# ALPHA PLAY vs Backyard

The clearest difference is in-app purchases: ALPHA PLAY at none against Backyard's 2. ALPHA PLAY also leads on update cadence (every 3 weeks vs every 4 months). Backyard's advantage is ads (none vs shown). On price, device support and iOS requirement there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. Backyard sells 2 in-app purchases, starting at $3.99 per month. ALPHA PLAY asks for nothing beyond the download.

ALPHA PLAY ships an update every 3 weeks, Backyard every 4 months. The most recent releases landed on October 21, 2026 and October 12, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | ALPHA PLAY | Backyard |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Positive reviews | — | 100.0% of reviews |
| In-app purchases | **No** | Yes |
| Ads | Yes | **No** |
| Update frequency | **Every 3 weeks** | Every 4 months |
| Monetization | — | Freemium |
| Size | 83 MB | 57 MB |
| Requires iOS | 15.6 | **15.1** |
| Devices | iPhone, iPod | iPhone, iPod |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [NERDFRENZ Co.,Ltd.](https://appshunter.io/developer/1583243748) | [Soundwolf Co., Ltd](https://appshunter.io/developer/1773340930) |

## What reviewers say

### ALPHA PLAY

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/alpha-play/id6743624420)

**Features:** macOS Compatibility

**In-app purchases:** none


### Backyard

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/backyard-focus-walk-sleep/id6756097694)

Design a personalized soundscape using nature's sounds to foster focus, relaxation, or sleep. Place and customize over 70 biophilic audio icons on a canvas to shape your auditory environment. Enjoy a calming experience for your mind and brain.

**Highlights:** Design personalized soundscapes, Use 70+ biophilic spatial audio icons, Customize icon size for volume control, Shape sound space with icon positioning, Nature sounds for calm and rest, Daily curated soundscapes

**Features:** macOS Compatibility, Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases (2)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Backyard Premium Monthly | $3.99 | per month |
| Backyard Premium Yearly | $39.99 | per year |


## Frequently asked questions

### Is ALPHA PLAY free?

ALPHA PLAY is free to download, with no in-app purchases.

### Is Backyard free?

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

### Do ALPHA PLAY or Backyard have ads?

ALPHA PLAY shows ads; Backyard does not.

### Which is updated more often, ALPHA PLAY or Backyard?

ALPHA PLAY ships an update every 3 weeks, and Backyard every 4 months. Most recently, ALPHA PLAY was updated on October 21, 2026 and Backyard on October 12, 2026.

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