Comparison

Backdrop vs Retheme

Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.

Head to head
About

Backdrop

Discover unique, AI-generated wallpapers daily. Personalize your device with backgrounds tailored to your interests. Automate daily refreshes to keep your phone looking vibrant and dynamic.

Highlights
  • AI-generated wallpapers
  • Daily wallpaper refresh
  • Personalized backgrounds
  • Automation options
  • Access to historical wallpapers
Read full description

Backdrop is an AI wallpaper generator that creates custom wallpapers for your iPhone, personalized around your interests. Describe what you want, optionally add a photo as a visual reference, or remix a wallpaper you discover. Save your favorites and browse past creations anytime. With Backdrop Pro, you get a new personalized wallpaper every day. Set up an Apple Shortcuts automation once, choose a time, and your iPhone can apply each new wallpaper automatically—without opening Backdrop or saving it manually. Browse the global daily wallpaper and public gallery for free. Upgrade to Backdrop Pro for $3.99/month to unlock personalized daily wallpapers and 15 credits each month for your own creations. Questions or feedback? Email support@getbackdrop.app Terms of Use: https://www.apple.com/legal/internet-services/itunes/dev/stdeula/

About

Retheme

Personalize your phone with a wide array of widgets, wallpapers, and icon sets. Create custom photo widgets, live wallpapers, and cohesive themes to express your unique style.

Highlights
  • Custom photo widgets
  • Live wallpapers
  • Coordinated themes
  • App icon customization
  • Clock and battery widgets
  • To-do list and countdown widgets
Features
Read full description

Retheme helps you personalize your phone with widgets, wallpapers, and full theme setups designed to match your style. From custom photo widgets to live wallpapers and icon-ready themes, Retheme gives you flexible tools to build a home screen that feels more personal, expressive, and fun to use every day. Customize your screen your way! 1. Widgets Create a home screen that looks good and works for your daily routine: • Photo Widget: add your own photos and customize them with crop, size, text, stickers, and frames • Live Widget: bring more motion and energy to your screen • Clock Widget: choose time displays that match your layout • Battery Widget: check battery status at a glance • Weather Widget: stay updated with current weather info • To Do List Widget: keep important tasks visible on your home screen • Countdown Widget: count down to birthdays, holidays, events, and special moments • Time Progress Widget: view how many days have passed and how many days remain within a time range you choose 2. Wallpapers Refresh your screen with different wallpaper styles for different moods: • Static Wallpapers for clean and polished looks • Live Wallpapers for more movement and visual depth • DIY Wallpapers to create a style that feels like your own • Playable Wallpapers that change when you tap the screen • Charging Wallpapers to make charging time more fun and dynamic 3. Themes Build a more complete and consistent home screen with: • Matching wallpapers • Coordinated widgets • Stylish app icons Whether you prefer minimal, cute, aesthetic, bold, trendy, or playful styles, Retheme makes it easier to mix and match visual elements into one cohesive setup. ▶ Why users choose Retheme • Easy home screen customization • Multiple widget types for both style and utility • Personalized photo widgets with editing options • Decorative and interactive wallpaper experiences • Theme combinations with wallpaper, widgets, and icons • Suitable for everyday personalization, seasonal updates, and special events Retheme is designed for users who want more than a basic wallpaper app. It is a personalization space where you can decorate your screen, organize useful information, and create a look that reflects your mood and identity. Make your home screen feel more like you with Retheme! Terms of use: https://www.apple.com/legal/internet-services/itunes/dev/stdeula/

Screenshots

Backdrop3 screens
Retheme4 screens

Verdict

The call

Backdrop and Retheme both sit at 4.6 stars, but that hides the real split: 100% of Backdrop's written reviews are positive against 17% of Retheme's. Backdrop also leads on ads (none vs shown) and update cadence (every 3 days vs every 11 days). Retheme's advantage is ratings volume (1.1K vs 5) and chart position (#117 vs unranked). On price, rating, in-app purchases and monetization model there is nothing between them.

Scored on Price · Rating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings · Update frequency · Ads · In-app purchases · Monetization · Best chart rank · Devices · Requires iOS

CostPrice · In-app purchases · Ads · Monetization

Both are free to download. Backdrop sells 1 in-app purchase, starting at $3.99 per month and Retheme sells 6 in-app purchases, starting at $1.99 per 7 days. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

On the App Store both sit at effectively the same score — 4.6 for Backdrop against 4.6 for Retheme. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Retheme has 1.1K ratings behind it against 5, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews are what separate them: 100% of Backdrop's written reviews are positive against 17% of Retheme's.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Backdrop ships an update every 3 days, Retheme every 11 days. The most recent releases landed on October 4, 2026 and October 16, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard5 real differences · 6 level
Backdrop versus Retheme: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterBackdropRetheme
PriceFreeFree
Rating4.6 (5 ratings)4.6 (1.1K ratings)
Positive reviews100.0% of reviews — better16.7% of reviews
Number of ratings51.1K — better
Update frequencyEvery 3 days — betterEvery 11 days
AdsNo — betterYes
In-app purchasesYesYes
MonetizationFreemiumFree with in-app purchases
Best chart rank—#117 — better
DevicesiPhoneiPhone, iPad — better
Requires iOS17.017.0
Further details — not scored
Size11 MB146 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperDaniel StrattonDao thi Ngoc Mai

Customer experience

Backdrop

All ratings5 ratings
Positive80.0%
Neutral20.0%
Negative0.0%
Written reviews2 reviews
Positive100.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative0.0%

Retheme

All ratings1,144 ratings
Positive87.7%
Neutral3.6%
Negative8.7%
Written reviews36 reviews
Positive16.7%
Neutral2.8%
Negative80.6%

In-app purchases

1 purchases

Backdrop

Subscriptions1
  • Backdrop Pro3 Days trial$3.991 Month
6 purchases

Retheme

Subscriptions6
  • Weekly Subscription7 Days trial$1.997 Days
  • Weekly Subscription$1.997 Days
  • Weekly Subscription7 Days trial$3.997 Days
Show 3 more
  • Weekly Subscription$3.997 Days
  • Yearly Subscription$14.991 Year
  • Yearly Subscription$29.991 Year

Questions

Is Backdrop free?
Backdrop is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Is Retheme free?
Retheme is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Which has better reviews, Backdrop or Retheme?
Backdrop and Retheme are both rated 4.6 out of 5 on the App Store, from 5 and 1.1K ratings respectively.
Do Backdrop or Retheme have ads?
Retheme shows ads; Backdrop does not.
Which is updated more often, Backdrop or Retheme?
Backdrop ships an update every 3 days, and Retheme every 11 days. Most recently, Backdrop was updated on October 4, 2026 and Retheme on October 16, 2026.

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