Comparison

back vs Cue

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

Head to head
About

back

Features
Read full description

From script to finished blocking. back-to-one is the blocking tool for directors and cinematographers. Import your screenplay as FDX and the app builds the project for you: every scene with its slugline, and every character. Instead of starting from scratch, you start where the work begins. SCRIPT IMPORT - Import FDX, TXT or PDF - FDX creates the project, scenes and characters automatically - Pick scenes individually, OMITTED scenes are excluded - Each scene's text laid out in proper screenplay format CANVAS AND STAGING - Top-down canvas, smooth on iPhone, iPad and Mac - Place characters, cameras, lights, walls and props - or drag them straight from the menu onto the stage - Room scan: on LiDAR devices the app captures walls, doors and windows and turns them into a usable floor plan - Import a floor plan as a background image - Scene templates, and save your own - 146 props at true size - furniture, tableware and decor, animals, vehicles, film gear - each drawn in its own material, and the material switches off for plain outlines - Import your own PNG props - Background actor groups as a single object - Copy the walls and openings of one scene into another CAMERAS - Auto-aim: the camera turns with the character it is linked to - Field of view from focal length and sensor format (S35, FF, S16, MFT, ARRI LF, anamorphic) - Six rig types: tripod, Steadicam, handheld, drone, action cam, crane - Camera icon size adjustable, setup number large on the label or in the body - Multi-cam setups, grouped by color - 180-degree line with a crossing-the-line warning - Viewfinder: live image in the project's aspect ratio, focal-length wheel, shutter - the frame lands on the shot of the camera you picked SHOT LIST - Every camera creates a shot, linked both ways with the canvas - Shot numbers by setup (1A/1B) - A storyboard image per shot - drop it on the plan too, tied to its camera - Coverage status: open, shot, cut - also visible on the plan, as a tick or cross on camera and storyboard - Estimated shooting time per shot, with totals - Shoot day per scene, and a shoot-day filter ANIMATION - Timeline with keyframes, play, loop, speed - Characters walk to waypoints, facing direction per keyframe - Camera moves and orbits on smooth curves, dolly track drawn on the plan - Follow: the camera tracks a character LIGHT AND EXTERIORS - Key, fill, back, practical, HMI, Kino, reflector - Watts, dimmer, gel, diffusion, height, color temperature - Real sun position by location, date and time, with golden hour detection SET DOCUMENTS, READY TO HAND OUT - Scene PDF with plan and shot table - also as a compact one-pager per scene - Lighting plot with numbered fixtures and a legend - Project overview as a PDF - Shot list as Excel and CSV - Canvas as an image ON SET - Full-screen presentation mode - Dim, night and red-light modes for a dark set - Works offline: open, edit and save in airplane mode, iCloud catches up when you are back online PROJECTS AND COLLABORATION - iCloud sync between iPhone, iPad and Mac - Share projects through iCloud sharing - Scene-level merge, auto-save, backups, duplicate whole projects - Colour labels per scene, with a filter - shared along with the project YOUR DATA No server of our own, no tracking, no ads. Your content stays on your device and in your iCloud. Available in English and German. For iPhone, iPad and Mac. SUBSCRIPTION Pro is available as an auto-renewing subscription (monthly or yearly, with a 7-day free trial) or as a one-time Lifetime purchase. Payment is charged to your Apple Account at confirmation. A subscription renews automatically unless it is cancelled at least 24 hours before the end of the current period. You can manage and cancel subscriptions in your Apple Account settings. Terms of Use (EULA): https://www.apple.com/legal/internet-services/itunes/dev/stdeula/ Privacy Policy: https://back-to-one.de/datenschutz.html

About

Cue

This app helps creators and presenters film themselves by displaying scripts that scroll at a controllable speed and size. It offers modes for direct viewing or use with teleprompter glass, and allows recording with the front camera while reading lines.

Highlights
  • Adjustable scroll speed and font size
  • Reader mode and mirror mode
  • Record with front camera
  • Paste or import scripts
  • Customizable themes (Pro)
  • Watermark-free recordings (Pro)
Read full description

Cue is a fast teleprompter for creators, presenters, and anyone who films to camera. Paste your script, set scroll speed and font size, then read while you record. Use reader mode or mirror mode for a teleprompter glass. Film with the front camera so your lines stay on screen while you talk. WHY CUE • Clean scrolling teleprompter — no clutter • Speed, font, colors, and countdown you control • Mirror / reverse text for glass setups • Front camera + record while you read • Paste from clipboard or import text • Privacy-first — no account required FREE Save a couple of scripts and use the core prompter and recording tools. CUE PRO Unlimited scripts, custom themes, and watermark-free recordings. Subscribe monthly or yearly. Restore purchases anytime. Built for YouTube, Reels, TikTok, voiceovers, speeches, and everyday on-camera work. Terms of Use: https://www.apple.com/legal/internet-services/itunes/dev/stdeula/ Privacy Policy: https://kick-start.ai/cue-teleprompt/cue-teleprompt-privacy-policy/

Screenshots

back4 screens
Cue4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is update cadence: back at every 3 days against Cue's every 2 weeks. back also leads on iOS requirement (15.0 vs 17.0). On price, ads, 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. back sells 3 in-app purchases, starting at $7.99 per month and Cue sells 2 in-app purchases, starting at $4.99 per month. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

back ships an update every 3 days, Cue every 2 weeks. The most recent releases landed on October 31, 2026 and November 6, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard2 real differences · 8 level
back versus Cue: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterbackCue
PriceFreeFree
Rating—5.0 (2 ratings) — better
Positive reviews—100.0% of reviews
Number of ratings—2 — better
Update frequencyEvery 3 days — betterEvery 2 weeks
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesYesYes
Monetization—Freemium
DevicesiPhone, iPad, iPod — betteriPhone, iPad
Requires iOS15.0 — better17.0
Further details — not scored
Size8 MB4 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperERIK HAFFNERKickstart Ai LLC

In-app purchases

3 purchases

back

Subscriptions2
  • Back-to-One Pro (Monthly)7 Days trial$7.991 Month
  • Back-to-One Pro (Yearly)7 Days trial$79.991 Year
One-time1
  • Back-to-One Pro (Lifetime)$179.99
2 purchases

Cue

Subscriptions2
  • Cue Pro Monthly$4.991 Month
  • Cue Pro Yearly7 Days trial$29.991 Year

Questions

Is back free?
back is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Is Cue free?
Cue is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Do back or Cue have ads?
Neither back nor Cue shows ads.
Which is updated more often, back or Cue?
back ships an update every 3 days, and Cue every 2 weeks. Most recently, back was updated on October 31, 2026 and Cue on November 6, 2026.

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