# Backpacking List vs Packstack

The clearest difference is in-app purchases: Packstack at none against Backpacking List's 3. Packstack also leads on rating (5.0 vs 4.6) and chart position (#193 vs unranked). Backpacking List's advantage is ratings volume (34 vs 4). On price, review sentiment, update cadence and ads there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. Backpacking List sells 3 in-app purchases, starting at $3.99 per month. Packstack asks for nothing beyond the download.

Packstack holds the better App Store score, 5.0 against 4.6. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Backpacking List has 34 ratings behind it against 4, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews split almost evenly too, at 100% and 100% positive.

Backpacking List ships an update every 9 days, Packstack every 10 days. The most recent releases landed on September 6, 2026 and September 14, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Backpacking List | Packstack |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [4.6 (34 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/backpacking-list-checklist/id6744121777/reviews) | **[5.0 (4 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/packstack-backpacking-gear/id6760873801/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | **34** | 4 |
| Positive reviews | 100.0% of reviews | 100.0% of reviews |
| In-app purchases | Yes | **No** |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | **Every 9 days** | Every 10 days |
| Monetization | Freemium | **Ad-supported** |
| Best chart rank | — | **#193** |
| Size | 9 MB | 44 MB |
| Requires iOS | 17.6 | **15.1** |
| Devices | iPhone | **iPhone, iPod** |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Daniel Lubbers](https://appshunter.io/developer/1759415354) | [Jerad Maplethorpe](https://appshunter.io/developer/1886603203) |

## What reviewers say

### Backpacking List

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/backpacking-list-checklist/id6744121777)

This app helps organize outdoor adventure gear with smart checklists and reminders. It allows cataloging items, tracking food and supplies, and calculating pack weight. Share or export your lists for any trip.

**Highlights:** Essential gear warnings, Customizable packing reminders, Detailed gear cataloging, Food and supply tracking, Automatic weight calculation, Shareable and exportable lists

**Features:** macOS Compatibility

**In-app purchases (3)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Monthly Premium | $3.99 | per month |
| Yearly Premium | $14.99 | per year |
| Lifetime Access | $49.99 | one-time |


### Packstack

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/packstack-backpacking-gear/id6760873801)

**Currently charting:** #193 Top Grossing · Travel (US App Store)

This app helps backpackers and hikers meticulously track gear, organize packing lists, and calculate essential trip details like base weight and calorie needs. It offers a comprehensive gear inventory, reusable kits, and detailed trip planning features. Syncs across devices and allows sharing of setups.

**Highlights:** Gear inventory management, Trip-specific packing lists, Reusable gear kits, Base weight and calorie calculation, Hiker profile creation, Trip planning tools, Gear catalog search

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

**In-app purchases:** none


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Backpacking List free?

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

### Is Packstack free?

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

### Which has better reviews, Backpacking List or Packstack?

Packstack is rated higher. Backpacking List averages 4.6 out of 5 from 34 ratings, while Packstack averages 5.0 from 4 ratings.

### Do Backpacking List or Packstack have ads?

Neither Backpacking List nor Packstack shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, Backpacking List or Packstack?

Backpacking List ships an update every 9 days, and Packstack every 10 days. Most recently, Backpacking List was updated on September 6, 2026 and Packstack on September 14, 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.*