Comparison

#Backlog vs Kanso

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

Head to head
About

#Backlog

Features
Read full description

Backlog is a calm and simple task manager built around one daily ritual: review what matters. It helps you stay connected to your tasks without pressure, overload, or endless lists. Backlog is not about chasing productivity. It’s about clarity, focus, and quiet confidence in your work. A different approach to tasks: • Review your tasks once a day • Focus only on what matters now • Avoid clutter and constant notifications • Build a simple, sustainable habit How Backlog works: • Add tasks without over-planning • Group and reflect, not just complete • Stay aware of important items • Keep your task list calm and manageable Designed for: • People who feel overwhelmed by classic to-do apps • Those who prefer reflection over pressure • A mindful, minimalist workflow Backlog turns task management into a daily ritual — simple, calm, and human.

About

Kanso

Features
Read full description

Simplicity — handle multitasking with ease. Kanso is the ultimate task management app designed with the spirit of Zen, to bring clarity and balance to the way you live. ■ Key Features · Pick your 3 Most Important Tasks (MITs) each morning — the things that truly must get done today · Instantly capture fleeting thoughts with Voice Mind Dump · Auto-sort tasks by importance and urgency with the Eisenhower Matrix · Automatically schedule focus blocks in your Calendar app · Track everything you've delegated in the Waiting On page · Monitor progress across all your work in the Projects page · Stay in the zone with a Pomodoro timer (25 min focus / 5 min break) · Watch a beautiful Japanese landscape transform as you complete your MITs · Switch seamlessly between Japanese and English ■ Pro Features (¥300/month · ¥1,800/year) · Unlimited BACKLOG tasks, Mind Dumps, projects, and delegated tasks · Recurring tasks (daily, weekly, monthly) · Full Eisenhower Matrix prioritization (free plan: once per day) · Background themes: Rock Garden, Bonsai, Sakura (free plan: Rock Garden only) ■ Who It's For · Executives and managers juggling countless projects and responsibilities every day · Anyone exhausted by constant context-switching between tasks · People who chase efficiency yet keep losing sight of what truly matters · Those who appreciate design that is both minimal and intellectually refined ■ Subscription · Monthly plan: ¥300/month (auto-renewing) · Annual plan: ¥1,800/year (auto-renewing · save 50%!) · Payment is charged to your Apple ID · Manage or cancel anytime in your App Store account settings · Includes a 7-day free trial · Subscription auto-renews unless cancelled at least 24 hours before the end of the current period · Privacy Policy: https://bevel-porch-9ea.notion.site/Kanso-37217501552180ca9a26c80df73b0489 · Terms of Use (EULA): https://www.apple.com/legal/internet-services/itunes/dev/stdeula/

Screenshots

#Backlog3 screens
Kanso4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is ads: Kanso at none against #Backlog's shown. #Backlog's advantage is iOS requirement (12.0 vs 17.0). On price, in-app purchases and device support 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. #Backlog sells 1 one-off in-app purchase and Kanso sells 2 in-app purchases, starting at $1.99 per month. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

Scorecard2 real differences · 4 level
#Backlog versus Kanso: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
Parameter#BacklogKanso
PriceFreeFree
Update frequency—Weekly
AdsYesNo — better
In-app purchasesYesYes
DevicesiPhone, iPad, iPodiPhone, iPad, Apple Watch
Requires iOS12.0 — better17.0
Further details — not scored
Size39 MB32 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperCatherina KraikoYutaro Kawahara

In-app purchases

1 purchases

#Backlog

One-time1
  • Remove ads$1.99
2 purchases

Kanso

Subscriptions2
  • Kanso Pro (Monthly)7 Days trial$1.991 Month
  • Kanso Pro (Yearly)7 Days trial$9.991 Year

Questions

Is #Backlog free?
#Backlog is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Is Kanso free?
Kanso is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Do #Backlog or Kanso have ads?
#Backlog shows ads; Kanso does not.

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