# Mind Backlog vs Shadow Work

The clearest difference is in-app purchases: Mind Backlog at none against Shadow Work's 2. Shadow Work's advantage is update cadence (every 3 days vs every 8 days). On price, ads, device support and iOS requirement there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. Shadow Work sells 2 in-app purchases, starting at $4.99 per 7 days. Mind Backlog asks for nothing beyond the download.

Mind Backlog ships an update every 8 days, Shadow Work every 3 days. The most recent releases landed on October 16, 2026 and October 1, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Mind Backlog | Shadow Work |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | **[5.0 (1 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/mind-backlog/id6754186382/reviews)** | — |
| Number of ratings | **1** | — |
| Positive reviews | 100.0% of reviews | — |
| In-app purchases | **No** | Yes |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | Every 8 days | **Every 3 days** |
| Monetization | Free | — |
| Size | 2 MB | 21 MB |
| Requires iOS | 18.5 | **17.0** |
| Devices | iPhone | iPhone |
| Age rating | 4+ | 9+ |
| Developer | [Jovan Petrovic](https://appshunter.io/developer/1827616732) | [Devanuj Nath](https://appshunter.io/developer/6780533110) |

## What reviewers say

### Mind Backlog

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/mind-backlog/id6754186382)

This app provides a calm environment to organize your thoughts and identify actionable steps. It guides you through sorting your mental clutter, distinguishing between immediate tasks and those for later, fostering clarity and intentionality.

**Highlights:** Thought sorting, Actionable step identification, Calm design, Reflection prompts, Backlog management

**Features:** macOS Compatibility

**In-app purchases:** none


### Shadow Work

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/shadow-work-umbra/id6780533108)

**Features:** macOS Compatibility

**In-app purchases (2)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Weekly | $4.99 | per 7 days |
| Yearly | $39.99 | per year |


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Mind Backlog free?

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

### Is Shadow Work free?

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

### Do Mind Backlog or Shadow Work have ads?

Neither Mind Backlog nor Shadow Work shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, Mind Backlog or Shadow Work?

Mind Backlog ships an update every 8 days, and Shadow Work every 3 days. Most recently, Mind Backlog was updated on October 16, 2026 and Shadow Work on October 1, 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.*