsistent or unrealistic gameplay mechanics
- 🐛 Premium features not working as expected

**Reported bugs**

- Freezing and crashing issues
- Disappearing baserunners
- Incorrect team assignments
- Premium features not unlocking properly

**Requested features**

- Add pitching mode
- Implement a coach mode to watch games
- Allow more customization options for players
- Improve save/load functionality
- Expand season length and playoff options


### Backyard Baseball '97

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/backyard-baseball-97/id6740349666)

**Currently charting:** #5 Top Paid · Sports, #10 Top Paid · Family, #122 Top Paid · Games, #178 Top Paid, #188 Top Grossing · Sports (US App Store)

Relive the classic baseball game with iconic characters, fun power-ups, and intuitive controls. Play quick games, practice batting, or manage a full season with unique game modes and simplified rules.

**Highlights:** Iconic character roster, Power-ups and special pitches, Pick-up and single game modes, Full season management, Batting practice mode, Simplified T-ball mode

**In-app purchases:** none

**What reviewers like**

- 🚀 Nostalgia and great memories
- 👍 Faithful recreation of the original game
- 💡 Potential for future updates and expansions
- 👍 Seamless mobile experience

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 Frequent crashes and bugs
- 👎 Difficult controls and input issues
- 👎 Limited screen size and visibility
- 👎 Lack of new features or modes

**Reported bugs**

- Gameplay freezes and crashes
- Inconsistent fielding and throwing mechanics
- Hitting mechanics feel unresponsive
- Inability to save progress after crashes

**Requested features**

- Full-screen mode
- Improved controls and input responsiveness
- New game modes (e.g., home run derby, playoffs)
- Ability to select home field
- Option to mute all sounds


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Bitball Baseball free?

Bitball Baseball is free to download, with in-app purchases available.

### Is Backyard Baseball '97 free?

Backyard Baseball '97 costs $4.99, with no in-app purchases.

### Which has better reviews, Bitball Baseball or Backyard Baseball '97?

Backyard Baseball '97 is rated higher. Bitball Baseball averages 3.4 out of 5 from 221 ratings, while Backyard Baseball '97 averages 4.0 from 1.5K ratings.

### Do Bitball Baseball or Backyard Baseball '97 have ads?

Neither Bitball Baseball nor Backyard Baseball '97 shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, Bitball Baseball or Backyard Baseball '97?

Bitball Baseball ships an update every 4 days, and Backyard Baseball '97 every 10 days. Most recently, Bitball Baseball was updated on September 27, 2026 and Backyard Baseball '97 on September 26, 2026.

---

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