# Poolside Showcase vs NPT Backyard

The clearest difference is rating: NPT Backyard at 3.7 against Poolside Showcase's 1.0. NPT Backyard also leads on in-app purchases (none vs 10) and ads (none vs shown). Poolside Showcase's advantage is iOS requirement (11.2 vs 15.0). On price and device support there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. Poolside Showcase sells 10 in-app purchases, starting at $5.99 per year. NPT Backyard asks for nothing beyond the download.

NPT Backyard holds the better App Store score, 3.7 against 1.0. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: NPT Backyard has 101 ratings behind it against 1, so its average is the more settled of the two.

Poolside Showcase ships an update every 30 months, NPT Backyard every 2 months. The most recent releases landed on September 17, 2026 and October 1, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Poolside Showcase | NPT Backyard |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [1.0 (1 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/poolside-showcase/id793163504/reviews) | **[3.7 (101 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/npt-backyard/id1478178328/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | 1 | **101** |
| Positive reviews | — | 42.5% of reviews |
| In-app purchases | Yes | **No** |
| Ads | Yes | **No** |
| Update frequency | Every 30 months | **Every 2 months** |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | **Free** |
| Size | 28 MB | 117 MB |
| Requires iOS | **11.2** | 15.0 |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod | iPhone, iPad, iPod |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Universal Magazines Pty Ltd](https://appshunter.io/developer/602657493) | [Pool Corporation](https://appshunter.io/developer/508083385) |

## What reviewers say

### Poolside Showcase

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/poolside-showcase/id793163504)

Explore stunning and innovative pool designs from Australia. Get inspired to create your ideal outdoor living space that harmonizes with your home. Download issues to discover the latest trends in pools and spas.

**Highlights:** Innovative pool and spa showcases, Outdoor area design inspiration, Harmonious home and exterior integration, Digital magazine issues, Subscription options available, Pocketmags account for purchase protection

**Features:** macOS Compatibility

**In-app purchases (10)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Poolside Showcase Auto-Renewable Subscription | $5.99 | per year |
| Issue#26 2017 | $2.99 | one-time |
| Issue#24 2016 | $2.99 | one-time |
| 23 | $2.99 | one-time |
| 22 | $2.99 | one-time |
| Poolside Showcase issue29 Issue | $2.99 | one-time |
| issue 33 Poolside Showcase | $2.99 | one-time |
| June Issue#21 2014 | $3.99 | one-time |
| December Issue#20 2013 | $3.99 | one-time |
| June Issue#19 2013 | $3.99 | one-time |


### NPT Backyard

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/npt-backyard/id1478178328)

Visualize your dream pool in your own backyard using augmented reality. This app offers stunning 4k graphics, advanced lighting, and realistic water simulations to help you design and preview your perfect pool.

**Highlights:** Augmented Reality pool visualization, 4k graphics, Realistic lighting effects, Advanced water systems, Design your dream pool

**Features:** Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases:** none

**What reviewers like**

- 👍 Great for visualizing pool options
- 👍 Helpful for remodel planning
- 👍 User-friendly interface
- 👍 Good for comparing finishes and colors
- 👍 AR view enhances visualization

**What reviewers complain about**

- 😞 Limited design options
- 😞 Cannot create custom pool shapes
- 😞 AR view often doesn't work
- 😞 Inaccurate rendering of water color
- 😞 App crashes frequently

**Reported bugs**

- AR doesn't work
- App crashes when viewing tiles
- App crashes frequently
- App is slow and hangs
- Water color doesn't change with plaster choices

**Requested features**

- Option to design a remodel for existing pools
- Ability to change pool dimensions within the app
- More standard pool shapes available (e.g., round spa)
- Include all pool tiles from the catalog
- Ability to drag and position the pool design in the yard


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Poolside Showcase free?

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

### Is NPT Backyard free?

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

### Which has better reviews, Poolside Showcase or NPT Backyard?

NPT Backyard is rated higher. Poolside Showcase averages 1.0 out of 5 from 1 ratings, while NPT Backyard averages 3.7 from 101 ratings.

### Do Poolside Showcase or NPT Backyard have ads?

Poolside Showcase shows ads; NPT Backyard does not.

### Which is updated more often, Poolside Showcase or NPT Backyard?

Poolside Showcase ships an update every 30 months, and NPT Backyard every 2 months. Most recently, Poolside Showcase was updated on September 17, 2026 and NPT Backyard 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.*